In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires-
"accident"
means an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned
aircraft, takes place between the time a person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked, or in the case of an unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time as it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which- (a) a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of- (i) being in the aircraft; (ii) direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft; or (iii) direct exposure to jet blast, except when the injuries are from natural causes, selfinflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or (b) the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which- (i) adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft; and (ii) would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component, except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to a single engine including its cowlings or accessories, to propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tyres, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aircraft skin such as small dents or puncture holes, or for minor damages to main rotor blades, tail rotor blades, landing gear, and those
resulting from hail or bird strike including holes in the radome; or (c) the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible;
"ACN"
means the Aircraft Classification Number;
"Act"
means the Civil Aviation Authority Act, Cap. 354;
"aerodrome"
means a defined area on land or water, including any buildings, installations and equipment, intended to be used either wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft;
"aerodrome beacon"
means an aeronautical beacon used to indicate the location of an aerodrome from the air;
"aerodrome certificate"
means a certificate issued by the authority under Part IV of these Regulations for the operation of an aerodrome;
"aerodrome elevation"
means the elevation of the highest point of the landing area;
"aerodrome facilities and equipment"
means facilities and equipment, inside or outside the boundaries of an aerodrome that are constructed or installed and maintained for the arrival, departure and surface movement of a n aircraft;
"aerodrome identification sign"
means a sign placed on an aerodrome to aid in identifying the aerodrome from the air;
"aerodrome licence"
means a licence to operate an aerodrome issued by the authority under Part III of these Regulations;
"aerodrome manual"
means the manual that forms part of the application for an aerodrome certificate or an aerodrome licence under these Regulations, including any amendments to the aerodrome manual, approved by the authority;
"aerodrome mapping data"
means data collected for the purpose of compiling aerodrome mapping information for aeronautical uses;
"aerodrome mapping database"
means a collection of aerodrome mapping data organised and arranged as a structured data set;
"aerodrome operator"
in relation to a certified or licensed aerodrome, means, the holder of an aerodrome certificate or licence;
"aerodrome reference code"
means a code used for planning purposes, to classify an aerodrome with respect to the critical aircraft characteristics for which the aerodrome is intended;
"aerodrome reference point"
means the designated geographical location of an aerodrome;
"aerodrome traffic density"
means- (a) light-where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is not greater than 15 per runway or typically less than 20 total aerodrome movements; (b) medium-where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is of the order of 16 to 25 per runway or typically between 20 to 35 total aerodrome movements;
(c)
heavy-where the number of movements in the mean busy hour is of the order of 26 or more per runway or typically more than 35 total aerodrome movements; "aeronautical beacon" means an aeronautical ground light visible at all azimuths, either continuously or intermittently, to designate a particular point on the surface of the earth; "aeronautical ground light" means any light provided as an aid to air navigation, other than a light displayed on an aircraft; "Aeronautical Information Circular" means a notice containing information that does not qualify for the origination of a NOTAM or for inclusion in the Aeronautical Information Publication, but which relates to flight safety, air navigation, technical, administrative or legislative matters; "Aeronautical Information Publication" means a publication issued by the authority containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation; "aeroplane" means a power driven heavier than an aircraft, deriving its lift in the flight chiefly from aerodynamic reactions on surfaces which remain fixed under a given conditions of flight; "aeroplane reference field length" means the minimum field length required for take-off at maximum certificated take- off mass, sea-level, standard atmospheric conditions, still air and zero runway slope, as shown in the appropriate aeroplane flight manual prescribed by the certificating authority or equivalent data from the aeroplane manufacturer, "AIRAC" means Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control;
"air traffic service"
means a flight information service, alerting service, air traffic advisory service, or air traffic control service; "air traffic service unit" means an air traffic control unit, flight information center or air traffic services reporting office; "aircraft" means any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth's surface; "Aircraft Classification Number (ACN)" means a number expressing the relative effect of an aircraft on a pavement for a specified standard subgrade category and shall remain in force up to 27 November 2024; "Aircraft Classification Rating (ACR)" means a number expressing the relative effect of an aircraft on a pavement for a specified standard subgrade category and shall come into force on 28 November 2024;
