Airport Safety Detail

Sunday, March 1, 1998

Impact of New Large Aircraft on Airport Design

DOT/FAA/AR-97/26 Author: James W. Patterson

Impact of New Large Aircraft on Airport Design

 

The object of this project is to assess the impact of the introduction of proposed new large aircraft (NLA) on current airport design standards and administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This report identifies several key design and operational characteristics of proposed NLA that will need to be taken into consideration before the aircraft are introduced into the current airport environment. Specific elements of airport planning and design that may be affected by these changes in aircraft characteristics have been identified to assist airport planners and the FAA in preparing for the NLA’s arrival. In addition, a 20-year projection of NLA development and a qualitative cost and compatibility assessment of introducing NLA’s at a sample airport that currently serves the Boeing 747 are included in this final report. Throughout this report, references are made to current airport design Advisory Circulars that will require modifications to reflect the introduction of NLA. Some changes will include simple additions of aircraft performance data, while others will require incorporation of new standards or recommendations that specifically address NLA. Airports expecting to serve NLA will be required to modify their existing facilities to meet the design criteria of airport design group VI. Recommendations are made to revise the applicable airport design standards, continue investigating the demands of NLA, and to determine their affects on the individual airports that are expecting to serve them.

 


DOT/FAA/AR-97/26
Author: James W. Patterson


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