Page 226 - Planning and Design of Airports

Geometric Design of the Airfield 191

21
N
NNW NNE

NW 0.5 NE
0.1
0.1 1.0 0.4
0.4 1.2
0.9
WNW 0.2 1.0 ENE
0.6 1.6
0.2 1.7 2.4 3.0 0.1
0.6 1.7 5.3 3.1 1.7
3.8 6.8
W 0.1 0.4 4.9 8.1 7.1 2.3 1.9 0.2 E
9 2.7 6.4 27
0.4 1.5 5.8 3.5
0.1 1.7 3.8 1.9
1.8
0.6 1.9 0.1
WSW 0.2 0.8 1.0 1.1 ESE
0.4
0.4 0.1
0.1
SW 0.3 SE
SSW SSE
S
3
FIGURE 6-11 Wind coverage for runways 9–27 and 3–21, Example Problem 6-1.

Estimating Runway Length
Other than orientation, planning and designing the length of a run-
way is critical to whether or not a particular aircraft can safely use the
runway for takeoff or landing. Furthermore, designing a runway to
accommodate a given aircraft is a difficult task, given the fact that an
aircraft’s required runway length will vary based on aircraft weight,
as well as on several ambient conditions.
As a guide to airport planners, the FAA has published Advisory
Circular 150/5325-4b, “Runway Length Requirements for Airport
Design” [17]. In this publication, procedures are defined for estimat-
ing the design runway length of aircraft, based on their maximum
takeoff weights (MTOW), certain aircraft performance specifications,
and the airport’s field elevation and temperature. The airport
design runway length is found for the critical aircraft, defined as the
aircraft which flies the greatest nonstop route segment from the air-
ports at least 500 operations per year and requires the longest runway.
The FAA’s procedure for estimating runway length is based on the
following data:
1. Designation of a critical aircraft
2. The maximum takeoff weight of the critical aircraft at
the airport