"aircraft stand"
means a designated area on an apron intended to be used for parking an aircraft; "Appeals Tribunal" means the Appeals Tribunal established under section
43
of the Act. "apron" means a defined area, on an aerodrome, intended to accommodate aircraft for purposes of loading or unloading of passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance; "apron management service" means a service provided to regulate the activities and the movement of aircraft and vehicles on an apron; "arresting system" means a system designed to decelerate an aeroplane overrunning the runway; "authority" means the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority;
"authorised person"
means any person authorised by the authority either generally or in relation to a particular case or class of cases and reference to an authorised person includes references to the holder for the time being of an office designated by the authority; "Autonomous Runway Incursion Warning System" means a system which provides autonomous detection of a potential incursion or of the occupancy of an active runway and a direct warning to a flight crew or a vehicle operator;
"azimuth"
means the angle measurement in a spherical cordinate system;
"balked landing"
means a landing manoeuver that is unexpectedly discontinued at any point below the obstacle clearance altitude or height (OCA/H);
"barrette"
means three or more aeronautical ground lights closely spaced in a transverse line so that from a distance they appear as a short bar of light;
"calendar"
means discrete temporal reference system that provides the basis for defining temporal position to a resolution of one day;
"capacitor discharge lights"
means a lamp in which high- intensity flashes of extremely short duration are produced by the discharge of electricity at high voltage through a gas enclosed in a tube;
"certified aerodrome"
means an aerodrome whose operator has been granted an aerodrome certificate; "clearway" means a defined rectangular area on the ground or water under the control of the aerodrome operator selected or prepared as a suitable area over which an aeroplane may make a portion of its initial climb to a specified height;
"contaminated runway"
means a runway is contaminated when a significant portion of the runway surface area, whether in isolated areas or not, within the length and width being used is covered by one or more of the substances listed in the runway surface condition descriptors;
"controlled aerodrome"
means an aerodrome where air traffic control services are provided;
"critical aircraft"
means the most demanding aircraft with regard to the aircraft performance and dimensions for a range of aircraft and for which the aerodrome facilities is intended;
"critical area"
means an area of defined dimensions extending about the ground antennae of a precision instrument approach equipment within which the presence of vehicles or aircraft will cause unacceptable disturbance of the guidance signals;
"cross wind component"
means the surface wind component at right angles to the runway center line;
"dangerous good"
means an article or substance which is capable of posing a risk to the health, safety, property or the environment;
"data accuracy"
means a degree of conformance between the estimated or measured value and the true value;
"data integrity (assurance level)"
means a degree of assurance that an aeronautical data and its value has not been lost or altered since the data origination or authorised amendment;
"data quality"
means a degree or level of confidence that the data provided meet the requirements of the data user in terms of accuracy, resolution and integrity or equivalent assurance level, traceability, timeliness, completeness and format; "datum" means any quantity or set of quantities that may serve as a reference or basis for the calculation of other quantities;
"declared distance"
means - "accelerate-stop distance available (ASDA)" which is the length of the take-off run available plus the length of the stop way, where provided; "landing distance available (LDA)" which is the length of the runway which is declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane landing; "take-off distance available (TODA)" which is the length of the take-off run available plus the length of the clearway, where provided; "take-off run available (TORA)" which is the length of runway declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aeroplane taking off; "dependent parallel approaches" means simultaneous approaches to parallel or near-parallel instrument runways where radar separation minima between aircraft on adjacent extended runway center lines are prescribed; "director general" means the director general of the authority appointed under section
14
of the Act; "displaced threshold" means a threshold not located at the extremity of a runway;
"DME"
means Distance Measuring Equipment;
"dry runway"
means a runway whose surface is free of visible moisture and not contaminated within the area intended to be used;
"effective intensity"
means the effective intensity of a flashing light is equal to the intensity of a fixed light of the same colour which will produce the same visual range under identical conditions of observation;
"ellipsoid height or geodetic height"
