Airport Master Plan October 1985

Home

1 { p 6.0 AIRPORT FACILITY REQUIREMENTS Airport facility requirements are determined to a great extent by the role the airport is designated to serve within the overall airport system. Activity forecasts are used as a guide for physical facilities development. 6.1 Runway Length and Pavement Strength Gateway's designated role within the metropolitan system is as a minor airport serving aircraft typically weighing less than 12,500 pounds. This is equivalent to a Basic or General Utility Airport under the federal classification. The FAA advisory circular 150/5300-4B recommends the following runway lengths based on the highest mean -maximum temperature of 83° in July and airport elevation 875': Airport Category FAA Recommended Length Basic Utility - Stage II General Utility 3,300 Feet 4,000 Feet The types of aircraft currently using and forecast to use the airport indicate that a Basic Utility runway length is appropriate. This is further substantiated by the need expressed for a 3,300' runway by respondents of the business airport user surveys. As a basic utility airport the facility would serve aircraft in FAA's Airplane Design Group I with wingspans less than 49 feet in Approach Categories A and B (approach speeds less than 121 knots). Key dimensional criteria recommended for runway development in AC/150/5300-48 are as follows: Runway length Runway width Runway safety area beyond runway ends Taxiway width Runway centerline to parallel taxiway centerline 6.2 Runway Orientation 3,300 Feet 60 Feet 120x240 Feet 25 Feet 225 Feet The orientation of a runway is largely determined by assessing prevailing wind conditions. The direction of the runway is then oriented to provide the greatest amount of wind coverage (percent of time aeronautical operations are considered safe due to acceptable crosswind components). 6-1