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Slick
6th Apr 2002, 14:34
One for the Perf engineers.

Does anyone know of suppliers of obstacle data on CD. A data base that could be used with performance software.

Someone mantioned ICAO do something along these lines. Is this true? Or do you still subscribe to paper type A charts and topo maps.

Best Rgds

FOUR REDS
6th Apr 2002, 15:28
Both statements are correct.

The ICAO data is quite expensive and is on a subscription basis. It tends to provide generic straight-out flight paths.

IndividuaL airlines have to cater for straight, curved and emergency turn data for each of their aircraft types. In other words for the same CRITICAL runway there may have to be various obstacle data files, one for each type.

The good news is that some 9 years ago IATA arranged for a standardization of data formats, so that, where applicable, one obstacle data file could be used for Boeing, Airbus, BAe etc.

As a lot of time, effort and money goes into this data, it is unlikely that such info will become readily available. A few companies in the world will provide obstacle analysis and runway data monitoring, but at a fee. Try Flygprestanda in Malmo and/or Jepessen and/or Universal in the USA.

Good Luck :confused:

john_tullamarine
6th Apr 2002, 21:41
A case of getting whatever you can lay your hands on at times .. and then occasionally throwing a theodolite over the shoulder and doing a quick survey of critical problems.

There are various "normal" sources available, published either by the airport authority (typically Type A and, if you are lucky, Type C charts). The Australian authorities also collate simple inclino survey data (which may be the result of a simple survey or worked back from a detailed survey). Jeppesen has had a program for some years to collate the more readily available data which may end up being very useful.

In Australia some State government land authorities (Queensland is a good example) have set out to collate such commercial data as is made available to them.

One of the problems is that much of the existing data has come from privately sponsored surveys (eg mining companies) and the existence of such data is not generally known. Sometimes it comes back to networking ... there have been numerous times where I have made the usual round of phone calls trying to track down data for an out of the way place when one contact or another recalls that such and such a company did a survey in that area some time ago .... another contact .... more phone calls ... and sometimes the data which can be begged or bought is very pertinent and useful. Sometimes the data, especially the enhanced OPMs can be too good for convenient use .....

As I have said on a number of threads, doing the sums is the province of a trained monkey .... optimising the escape path and putting the sums over a good obstacle profile is the real skill of the engineer.

mutt
7th Apr 2002, 10:15
The IATA committee is called the AODB, unfortunately the data which they maintain in their database is graphical and wont exactly make your life any easier.

The commercial companies were supposed to start offering a worldwide subscription service to support BBJ operators using the BLT, try contacting Steve Hill at SITA and see what they have on offer.

If you are really stretched, we have a couple of "trained monkeys" which we could loan you........... (JT, come visit and you will see what i mean..:))

Cheers.

Mutt.

Slick
8th Apr 2002, 13:03
Thanks everyone, most helpful. Mutt thanks for the contact at SITA. I will give him a buzz.

Best Rgds