How do I analyze ATCT line-of-sight?

Provide the tower cab location and height with the points to be observed (runways, taxiways, and movement areas), and AvPlot evaluates unobstructed line-of-sight, lateral discrimination, minimum cab height, and shadowing per FAA Order 6480.4C.

What does an ATCT line-of-sight study evaluate?

Whether controllers in the tower cab have an unobstructed, clearly discriminated view of all movement areas, including the minimum cab height needed and any terrain or structure shadowing.

What standard governs ATCT siting line-of-sight?

FAA Order 6480.4C, the Airport Traffic Control Tower Siting Process.

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ATCT Line-of-Sight

FAA Order 6480.4C tower visibility siting — incidence angle, lateral discrimination, minimum cab height, and obstacle shadowing — beta

Airport (for zone detection & CSV export)

Candidate tower siteStep 1

Coordinate system

Northing

Easting

Tower ground elev (ft MSL)

Eye height AGL (ft)

Eye above cab floor (ft, optional)

Shadow corridor half-width (ft)Analysis parameter — not regulatory.

Targets & obstaclesStep 2

Targets (critical points to be seen)

ID	Description	Northing	Easting	Elev MSL

Up to 200 targets.

Obstacles (optional — shadowing)

ID	Description	Northing	Easting	Top elev MSL

Lateral-discrimination pairs (optional — one per line: targetA, targetB) Order 6480.4C ¶4.f two-point check (min 0.13°* separation).