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Geometric Standards For Runways

The document discusses geometric standards for runway design, including length, width, longitudinal gradient, transverse gradient, and intersections. It provides recommendations from ICAO and FAA for runway dimensions based on factors like elevation, temperature, and gradient. Corrections are required to adjust runway length based on these factors. The minimum recommended widths are 500 feet for non-instrument runways and 1000 feet for instrument runways. Longitudinal grade should not exceed 1.5% and intersections must have smooth profiles to avoid abrupt changes.

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385 views3 pages

Geometric Standards For Runways

The document discusses geometric standards for runway design, including length, width, longitudinal gradient, transverse gradient, and intersections. It provides recommendations from ICAO and FAA for runway dimensions based on factors like elevation, temperature, and gradient. Corrections are required to adjust runway length based on these factors. The minimum recommended widths are 500 feet for non-instrument runways and 1000 feet for instrument runways. Longitudinal grade should not exceed 1.5% and intersections must have smooth profiles to avoid abrupt changes.

Uploaded by

Saddaqat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Geometric standards for runways

Geometric standards for various runways elements are as follow;


1. length
2. width
3. longitudinal gradient & profile
4. transverse gradient
5. runway intersections

1) length
Selection of length of a runway is the most important decision in the
planning of landing area. Runway lengths for various types of airports
recommended by ICAO are for sea level elevation, standard atmospheric
conditions;
 590F or 150C
 29.92”barometer pressure
 zero effective gradient
 No wind

The basic lengths recommended by FAA are based on the same conditions except
that temperature of 1000F (410C above standard) has been included in the
length. Necessary corrections have to be applied for changes in elevation,
temperature and grade, at actual site of construction of the airport.

Correction for runway length


The following three corrections are required be applied for calculating the
lengths of runways for all types of airports.

Correction for elevation


The ICAO and FAA recommends that the length of a runway for standard
conditions at sea level be increased at the rate of 7% per 1000ft (300m)
elevation above/below mean sea level.

Correction for temperature


ICAO recommends that length corrected for elevation, shall be further
increased at the rate of 1% for every 10C that the aerodrome reference
temperature exceeds the temperature of the standards atmosphere for that
elevation. However FAA corrects the runway length for the elevation of the
airport but not for temperature, since the basic length at sea level is for
a temperature of 1000F.

Correction for gradient


ICAO does not contain specific recommendations concerning the effect of the
runway gradient on the runway length. Instead ICAO recommends that the
effect of the runway gradient be based on the analysis of aircraft
performance.
FAA recommends that the runway length corrected for the effect of altitude
be further corrected for the runway gradient at the rate of 20% for each 1%
of effective gradient. Effective gradient is defined as the maximum
difference in runway profile elevation divided by the entire runway length.

2) Width
A runway is made up of a paved load bearing area and adjacent shoulders. The
runway (paved load bearing area) combined with shoulders is called landing
strip. Sometimes shoulders are not paved but contains of mechanically
stabilized soil with or without grass cover and are only used during an
emergency landing.
Experience show that the distribution of air traffic loading on the runway
is such that the central portion of the paved area is subjected to maximum
loading which goes decreasing towards the edges. Minimum width of landing
strip has been recommended as 500 ft (150m) in non-instrument runways and
1000 ft (300m) in the case of instrument runway.

3) longitudinal Gradient & Profile


Frequent grade changes not only restrict the sight distances and increase
the runway length needed for landing and taking off but also dangerous for
the safety of the aircrafts flying at high speeds during the take off
operation. It is for this reason that the ICAO and FAA have limited the
maximum longitudinal gradient on any portion of the runway to 1.5% and
maximum effective gradient to 1%.
Longitudinal intersecting grades should be connected with proper vertical
curves. A rate of change of grade of 0.3% for every 100ft length of the
vertical curve has been recommended by ICAO.

4) Transverse Gradient

Runway transverse grades are meant to be provided for purposes of quick


drainage. According to ICAO and FAA, transverse gradient should not exceed
by 1.5%. Minimum value has however not been specified. If the cross-grade is
less than 0.5% drainage may not be satisfactory. Steeper transverse grades
are provided for the shoulders. According to ICAO, for all classes of
airports, shoulders should not exceed 2.5% for 500’ wide runway & 5% for
1000’ wide runways.
5) Runways Intersections
When two runways, both at zero grade, intersecting each other, there is no
significant problem or laying out the intersection. But if the runways are
at grade, the design of intersection assumes considerable importance. For
appropriate design of intersection, it is necessary to have smooth profile
of each runway at the intersection, so as to avoid any abrupt change in
grade. But we can’t provide flat gradients at intersection as it might
results in the ponding of water at the intersection. So a compromise has to
be made by reducing grade of both runways considerably & by providing
adequate drainage facilities at the intersection.

Geometric Standards for Taxiways

A taxiway is a strip of paved areas connecting the runway to the apron. The
speed of the aircraft when it runs on the taxiway is less than that on the
runway at the time of taking off or landing. So standards for taxiway design
and construction are not as stringent as for runways.

1. The length of a taxiway depends upon the distance of the apron from
the entry end or the exit end of the runway.
2. Considerable width suitably maintained shoulders are provided in case
of taxiway. Width of taxiway is much less as compared to the runways.
3. The ICAO recommends a longitudinal grade of 3% (max) and the rate of
change of longitudinal grade at 1% per 100ft and transverse grade of
1.5% (max) for all classes of airports.
4. The design of intersection of taxiway with runways and other taxiways
is simple as compared to intersection of two runways since the grades
along the taxiway can be safely made flatter for a considerable
distance on either side of the intersection.
5. The sight distance for taxiways should be so provided that the surface
is visible from 10’ (3m) height upto a distance of 1000 ft (300m).

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