BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AIR FORCE ...

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AFMAN 11-217V1 3 JANUARY 2005
Figure 9.1. Obstacle Identification Surface.
9.4. “Runway End Crossing Height” or “Screen Height.” “Runway End Crossing
Height” or “Screen Height” is the required altitude (AGL) at the end of the runway (usually
depicted as the Departure End of the Runway (DER)). The OCS slope begins at the runway
end crossing height. Therefore, an accurate determination of the proper height is crucial
because if you do not make the runway end crossing height, you will be operating below the
OCS. There is a great deal of variation in runway end crossing height depending on location
of the airport, who designed the procedure, terrain, obstacles and other factors. Under no
circumstances may a USAF aircrew plan to depart a runway without complying with the
runway end crossing height restriction. See Table 9.1 below for summary of Runway End
Crossing Heights.
9.4.1. Runway End Crossing Heights (FAA and US Army (USA)). If obstacles penetrate
the OCS, TERPS allows a runway end crossing height of up to 35 feet. There is no way
to know if the FAAs TERPS specialist raised the OCS or not; therefore, in the United
States on FAA, Army or any other procedures not designed by the USAF or US Navy
(USN), you must always plan to cross the departure end of the runway at or above 35
feet unless an appropriate authority (i.e., MAJCOM TERPS Office) has determined a
lower crossing restriction is permissible.