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Foreword

Please note the following changes to the information below.

Manual procurement

This manual is published in separate French language and English language editions:

  • Aérodromes - Normes et Pratiques Recommandées - TP312F
  • Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices - TP312E

To view/download alternate formats of this publication, visit Transport Canada's Online Publications Storefront.

If you would like to receive hard copies of the documents, contact the Transport Canada Publication Order Desk at 1-888-830-4911 or by email at MPS@tc.gc.ca

For general information, contact the Civil Aviation Communications Centre at 1-800-305-2059 or services@tc.gc.ca

Application

The specifications contained in this manual are applicable to land airports which are certified pursuant to the Air Regulations PartIII. Airports which were certified in accordance with the Standards and Recommended Practices contained in previous editions of this manual may, except where otherwise specified, maintain the airport in accordance with the specifications applicable at the time of certification.

Where the airport, portions of the airport or its facilities are rehabilitated, replaced, refurbished or improved, the specifications contained in this edition of the manual shall apply.

Status of manual components

This manual serves as the authoritative document for airport specifications, including physical characteristics, obstacle limitations surfaces, lighting, markers, marking and signs. It uses the ICAO phraseology of "standard" or "recommended practice" to identify specifications which are considered to have a direct impact on the safety of flight from those which effect only operational efficiency. These terms are defined as:

Standard: A standard includes any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, material, performance, personnel or procedure; the uniform application of which is recognized as necessary for the safety or regularity of air navigation and to which operators will conform. Standards. identified by the use of the verb "shall", are mandatory for certification unless a deviation has been approved.
 

Recommended Practice: Any specification for physical characteristics, configuration, material, performance, personnel or procedure; the uniform application of which is recognized as desirable in the interest of safety, regularity or efficiency of air navigation, and to which operators will endeavour to conform. Specifications designated as recommended practices are identified by the verb "should".

Appendices, annexes, tables or figures, which are used to amplify or illustrate standards or recommended practices, are considered to form part of the main document and therefore have the same status as the primary text.

Notes and attachments comprise material supplementary to the Standards and Recommended Practices or are included as a guide to their application.

Some standards and recommended practices in this document incorporate, by reference, other specifications, standards and recommended practices such as Airport Authority Group Documents. In such cases, the text of these references becomes part of the TP312, Standards and Recommended Practices.

Editorial practices

The following practices have been adhered to in order to indicate at a glance the status of each statement; Standards have been printed in light face gothic the status being indicated by the prefix Standard; Recommended Practices have been printed in light face gothic, the status being indicated by the prefix Recommendation. Notes have been printed in light face italics, the status being indicated by the prefix Note.

The following editorial practice has been followed in the writing of specification for Standards, the operative verb "shall" is used, and for Recommended Practices the operative verb "should" is used.

In some cases it has been recognized during the design of a specification that uniform application may not be possible. This has been recognized within the specification by the use of "if practicable" ,"where physically practicable" or other similar wording. In such cases, the final authority as to the application of the specification concerned rests with the Certifying Authority.

Manual procurement

This manual is published in separate French language and English language editions:

  • Aérodromes - Normes et Pratiques Recommandées - TP312F
  • Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices - TP312E

Copies of both editions are available from:

Transport Canada
AANDHD
Ottawa, Ontario Canada
K1A 0N8

Tel.: (613) 991-9970
Fax: (613) 998-7416

Date modified:
2012-01-23