means the height related to the reference ellipsoid, measured along the ellipsoidal outer normal through the point in question;
"field length"
means balanced field length for aeroplane, where applicable, or take-off distance in other cases;
"fixed light"
means a light having constant luminous intensity when observed from a fixed point; "Foreign Object Debris (FOD)" means an inanimate object within the movement area which has no operational or aeronautical function and which has the potential to be a hazard to aircraft operations; "frangible object" means an object of low mass designed to break, distort or yield on impact so as to present the minimum hazard to aircraft; "geodetic datum" means a minimum set of parameters required to define location and orientation of the local reference system with respect to the global reference system or frame; "geoid" means the equipotential surface in the gravity field of the earth which coincides with the undisturbed Mean Sea Level (MSL) extended continuously through the continents;
"geoid undulation"
means the distance of the geoid above, or below, the mathematical reference ellipsoid; "GNSS" means the Global Navigation Satellite System; "Gregorian calendar" means the calendar in use first introduced in 1582 to define a year that more closely approximates the tropical year than the Julian calendar year; "hazard beacon" means an aeronautical beacon used to designate a danger to air navigation; "heliport" means an aerodrome or a defined area on a structure intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters; "holding bay" means a defined area where aircraft can be held, or bypassed, to facilitate efficient surface movement of aircraft; "hot spot" means a location on an aerodrome movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention by pilots or drivers is necessary; "human factors principles" means principles which apply to aeronautical design, certification, training, operations and maintenance and which seek safe interface between the human and other system components by proper consideration to human performance; "human performance" means human capabilities and limitations which have impact on the safety and efficiency of aeronautical operations; "identification beacon" means an aeronautical beacon emitting a coded signal by means of which a particular point of reference can be identified;
"ILS"
means Instrument Landing System;
"incident"
means an occurrence other than an accident associated with the operation of an aircraft, which affect or may affect the safety of operation of aircraft; "independent parallel approaches" means simultaneous approaches to parallel or near-parallel instrument runways where radar separation minima between aircraft on adjacent extended runway center lines are not prescribed; "independent parallel departures" means simultaneous departures from parallel or near-parallel instrument runways; "instrument runway" means one of the following types of runways intended for the operation of aircraft using instrument approach procedures- (a) "non- precision approach runway" means a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type A and a visibility of not less than 1000m; (b) "precision approach runway, category I" means a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) not lower than 200ft and either a visibility of not less than 800m or a runway visual range of not less than 550m; (c)"precision approach runway, category II" means a runway served by visual aids and non- visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) lower than 200ft but not lower than 100ft and a runway visual range of not less than 300m;
(d)
"precision approach runway category III"
means a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) lower than 100ft, or no decision height and a runway visual range of less than 300m, or no runway visual range limitations;
Note: visual aids need not necessarily be matched to the scale of non- visual aids provided. The criterion for the selection of visual aids is the conditions in which operations are intended to be conducted;
"integrity classification"
means a classification based upon the potential risk resulting from the use of corrupted data, and aeronautical data is classified as- (a) routine data: where there is a very low probability when using the corrupted routine data that the continued safe flight and landing of an aircraft would be severely at risk with the potential for catastrophe; (b) essential data: where there is a low probability when using the corrupted essential data that the continued safe flight and landing of an aircraft would be severely at risk with the potential for catastrophe; and (c) critical data: where there is a high probability when using the corrupted critical data that the continued safe flight and landing of an aircraft would be severely at risk with the potential for catastrophe; "intermediate holding position" means a designated position intended for traffic control at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles shall stop and hold until they are cleared to proceed, when so instructed by the aerodrome control tower;
"landing area"
means that part of a movement area intended for the landing or take-off of aircraft;
"landing direction indicator"
means a device to indicate visually the direction currently designated for landing and take-off;
"laser-beam critical flight zone (LCFZ)"
means airspace in the proximity of an aerodrome but beyond the LFFZ where the irradiance is restricted to a level unlikely to cause glare effects;
"laser-beam free flight zone (LFFZ)"
means airspace in the immediate proximity of the aerodrome where the irradiance is restricted to a level unlikely to cause any visual disruption;
