How Runway Length and Design Affect Aircraft Performance in NJ

Have you ever experienced a runway excursion? Hopefully not! However, there are several reasons why an aircraft may veer off or overrun a runway, including unstable approaches, runway conditions, and airport layout. Risk is an unavoidable part of every flight. Risk management starts in the preflight planning stage where Fixed Base Operator (FBO) services and automated flight planning tools provide pilots with airport layout and runway design information.

Monmouth Executive Airport has the longest private runway in the country. At 7371 feet, our main runway is longer than the commercial jet runways at LaGuardia Airport! As a privately owned, public-use airport, we are proud of our runways and the facilities we offer pilots, passengers, and Part 135 operators. In this article, we highlight how runway length and slope affect aircraft performance.

How Runway Slope Affects Takeoff and Landing Performance

A runway slope or gradient is the amount of change in runway height over the length of the runway and is expressed as a percentage. When a runway has a 3 percent gradient, its height changes by 3 feet for every 100 feet of runway length. This is considered a positive gradient or upsloping runway. A negative gradient (downsloping runway) indicates that the runway decreases in height. How do slopes affect the takeoff and landing performance of aircraft?

Upslope

• Creates an illusion that the aircraft is at a higher altitude than it actually is.
• Impedes acceleration.
• The ground run during takeoff is longer.
• Reduces the landing roll.

Downslope

• Creates an illusion that the aircraft is at a lower altitude than it actually is.
• Aids acceleration on takeoff.
• Ground run during takeoff is shorter.
• Increases landing distances.

Minimum Runway Length Requirements for Different Aircraft

The runway surfaces at airports vary widely, and pilots have to contend with concrete, asphalt, gravel, dirt, or grass. Minimum runway lengths, however, are guided by FAA AC 150/5325-4B, an advisory circular that recommends runway lengths based on the maximum certified takeoff weight (MTOW) of various aircraft, which is only one of several factors to consider. Other factors airport designers and planners take into account to determine the correct runway length include:

• Aircraft approach speed in knots
• Number of passenger seats
• Airport elevation above mean sea level
• Daily maximum temperature of the hottest month at the airport
• Primary or crossway runway.

What are the lengths and widths of the two runways at Monmouth? Our main runway is 7371 x 85 ft., and the secondary runway is 3512 x 50 ft.

Aircraft Takeoff Distance and Performance Planning

The vast majority of aviation accidents occur during landing and takeoff due to human factors. How do pilots determine takeoff distance for performance planning purposes? They use performance data in the airplane flight manual (AFM) and pilot’s operating handbook (POH) to make an accurate prediction of takeoff distance regardless of the available runway length. Primary consideration must be given to the following factors when pilots predict the takeoff distance.

• Pressure altitude and temperature: To define the effect of density altitude on distance.
• Gross weight.
• Wind component along the runway.
• Runway slope
• Runway condition: Snow and ice have a retarding effect.

The most critical takeoff performance conditions arise from a combination of the above factors.

Contact Monmouth Executive Airport for Flight Planning Support

The team at Monmouth Jet Center is ready to provide pilots of large private jets, helicopters, and piston aircraft with all the flight planning support they require. Our airport is an attractive alternative to crowded New York City, Philadelphia, and Jersey Shore gateway airports, and our FBO services are world-class (come see for yourself!).

Arrivals and departures at Monmouth are effortless, as we are a few miles outside of New York area Class B airspace and 1 mile outside of Mode C. Contact Monmouth today if you want to discuss our runway length in more detail or need information on our services. You can also visit us at: https://monmouthjetcenter.com/