PDToolKit is the next generation of software that provides CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools for specialists working and training in instrument procedures and airspace design, in the criteria of your choice.

The PDToolKit application has been authored and integrated within the native environment of the most popular CAD systems available in the market place today. These include Bentley’s MicroStation , Autodesk’s AutoCAD and IntelliCAD

Unique features such as the Minimum Altitude Analysis Engine (MAAE) and Microsoft ActiveX technology puts the PDToolKit suite in a generation ahead of it’s competitors.

Importantly, the ActiveX capability also means that your existing Windows based CAD or GIS system can utilise PDToolKit without the need to replace and 'relearn' a CAD system. This is an important consideration for many prospective users, both financially and in terms of specialist/IT user 'acceptability'.

The concept of PDToolKit is readily apparent from the name. The authors wished to provide a collection of tools to use in the CAD environment - a true ‘toolkit’ to complement the skills of the professional, eliminating the tedium and errors of long and repetitive drawing and calculation routines. PDToolKit has not been designed to ‘automate’ the process of procedures design, but rather to ‘aid’ it in the CAD environment. The intention is to complement the designer’s experience, skills, and intuitive judgement, with an easy to use tool set and recording facility. Database connectivity and obstacle analysis provide vital safety and quality features to ensure consistency and data integrity throughout the AIS change workflow.

In the computer environment, PDToolKit can quickly improve productivity and accuracy, as well as provide the power to consider variations or alternatives which were previously impractical to experiment with.

PDToolKit permits the safe and rapid proofing of the new data sets arising from the global WGS 84 programme, and will help designers conform to changes generated by the ongoing activities in the common quality managed environment of AIS using Database exchange.

PDToolKit is distinctive in that it has true 3D functionality and analysis capability. It is not limited to 2D drawing tasks requiring output to traditional tracing and paper map environments, instead, PDToolKit provides true analysis and interrogation of data capability. The software will interface with an existing client database or DTM (digital terrain model) type data source providing a true 3D design environment

PDToolKit PANS-OPS

PDToolKit has been written directly from the base principles and formulae prescribed in the current principal documents applying to procedures and instrument design. These include Document 8168, ANNEX 14 ‘Aerodrome Design and Operations’, FAA TERPS and the complementary advisory publications from Eurocontrol (TARA). PDToolKit complies with all the appropriate criteria.

PDToolKit TERPS

PDToolKit has been written directly from the base principles and formulae prescribed in the current United States Standard principal documents applying to procedures and instrument design i.e. the 8260 series and Doc 7130. When implemented in the application, PDToolKit complies with the appropriate criteria.

Key features

• Base calculator sets for all unit conversions and repetitive calculation routines (airspeed, turns, missed approach points etc).

• Drawing of aircraft nominal turn components (Single, Base, 45/180, 80/260 and Racetrack) with options for Tolerance and wind affected turns, using the true wind spiral method of calculation and construction.
• The protection areas of all turns, including Base, 45/180, 80/60 and Racetrack with options, where applicable, for Tolerances, NDB/VOR and construction of Wind Spirals. Holding and course reversal procedures can also be constructed.
• Graphical depiction of fix tolerance areas for NDB/VOR as position fix tolerance or cone effect areas and dynamic DME tolerance arcs.
• Depicting 3D en-route navigation, navigation tolerance areas for NDB/VOR/LLZ/DME arrival and departure/ missed approach segments.
• Drawing the 3D basic ILS and OAS surfaces to any specified contour height.

• RNAV module for GNSS and VOR/DME or DME/DME implementations with full calculation and graphical procedure building tools.
• A Microsoft Windows environment for CRM input and analysis (PDToolKit CRM Database).
• Depiction of circling areas for nominated runways and analysis of minimum's.
• Depiction of holding areas and protection surfaces with analysis of minimum holding levels and separation from other airspace.
• Comprehensive Obstacle management tools to create, query, view and locate with the Obstacle Inference Analysis Engine (OIAE) for obstacle/surface penetration information.
• Seed templates available for common ICAO format charts and extensive supporting cell library.
• MAAE (Minimum Altitude Analysis Engine) functionality for automatic calculation of minimum altitudes with varying MOC settings by utilising 3D drawing elements interrogating DTM, manually entered or dBase sourced obstacles complemented by the full functionality of the chosen CAD platform for creation of a managed projection environment, direct input by real-world coordinates, object placement, rotation, attribute attachment, output to PostScript® for print/plotting etc.
• Full audit record file capability with attachment to work files.
• ANNEX 14 Obstacle Limitation Surfaces can be constructed including Conical, Inner Horizontal, Inner Approach, Approach, Transitional, Inner Transitional, Balked Landing and departure surfaces.

Aerodromes ANNEX14 Surface Modeller

This part of PDToolKit allows the construction of the Aerodromes ANNEX14 surfaces in full 3D to assist in the obstacle planning, restriction and analysis.

Conical, Inner Horizontal, Inner Approach, Approach, Transitional, Inner Transitional and Balked Landing obstacle limitation surfaces can be constructed. Up to four runways can be defined in the selection for Conical and Inner Horizontal surfaces, with options for type of approach and code numbers for maximum flexibility. Departure surfaces are also available allowing both straight and turned routes away.

When these surfaces have been created, the Obstacle Inference Analysis Engine (OIAE) in PDToolKit can be used to give extensive details of obstacle penetration distances. These are displayed on the screen or through a file that can be imported into the Microsoft Office suite of applications, such as Excel.

CRM database

The CRM Database is a stand-alone Windows application designed to work with Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT/ 2000 and is available as a separate module to those where only CRM database functionality is required.

This is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) front-end application to assist in the use of the ICAO CRM (Collision Risk Model) analysis computer program. The interface has been designed to use the common features in Microsoft Windows including the use of ToolTips where applicable to store the standard input analysis file through simple dialogue boxes allowing the user to build multiple cases, modify and add new data instead of editing ASCII text files. Importantly, runway obstacles can be exchanged with PDToolKit PANOPS drawings allowing for obstacle input through the CRM application.

RNAV Module

This module is divided into three areas, based on the references in Doc.8168/OPS611 and EuroControl’s ‘Guidance Material for the Design of Terminal Procedures for DME/DME and GNSS Area Navigation’.

Basic GNSS

Provides tools for obtaining tables values and drawing of construction lines for, the ICAO area semi-widths applicable to basic GNSS receivers for the various flight phases associated with arrival and departure procedures and is complemented by the RNAV sections in the PDToolKit Aviation Calculator.

VOR/DME

Provides details on the calculation of values for and drawing of the ICAO area semi-widths applicable to RNAV Approach Procedures based on VOR/DME.

DME/DME

Provides details on the calculation of values for and drawing of the ICAO area semi-widths applicable to RNAV Approach Procedures based on DME/DME.

3D Graphics

Where possible the construction of the graphics from PDToolKit will contain 3D information for use with other features, such as the height and obstacle analysis. The majority of graphics are drawn using 3D surfaces which allows the CAD system to perform both hidden line and shaded views of the procedures.

Calculators

PDToolKit includes a set of aviation diaogue based calculators to assist the designer with calculations, these can be found inside the CAD system through the PDToolKit menu and also as a separate Windows application.

The calculators assist in DME Tolerance, Missed Approach points, conversions between units, TAS, RNAV minimum distances and RNAV nominal track distances.

Product Information Downloads
• PANS-OPS (527 KB)	• TERPS (406 KB)

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