"laser-beam sensitive flight zone (LSFZ)"
means airspace outside, and not necessarily contiguous with, the LFFZ and LCFZ where the irradiance is restricted to a level unlikely to cause flash-blindness or after-image effects;
"lighting system reliability"
means the probability that the complete installation operates within the specified tolerances and that the system is operationally usable;
"manoeuvring area"
means that part of an aerodrome to be used for the take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, excluding aprons;
"marker"
means an object displayed above ground level in order to indicate an obstacle or delineate a boundary;
"marking"
means a symbol or group of symbols displayed on the surface of the movement area in order to convey aeronautical information;
"movement area"
means that part of an aerodrome to be used for take-off, landing and taxiing of aircraft, consisting of the manoeuvering area and t h e apron;
"NDB"
means non-directional radio beacon; "near-parallel runways" means non-intersecting runways whose extended center lines have an angle of convergence or divergence of 15 degrees or less; "non-instrument runway" means a runway intended for the operation of aircraft using visual approach procedures or an instrument approach procedure to a point beyond which the approach may continue in visual meteorological conditions;
"normal flight zone (NFZ)"
means airspace not defined as LFFZ, LCFZ or LSFZ but which must be protected from laser radiation capable of causing biological damage to the eye;
"NOTAM"
means a notice distributed by means of telecommunication containing information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel concerned with flight operations;
"obstacle"
means allf ixed, whether temporary or permanent, and mobile object, or part of that object, that-
(a)
is located on an area intended for the surface movement of aircraft;
(b)
extends above a defined surface intended to protect aircraft in flight; or
(c)
stands outside those defined surfaces and has been assessed as being a hazard to air navigation;
"obstacle free zone (OFZ)"
means the airspace above the inner approach surface, inner transitional surfaces, the balked landing surface and that portion of the strip bounded by these surfaces, which is not penetrated by any fixed obstacle other than a low-mass and frangibly mounted one required for air navigation purposes; "obstacle limitation surfaces" means a series of surfaces that define the volume of airspace at and around an aerodrome to be kept free of obstacles in order to permit the intended aircraft operations to be conducted safely and to prevent the aerodrome from becoming unusable by the growth of obstacles around the aerodrome; "orthometric height" means height of a point related to the geoid, generally presented as an MSL elevation; "OPS" means Obstacle Protection Surface;
"Outer Main Gear Wheel Span (OMGWS) means the distance between the outside edges of the main gear wheels; "Pavement Classification Number (PCN)" means a number expressing the bearing strength of a pavement for unrestricted operations and shall remain in force until 27 November 2024;
"Pavement Classification Rating (PCR)"
means a number expressing the bearing strength of a pavement and shall come into force on the 28 November 2024; "precision approach runway" means one of the following types of runways- (a) "precision approach runway, category I" which is a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids, intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) not lower than 200ft and either
a visibility of not less than 800m or a runway visual range of not less than 550m; (b) "precision approach runway, category II" which is a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) lower than 200ft but not lower than 100ft and a runway visual range not less than 300m; (c) "precision approach runway category III" which is a runway served by visual aids and non-visual aids intended for landing operations following an instrument approach operation type B with a decision height (DH) lower than 100ft, or no decision height and a runway visual range less than 300m, or no runway visual range limitations;
"prescribed"
means prescribed by the authority in circulars, orders, notices, aeronautical publications and any other related technical guidance material;
"primary runway"
means a runway used in preference to others whenever conditions permit;
"protected flight zones"
means an airspace specifically designated to mitigate the hazardous effects of laser radiation;
"relevant authority"
means any authority other than the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority whose action may be necessary or complimentary for the implementation of these Regulations;
"RFF"
means rescue and fire-fighting;
"road"
means an established surface route on the movement area meant for the exclusive use of vehicles;
"road-holding position"
means a designated position at which vehicles may be required to hold;
"runway"
means a defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft;
"runway condition assessment matrix (RCAM)"
means a matrix allowing the assessment of the runway condition code, using associated procedures, from a set of observed runway surface conditions and pilot report of braking action;
"runway condition code (RWYCC)"
means a number describing the runway surface condition to be used in the runway condition report;
"runway condition report (RCR)"
means a comprehensive standardised report relating to the runway surface condition and its effect on the aeroplane landing and take-off performance;
"runway end safety area (RESA)"
