FAA 2C (Aviation)

Available with Aviation Airports license.

Available with Aviation Charting license.

Summary

Generates an Obstruction Identification Surface (OIS) for helipads based on specifications from FAA Advisory Circular 150/5390-2C.

This tool can be used to identify obstacles that may impact an aircraft's ability to take off from or land on a helipad. By creating multipatch or polygon features, you can visually identify obstructions in ArcGIS Pro.

Usage

  • The Input FATO Surface parameter must be z-enabled and have a defined vertical coordinate system.

  • This tool creates the OIS in an existing polygon or multipatch feature class. The OIS can also be generated in an existing polygon shapefile. If a feature class is provided for the Target OIS Features parameter, it must have a vertical spatial reference.

  • To create a JSON file for the Custom JSON File parameter, use the CustomizeOIS.exe file that is part of the ArcGIS Aviation data package available from My Esri.

  • OIS tools are flexible and accept a variety of input and output feature class types. For more information, see the OIS Input and Output schemas.

  • If you select the Curved Surface option for the Surface Shape parameter, you must provide polyline features in the Input Flight Path Features parameter for the surface to follow.

    Curved approach surface for helipads

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input FATO Features

The input Final Approach and Takeoff (FATO) features.

Feature Layer
Target OIS Features

The target polygon or multipatch feature layer containing the Obstruction Identification Surfaces (OIS).

Feature Layer
Surface Classification

Specifies the classification type of the Final Approach and Takeoff (FATO) surface.

  • Non Prior Permission Required (PPR) FacilitiesPublically available helipads for general use by pilots. This is the default.
  • Prior Permission Required (PPR) FacilitiesA heliport used exclusively by the owner and individuals authorized by the owner to use the facility.
String
Surface Shape
(Optional)

Specifies the shape of the take off or approach surface.

  • Straight SurfaceThe take off or approach surface is straight. This is the default.
  • Curved SurfaceThe take off or approach surface is curved.
String
Approach Bearing
(Optional)

The absolute bearing that an approaching aircraft will travel along the surface. A value of 0 will align the surface to true north. The default value is 0.

Double
Input Flight Path Features
(Optional)

The polyline flight path features that the curved surface will follow.

Feature Layer
Helipad Elevation
(Optional)

The elevation of the highest point of the helipad. The value must be in the vertical coordinate system linear units of the target feature class. If no value is provided, the highest point of the Input FATO Features parameter value will be used. The default value is 0.

Double
Custom JSON File
(Optional)

The import configuration file, in JSON format, that creates the custom OIS.

File

Derived Output

LabelExplanationData Type
Output OIS Features

The updated feature class containing the generated OIS.

Feature Layer

arcpy.aviation.FAA2C(input_fato_features, target_ois_features, surface_classification, {surface_shape}, {approach_bearing}, {in_flightpath_features}, {helipad_elevation}, {custom_json_file})
NameExplanationData Type
input_fato_features

The input Final Approach and Takeoff (FATO) features.

Feature Layer
target_ois_features

The target polygon or multipatch feature layer containing the Obstruction Identification Surfaces (OIS).

Feature Layer
surface_classification

Specifies the classification type of the Final Approach and Takeoff (FATO) surface.

  • NON_PRIOR_PERMISSION_REQUIRED_FACILITIESPublically available helipads for general use by pilots. This is the default.
  • PRIOR_PERMISSION_REQUIRED_FACILITIESA heliport used exclusively by the owner and individuals authorized by the owner to use the facility.
String
surface_shape
(Optional)

Specifies the shape of the take off or approach surface.

  • STRAIGHT_SURFACEThe take off or approach surface is straight. This is the default.
  • CURVED_SURFACEThe take off or approach surface is curved.
String
approach_bearing
(Optional)

The absolute bearing that an approaching aircraft will travel along the surface. A value of 0 will align the surface to true north. The default value is 0.

Double
in_flightpath_features
(Optional)

The polyline flight path features that the curved surface will follow.

Feature Layer
helipad_elevation
(Optional)

The elevation of the highest point of the helipad. The value must be in the vertical coordinate system linear units of the target feature class. If no value is provided, the highest point of the input_fato_features parameter value will be used. The default value is 0.

Double
custom_json_file
(Optional)

The import configuration file, in JSON format, that creates the custom OIS.

File

Derived Output

NameExplanationData Type
derived_outfeatureclass

The updated feature class containing the generated OIS.

Feature Layer

Code sample

FAA2C example 1 (stand-alone script)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the FAA2C function to create straight approach and takeoff surfaces.

# Name: FAA2C_Straight_Surface_example.py
# Description: Generates a straight obstruction identification surface (OIS) for
# helipads based on specifications from FAA Advisory Circular 5390-2C.

import arcpy

# Check out Aviation license

arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Aeronautical")

# Set variables

input_fato_features = r'C:\Data\Airports.gdb\Helipads'

target_ois_features = r'C:\Data\Airports.gdb\ObstructionIdSurface_MP'

surface_classification = "NON_PRIOR_PERMISSION_REQUIRED_FACILITIES"

surface_shape = "STRAIGHT_SURFACE"

approach_bearing = 90.0

helipad_elevation = 121.0

custom_json_file = r'C:\Data\config.json'

# Execute FAA 2C

arcpy.aviation.FAA2C(input_fato_features, target_ois_features, surface_classification,
                     surface_shape, approach_bearing, helipad_elevation, custom_json_file)

# Check in Aviation license

arcpy.CheckInExtension("Aeronautical")
FAA2C example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the FAA2C function to create curved approach and takeoff surfaces.

# Name: FAA2C_Curved_Surface_example.py
# Description: Generates a straight obstruction identification surface (OIS) for
# helipads based on specifications from FAA Advisory Circular 5390-2C.

import arcpy

# Check out Aviation license

arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Aeronautical")

# Set variables

input_fato_features = r'C:\Data\Airports.gdb\Helipads'

target_ois_features = r'C:\Data\Airports.gdb\ObstructionIdSurface_MP'

surface_classification = "NON_PRIOR_PERMISSION_REQUIRED_FACILITIES"

surface_shape = "CURVED_SURFACE"

in_flightpath_features = r'C:\Data\Airports.gdb\FlightPath'

helipad_elevation = 121.0

custom_json_file = r'C:\Data\config.json'

# Execute FAA 2C

arcpy.aviation.FAA2C(input_fato_features, target_ois_features, surface_classification,
                     surface_shape, in_flightpath_features, helipad_elevation, custom_json_file)

# Check in Aviation license

arcpy.CheckInExtension("Aeronautical")

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments.

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Airports, ArcGIS Aviation Charting
  • Advanced: No

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