AIRPORT ENGINEERING

(Part I1)
by

Er. D. Kaviyarasan
Proprietor & Chief Engineer
AV I E n g i n e e r i n g S e r v i c e s | C h e n n a i

civilavies@gmail.com
30-07-2022

1
SONA COLLEGE OF
Antonov AN225. Largest aircraft. Destroyed in 2022 February

1985 to 2022
AIRPORT OBSTRUCTIONS
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization
1. APPROACH SURFACE
a. Traphezoidal
b. Extended Centrally along runway,
c. Starts diverging at the end of runway
d. Both Sides of the runway.
2. CONICAL SURFACE
a. Extends upwards and outwards
b. Usually circular in plan view
c. Radius of top is greater than
radius of bottom of cone
3. HORIZONTAL SURFACE 4. TAKE OFF SURFACE
a. Lower edge of conical surface is inner a. Rectangular
horizontal surface.
b. Outer edge of horizontal surface is b. Diverge
outer horizontal surface. c. Side Gradients
c. Inner horizontal surface is not circular.
d. Outer Horizontal surface is circular.
OHS is 150 m above ARP (Airport
Reference Point)
5. TRANSITION SURFACE
a. Trapezoidal
b. Side Slope
c. Extend from landing strip to take off strip
d. Slopes upwards and outwards to Inner Horizontal surface
OBJECT WITH ACTUAL HEIGHTS
OBJECTIONS
– Height more than 30 m within 4.5 km from runway end.

– Beyond 4.5 km – 30 m + 7.5 m per 1.5 km.

– 150 m from ground within minimum approach flight altitude.

RUNWAY LENGTH CALCULATION
 RUNWAY LENGTH
The runway length is the length required for the aircraft to
takeoff and land without any obstructions.
• Takeoff Run Available (TORA) – The length of runway declared available and
suitable for the ground run of an airplane taking off.
• Takeoff Distance Available (TODA) – The length of the takeoff run available
plus the length of the clearway, if clearway is provided.
• Accelerate-Stop Distance Available (ASDA) – The length of the takeoff run
available plus the length of the stop way, if stop way is provided.
• Landing Distance Available (LDA) – The length of runway that is declared
available and suitable for the ground run of an airplane landing.
Runway length is classified as,
1. Basic Runway Length
2. Actual Runway Length

Basic runway length is calculated based on ideal

condition such as no wind, aircraft in full loading
capacity, no gradient and at MSL.

Actual runway length is calculated based on

particular site condition.
ICAO RECCOMDATIONS FOR BASIC
RUNWAY LENGTH
For finding actual runway length, 3 corrections are to be
made.

Correction 1: Correction to Elevation

Correction 2: Correction to Gradient

Correction 3: Correction to temperature

Correction 1: Correction to Elevation

ICAO recommendations – Increase runway length by 7% from
basic runway length per 300 mm elevation.
 Correction 2: Correction to Gradient
• ICAO recommendations
𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 −𝑅𝐿 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
– Effective Gradient =
𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑎𝑦
– Correction = 20 % increase from basic runway length per 1%
effective gradient.

Correction 3: Correction to temperature

• ICAO recommendations - Increase runway length by 1% from
basic runway length per 1°C raise from reference temperature.
𝑇2 −𝑇1
• Airport Reference Temperature = T1 + ( )
3
Where,
T1 = Monthly Mean of Average daily Temperature of Hottest Month
T2 = Monthly Mean of maximum daily temperature of same month
Prob.:
The Length of the runway under the standard condition is 1620 m. The
airport site has an elevation of 270 m from mean sea level. Its reference
temperature is 32.9°C. The runway is to be constructed with an effective
gradient of 0.2%. Determine the runway length.
Data Given:

• Basic Runway Length = 1620 m

• MSL of Airport = 270 m

• Reference Temperature = 32.9°C

• Effective Gradient = 0.2%

Elevation Correction:

7% Increase for every 300 m

7 270
Elevation Correction = x x1620 = 102 m
100 300

Corrected Length = 1620 + 102 = 1722 m

Temperature Correction:

Reference Temperature = 32.9°C

Standard temperature = 15°C – (6.5°C for 1000 m from MSL)

6.5
Standard temperature = 15 - x 270 = 13.25°C
1000

Raise in Temperature = 32.9 - 13.25 = 19.65°C

1% from basic runway length per 1°C raise from reference temperature.

1
Correction = x19.65x1772 = 338 m
100

Corrected Length = 1772 + 338 = 2060 m

Gradient Correction
20 % increase from basic runway length per 1% effective gradient
Effective Gradient = 0.2%
20
Correction = x0.2x2060 = 82.4 m
100
Total Corrected Length = 2060 + 82.4 = 2142.4 m

Provide actual length of the runway as 2200 m

RUNWAY ORIENTATION
RUNWAY ORIENATION PARAMETERS

• Runways are oriented in the direction of prevailing winds.

• Wind parameters are,

– Intensity, Direction, Duration of winds

• High intensity winds perpendicular to the direction of runway

cause problems during landing and takeoff of airports

• Smaller aircrafts are particularly affected by the cross winds

 RUNWAY NUMBERING
• End of each runway is marked with a number which indicates
the magnetic azimuth (i.e. the angle measured in clockwise
direction from north of the runway in the direction of landing.)
• The east end of the east west runway will be marked as 27 (for
270°) and west end will be as 9 (for 90°).
 WINDROSE DIAGRAM
• Wind rose is a diagram that summarizes information
about the wind at a particular location over a
specified time period.
• It consists of three parameters.
– Intensity
– Duration
– Orientation
Plotting Wind rose can be done in two ways.
• Type 1 : Showing direction and duration of the wind.
(Intensity constant)
• Type 2 : Showing direction, duration and intensity of
wind.
WIND ROSE DIAGRAM
TYPE 1
WIND ROSE DIAGRAM
TYPE 2
Step 1: Draw Concentric circles showing wind speed.
Step 2: Mark 16 directions, each with a wind coverage area of
22.5°
Step 3: Draw radial directions to show wind coverage area. This
creates segments in which wind coverage is written.
Step 4: Mark Calm Period
Step 5: Fill wind coverage in designated segment for each
direction from the wind area.
STEP 6:

• Place transparent strip of width equal to the crosswind

component (at the same scale) along a direction.

• Add the wind coverage percentages superimposed by the

strip + Calm period.

• Then place the strip along all other directions.

The direction with maximum wind coverage is
the direction along which runway is oriented.
AIRCRAFT PARKING
AIRCRAFT PARKING
 OTHER TYPES BASED ON
DIRECTION OF AIRCRAFT
• Nose in parking

• Nose out parking

• Parallel parking

• angled nose-in

• angled nose-out
VISUAL AIDS
 VISUAL AIDS
Airport Lights
Airport Lights provide visual guidance for aircraft to takeoff,
approach, land and navigate around the airside, especially
in poor visibility and night conditions
• The 3 types of airport lights available are:
• 1) Approach Lights
• 2) Runway Lights
• 3) Taxiway Lights
COLOUR CODES IN LIGHTING
Runway Lights

Runway Centre line Lights

Runway Threshold Lights
Touchdown Zone Lights
Runway Edge Lights
Runway End Lights
Taxiway lightings
Taxiway Centerline Lights
Taxiway Centerline Lights
Taxiway Edge Lights
STOP-Bar Light
Rapid Exit Taxiway Indicator Light
Other Lights

Airport Beacon
Obstruction Lights
Apron Floodlights
Aircraft Stand Maneuvering Guidance Lights
Road Holding Position Lights
Airport Beacon Obstruction light Apron Flood light
• Discussions