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Cranes and Tall reaching construction equipment

You'll need a permit to use a crane within 6km of the airport

Crane permits

You'll need a permit to use a crane within 6km of the airport.

Cranes can cause a serious hazard to flight safety. They can impact Instrument Flight Procedures (IFPs), cause a physical obstacle and/or affect navigational aids such as radar.

To reduce flight safety risks, you need to apply for a permit to operate a crane or tall construction equipment within 6km of the airport. The exception to this is if the crane/equipment is under 10m high or is shielded on all sides by trees or structures that are taller.

Read more about the safe use of cranes near an aerodrome:

Civil Aviation Authority: CAP1096 

British Standards Institute:BS7121

How to apply

For on airport Tall reaching permits, click here.

For off airport Cranes and Tall reaching equipment:-

  1. Apply to the CAA by clicking here.
  2. In tandem to your CAA application, make a request to the airport safeguarding team via this sheet and email cranes@gatwickairport.com attaching the completed form.
  3. Our team will do a safety assessment to determine if any restrictions apply. These could be working hours, height limitations, obstacle lighting, etc.
  4. Once we can confirm there are no flight safety concerns, we will issue your crane permit. Any restrictions will be stated on the permit.

A copy of your permit must remain with the crane for the duration of the operation. It must be produced if requested by airport staff or the police.

Under the Air Navigation Order, it is an offence to act recklessly or negligently in a manner likely to endanger aircraft. This includes operating a crane or large construction equipment within 6km of an aerodrome without a permit.

For queries about the crane permit process email cranes@gatwickairport.com

What you'll need

To apply for a crane permit under the Permit to Work (P2W) system you will need to supply the following:

  • Check Icon ImageThe exact location of the crane/equipment, as an OS Grid reference (to at least 6 figures for each of eastings and northings) and marked on a map preferably also showing the OS Grid.
  • Check Icon ImageThe maximum operating height of the crane, jib, etc. in metres Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). 

Note: this is the AMSL plus the working height of the crane Above Ground Level (AGL).

  • Check Icon ImageThe maximum operating height of the crane, jib, etc. in metres AGL.

Note: this is the maximum height required for the intended operation. It is NOT the maximum height the crane can operate up to.

  • Check Icon ImageThe type of crane/equipment (e.g., Tower Crane, Mobile Crane, etc.)
  • Check Icon ImageThe radius of the jib/boom etc. of a fixed crane
  • Check Icon ImageThe area of operation of a mobile crane
  • Check Icon ImageThe intended dates and times of operation
  • Check Icon ImageName and contact details of the applicant
  • Check Icon ImageMethod statements, risk assessments and lifting plans, for airport operations
Charges

From 1 March 2022, charges apply to all crane permit applications. They are as follows:

Standard crane/ tall equipment without technical assessment 

  • Check Icon ImageLevel 1 standard permit without technical assessment - £300 + VAT
  • Check Icon ImageExtension request - £65
  • Check Icon ImageLevel 1 permit operating plan without technical assessment - £1000 (valid up to a maximum 12-month period)

Crane / tall equipment with technical assessment

  • Check Icon ImageLevel 2 permit requiring further initial IFP assessment for a basic lifting operation - £1000 + VAT
  • Check Icon ImageLevel 3 permit requiring further initial IFP assessment for a more complicated lifting operation - £1000 daily rate (approx. two-day assessment)
  • Check Icon ImageLevel 4 permit requiring further IFP CRM assessment - £3000 = VAT

For more complex assessments, prices will need to be discussed and agreed upon before work can take place.

Obstacle Limitation Surface, (OLS) Infringement. 

  • Check Icon ImageNOTAM required - £750 + VAT

Start your application

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