scope:

FOREWORD

Proper design and installation of visual and non-visual aids (e.g. approach lighting towers, meteorological equipment, radio navigational aids) are prerequisites for the safety and regularity of civil aviation. At airports, various visual and non-visual aids are located near runways, taxiways and aprons where they may present a hazard to aircraft in the event of accidental impact during landing, take-off or ground manoeuvring. All such equipment and their supports shall be frangible and mounted as low as possible to assure that impact will not result in loss of control of the aircraft.

Much of the material included herein is closely associated with the specifications on frangibility of visual and non-visual aids contained in Annex 14 - Aerodromes, Volume I - Aerodrome Design and Operations and Volume II - Heliports. The purpose of this manual is to assist States in the implementation of these specifications and thereby help to ensure their uniform application.

Annex 14 - Aerodromes contains both Standards and Recommended Practices for objects to be made frangible. However, since the objective of this manual is to provide guidance on frangible design, distinction between the two types of specifications will not be made.

The manual incorporates guidance material on the design, testing and installation of frangible structures at airports and heliports and is based on the conclusions of the Fifth and Sixth Meetings of the ICAO Frangible Aids Study Group held in 1998 and 2003, respectively, as well as on current practices of several States.

It is intended that the manual be kept current. Future editions will be improved on the basis of the results of the work of regulators, industry and airport operators as well as on the basis of experience gained and comments and suggestions received from users of this manual. Readers are therefore invited to give their views, comments and suggestions on this edition. These should be directed to the Secretary General of ICAO.