Attachment 19
GUIDELINES FOR ESTABLISHING THE BUILDING RESTRICTION LINE AT USAF BASES
A19.1. Overview. In Jan 00, the Chief of Staff directed formation of a USAF tiger team to address
reducing the number of airfield obstructions. To facilitate this effort, the Deputy Chiefs of Staff for
Operations, Safety, and Civil Engineering directed that the MAJCOMs provide a listing of airfield
obstructions at their bases, along with a cost estimate to remove them. Because many of the obstructions
listed were high cost facilities that were constructed under previous less stringent standards, and therefore,
exempt from compliance with current standards, HQ USAF/XOO and ILE issued a policy memorandum
directing that Building Restriction Lines (BRLs) be established at the predominant line and height of
flight-line facilities at each base. This policy memorandum also authorized further development within the
boundaries established by the BRLs without waiver. The guidelines they established for creating the
Building Restriction Lines are provided below to establish a record of the rationale used to accomplish this
work and the policy for continued growth within the exempt area. Policy for future modification of BRLs
was added to these guidelines for publication within this manual. See paragraph A19.7.
A19.1.1. General Information. The Building Restriction Line (BRL) is defined as "A line which
identifies suitable building area locations on airports." For civilian airports, it is described in Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular 150/5300-13. For USAF installations, the BRL will
have the same meaning; however, it will be established at a different location than at civilian airports.
Generally, the distance from the runway centerline will be greater. However, in some cases, it may be
slightly less than it would be if established in accordance with civil standards.
A19.1.2. The purpose in establishing BRLs on USAF bases is to identify the area where facilities were
constructed under previous standards (exempt facilities) and eliminate waivers for other facilities
constructed within this area after the lateral clearance distance standards changed in 1964. This
clarifies existing policy for exempt facilities and creates new policy for new construction and land use
to allow continued but controlled development without waiver. This will significantly reduce the
administrative burden imposed by the airfield waiver program without increasing risk to flight or
ground safety. It will allow continued growth at bases with land constraints and will continue to
protect existing airspace. Use the following information to establish your BRL.
A19.2. Establishing the BRL at a base. Establish the BRL laterally from the runway centerline at the
predominant line of facilities. The lateral line may have right angles that form indentations or pockets but
must exclude all objects and/or facilities that affect existing or planned Terminal Approach and Departure
Procedures (TERPS) criteria for your runway, and the 3,000 by 3,000-foot Clear Zone area. See Figure
A19.1 for a plan view of a typical BRL. Using the same methodology as described above, establish an
elevation control line at the predominant roofline of the facilities within the area formed between the lateral
BRL and the Lateral Clearance Distance boundary. This line will terminate at its intersection with the
Transitional Surface, or at the base boundary, whichever occurs first. See Figure A19.2 for a profile view
of a typical BRL.
A19.3. Status of existing and future facilities and obstructions within the area. All facilities beyond
and beneath the control lines will be exempt from waiver and obstruction marking and lighting
requirements. However, it is imperative that obstruction lighting be maintained along the periphery of the
BRL control line. Therefore, maintain obstruction marking and lighting on the facilities used to form the
BRL. New facilities constructed at the outer or uppermost limits of the BRL must also be marked and
lighted, and appurtenances that extend above the elevation control line must be marked and lighted as
obstructions, regardless of their location. Waivers must be maintained for facilities or obstructions that
affect TERPS criteria, and these obstructions must also be marked and lighted. Obstacles that are behind
A19-1
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