German University in Cairo – Winter 2022

CIT 901 : Civil Aviation and Airport Planning

Basic Concepts in Airport Engineering

(Tutorial 2)

Eng. Ola Ahmed

[Link] Sameh
Civil Engineering Program
Dimensional Standards
‒ The length of an aircraft is defined as the distance from the front tip of the fuselage, or main
body of the aircraft, to the back end of the tail section, known as the empennage.

‒ The wingspan of an aircraft is defined as the distance from wingtip to wingtip of the aircraft’s
main wings.

‒ The maximum height of an aircraft is typically defined as the distance from the ground to the
top of the aircraft’s tail section.

‒ The wheelbase of an aircraft is defined as the distance between the center of the aircraft’s
main landing gear and the center of its nose gear, or tail-wheel.

‒ An aircraft’s wheel track is defined as the distance between the outer wheels of an aircraft’s
main landing gear.

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Aircraft Weight
‒ The payload is a term which refers to the total revenue-producing load. This includes the
weight of passengers and their baggage, mail, express, and cargo.

‒ The “lightest” measure of an aircraft’s weight is known as the operating empty weight
(OEW), the basic weight of the aircraft including crew and all the necessary gear required for
flight but not including payload and fuel.

‒ The zero fuel weight (ZFW) is the OEW of an aircraft plus the weight of its payload.

‒ The maximum ramp weight is the maximum weight authorized for ground maneuver
including taxi and run-up fuel.

‒ The maximum gross takeoff weight is the maximum weight authorized at brake release for
takeoff.

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 Minimum Turning Radius
• Two methods are used for determining the minimum turning
radius for aircrafts
 Graphically Method
 Equation form
R180º turn = b tan (90 −α) + t/2
Where:
b = wheelbase of an aircraft
t = wheel track of the aircraft
α= maximum steering angle
• The maximum angles vary from 60° to 80°, although for
design purposes a steering angle of approximately 50° is
often applied.

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 Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
1. Air Pressure and Temperature
• The performance of aircraft depends primarily on the density
of the air.
– The greater the density of the air, the more air molecules flow over the
wings, creating more lift, allowing the aircraft to fly.

• Air density is affected by air pressure and temperature.

• Density of the air decreases when the temperature is high.

– For practical convenience for comparing the performance of aircraft, as well as for
planning and design of airports, a standard atmosphere has been defined.

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Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
1. Air Pressure and Temperature

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Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
1. Air Pressure and Temperature
– Both pressure and temperature decrease with higher elevations above
sea level.
– In the standard atmosphere it is assumed:
– from sea level to an altitude of about 36,000 ft, known as the troposphere, the
temperature decreases linearly.
– Above 36,000 to about 65,000 ft, known as the stratosphere, the temperature
remains constant
– Above 65,000 ft, the temperature rises.
– Usually Aircrafts fly above a range of 33,000 to 40,000 ft
– Many conventional jet aircraft fly as high as 41,000 ft. The
supersonic transports flew at altitudes on the order of 60,000 ft or
more.

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Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
1. Air Pressure and Temperature
Temperature
65,000 ft rises
Temperature
– 40,000 ft relatively
remains
to constant
36,000 ft
– 33,000 Temperature
sea level decreases
constantly

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Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
1. Air Pressure and Temperature
 Air Pressure and Temperature
• The following relation establishes the standard pressure in the
troposphere up to a temperature of -69.7º F (3.566°F gradient
change per 1000 ft)

Where:
P0 = standard pressure at sea level (29.92 inHg)
P = standard pressure at a specified altitude
T0 = standard temperature at sea level (59°F)
T = standard temperature at a specified altitude

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 General
Knowledge

Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft only

1. Air Pressure and Temperature

• Air Pressure and Temperature

Stratosphere
Temp is almost
const.

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Atmospheric conditions affecting aircraft
2. Wind Speed and direction
• Ground speed and air speed
• Head wind, Tail wind, and cross wind
– If an aircraft is flying at a ground speed of 500 kn in air
where the wind is blowing in the opposite direction, known
as a headwind, at a speed of 100 kn, the true airspeed is
600 kn
– If the wind is blowing in the same direction, a tailwind, and
the aircraft maintained a ground speed of 500 kn, the true
airspeed would be 400 kn

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Airport classification system
• The airport reference code is a coding system used to relate
the airport design criteria to the operational and physical
characteristics of the aircraft intended to operate at the
airport.

• Airport classification under go two different categories

• FAA Classification (Federal Aviation Administration)
• ICAO Classification (International Civil Aviation Organization)

• The term critical aircraft as the aircraft most demanding on

airport design that operates at least 500 annual operations at
a given airport.

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Airport classification system
1. FAA Classification
• The airport reference code is a two designator code referring to
the aircraft approach category and the airplane design group
for which the airport has been designed
• The aircraft approach (A to E) category is determined by the
aircraft approach speed.
• The aircraft design group (ADG) is a grouping of aircraft
based upon wingspan or tail height and it is a group from
(I to VI)

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Airport classification system
1. FAA Classification
 FAA aircraft approach category and design group

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Airport classification system
2. ICAO Classification
• The aerodrome code numbers 1 through 4 classify the length
of the runway available, the reference field length, which
includes the runway length and, if present, the stop-way
and clearway
• The aerodrome code letters A through E classify the
wingspan and outer main gear wheel span for the aircraft for
which the airport has been designed

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Airport classification system
2. ICAO Classification

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 Airport classification system
Example
Determine the FAA airport reference code for the following
conditions:
a- Approach speed = 95 kn and the aircraft wing span = 50 ft
b- Approach speed = 155 kn and the aircraft height = 65 ft

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 Airport classification system
a- Approach speed = 95 kn and the aircraft wing span = 50 ft
b- Approach speed = 155 kn and the aircraft height = 65 ft

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 Airport classification system
Example
Determine the FAA airport reference code for the following
conditions:
a- Approach speed = 95 kn and the aircraft wing span = 50 ft
b- Approach speed = 155 kn and the aircraft height = 65 ft
Solution
a- B-II
b- D-V

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 Airport classification system
Example:
Determine the ICAO airport Reference Code for the following
conditions:
a. Reference field length = 2,778 m and Wing span = 93 ft (28.3
m)
b. Reference field length = 3,412 m and Wing span = 145 ft (
44.19 m)

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 Airport classification system
a. Reference field length = 2,778 m and Wing span = 93 ft (28.3 m)
b. Reference field length = 3,412 m and Wing span = 145 ft ( 44.19 m)

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 Airport classification system
Example:
Determine the ICAO airport Reference Code for the following
conditions:
a. Reference field length = 2,778 m and Wing span = 93 ft (28.3
m)
b. Reference field length = 3,412 m and Wing span = 145 ft (
44.19 m)
Solution:
a- Wing span = 93 ft ( 28.3 m)  4C
b- Wing span = 145 ft ( 44.19 m)  4D

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 Airport classification system
• Airports are classified either utility airport or transport airport
Utility airport: It is defined as one which has been designed,
constructed and maintained to accommodate approach category A
and B aircraft
Transport Airport: It is defined as an airport which is designed,
constructed, and maintained to accommodate aircraft in approach
categories C, D, and E

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Thank you