Regional Guidance Letter RGL 01-2

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A A Ap p pp p pe e en n nd d di iix x x C C C R R Re e eg g gi iio o on n na a al ll G G Gu u ui iid d da a an n nc c ce e e L L Le e et t tt t te e er r r Regional Guidance Letter Airports Division, Southern Region Number: RGL 01-2 Line of Business: Airport Planning Date: August 2001 Subject: Runway Length and Strength Requirements for Business Jet Aircraft ______________________________________________________________________________ Purpose: This Regional Guidance Letter supplements RGL 00-1, Standard Development for “Business Jet” Aircraft, and Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5325-4A, Runway Length Requirements for Airport Design, and provides additional guidance for determining the appropriate runway length and strength for airports expected to serve business jet aircraft. Background: There has been a rapid increase in the business jet aircraft fleet over the past few years. Many new models and several new manufacturers have been introduced into the marketplace. There has also been a general increase in the size of business jet aircraft. As a result, AC 150/5325-4A, and therefore the runway length portion of the Airport Design for Microcomputers program which is based on this AC, is out of date with regard to business jet aircraft. Most of the business jets listed in the AC are now obsolete. While the AC or the microcomputer program should still be used as a general guide in determining the appropriate runway length for airports serving business jet aircraft, additional guidance is needed to ensure the runway length is adequate for the specific makes and models of business jets expected to use the airport on a regular basis. The FAA’s Central Region Airports Division reviewed the performance characteristics of 64 different makes and models of business jet aircraft, 57 of which are listed in the attached table (ref: Table 1. Business Jet Statistics). There was not enough information available to determine the performance characteristics of the remaining models. An analysis of the information in Table 1 revealed the following: Category B Business Jets: 23 of the models studied have approach speeds of 91 knots or more, but less than 121 knots. All of these jets have a wingspan of less than 79 feet, thus fall in Airplane Design Groups I or II. About 5,500 of these jets have been manufactured to date. These aircraft typically weigh between 10,000 and 45,000 pounds, with most weighing less than 30,000 pounds. The takeoff distance required at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum takeoff weight is between 3,200 and 5,500 feet. The landing distance required in dry conditions at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum landing weight ranges from 2,500 to 5,900 feet. Category C Business Jets: 28 of the models studied have approach speeds of 121 knots or more, but less than 141 knots. All but one of these jets have wingspans of less than 79 feet, thus fall in Airplane Design Groups I or II. One jet has a wingspan of 94 feet, thus falls in Airplane Design RGL 01-2 July 27, 2001 2 Group III. There have been about 5,400 of these jets manufactured to date. Most of them weigh between 13,000 and 45,000 pounds. The takeoff distance required at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum takeoff weight is between 3,200 and 5,700 feet. The landing distance required in dry conditions at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum landing weight ranges from 2,400 to 5,900 feet. Category D Business Jets: Only 4 of the models studied have approach speeds greater than 141 knots. One of them has a wingspan less than 49 feet, thus falls in Airplane Design Group I. Two of them have wingspans greater than 49 feet, but less than 79 feet, thus fall in Airplane Design Group II. One of them has a wingspan greater than 79 feet, but less than 118 feet, thus falls in Airplane Design Group III. There have been about 1,100 of these jets manufactured to date. Three of these aircraft weigh between 60,000 and 95,000 pounds. The fourth weighs 23,500 pounds. The takeoff distance required at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum takeoff weight is between 5,500 and 6,000 feet. The landing distance required in dry conditions at sea level, standard temperature, and maximum landing weight ranges from 3,000 to 3,500 feet. Guidance: Determinations of Required Runway Length for Business Jets: ADO Program Managers should determine the required runway length based on AC 5325-4A or the Airport Design for Microcomputers program. However, this should be supplemented by checking the runway length required for the specific makes and models of business jet aircraft expected to use the airport on a regular basis (regular basis being defined as at least 250 annual takeoff operations). The runway length required for specific business jets may be determined by adjusting the takeoff and landing runway lengths listed in Table 1 for altitude, temperature, maximum difference in runway centerline elevations, i.e., effective gradient (takeoff length only), and wet runway conditions (landing length only). Note that takeoff and landing lengths for some of the aircraft were not available in the data used to compile the table and must be obtained from the manufacturer. The attached spreadsheets (ref: Takeoff Runway Length Adjustment.xls and Landing Runway Length Adjustment.xls) are available electronically in the Airports Reference System to aid Program Managers in making the runway length adjustment calculations. Program Managers may enter the values for takeoff and landing runway length from Table 1, airport elevation, mean maximum daily temperature, and difference between the high and low points of the runway (takeoff runway length only), and have the spreadsheets calculate the adjusted takeoff and landing runway lengths required. The greater of the adjusted takeoff or landing lengths is the recommended runway length for airport design. Note that the takeoff runway lengths in the table are based on the aircraft operating at maximum