4 Aircraft Characteristicsdriving Airport Design

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4 Aircraft CharacteristicsDriving Airport Design

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Overview

-Aircraft Characteristics Driving Airport Design

-Summary

-Review Questions

Assignment

-Browse the online references listed below.

-Read and study the lesson plan provided by your professor.

-Answer the lesson plan review questions in writing.

-Create a document containing only the review questions with answers, preferably in MS Word.

-Save the document with the file name “YourLastName LessonNumber LessonTitle”, e.g., Cain 2 airport design regulatory environment.

-Upload the document into the ePortfolio Assignment Digital Dropbox.

Outcomes: After completing this module, students will be able to:

1. Explain why each of these individual aircraft characteristics is important to airport design:

1. Wingspan
2. Tailheight
3. Wheelbase
4. Cockpit-to-main-gear distance (CMG)
5. Main gear width (MGW)
6. Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
7. Approach speed
8. Jet blast

1. Define the three aircraft size categories based on MTOW.
2. Given a specific aircraft, determine its size category based on MTOW.
3. Determine for a particular aircraft:

1. Wingspan
2. Tail height
3. Wheelbase
4. Cockpit-to-main-gear distance (CMG)
5. Main gear width (MGW)
6. Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)
7. Approach speed
8. Jet engine exhaust velocities.

References

AC 150/5300-13

-Appendix 1 Aircraft Characteristics 219

--A1-1 Basic aircraft characteristics 219

--A1-2 Background 221

--A1-3 Aircraft arranged by aircraft manufacturer, and Runway Design Code (RDC) 221

-Appendix 3 The Effects and Treatment of Jet Blast 241

-319 Jet blast 91

ICAO Annex 14

-1.7 Reference code. 1-11

Other

-Boeing 737 Airport Planning Manual (APM) Course library√(I)

--Chapter 6, Jet Engine Wake and Noise Data

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4 Aircraft Characteristics Driving Airport Design

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Overview

-Introduction

-Wingspan

-Tail height

-Wheel base

-Cockpit-to-main-gear distance (CMG)

-Main gear width (MGW)

-Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)

-Approach speed

-Jet blast

-Summary

Introduction

-The airfield designer needs to know detailed aircraft characteristics for all aircraft utilizing an airfield in order to determine many visually obvious airport design features such as:

--runway lengths, widths, and separations

--taxiway widths, turn radii, and separations

-Equally important, but not so visually obvious, are surface safety areas and airspace zones surrounding the runway whose size is also airplane dependent.

AC 150/5300-13

-AC 150/5300-13A chg 1 Airport Design, Table A1-1 contains a compilation of manufacturers’ aircraft characteristics and is the primary aircraft characteristics information source for this course.

-Here is an excerpt from Table A1-1. The student should go to the AC and visually scan the table.

-Other FAA and aircraft manufacturers’ information onaircraft characteristics (not inclusive) are listed here.

--FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database:

--Eurocontrol Aircraft Performance Database V2.0:

--Airbus Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning:

---A340-500/-600 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning. Course library√(I)

---A380 Airport Planning ManualCourse Library√(I)

--Boeing Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning:

---Boeing 737 Airport Planning Manual (APM)Course library(I)

--Embraer Aircraft Characteristics for Airport Planning:

Hartsfield-Jackson to build another gate for A380 super-jumbo jet
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is moving forward with plans to build a gate that can accommodate the A380 super-jumbo jet on Concourse F at its international terminal.
The airport is striking an agreement with joint venture New South-Synergy for a contract worth up to $13.78 million to modify gate F3 so it can accommodate the A380. The work will include a second loading bridge, a new fuel pit, new escalator, elevator and stairs and an extension of a corridor to tie into it. The construction could take nearly a year to complete.
The airport already spent $30 million for runway and taxiway widening and modifications on Concourse E to accept the giant jet before Korean Air launched the first A380 flights to Atlanta in 2013.

A380
But one problem that arose was the long walk for arriving international travelers from E1 - the A380 gate on Concourse E.
After the international terminal opened in 2012, some passengers complained about the long walk from the farthest gates on Concourse E to the Customs processing area at the international terminal. The walk is up to six-tenths of a mile long.
After an Atlanta Journal-Constitution story on complaints about the walk, the airport began planning for an additional moving walkway on part of the path that doesn't have one.
Now, the airport said in documentation submitted to the Atlanta city council, it "desires to have an A380 capable gate on Concourse F to minimize travel time for A380 passengers."

Wingspan

-Wingspan. The maximum horizontal distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip, including the horizontal component of any extensions such as winglets or raked wingtips.

AC 150/5300-13

*-Wingspan determinesthe following airport separation requirements

--taxiway-to-taxiway

--runway-to-taxiway

AC 150/5300-13

Tail height

AC 150/5300-13

-An aircraft taxiing to the takeoff runway or holding for takeoff near the landing runway represents a potential obstacle to a landing aircraft.

