FOR TRAINING USE ONLY

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Weight Bearing Capacity & the C-17v1.0

Updated 20 Nov 2013

IFR Supplement Extract (pg A-9)

RUNWAY BEARING STRENGTH - may be shown as follows:

a)The runway weight bearing capacity in thousands of pounds will be shown expressed in terms of gross weight which can be accepted for continuing operations. It is determined by adding 000 to the Aircraft Landing Gear Configuration Codes. A blank space following the configuration codes is used to indicate the runway can sustain aircraft with the type landing gear, although definite runway weight bearing capacity figures are not available. Aircraft weights higher than given require prior permission from the airport controlling authority.

NOTE: Supplement entries will be moving from the "old" codes to the "current" codes on an as revised basis.

Applicable codes are: Old = “TRT” / New = “2T” (Two triple wheels in tandem type ldg gear (C17))

b)The ACN/PCN System is the ICAO standard method of reporting pavement strength for pavements with bearing strengths greater than 12,500 pounds. The Pavement Classification Number (PCN) is established by an engineering assessment of the runway. The PCN is for use in conjunction with an Aircraft Classification Number (ACN). Consult the Aircraft Flight Manual, FIH, or other appropriate source for ACN tables or charts. Currently, ACN data may not be available for all DoD aircraft. If an ACN table or chart is available, the ACN can be calculated by taking into account the aircraft weight, the pavement type, and the subgrade category. For runways that have been evaluated under the ACN/PCN system, the PCN will be shown as a five part code (e.g. PCN 80 R/B/W/T). Details of the coded format are as follows:

(1) The PCN NUMBER - The reported PCN indicates that an aircraft with an ACN equal or less than the reported PCN can operate on the pavement subject to any limitation on the tire pressure.

(2) The type of pavement:

R - Rigid

F - Flexible

(3) The pavement subgrade category:

A- High

B - Medium

C - Low

D - Ultra-low

(4) The maximum tire pressure authorized for the pavement:

W - High, no limit

X - Medium, limited to 217 psi

Y - Low, limited to 145 psi

Z - Very low, limited to 73 psi

(5) Pavement evaluation method:

T – Technical evaluation

U – By experience of aircraft using the pavement

NOTE: Prior permission from the airport controlling authority is required when the ACN of the aircraft exceeds the published PCN or aircraft tire pressure exceeds the published limits.

FIH Extract – Aircraft Classification Numbers (pg D-14)

Aircraft
Type / Weight
Empty
Max T/O
(1000 lbs) / Tire
Pressure
(PSI) / Rigid Pavement
Subgrades / Flexible Pavement
Subgrades
High / Med / Low / Ultra
Low / High / Med / Low / Ultra
Low
C-17 / 275 / 144 / 21 / 22 / 22 / 23 / 19 / 21 / 24 / 31
585 / 52 / 55 / 55 / 67 / 52 / 60 / 72 / 96

AMCI 11-208

1.31.5.6. AMC aircraft may operate at gross weights up to 50 percent above published weightbearing capacity for pavements, with airfield manager approval. Operating at gross weightsgreater than 50 percent above published weight bearing capacity requires a waiver. AMC/DO isapproval authority where costs are likely to be incurred for runway repair or aircraft damage.

Weight Bearing Capacity & the C-17 cont.

Weight / Rigid
High / Rigid Medium / Rigid
Low / Rigid Ultra Low / Flexible High / Flexible Medium / Flexible Low / Flexible Ultra Low
275.0 / 21 / 22 / 22 / 23 / 19 / 21 / 24 / 31
285.0 / 22.0 / 23.1 / 23.1 / 24.4 / 20.1 / 22.3 / 25.5 / 33.1
295.0 / 23.0 / 24.1 / 24.1 / 25.8 / 21.1 / 23.5 / 27.1 / 35.2
305.0 / 24.0 / 25.2 / 25.2 / 27.3 / 22.2 / 24.8 / 28.6 / 37.3
315.0 / 25.0 / 26.3 / 26.3 / 28.7 / 23.3 / 26.0 / 30.2 / 39.4
325.0 / 26.0 / 27.3 / 27.3 / 30.1 / 24.3 / 27.3 / 31.7 / 41.5
335.0 / 27.0 / 28.4 / 28.4 / 31.5 / 25.4 / 28.5 / 33.3 / 43.6
345.0 / 28.0 / 29.5 / 29.5 / 32.9 / 26.5 / 29.8 / 34.8 / 45.7
355.0 / 29.0 / 30.5 / 30.5 / 34.4 / 27.5 / 31.1 / 36.4 / 47.8
365.0 / 30.0 / 31.6 / 31.6 / 35.8 / 28.6 / 32.3 / 37.9 / 49.9
375.0 / 31.0 / 32.6 / 32.6 / 37.2 / 29.6 / 33.6 / 39.5 / 52.0
385.0 / 32.0 / 33.7 / 33.7 / 38.6 / 30.7 / 34.8 / 41.0 / 54.1
395.0 / 33.0 / 34.8 / 34.8 / 40.0 / 31.8 / 36.1 / 42.6 / 56.2
405.0 / 34.0 / 35.8 / 35.8 / 41.5 / 32.8 / 37.4 / 44.1 / 58.3
415.0 / 35.0 / 36.9 / 36.9 / 42.9 / 33.9 / 38.6 / 45.7 / 60.4
425.0 / 36.0 / 38.0 / 38.0 / 44.3 / 35.0 / 39.9 / 47.2 / 62.5
435.0 / 37.0 / 39.0 / 39.0 / 45.7 / 36.0 / 41.1 / 48.8 / 64.5
445.0 / 38.0 / 40.1 / 40.1 / 47.1 / 37.1 / 42.4 / 50.3 / 66.6
455.0 / 39.0 / 41.2 / 41.2 / 48.5 / 38.2 / 43.6 / 51.9 / 68.7
465.0 / 40.0 / 42.2 / 42.2 / 50.0 / 39.2 / 44.9 / 53.4 / 70.8
475.0 / 41.0 / 43.3 / 43.3 / 51.4 / 40.3 / 46.2 / 55.0 / 72.9
485.0 / 42.0 / 44.4 / 44.4 / 52.8 / 41.4 / 47.4 / 56.5 / 75.0
495.0 / 43.0 / 45.4 / 45.4 / 54.2 / 42.4 / 48.7 / 58.1 / 77.1
505.0 / 44.0 / 46.5 / 46.5 / 55.6 / 43.5 / 49.9 / 59.6 / 79.2
515.0 / 45.0 / 47.5 / 47.5 / 57.1 / 44.5 / 51.2 / 61.2 / 81.3
525.0 / 46.0 / 48.6 / 48.6 / 58.5 / 45.6 / 52.5 / 62.7 / 83.4
535.0 / 47.0 / 49.7 / 49.7 / 59.9 / 46.7 / 53.7 / 64.3 / 85.5
545.0 / 48.0 / 50.7 / 50.7 / 61.3 / 47.7 / 55.0 / 65.8 / 87.6
555.0 / 49.0 / 51.8 / 51.8 / 62.7 / 48.8 / 56.2 / 67.4 / 89.7
565.0 / 50.0 / 52.9 / 52.9 / 64.2 / 49.9 / 57.5 / 68.9 / 91.8
575.0 / 51.0 / 53.9 / 53.9 / 65.6 / 50.9 / 58.7 / 70.5 / 93.9
585.0 / 52.0 / 55.0 / 55.0 / 67.0 / 52.0 / 60.0 / 72.0 / 96.0
Current as of 20 Nov 2013

155th Airlift Squadron, Memphis, TN

Maj Dominik M. Paul