AVM 3202 AIRPORT DESIGN

RUNWAY DESIGN
Standards
RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards
Guidance provided in Chapter 3 of FAA AC
150/5300-13A
Also in ICAO Annex 14 Aerodrome Design and
Operation
Used to determine physical dimensions for:
Runways, Runway Shoulders and Blast Pads
Runway Safety Areas
Runway Object Free Areas
RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway length determined by
performance requirements of the design
aircraft or family of aircraft
Runway width, shoulders, and blast pad
dimensions are based on Design Standards
for the determined RDC of the critical
aircraft

Runway design standards based on:

Aircraft approach category
Airplane design group
Runway/approach visibility minimums
 RUNWAY DESIGN

Scale: Not to Scale (NTS)

RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Shoulders should:
Provide resistance to blast erosion
Run the full length of the runway
Accommodate maintenance and emergency equipment
Accommodate occasional runway excursions
Provide protection against FOD

Recommended shoulder surfaces:

ADG I, II: Turf, soil cement, stabilized soil
ADG III - VI: Paved
RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Blast Pads should:
Provide resistance to blast erosion beyond the runway end
Accommodate maintenance and emergency equipment
Accommodate occasional aircraft veering off the runway
Should extend across the full width of runway plus
shoulders

Surface requirements - same as shoulders

Note:
Blast pads do not necessarily meet the structural requirements
of a stopway
RUNWAY DESIGN
To determine runway dimensions
Identify RDC of design aircraft for particular
runway
Identify type of runway approach/visibility
minima
Look up standard dimensions in Tables
Tables in Appendix B of textbook (Table 3-5 of AC
150/5300-13A)
Runway length is dimension A
Runway width is dimension B
 Runway Dimensions

Runway Runway
Shoulder

RSA
A

Scale: NTS)
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
 Example 1
Given:
Critical Aircraft - B727-200
Runway visibility not lower than 3/4
Determine
Runway width
Shoulder width
Blast pad width
Blast pad length
 Example II
Given:
Critical Aircraft - Beech Super King Air B200
Runway visibility less than mile
Determine requirements for:
Runway width
Shoulder width
Blast pad width
Blast pad length
 Homework 1A due next class
Given:
Critical Aircraft B717-200
Runway visibility not lower than 1 mile
Determine requirements for:
Runway width
Shoulder width
Blast pad width
Blast pad length
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Safety Area (RSA)
- A defined surface surrounding the runway prepared or suitable for reducing
the risk of damage to airplanes in the event of an undershoot, overshoot, or
excursion from the runway.
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
ICAO refers to a Runway Strip and Runway End Safety
Area

Designed to minimize damage in case of aircraft

missing/leaving the runway

Provides greater accessibility for emergency equipment

Design standards
Cleared & graded: no potential hazards
Drained to prevent water accumulation
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
Cleared & graded RSA
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
Potential hazards -ruts
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
Potential hazards ruts and humps
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
Free of objects
Except for objects that need to be there because of
function (e.g. lights)
Must have low impact resistant supports (frangible
mounts)
Sign at edge of RSA
Taxiway Light
 Runway Safety Area (RSA)
Dimensions based upon:
RDC of critical aircraft
Runway visibility minima

Standard Dimensions:
Width
Length prior to landing threshold
Length beyond the end of the runway
Beyond stopway if one is provided

Source
Tables 3-5 in AC 150/5300-13A
Pay attention to notes below table
 Runway & RSA Dimensions

Runway Runway
Shoulder

C B

RSA
P A

Note: NTS
RSA Requirements
For takeoffs
RSA should extend behind the start of the takeoff to
the entrance taxiway safety area and taxiway object
free area
RSA extends distance P beyond runway end or
stopway
For landings
Distance beyond end of runway is measured from the
end of the usable runway on landing rollout
For runways used in both directions
Use the greater of the lengths (prior to & beyond)
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
RSA Exceptions
Read notes below tables carefully
You are designing a new runway
What is the RSA width at if the critical
aircraft is:
Canadair CL-600?
 RSA Exceptions
CL 600 is a C-II
In body of appropriate table
RSA Width = 500
However, note 13 in table
For C-II, width can be 400
 Runway Object Free Area (OFA)
Defined as a two dimensional area surrounding the
runway which is clear of objects except for objects fixed
by function.

Surface where no above-ground objects

(except required for air navigation or aircraft
maneuvering)
Cannot protrude above RSA elevation

Runway OFA
Centered on Runway
Wider than RSA, same length as RSA beyond departure
end of the runway
Use runway design standards tables to determine size
 Runway OFA Dimensions

OFA

Runway

RSA

Note: NTS
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
 RUNWAY DESIGN
Runway Design Standards for Category C-IV Aircraft
 Runway Object Free Area
For C & D Aircraft, ADG IV:

Q= 800

22
C= 500
4

P=R
A

R=P
 Example III
Given: B757-200
Determine
RSA width
RSA length prior to runway threshold
RSA length beyond runway end
OFA width
OFA prior to runway threshold
OFA length beyond runway end
 Example IV
Given:
Design Aircraft - Gates Learjet 55
Runway visibility lower than mile
Runway is equipped with CAT I ILS
Determine requirements for:
RSA width
RSA length prior to runway threshold
RSA length beyond runway end
OFA width
OFA length beyond runway end
OFA prior to runway threshold
Homework 1B due next class
Given:
Design Aircraft Cessna Citation XLS+
Runway visibility not less than mile
Runway is equipped with VASI
Determine requirements for:
Runway width
Shoulder width
Blast pad width
Blast pad length
RSA width
RSA length prior runway threshold
RSA length beyond runway end
OFA width
OFA prior to runway threshold
OFA length beyond runway end
 Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)
RPZs function is to enhance the protection of
people and property on the ground.
best achieved through airport owner control over
RPZs
Control is preferably exercised through the
acquisition of sufficient property interest in the
RPZ
clearing RPZ areas (and maintaining them clear) of
incompatible objects and activities
 Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)
RPZ Configuration/Location. The RPZ is trapezoidal
in shape and centered about the extended runway
centerline

The central portion and controlled activity area are

the two components of the RPZ
central portion of the RPZ extends from the beginning to
the end of the RPZ, centered on the runway centerline. Its
width is equal to the width of the runway OFA

The controlled activity area is the remaining area of

the RPZ on either side of the central portion of the
RPZ
RPZ Dimensions
 Approach/Departure RPZs
Approach RPZ dimensions for a runway end is a function
of the aircraft approach category and approach visibility
minimum associated with the approach runway end.

Departure RPZ is a function of the aircraft approach

category and departure procedures associated with the
runway.

For a particular runway end, the more stringent RPZ

requirements govern the property interests and clearing
requirements the airport owner should pursue
App/Dep RPZ Dimensions
RPZ Dimensions
 Example V
Given:
Design Aircraft Boeing 737-800
Runway visibility lower than mile
Determine requirements for:

Approach Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)

Length
Inner Width
Outer Width
Area (Acres)

Departure Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)

Length
Inner Width
Outer Width
Area (Acres)
 Homework 1C due next class
Given:
Design Aircraft ATR-42-200
Runway visibility not lower than 1 mile
Determine requirements for:

Approach Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)

Length
Inner Width
Outer Width
Area (Acres)

Departure Runway Protection Zone (RPZ)

Length
Inner Width
Outer Width
Area (Acres)