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Although the 747-8 wingspan of 224.4 feet (68.4 meters) is at the low end of the Code F range (213.3–262.5 feet/65–80 meters), the 747-8 will be treated as if it has the same span as a larger airplane that is near the upper limit of Code F range for airport design criteria.įull compliance with ICAO airport requirements would mean relocating taxiways and other airfield elements. These infrastructure changes would not only be cost-prohibitive but could also impact the airport’s overall capacity during construction, assuming the airport even had enough land to accommodate the increased spacing (see fig. 4).
#TAXILANE VS TAXIWAY FULL#
In order for an ICAO Code E airport to be improved to be in full compliance to Code F standards, an additional 32.8 feet (10 meters) of separation is recommended. Another major difference is the taxiway-to-object separation requirement, which is 155.8 feet (47.5 meters) for ICAO Code E and 188.6 feet (57.5 meters) for Code F. Many of today’s major airports have been constructed with Code E separations, so full compliance with ICAO standards would force them to remove existing taxiways and rebuild them an additional 24.6 feet (7.5 meters) away from one another. In terms of airport requirements, one of the differences between ICAO Code E and Code F is the Runway-to-Taxiway separation requirement, which is 598.7 feet (182.5 meters) for Code E and 623 feet (190 meters) for Code F. The 747-8’s wingspan and main-gear span are only slightly larger than those of the 747-400, but the new airplane is classified as Code F while the previous models are Code E. ICAO Annex 14 – Aerodome Reference Code Element 2, Table 1-1 (Airplane Wingspan Outer Main Gear Wheel Span)Ĭode C - 24 m (78.7 ft) – <36 m (118.1 ft) ) For simplicity, and because both the ICAO and FAA share the same concept of designing airports based on critical airplane dimensions and grouping of airport sizes based on span limits, the rest of this article will reference only ICAO specifications.įigure 2: Airport design codes (ICAO) and groups (FAA) The FAA and ICAO categorize airplanes based on wingspan, tail height, and outer main-gear wheel span. However, the 747-8’s wingspan is much less than the maximum ICAO Code F wingspan of 80 meters. (The FAA Group V limit is up to but not including 214 feet.) The 747-8 wingspan is about 224.4 feet (68.4 meters), making it the first Boeing commercial airplane to be categorized as Code F (or FAA Group VI) (see fig. 2). The legacy 747 family has been categorized under ICAO Code E, which has a span limit of up to but not including 65 meters. ICAO airplane design codes (or groups, in the case of the FAA) are based primarily on wingspan. The 747-8’s pavement loading is similar to other current twin-aisle airplanes. The aircraft classification number describes the relative load intensity of an airplane’s main landing gear. The airplane’s higher gross weight increases the pavement loading approximately 18 percent but is still comparable to today’s twin-aisle airplanes (see fig. 1).įigure 1: 747-8 pavement loading comparison
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It builds on the current 747’s capability to fly into major airports worldwide, using the same pilot type ratings, and similar aircraft services and ground-support equipment (for specific details, please see Section 5 of the airplane planning manual). It has the same exterior dimensions as the 747-400, except for an 11.4-foot (3.5-meter) wider wingspan (fully fueled) and 18.4-foot (5.6-meter) greater length. This article provides an overview of airport design codes and how Boeing is using existing FAA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) processes to work with the world’s CAAs to demonstrate that the 747-8 airplane can operate safely on 747-400 taxiways, taxilanes, and runways.Īirplane dimensions were considered during the 747-8 design process so it could operate in today’s 747-400 airports safely and efficiently. Boeing is working with the FAA, Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs), and airports around the world to agree on clearances that would allow the 747-8 to operate safely and economically at today’s 747-400 airports. In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has already approved the 747-8 for operations at airports with parallel runway and taxiway centerline distances that are the same as those required for the 747-400, which are aspects of airport compatibility.