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2 1 INTRODUCTION An important operational characteristic of an airport is the length of its longest runway. The longest runway determines the types of aircraft that can use the airport and dictate the operational limitations at the airport. Runway length is important from a cost and safety viewpoint. Longer runways cost more to construct and maintain but offer better takeoff and landing operational safety margins in case of abnormal operations (e.g., engine out conditions, aircraft overruns, etc.). Current criteria to determine runway length requirements for small aircraft (i.e., under 12,500 pounds) are contained in the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B, Runway Length Requirements for Airport Design. The procedure is based on grouping aircraft belonging to three categories based on approach speed (see Table 1). The existing procedure to estimate runway length requirements for small aircraft are contained in Chapter 2 of the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B published on July 1, 2005 (FAA 2005). Figure 1 shows the nomographs contained in Chapter 2 of the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B to estimate runway lengths for 95% and 100% of the United States fleet with fewer than 10 seats and with 10 seats of more. The nomograph uses the mean daily maximum temperature of the hottest month of the year and the airport elevation as design parameters. The performance data evolved from earlier information provided in the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4A published on January 29, 1990 (FAA, 1990). Figure 2 shows the nomographs contained in Chapter 2 of the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4A to estimate runway lengths for 75%, 95%, and 100% of the United States fleet with fewer than 10 seats and with 10 seats of more (FAA, 1990). Note that the runway design guidance for 95% and 100% of the U.S. fleet remained the same. The design guidance for 75% of the fleet was eliminated in the latest version of the FAA document. The runway length performance information included in the lasts FAA document contains information applicable to many small aircraft produced three decades ago or more. The Airport Cooperative Research Program identified a need to update the runway length guidance because many new-generation small aircraft have been designed and produced in large quantities in the last three decades. The purpose of this project is to produce a user-friendly, computer tool to help airport planners and designers predict runway length requirements for a variety of aircraft and design conditions. The Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool (called SARLAT hereon) provides an enhanced method for runway length design task compared to the method contained in FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B. The SARLAT developed will help airport planners and designers estimate aircraft runway length requirements for small aircraft using individual aircraft performance information. Moreover, the SARLAT also provides information about the operational limitations if a runway length does not support the full spectrum of aircraft currently operating at or envisioned for the airport. This report describes version 1.2.8 of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool. The tool was refined using inputs from the ACRP 03-54 Panel and in consultation with airport planners and designers who tested the tool. The design of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool considers the following design parameters: 1) Unique airport characteristics and conditions (e.g., temperature, elevation, gradient, four runway pavement conditions);
3 2) Capability to evaluate various runway length scenarios based on guidance from FAA Advisory Circular AC 150/5325-4b, varying levels of service, or what may be desired by the airport and community; and 3) Individual runway length performance for aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 20,2001 pounds (9,163 kilograms) including small corporate jets that traditionally operate at the same airports as piston and turboprop aircraft. The SARLAT is a stand-alone computer model developed using Javascript and the HyperText Markup Language (HTML). The Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool runs in both Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. The tool can be installed in less than two minutes on most computers, and version 1.2.8 of the SARLAT requires less than 90 Megabytes of hard disk space and modest system memory requirements. The usability of the tool was refined throughout the project in coordination with both ACRP 03-54 Panel members and numerous users at Delta Airport Consultants. Table 1: Aircraft Categories Considered in the Development of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool (Source: FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B, 2005). 1 The maximum takeoff limit of 20,200 lbs. (9,163 kg) was established in consultation with the ACRP Panel to include aircraft such as the Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air 350HW (16,500 lbs., 7,484 kg.) and several light business jets including the Cessna Citation 560 XL+ (20,200 lbs. or 9,163 kg.) and the Embraer Phenom 300 (17,968 lbs. or 9,150 kg.).
4 Figure 1: Runway Length Requirements Contained for Small Aircraft in the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B Published on July 1, 2005. Left Panel is the Runway Length Required for Aircraft with Fewer than 10 Passenger Seats. The Right Panel is the Runway Length Required for Aircraft with 10 or More Passenger Seats.
5 Figure 2: Runway Length Requirements Contained for Small Aircraft in the FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4A Published on January 29, 1990. Left Panel is the Runway Length Required for Aircraft with Fewer than 10 Passenger Seats. The Right Panel is the Runway Length Required for Aircraft with 10 or More Passenger Seats. A companion Quick User Guide of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool includes: 1) Step-by-step user guide with instructions for using the tool, 2) Explanations of the Graphic User Interface (GUI) of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool, and 3) Examples of case studies illustrating various operation modes of the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool. The Quick User Guide is distributed as a separate Portable Document File (PDF). 1.1 COORDINATION WITH OTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS The research effort coordinates its findings with other ACRP and FAA efforts to develop complementary aircraft performance analyses. We discussed the research with FAA and MITRE. We received a briefing about a takeoff runway length model developed at the MITRE Corporation focused on commercial aircraft, including business jet aircraft operating at 37 airports equipped with Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-X). The MITRE and FAA meeting ensures little or no duplication of effort with the ACRP 03-54 work. In coordination with the ACRP Panel, we decided to develop the Small Aircraft Runway Length Analysis Tool to include aircraft with a
6 maximum takeoff of 20,200. (9,163 kgs). The rationale for that limit is that many small airports serving piston-powered and turboprop aircraft also operate very light and light corporate jets. Moreover, some of the most popular twin-engine turboprop aircraft (e.g., Textron Aviation King Air B250 EP, B350i and B350HW) operating in the U.S. weigh more than 12,500 pounds (5,670 kilograms).