Holding positionRunway

Parallel taxiwayRunway

-The holding or taxiing aircraft’s vertical stabilizer is particularly tall and could present a vertical obstruction to a landing aircraft that elects to go around or abort/reject a landing attempt.

*-Tail height determines the distance from the landing runway that the holding aircraft must remain or a taxiway-runway separation in order not to present a hazard to the landing aircraft.

Wheelbase

-Distance between the nose landing gear centerline and the centerline of the main landing gear.

AC 150/5300-13

*-Determines the aircraft’s taxiing turn radii and greatly influences taxiway radius and fillet design to prevent main gear from departing the taxiway on turns.

747-8Airplane Characteristics forAirport Planning

-See this A380 video. ( I )

--Notice that the right main landing gear (green) tracks a significantly different path than the nose landing gear, which is the pilot-steered landing gear.

---There are always new and sometimes unknown exceptions. For example, the Airbus 340 main gear are slightly steerable to reduce turn radius.

--This phenomenon requires taxiway turns to be wider than straight taxiways.

Cockpit-to-main-gear (CMG) distance

AC 150/5300-13

AC 150/5300-13

-Cockpit to Main Gear Distance (CMG). The distance from the pilot’s eye to the main gear turn center.

-The CMG dimension is found in AC 150/5300-13A, appendix A, and the airplane manufacturer’s airport planning manuals.

*-CMG distance determines taxiway center line geometry to insure the pilot can maintain the aircraft on the taxiway centerline in turns.

-In the B747 example, note that the CMG is greater than the wheel base.

-CMG may be the same as wheel base in some aircraft where the cockpit is exactly over the nose gear.

Main (landing) gear width (MGW)

-Distance between the outer edges of the main landing gear tires.

AC 150/5300-13

*-Determines the taxiway width requirements.

Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)

*-MTOWdetermines takeoff distance, runway length, and airport pavement thickness/strength requirements.

-MTOWfor the heaviest expected aircraft is normally used in airport design to insure adequate safety margins for all anticipated conditions.

-Landing weight is less of an issue in airport design since aircraft are usually lighter weight on landing, having burned fuel, and wing lift on touchdown reduces runway load bearing requirements.

-Example MTOWs

Boeing 747-400ER 913,000 pounds

Airbus 320 171,961 pounds

-*Unfortunately, there are at least two different aircraft size/weight categorizations. The most important for this course is AC 150/5300-13 Airport Design, the main course textbook.

*-Aircraft size designations based on MTOW (reference AC150/5300-13). For airport design purposes, there are only two weight categories.

--Small aircraft: 12,500 lbs. or less MTOW

---Example: Cessna Citation Mustang, 8,645 lbs.

--Large aircraft: More than 12,500 MTOW

---Example: Boeing 757-300, 270,000 lbs.

-For comparison only, these air traffic control (ATC) weight categories are not used in this course but the student should be aware that there are other weight categories is use that do not affect airport design.Specifically, air traffic control (ATC)designates aircraft based on weight and expected wake turbulence intensity.

-Small:Aircraft of 41,000 pounds or less maximum certified takeoff weight.

-Large:Aircraft of more than 41,000 pounds, maximum certified takeoff weight, up to 300,000 pounds.

-Heavy:Aircraft capable of takeoff weights of more than 300,000 pounds whether or not they are operating at this weight during a particular phase of flight.

Approach speed

*-An aircraft’s speed, VREF, on final approach to the runway just prior to touchdown determines the visibility requirements necessary to insure the pilot can see the runway environment, have enough time to make small corrections, and can complete a safe landing in low visibility conditions.

-Faster approach speeds require greater visibility to insure safe landings and longer/wider runways.

-VREF = approach/reference speed in landing configuration (e.g., landing gear down, flaps down) at maximum landing weight.

--Examples:

Boeing 747-400ER VREF = 157 knots

Airbus 320 VREF = 136 knots

Jet blast

*-Jet blast (jet exhaust) is capable of causing:

--Bodily injury to personnel;

--Damage to airport equipment and facilities;

--Damage to airfield pavement;

--Erosion of unprotected soil along pavement edges.

--Jet blast animated video. (United Airlines. 1993, San Francisco.)

I

-Jet blast can move people, vehicles, and even large boulders.

--A jet engine operating at maximum thrust is capable of lifting a 2-foot boulder located 35 feet behind the aircraft.

-The forces of jet blast (jet exhaust) produce very high wind velocities and temperatures behind the engines.

--Jet engine exhaust velocity contours may be obtained from the aircraft manufacturers’ airport planning manuals.

--Figure 4-29 shows jet blast velocitycontours for a narrowbody aircraft and a widebody aircraft at idle, breakaway, and takeoff powerconditions. This figure demonstrates that jet blast velocities at breakaway power can be 50 mphat 300 feet behind a widebody aircraft.

--Category I hurricane force winds are 74

--The Boing 737-200 example below shows that the exhaust velocity 60 feet behind the engines as the pilot initiates taxi with breakaway thrust is approximately 70 mph.

