Arlington Municipal Airport Development Plan Arlington Airport Development Plan | Page 203
Layout Drawing (ALD) approved in June 2009 indicated an existing ARC C‐II and ultimate ARC C‐III plan‐
ning standard for Arlington Municipal Airport.
TABLE 5A
Runway Design Code
Arlington Municipal Airport
Planned Runway
Design Code*
16‐34
C‐III‐4000
*The ultimate ARC for Arlington Municipal Airport is C‐III based upon the RDC designation.
Runway
INSTRUMENT APPROACH AND RUNWAY PROTECTION ZONE ANALYSIS
As detailed earlier, straight‐in instrument approach procedures are offered on Runway 34 and include
the ILS, GPS, and very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) with distance measuring equipment
(DME) approaches. Historically, the ILS and GPS approaches allowed for visibility minimums down to
¾‐mile.
Shortly after the onset of the Development Plan in 2014, the Airport’s medium intensity approach
lighting system with sequenced flashing lights (MALSF) was upgraded to a medium intensity approach
lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights (MALSR). The MALSR is a more sophisticated
system, and can allow for visibility minimums down to ½‐mile. Once the MALSR was installed, the FAA
moved to develop and publish updated ILS and GPS approaches with ½‐mile visibility minimums that
took effect in July 2014.
However, after coordination with the City of Arlington and TxDOT, it was determined that the Airport
would pursue the request to increase visibility minimums back to ¾‐mile in an effort to enhance safety
of persons and property on the ground inside the RPZ and eliminate the need to acquire land and un‐
dertake other costly improvements in order to satisfy airport operations. The Airport requested in
February 2015 that the ILS and GPS approaches be amended back to ¾‐mile visibility minimums, and
since this time, the FAA has followed through with the request. Exhibit 5B details the published ILS
and GPS instrument approach procedures and their corresponding visibility minimums that are cur‐
rently in effect on Runway 34. The remainder of this Development Plan and subsequent Airport Layout
Plan (ALP) drawing set will consider existing and ultimate ¾‐mile visibility minimums associated with
Runway 34. Exhibit 5C depicts the corresponding approach RPZ that has been implemented on the
runway.
Three factors led to this decision. First, the previously approved ALD associated with the 2008 Master
Plan indicated that the nine residences would be located within the RPZ, without proposing a remedia‐
tion since TxDOT and the FAA allowed such at that time. Since then, the FAA has strengthened its posi‐
tion on incompatible land uses. If the ½‐mile visibility minimums were retained, the FAA would require
a disposition for the homes within the expanded RPZ.
Chapter Five - 6