Aircraft characteristics

Aircraft characteristics are of prime importance to the airport planner and designer. The
following characteristics need to be studied
1. Type of propulsion
2. Size of aircraft
3. Minimum turning radius
4. Minimum circling radius
5. Speed of aircraft
6. Capacity of aircraft
7. Aircraft weight and wheel configuration
8. Jet blast
9. Fuel spillage
10. Noise
Type of propulsion
The size of aircraft, its circling radius, speed characteristics, weight carrying capacity, noise
nuisance etc,. depends upon the type of propulsion of the aircraft. The performance
characteristics of aircrafts, which determine the basic runway length, also depends upon the
type of propulsion
Size of Aircraft
The size of aircraft involves following important dimensions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Wing span
Fuselage length
Height
Distance between main gear

The wing span decides the width of taxiway, separation clearance between two parallel traffic
ways, size of apron and hangers, width of hanger gates.
The length of the aircraft decides the widening of taxiways on curves, size of apron hanger
etc.
The height of the aircraft decides the height of the hangar gate.
Wheel base affect the minimum turning radius of the aircraft.
Minimum circling radius
In order to decide the radius of taxiway, the position of aircraft in loading apron and hangars
and to establish the path of the movement of aircraft, it is very essential to study the geometry
of the turning movement of aircrafts.

Minimum circling radius

There is certain minimum radius with which the aircraft can take turn in space. This radius
depends upon the type of aircraft, air traffic volume and weather conditions. The radii
recommended for different types of aircrafts are as follows.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Small general aviation aircrafts

Bigger aircrafts say two piston
Piston engine aircraft under IFR
Jet enginer aircrafts under IFR

= 1.6 km
= 3.2 km
=13 km
= 80 km

IFR= Instrument Flight rules

Speed of aircrafts
The speed of aircraft can be defined in two ways viz., crusing speed and air speed. Crusing
speed is the speed of aircraft with respect to the ground when the aircraft is flying in air its
maximum speed. Air speed is the speed of aircraft relative to wind.
Aircraft capacity
The number of passengers, baggage, cargo and fuel that can be accommodated in the aircrafts
depend upon the capacity of the aircraft. The capacity of aircraft using an airport have an
important effect on the capacity of runway system as well as that of the passenger processing
terminal facilities.
Weight of aircraft and wheel configuration
Weight of the aircraft directly influence the length of the runway as well as the structural
requirements. i.e, the thickness of the runway, taxiway, apron and hangers. It depends not
only on the weight of the passenger baggage, cargo and fuel it is carrying and its structural
weight, but also the fuel which is continuously decreasing during the course of the flight.
Jet Blast
At relatively high velocities, the aircrafts eject hot exhaust gases. The velocity of jet blast
may be as high as 300 Kmph. This high velocity causes inconvenience to the passengers
travelling in the aircraft. several types of blast fences or jet blast deflector are available to
serve as an effective measure for diverting the smoke ejected by the engine to avoid the
inconvenience to the passengers. Since, the bituminous pavements are affected by the jet
blast, therefore, it is desirable to provide cement concrete pavement at least at the touch down
portion to resist the effect of blast in preference to the bituminous pavements.

Fuel spillage

At loading apron and hangars, it is difficult to avoid spillage completely, but effort should be
made to bring it within minimum limit. The bituminous pavements are seriously affected by
the fuel spillage and therefore, it is essential that the areas of bituminous pavements under
fueling inlets,
Noise
Noise generated by aircraft create problems in making decision on layout and capacity. The
correct assessment of future noise patterns to minimize the effect on surrounding
communities
Correlation between aircraft characteristics and airport planning
Sl.No

Aircraft Characteristics

Wing Span

2
3
4

Height of aircraft
Wheel Base
Aircraft capacity

5
6

Wheel configurations
Aircraft Velocity

Noise

Impacted Airport Design

element
Width of taxiway, clearance
between parallel taxiways,
size of apron, Hanger
Height of hanger gate
Turning Radius of taxi ways
Capacity of runway system
and terminal facilities
Length of runway
Bituminous pavements are
affected by jet balst. Cement
concrete
pavements
are
required. Therefore, effect of
jet blast decides position, size
and location of gates
Optimal layout of runway to
minimize
effect
on
surrounding communities

Airport layout
Airport layout components
The main components of an airport layout are:
1. Airport consists of following
a. Landing strip, consisting of a runway, shoulder and stop ways
b. Taxiways
c. Apron
2. Terminal area, consisting of the following
a. Gates
b. Terminal building
c. Aircraft service facilities

