Aircraft Classifications
Dr. Antonio A. Trani
Associate Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Virginia Tech
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FAA Airport Design Group Classification
FAA Aircraft Design Group Classification Used in Airport
Geometric Design.
Design Group
Wingspan (ft)
Example Aircraft
I
< 49
Cessna 152-210, Beechcraft A36
II
49 - 78
Saab 2000, EMB-120, Saab 340,
Canadair RJ-100
III
79 - 117
Boeing 737, MD-80, Airbus A-320
IV
118 - 170
Boeing 757, Boeing 767, Airbus
A-300
V
171 - 213
Boeing 747, Boeing 777, MD-11,
Airbus A-340
VI
214 - 262
A3XX-200 or VLCA (planned)
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Sample Use of FAA Design Criteria
FAA design group criteria is useful to size runways, taxiways,
apron areas, and protection areas around the landing area.
Critical Engines
for foreign object
damage
Shoulder
Shoulder
61 m
31 m
Shoulder
Shoulder
VLCA on Design Group VI Runway
VLCA on Design Group VI Taxiway
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ICAO Airport Design Group Classification
Design Group
Wingspan (m)
Gear Width
(m)
Example Aircraft
A
< 15
< 4.5
All single engine aircraft,
Some business jets
B
15 to < 24
4.5 to < 6
Commuter aircraft, Large
Business jets
(EMB-120, Saab 2000, Saab
340, etc.)
C
24 to < 36
6 to < 9
Medium range transports
(B727, B737, MD-80, A320)
D
36 to < 52
9 to < 14
Heavy transports
(B757, B767, A300)
E
52 to < 65
9 to < 14
Heavy transport aircraft
(Boeing 747, L-1011, MD-11,
DC-10)
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ATC Approach Speed Classification
Group
Approach Speed
(knots)
A
< 91
All single engine aircraft, Beechcraft Baron 58,
B
91-120
Business jets and commuter aircraft
(Beech 1900, Saab 2000, Saab 340,
Embraer 120)
C
121-140
Med. and Short Range Transports
(Boeing 727, B737, MD-80, A320,
F100, B757, etc.)
D
141-165
Heavy transports
(Boeing 747, L-1011, MD-11, DC10, A340, A300)
E
> 166
BAC Concorde and military aircraft
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Example Aircraft
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Aircraft Wake Vortex Classification
Group
Takeoff Gross
Weight (lb)
Example Aircraft
Small
< 41,000
All single engine aircraft, light twins,
most business jets and commuter aircraft
Large
41,000-255,000
Large turboprop commuters, short and
medium range transport aircraft (MD80, B737, B727, A320, F100, etc.)
Heavy
> 255,000
Boeing 757, Boeing 747, Douglas
DC-10, MD-11, Airbus A-300, Airbus
A-340, Lockheed L-1011
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The Wake Vortex Phenomena
•
Resulting from the generation of lift around a three dimensional
wing
•
Wake vortex tangential speeds can reach up to 70 m/s (beyond
the FAR Part 25 certification criteria of commercial aircraft)
60-70 m/s
Vortex Wake
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Typical VLCA Aircraft Specifications
Parameter
Passenger Capacity
Desired Range
Speed
Runway Length
Remarks
650 passengers in a three-class layout plus crew
13,000 Kilometers with 1.50 hour reserve
Mach 0.85 at 11.0 km
Use of conventional runways (i.e., 3,300 m at MTOW
and Sea Level ISA)
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VLCA Aircraft
VLCA
Boeing 747-400
24.87 m
14 o
75.67 m
Payload = 650 passengers
Design Range = 13,000 Km.
Four 311.8 kN Turbofan Engines
MTOW = 5,400 kN
S = 700 m2
AR = 9.5
12 o
81.5 m.
78.57
m
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Wake Vortex Equations
4mg
Γ = -------------πρV b
where, Γ is the vortex circulation (in m2/s), mg is the gross weight of the wake
generating aircraft (N.), ρ is the air density (kg/m3), V is the true airspeed (m/s),
and b is the aircraft wingspan (m).
Vt
– y2
--------Γ
= --------- 1 – e 4ε t
2πy
where, V t is the tangential velocity right or left from vortex core (m./sec.), y is
the spanwise coordinate measured from the vortex core location, ε is the vortex
decay value which has been found to be dependent upon the strength of the
circulation, and t is the time behind the wake generating aircraft (in seconds).
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Tangential Velocity Profiles
7
Clean aircraft
Speed = 150 knots
Sea Level ISA
6
5
4
VLCA (4,400 kN)
3
2
Vortex Cores
1
0
20
Lockheed C5A (2,060 kN)
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
Lateral Distance from Center of Fuselage (m.)
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Projected Separation Criteria
24.0
Small (Learjet 23)
Medium (DC9)
20.0
Large (B757)
Heavy (747)
16.0
VLCA
12.0
8.0
4.0
0.0
750.0
1500.0
2250.0
3000.0
3750.0
4500.0
5250.0
Leading Aircraft Weight (kN)
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Small Aircraft
Single-Engine GA
Twin-Engine GA
Cessna 172 (Skyhawk)
Beechcraft 58TC (Baron)
Beechcraft A36 (Bonanza)
Cessna 421C (Golden Eagle)
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Corporate Aircraft
Raytheon-Beechcraft King Air B300
Cessna Citation II
Gulfstream G V
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Commuter Aircraft
Embraer 120 (Brasilia)
Bombardier DHC-8 (Dash 8)
Saab 230B
Bombardier Regional Jet
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Short-Haul Transport Aircraft
Fokker F100
Airbus A-320
Boeing 737-300
McDonnellDouglas MD 82
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Medium-Haul Transport Aircraft
Beoing B727-200
Boeing 757-200
Airbus A300-600R
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Long-Haul Transport Aircraft
Airbus A340-200
McDonnell-Douglas MD-11
Boeing 777-200
Boeing 747-400
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