Airports GIS Surface Analysis and Visualization (SAV) Tool

The FAA recently rolled out their AGIS SAV Tool that is now available across the nation for use by airports and their designees. The purpose of the AGIS SAV Tool is to visually identify, using FAA’s many databases of objects, the TERPS (Terminal Instrument Procedures) surfaces at all airports with instrument approaches.

The AGIS SAV Tool not only identifies the object that’s penetrating, but also by how much, and ranks the severity of the penetration through these protected surfaces. Severe penetrations will require immediate mitigation by the airport sponsor or FAA has the option of eliminating night instrument approaches to the affected runway(s). The AGIS SAV Tool provides a way for each airport to see for themselves where these penetrations exist, what risk they pose, and a way for the airport (or their designee) to propose mitigation (e.g., obstruction removal, lowering, lighting, etc.) for FAA’s consideration.

The AGIS SAV Tool does not yet have a method to deal with the various hazard beacons and obstruction lights that exist around many airports. In the interim, the process to deal with identified penetrations that are “protected” by hazard beacons or obstruction lights is as follows:

  1. In the Verification tab, enter the location (if not already in the database) of each hazard beacon and obstruction light and check the box that they are “lit.” In the notes, add additional data about how this object is “lit” for example: Obstacle ID 23-45554 is lighted in accordance with AC 70/7460-1K Chapter 5.
  2. In the Compliance tab, for each obstruction/penetration that is within the 1,500-ft. radius of a hazard beacon or within the 150-ft. radius of an obstruction light location, check the box to show that the penetration has been mitigated with a light. In the notes, add additional data about how these penetrations are “lit” for example: (1) Obstacle ID 23-45554 is lighted in accordance with AC 70/7460-1K Chapter 5; (2) Obstacle IDs 23-45556, 23-45557, and 23-45558 are within 100’ of Obstacle ID 23-45554 and considered lighted in accordance with AC 70/7460-1K paragraph 57a; or (3) Obstacle IDs 23-45559, 23-45560, and 23-45561 are within 1,000’ of Obstacle ID 23-45554 and considered lighted in accordance with AC 70/7460-1K paragraph 57d.”
  3. FAA/Flight Procedures Team and FAA/Terrain and Obstacles Data Team will then evaluate the protection provided by the beacon/light and either accept or reject the coverage provided by the beacon/light. (Caution: Flight Procedures Team members for other states may use a slightly different process. There is no guarantee of acceptance of the beacon’s/light’s coverage of the penetrations – this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.)