Airport Operations and Systems (MA4880)
Tutorial 3: Airfield Design (Runway Length Requirement)
Student 1 Name:____________________
Student 2 Name:____________________
PART A: In this example scenario, involving a SAAB Fairchild 340B, allows you (the
airport designer) to use published information in the airplane manufacturer’s airport
planning manual (APM) to determine the runway length requirements for take-off and
landing, make necessary adjustments to those lengths, and then select the longest
length as the recommended runway length. Follow the steps of the SOLVED
EXAMPLE SCENARIO.
For Landing Length Requirement - complete the calculations
For Takeoff Length Requirement - spot the error in method/calculation.
The example also assumes that the length of haul is of sufficient range so that
the take-off operating weight is set equal to the MTOW (No Stage Length given).
DATA. The calculation will use the following design conditions:
a. Airplane Saab 340B (CT7-9B Engines)
b. Mean daily maximum temperature of hottest month at the airport 74°
Fahrenheit (23.3° C)
c. Airport elevation Sea level
d. Maximum design landing weight 28,000 pounds
e. Maximum design takeoff weight (see table A3-2-1) 28,500 pounds
f. Maximum difference in runway centerline elevation 20 feet
Question 1: COMPLETE THE CALCULATIONS.
Landing Length Requirement
(1) Step 1 – the SAAB 340 APM provides two landing charts one for a flap setting
of 25-degrees and one for a flap setting of 35-degrees. The 35-degree flap
setting landing chart, is chosen since it results in the shorter landing runway
length requirement. See Figure A3-2-1 below - Landing Runway Length for
SAAB 340B (CT7-9B Engines) (Reference number SAAB 340 ACAP 000).
(2) Steps 2 and 3 – Enter the horizontal weight axis at __________ pounds and
proceed vertically to the airport elevation curve for sea level. Select the dash curve
labeled “FAR” and not the solid curve labeled “JAR”.
(3) Step 4 – Proceed horizontally to the length axis to read _________ feet.
(4) Step 5 – Do not adjust the obtained length for wet landing operations for the
SAAB 340B since it is not a turbojet-powered airplane. The 15-percent adjustment
applies only to turbojet-powered airplanes.
(5) The landing length requirement is _______ feet. Note: Round lengths of _____
feet and over to the next 100-foot interval. Thus, the landing length for design is
_______feet.
Question 2: SPOT THE ERROR
Take-off Length Requirement
(1) Step 1 – the SAAB 340 APM provides a takeoff chart at the ISA standard
standard day + 18°F (10° C) temperature for flap setting of 15-degrees. Notice
that this chart can be used for airports whose mean daily maximum
temperature of the hottest month at the airport is equal to or less than 80°F
((59°F (standard day) + 18°F + 3°F)) or 26.7°C (15°C (standard day) + 10°C+
1.7°C). Since the given temperature for this example is 74° F (23.3° C) falls
within this range, select this chart.
(2) Steps 2 and 3 – Enter the horizontal weight axis at 28,500 pounds and
proceed vertically to the airport elevation curve for sea level. Select the dash-
curve labeled “FAR” and not the solid-curve labeled “JAR”. Interpolation is
allowed for both design parameters.
(3) Step 4 – Proceed horizontally to the length axis, the result is 4,750 feet
(4) Step 5 – Adjust for non-zero effective runway
4,750 + (20 x 10) = 4,750 + 200 = 4,950 feet
(5) The takeoff length requirement is 4,950 feet. Note: Round lengths of 50
feet and over to the next 100-foot interval. Thus, the takeoff length for design
is 5,000 feet.
Solution: Select the longest length for airport design. In this case, the takeoff length
of 5,000 feet. is the recommended runway length.
PART B: San Diego International Airport would like to request your services as
airport consultant to estimate if an airline can operate a new nonstop service San
Diego to Shanghai Pudong International Airport using Boeing 787-9 with
General Electric engines. Boeing 787-9 Airport Performance Manual is available in
Tutorial section on NTULearn.
a) Find the FAA Aerodrome Reference Code for Boeing 787-9.
b) Find the route distance from San Diego International Airport to Shanghai
Pudong International Airport. Use a 5% detour factor above the Great Circle
Distance (GCD). Refer http://www.greatcirclemapper.net
c) Find the amount of fuel to be carried for this trip (From San Diego
International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport). Show all
your calculations.
d) Find the runway length needed to operate this non-stop service from San
Diego International Airport (take-off and landing). Assume the aircraft has a
One Class configuration for passenger seating. Show all your calculations.
e) Discuss if the runway extension at San Diego International Airport is
required to offer this service?
f) For weather data at San Diego Airport refer https://weatherspark.com