means an area symmetrical about the extended runway center line and adjacent to the end of the strip primarily intended to reduce the risk of damage to an aeroplane undershooting or overrunning the runway;
"runway guard lights"
means a light system intended to caution pilots or vehicle drivers that they are about to enter an active runway;
"runway-holding position"
means a designated position intended to protect a runway, an obstacle limitation
surface, or an ILS or Microwave Landing System critical or sensitive area at which taxiing aircraft and vehicles shall stop and hold, unless otherwise authorised by the aerodrome control tower;
"runway strip"
means a defined area including the runway and stopway, where provided, intended-
(a)
to reduce the risk of damage to aircraft running off a runway; and
(b)
to protect aircraft flying over it during take-off or landing operations;
"runway surface condition"
means a description of the condition of the runway surface used in the runway condition report which establishes the basis for the determination of the runway condition code for aeroplane performance purposes;
"runway turn pad"
means a defined area on a land aerodrome adjacent to a runway for the purpose of completing a 180-degree turn on a runway;
"Runway Visual Range (RVR)"
means the range over which a pilot of an aircraft on the center line of a runway can see the runway surface markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its center line;
"safety"
means a state in which the risks associated with aviation activities, related to, or indirect support of the aircraft, a reduced and controlled to acceptable level;
"safety management system"
means a systematic approach to managing safety including the necessary organisational structure, accountabilities, policies and procedures;
"segregated parallel operations"
means simultaneous operations on parallel or near-parallel instrument runways in which one runway is used exclusively for approaches and the other runway is used exclusively for departures; "short take-off and landing airport (STOLPORT)" means an airport designed for aircraft that can do short take-offs and landings and only require a short runway;
"shoulder"
means an area adjacent to the edge of a pavement, prepared to provide a transition between the pavement and the adjacent surface; "sign" means - (a) a fixed message sign that is a sign presenting only one message; or (b) a variable message sign, that is, a sign capable of presenting several predetermined messages or no message, as applicable; "signal area" means an area on an aerodrome used for the display of ground signals; "slippery wet runway" means a wet runway where the surface friction characteristics of a significant portion of the runway have been determined to be degraded; "SMGCS" means surface movement guidance and control systems; "standing water" means water of depth greater than 3 mm;
"station declination"
means an alignment variation between the zero degree radial of a VOR and true north, determined at the time the VOR station is calibrated; "stopway" means a defined rectangular area on the ground at the end of the take-off run available, prepared as a
suitable area in which an aircraft can be stopped in the case of an abandoned take-off;
"switch-over time"
means the time required for the actual intensity of a light measured in a given direction to fall from 50 percent and recover to 50 perc ent during a power supply change-over, when the light is being operated at intensities of 25 percent or above;
"take-off runway"
means a runway intended for take-off only;
"taxiway"
means a defined path on a land aerodrome established for the taxiing of aircraft and intended to provide a link between one part of the aerodrome and another, and includes- (a) aircraft stand taxilane which is a portion of an apron designated as a taxiway and intended to provide access to aircraft stands only; (b) an apron taxiway which is a portion of a taxiway system located on an apron and intended to provide a through taxi route across the apron; and (c) a rapid exit taxiway which is a taxiway connected to a runway at an acute angle and designed to allow landing aircrafts to turn off at higher speeds than are achieved on other exit taxiways thereby minimising runway occupancy times; "taxiway intersection" means a junction of two or more taxiways; "taxiway strip" means an area including a taxiway intended to protect aircraft operating on a taxiway and to reduce the risk of damage to an aircraft accidentally running off the taxiway; "threshold" means the beginning of that portion of the runway usable for landing;
"touchdown zone"
means the portion of a runway beyond the threshold, where it is intended landing aeroplanes first contact the runway; "unserviceable area" means a part of the movement area that is unfit and unavailable for use by aircraft;
"usability factor"
means the percentage of time during which the use of a runway or system of runways is not restricted because of the crosswind component;
"vicinity"
means a defined airspace around an aerodrome for control of obstacles and comprises obstacle limitation surfaces around the aerodrome and may extend to a radius of fifteen kilometers from the aerodrome reference point, to a height of five hundred feet above ground level;
"VOR"
means Very High Frequency (VHF) Omnidirectional Radio Range;
"wet runway"
means the runway surface is covered by visible dampness or water up to and including 3 mm deep within the intended area of use;
"wildlife"
means feral birds and animals, including domestic animals out of the control of their owners;
"wildlife hazard"
means the presence of wildlife that could result in damage to an aircraft;
