Draft EUG Master Plan Update, February 2010

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CHAPTER 3 FACILITY REQUIREMENTS The Design Aircraft for Eugene is the Boeing 737-300, which has an ARC of C-III. Although currently not as common at EUG as in the past, the Boeing 737 has long been used as the critical design aircraft for EUG. The current air carriers at EUG use smaller regional jet aircraft. However, as the 737 remains a popular and abundant commercial aircraft in the United States, and as it has been the standard for so many of the airfield improvements, the 737 will continue to be used as the critical design aircraft at EUG. Lowering the design standards to satisfy only the current smaller aircraft would significantly limit EUG’s ability to accommodate a nationally common commercial service aircraft. As the ARC for EUG is C-III, other aircraft with an ARC of C-III operate at the airfield. The commercial passenger aircraft operating at EUG include the Q200 (C-III), Q400 (C-III), CRJ-200 (C-II), CRJ-700 (C- II), and EMB120 (B-II). Although EUG’s ARC is C-III, the larger Boeing 757, having an ARC of C-IV, can (and does) operate at EUG on an infrequent basis. 2.3 Runway Length Runway length requirements are determined by analyzing the needs of the airport’s most demanding (current or projected) aircraft in the operational fleet. The recommended length for the primary runway is determined by considering a specific airplane that is forecast to use the runway on a regular basis or by considering a family of aircraft having similar performance characteristics. FAA standards consider the threshold to be at least 500 operations per year. Departures are considered in the runway length analysis since they typically require more runway length than landings. Runway length requirements vary among aircraft. Generally, larger aircraft with faster speeds, longer wingspans, and greater weights require greater field lengths. Each aircraft operator and company has additional considerations to determine required runway length, including length of haul, percent of maximum loading, aircraft performance, pilot procedure, airport elevation, and ambient temperature. As these factors vary among aircraft operators, general runway lengths for common passenger and cargo Table 3-1 aircraft are presented in . As variations on these and other aircraft exist, which require other lengths, specific aircraft operators with specific aircraft types and requirements proposing to operate EUG should be considered individually to determine the adequacy of EUG’s runway length. Specific calculations for EUG’s design aircraft, Boeing 737-300, show that 8,000 feet is required for a B737-300 operating at maximum take-off weight (see 2000 MPU for full analysis which remains relevant). However, similar calculations show that 9,000 feet is required for a B737-400 and B737-500 aircraft at maximum take-off weight. The length of primary Runway 16R/34L is 8,009 feet, and the length of parallel Runway 16L/34R is 6,000 feet. The number of (current and projected) aircraft needing longer than 8,009 feet is well under the required 500 operations per year. However, this should be regularly re-evaluated to monitor aircraft changes and potential need. 3-3 Eugene Airport Master Plan Update (February 2010)