3. Flight support area, consisting of structures and facilities for air traffic control,
navigation aids, fuelling the aircraft
The runway is a strip provided specifically for landing and take-off. It is generally paved.
Shoulders are provided on either side of the runway to serve as safety zones should an aircraft
go off the runway sideways during landing or take off. They are generally unpaced.
Stopways are provided at the ends of a runway, again for safety, to accommodate an aircraft
that overshoots or undershoots a runway during landing or has an aborted takeoff
A taxiway is a strip connecting runways with one another and with the aircraft parking apron
The apron is the hard standing area where aircraft are parked. Passengers emplane/ deplane
here and cargo is loaded/unloaded here without interference to aircraft operation. Fuelling
and other servicing is also carried out here. The aprons are subjected to higher stresses than a
runway due to slow moving or stationary position of aircrafts. Apron in airport are
synonymous with platforms in railway stations, jetties in harbour and ports. The size of the
apron depends on
1. Type of airports
2. Number and type of aircrafts using the airports
3. Basic configuration of aircrafts
A holding apron is the portion provided near the end of a runway for engine run-up and for
hatching or unhatching vehicles towing the aircraft. They also serve as the area for aircraft
waiting for take-off
The gate is the opening in the terminal building though which passengers enter/ leave the
terminal building on arrival/ departure from an aircraft parked in the apron.
Terminal building: Primary function of an airport building is to accommodate terminal and
operations activities like control towers, weather bureau, and administrative block and
passenger facilities. Location of building with respect to runway and taxiway should provide
space for future expansion terminal building should be set back by 150 m and 75 m for
instrumental and non-instrumental landing systems respectively.
Hangers refered to large sheds where repair, renovation, servicing and fuelling of aircrafts
are undertaken. Hangers are usually steel framed structures with ventilation as essential
requirement. Machine shops and spare parts stores are provided within hangears. Size and
number of hangers depend upon the demand .
Flight support area consists of a number of structures and facilities for air traffic control
navigation aids and fuelling the aircraft

Regional planning
The planning of an airport should be done considering the air traffic needs of the nation as a
whole rather than an individual locality. Airport planning including the airport administration,
if not done on regional basis, would seriously impair the effective air traffic services of the
country. It may further result in surplus or shortage of airport facilities on regional basis.
Improper location of the airport in relation to the area served would result in unrealistic
planning and undesirable air space conflicts.
Airport planning on regional basis avoids the creation of separate airports by individual
jurisdiction.
The regional plan usually provides the following information:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Approximate location of airports in national map

Classification of airport
Location of air strips
Routes of air travel

The following data needs to be collected for a scientific and sound planning on regional basis
1.
2.
3.
4.

Population
Topographical and geographical features
Existing airports in the vicinity
Air traffic characterisitics

Population
The population growth of an area to be served and the character of population based on the
income groups and activities should be determined. The trend and needs of the people
towards saving of travel time should also be studied.

Topographical and geographical features

Sometimes because of the topography, air service is the only accessible mode of
transportation. The geographical location of the area to be served is also equally important.
Existing airports in the vicinity
Distance, population and economic charater of the adjoining areas having air service should
be studied. Two nearby airports should be located sufficiently apart so that the encircling radii
of two aircraft landing simultaneously do not overlap
Air traffic characteristics
Various existing modes of transport, with their merits and demerits in the area to be served,
should be carefully studied. The future expected volume of air traffic in terms of passengers,
cargo, mail etc., and the number of aircraft movements required for the above should also be
determined.
Airport site selection
The selection of a suitable site for an airport depends upon the class of airport under
consideration. However, if such factors as required for the selection of the largest facility are
considered, the development of airport by stages will be made easier and economical. The
factors listed below are for the selection of a suitable site for a major airport installation:
1. Regional plan
2. Airport use
3. Proximity of other airports
4. Ground accessibility
5. Topography
6. Obstructions
7. Visibility
8. Wind
9. Noise nuisance
10. Grading, drainage and soil characteristics
11. Future development
12. Availability of utilities from town
13. Economic considerations
Regional plan
The site selected should fit well into the regional plan, therby forming it an integral part of
the national network of airport
Airport use
The selection of site depends upon the use of an airport i.e. weather for civil or for military
operations. However, during the emergency, civilian airports are taken over by the defence.
Therefore, the airport site selected should be such that it provides natural protection to area
from air raids.