---Breakaway power is the thrust setting required to start an aircraft moving from a dead stop.

---74-95 mph are Cat 1 hurricane wind speeds.

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-At takeoff thrust settings, which might also be used for engine maintenance ground runs, the exhaust velocity exceeds 70 mph more than 200 feet behind the aircraft centerline.

Boeing 737 Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning, pp. 412

-Jet blast harmful effects must be minimized through airport design features such as blast fences and blast pads.

-Prop wash from propeller airplanes is also a potential hazard, but prop wash velocities are less than jet blast velocities.

-Figure 4-31 depicts an example of an operational procedure and supporting visual cues used to mitigate jet blast. At Salt Lake City International Airport, aircraft parked at the gates at the end of the alley located between Concourses B and C be must pulled forward to a marking on the apron before thrust in excess of idle power, i.e., break away thrust, is applied to avoid adverse jet blast effects on theterminal building.

Transportation Review Board (TRB), Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) Report 96, Apron Planning and Design Guidebook

Three hurt by Air New Zealand jet blast in Rarotonga

The blast from an Air New Zealand jet put three people in hospital in Rarotonga.
Three tourists were taken to hospital after they were blown over by a jet blast while watching an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 take off in Rarotonga (Cook Islands).
A public road runs by the end of the runway at Rarotonga International Airport, and standing in the blast zone has become a draw for thrill seekers.
Witnesses told the CI News site in the Cook Islands that the blast from the take-off was so strong that it threw the tourists to the ground, knocking one unconscious.
All three have since been released from hospital.
The incident, last Thursday, prompted Airport Authority chief executive Joe Ngamata to warn people to be careful.
"We don't have any control over people going on public roads, but the signs are all there in red," he told the Cook Islands News.
Ngamata is quoted as saying some tourists didn't realise the danger involved.
"People just need to be careful when a jet is taking off, and it would be better for them not to cross at all until the blast has gone."
Island resident Larry Price told CI News warning signs in the area weren't clear enough.
"I don't believe there is adequate protection for the public on the Nikao side of the runway."
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said the flight operated according to standard operating procedures in place at Rarotonga Airport.
She understood there were warning signs on the airport perimeter.

Back to Top

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Summary 

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-Official aircraft characteristics needed for airport design are determined from

--AC 150/5300-13A chg 1 Airport Design, Table A1-1 (primary)

--Airplane manufacturer’s websites. (secondary)

-Wingspan determines the following airport separation requirements

--runway-to-runway

--runway-to-taxiway

--taxiway-to-taxiway

-Tail height determines the distance from the landing runway that the holding aircraft must remain in order not to present a hazard to the landing aircraft.

-Wheelbase determines the aircraft’s taxiing turn radii and greatly influences taxiway radius and fillet design to prevent main gear from departing the taxiway on turns.

-CMG distance determines taxiway center line geometry to insure the pilot can maintain the aircraft on the taxiway centerline in turns.

-Main gear width (MGW) determines the taxiway width requirements.

-MTOW determines takeoff distance, runway length, and airport pavement thickness/strength requirements.

-Approach speed determines the visibility requirements necessary to insure the pilot can see the runway environment, have enough time to make small corrections, and can complete a safe landing in low visibility conditions. Approach speed affects runway width and length.

-Jet blast harmful effects must be minimized through airport design features such as blast fences and blast pads.

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Review Questions- 4 Aircraft characteristics driving airport design

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Name ______18su1

Scoring rubric for 4 Aircraft characteristics driving airport design18su1
Question / Value / Points lost
1 / 20
2 / 20
3 / 30
4 / 30
Total points lost
Final score

1.Explain why each of these individual aircraft characteristics is important to airport design:

a.Wingspan

b.Tail height

c.Wheelbase

d.Cockpit-to-main-gear distance (CMG)

e.Main gear width (MGW)

f.Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)

g.Approach speed

h.Jet blast

2.Determine the following characteristics for the Airbus A-330-300 aircraft from AC 150/5300-13A chg 1 Airport Design, Table A1-1.

a.______feetwingspan

b.______feet tail height

c.______feet wheelbase

d.______feet cockpit-to-main-gear distance (CMG)

e.______feet main gear width (MGW)

f.______pounds maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)

g.______knots approach speed

3.Determine each aircraft’s size category (small or large) based on its MTOWaccording to AC 150/5300-13A chg 1 Airport Designweight classifications.

Aircraft / MTOW pounds / Category
Cessna Citation CJ2+
Cessna Citation Sovereign
Boeing 777-200

4.Refer to figure 4-29 above. Determine the predicted maximum jet blast velocities(MPH) for the following conditions:

1. Twin-engine narrow body jet at idle thrust 100 feet behind the engines

______MPH

1. Four-engine wide body jet at breakaway thrust 500 feet behind the engines

______MPH

1. Twin-engine narrow body jet at takeoff thrust 50 feet behind the engines

______MPH

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