ALIGNING UKRAINE'S STATE AVIATION REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WITH NATO STANDARDS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/2519-481X/2026/90-08Keywords:
airfields, airfield support, technical condition of airfields, state aviation airfields, pavement damage, airfield pavement condition index, airfield pavement classification parameter, NATO standards, runway, taxiways, implementation, falling weight method, airfield pavement repairAbstract
Ukraine’s strategic defense documents mandate achieving full interoperability between the defense forces and the military forces of NATO member states. This creates an urgent need to reform the existing regulatory framework for airfield engineering support for state aviation and align it with Alliance standards.
Justification and development of practical recommendations for integrating NATO standards into domestic regulatory documents (specifically Ministry of Defence of Ukraine Orders №121, №348 and №761) governing the operation and determination of the suitability of airfields.
The study employs a method of comparative analysis involving domestic regulatory acts and the Responsibility Allocation Matrix for the processing of NATO standards. A detailed analysis of relevant STANAG standardization agreements and associated guidance documents was conducted.
Based on an analysis of over 2000 international documents, 20 key NATO standards regarding airfield operations, maintenance marking, and lighting were selected Significant discrepancies were identified between national requirements and Alliance standards concerning aircraft tire pressure code classifications.
An algorithm was proposed to integrate the foreign PCI (Pavement Condition Index) method for assessing airfield pavement operational status – in accordance with standard AEP-56 – into current Ministry of Defence orders. Mathematical formulas are provided for calculating the weighted average PCI and Future Non-Kinetic Damage (FKND) index for airfields comprising multiple infrastructure elements.
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