Proximity to other airports

The site should be selected at a considerable distance from the existing airports so that the
aircrafts landing in one airport does not interfere with the movement of aircraft at other
airport. The required separation between the airports mainly depend upon the volume of air
traffic, the type of aircraft and the air traffic control,.i.e. weather the airports are equipped
with instrumental landing facilities or not.
Ground accessibility
The site should be so selected that it is readily accessible to the users. The airline passenger is
more concerned with the door-to-door time rather than the actual time in air travel. The time
to reach the airport is, therefore, an important consideration specillay for short haul
operations. The time required to reach an airport in a passenger car, from the business or
residential centres should normally not exceed 30 min. the best location is a site adjacent to
the main highway.
Topography
This includes natural features like ground contors, trees, streams etc. a raised ground e.g. a
hill top os usually considered to be an ideal site for an airport. The reasons are.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Less obstruction in approach zones and turning zones

Natural drainage, low land may result in flooding
More uniform wind
Better visibility due to less fog

Obstructions
When aircraft is landing or taking off, it loses or gains altitude very slowly as compared to
the forward speed. For this reason, long clearance areas are provided on either side of the
runway known as approach areas over which the aircraft can safely gain or lose altitude. The
areas should be kept free of obstructions. Obstruction may be consists of fences, tress, pole
lines, building and other natural or man made objects, sometimes the ground itself may slope
upwards from the end of the runways to such an extent that it forms an obstruction to the
aircraft operation. If the obstruction exists around a site over which an airport is to be built,
the removal is imperative at any cost.
Visibility
Poor visibility lowers the traffic capacity of the airport. The site selected should therefore be
free from visibility reducing conditions, such as fog, smock and haze. Fog generally settles in
the area where windblown is minimum. E.g. in a valley areas.
Wind
Runway is so oriented that landing and takeoff is done by heading into the wind. Wind data
.i.e., direction, duration and intensity of wind should be collected over a minimum period of

about five years. This helps in proper orientation of runway and influence the shape of the
site needed for the development of the airport.the site should be located to the windward
direction of the city, so that a minimum smoke from the city is blow over the site.
Noise nuisance
The extent of noise nuisance depends upon the limb out path of aircraft, type of engine
propulsion and the cross weight of aircrafts. Therefore, the site should be so selected that the
landing and take-off paths of the aircrafts pass over the land which is free from residential or
industrial development. Sometime buffer zone may have to be provided between the take off
end of a runway and a nearby residential area. If buffer zone cannot be provided, some
acoustical barrier may have to be installed. Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) recommends that
to minimise community disturbance due to noise, the area nearby to the airports should be
kept free from the residential development and places of public assembly.
Grading, Drainage and soil Characteristics
Grading and drainage plays an important role in the construction and maintenance of airport
which in turn influences the site selection. The original ground profile of a site together with
any grading operations, determines the shape of the airport area and the general pattern of the
drainage system. Possibility of floods at the valley site should be investigated.
Future development
Considering than the air traffic volume will continue to increase in future, more number of
runways may have to be provided for an increased traffic, similarly, more facilities may be
required for processing of passengers, baggage and shelter of aircraft.
Availability of utilities from town
An airport has to be provided with facilities like water supply, sewer, telephones, electricity
etc. in the selection of site, the availability of these utilities from the town should be given
due consideration.
Wind rose diagram
A wind rose is a graphic tool used by meteorologists to give a succinct view
of how wind speed and direction are typically distributed at a particular location.

Steps involved in windrose analysis

Step I: Analysis for Wind Direction
Group all winds of a given direction together
Step II: Determination of Frequency of Wind in Wind Direction
Find the number of readings in each directional category and the total number of readings.
Then find the percentage that each of the 16 wind directions occurs.

Step III: Analysis for Wind Speed

For each wind direction, group the readings into wind speed categories. For
example, use ranges of 3 miles/hour , i.e. calm, 1-3 mph, 4-6 mph, 7-10 mph etc.
For each wind direction, find the percentage of readings in each speed range.
Step IV: Preparation of Polar Diagram
On polar coordinate paper, label each of the 16 wind directions
Plot each wind direction percentage from Step II making the length of each line
proportional to its corresponding percentage.
Step V:Result
From the graph obtained in the step 4, use the direction which has the maximum wind
frequency as the direction of landing and takeoff for aircrafts.
Windrose type 2
The wind data as in the previous type is used for this case. Each circle represents the wind
intensity to some scale. The values entered in each segment represent the percentage of time
in a year during which the wind having a particular intensity blows from the respective
direction. The procedure for determining the orientation of runway from this type of wind
rose
is
described
below.
Draw three equi-spaced parallel lines on a transparent paper strip in such a way that the
distance between the two nearby parallel lines is equal to the permissible cross wind
component. This distance is measured with the same scale with which the wind rose diagram
is drawn the permissible cross wind component is 25kph. Place the transparent paper strip
over the wind rose diagram in such a way that the central line passes through the centre of the
diagram. With the centre of wind rose rotate the tracing paper and place it in such a position
that the sum of all the values indicating the duration of wind within the two outer parallel
lines is the maximum. The runway should be thus oriented along the direction indicated by
the central line. The wind coverage can be calculated by summing up all the percentages.