Definition
Natural or man-made objects on or near an airport that rise high enough to interfere with the safe arrival, departure, or ground movement of aircraft. Common examples include trees, towers, antennas, buildings, terrain, and powerlines located within the approach, departure, or traffic pattern areas of a runway.
Plain English
Things on or around an airport — like trees, poles, towers, or buildings — that stick up high enough to be a hazard to aircraft taking off, landing, or taxiing.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter this term when reviewing airport information, planning a takeoff or landing, checking notices about airport conditions, or discussing local hazards with an instructor.
Derivation
From Latin obstructio, meaning 'a blocking up' or 'something standing in the way.' In aviation, it carries that same sense — an object that physically stands in the path of safe flight near an airport.
Why Pilots Care
They dictate required climb gradients, affect instrument procedure design, and must be accounted for to prevent collisions.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an airport obstruction has to be sitting on the runway. It can be beside the runway, beyond the runway, or near the airport if it affects the aircraft’s safe path.
Example Sentence 1
During the airport briefing, the instructor pointed out the airport obstructions shown on the chart, including a 200-foot antenna southwest of the runway.
Example Sentence 2
New construction added an airport obstruction that required a revised obstacle departure procedure.