Frangibility at airports is defined and mandated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA ).

Jaquith's frangible masts are available in two styles: Low Impact Resistant (LIR) Fiberglass and Frangible Approach Masts (FAM) Aluminum. These masts conform to FAA Advisory Circular AC150/5345-45 and specifications FAA-E-2702 and or FAA-E-2604.

The Frangible Aluminum Masts (FAM) were originally developed and tested in Sweden in the 1950's by the Swedish Board of Civil Aviation (SBCA). Under a licensing agreement with SBCA, Jaquith brought the FAM to the USA and received FAA approval for its use in 1973. The FAA began deploying FAM structures to support Medium Approach Lighting Systems (MALSR) across the USA. Today,35 years later, FAM masts are still supporting many MALSR systems around the world.

LIR is defined as a break-away mast for use in structures that support airport approach lighting systems. The LIR design will withstand 100 mph winds (including gusts) without ice and 75 mph winds (including gusts) with a 1/2 inch radial ice load. Yet, when struck by a light airplane wing, the structure breaks into pieces without catastrophic damage to the wing support.

In 1979 Jaquith Industries Inc. received a government contract as the lead manufacturer working with the FAA in developing the LIR Fiberglass Mast. Since then, Jaquith has expanded the role of the LIR Fiberglass Mast to include other applications, such as weather, security & communications related equipment that is located where frangibility is required. Runway Visual Range (RVR) and Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X) are some examples of equipment, that when placed around the runways, satisfies the requirement that all elevated equipment be mounted in a frangible manner.

In the 1980's, working with the FAA Central Region, Jaquith Industries Inc. using the LIR design developed a non frangible fiberglass mast for equipment outside the frangible areas. These Specialty Masts support many different types of equipment, such as Remote Communications Air to Ground (RCAG), Back-Up Emergency Communication (BUEC), TACtical Air Navigation Monitors (TACAN) and Moving Target Indicator (MTI) as well as other arrays. These rigid masts are lowered for service just as the frangible version, using a lifting/lowering device that is operated by one maintenance technician. Minimal maintenance and ease of operation have been the keys to these Specialty masts deployment across the USA.

Currently there are over 15 different interfacing top caps that mate to a variety of equipment. If none of our existing interfacing top caps will work for your equipment, the Engineering Department at Jaquith Industries Inc. stands ready to develop the appropriate interface.