[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40906-40907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15956]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Notice of Policy; Amendments of the IACC Technical Specifications 
for the World Aeronautical Chart Series

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

SUMMARY: This notice announces amendments to the technical 
specification in the Interagency Air Cartographic Committee 
Specifications that address the depiction of man-made obstructions 500 
feet or more above ground level (AGL) on the World Aeronautical Chart 
series.

DATES: This policy is effective on December 18, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George P. Sempeles, System Operations 
Airspace and Aeronautical Information Management, AJR-32, FAA, 800 
Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-9290.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Documents

    You can get an electronic copy of this document using the Internet 
by--
    1. Visiting the FAA's Regulations and Policies Web page at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/; or
    2. Accessing the Government Printing Offices' Web page at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/indes.html.

Background

    The Interagency Air Cartographic Committee (IACC) is comprised of 
representatives of the Department of Defense and the FAA, who develop 
technical specifications for use in the preparation of the United 
States Government World Aeronautical Charts (WAC) and the Operational 
Navigation Charts.
    The WAC provides a standard series of aeronautical charts covering 
land areas at a size and scale convenient for navigation by moderate-
speed aircraft at high altitudes within the low altitude airspace 
structure. These charts are used for flight planning and in-flight 
navigation by VFR pilots on extended cross country flight. Because of 
their smaller scale, these charts do not depict as much detailed 
information as appears on the Sectional and Terminal Area Charts. WACs 
are not recommended for exclusive use by pilots of low speed, low 
altitude aircraft because certain information is not depicted.
    Currently and in accordance with the IACC 3 specifications, 
obstructions exceeding 200 feet AGL in height (300 feet AGL in densely 
populated areas) are charted on the WAC, if the obstruction's location 
is critical and space permits. Charting these low level obstructions 
provides limited value to pilots during cross country flight and adds 
to chart clutter reducing legibility. With the advancements in onboard 
navigational databases, the aviation community has requested that 
additional information be added to the WAC to support using these 
database systems

Policy Change

    The FAA recognizes the need to incorporate new information on 
public aeronautical charts in support of technological advancements in 
air navigation techniques. The FAA also recognizes the need to reduce 
clutter on public aeronautical charts in order to maintain legibility 
while supporting the intended use of these products.
    In reviewing industry's request, the IACC concluded that the 
addition of this new information would increase congestion on the 
charts and that it is necessary to modify the technical specifications 
that require the charting

[[Page 40907]]

of low-level obstructions to reduce chart clutter. On April 14, 2008, 
the IACC amended the technical specifications in IACC 3 that govern the 
construction and maintenance of WACs to depict only those man-made 
obstructions equal to or greater than 500 feet AGL. The larger scale 
Sectional and Terminal Area charts, which contain greater detail, will 
continue to depict man-made obstructions to the maximum extent allowed 
by IACC 2. The first WAC published under the new specifications will be 
on December 18, 2008.
    In keeping with U.S. obligations under the Convention on 
International Civil Aviation, it is FAA policy to comply with 
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and 
Recommended Practices to the maximum extent practicable. The FAA 
reviewed the corresponding ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices set 
forth in ICAO Annex 4. Because the FAA shall continue to use the 300 
foot obstruction height in charts with a scale of 1:500,000, it is 
permissible to use the new WAC obstacle height of 500 feet while still 
meeting the intent of paragraph 16.9.3.1 of ICAO Annex 4. Nevertheless, 
the FAA will identify the following difference: On the WAC series, only 
obstacles 500 feet or greater AOL will be depicted versus the ICAO SARP 
of depicting obstacles 300 feet or greater AGL.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 3, 2008.
Richard V. Powell,
Manager, Aeronautical Information Services.
[FR Doc. E8-15956 Filed 7-15-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M