Draft EA - San Diego International Airport

SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – PROPOSED RUNWAY 9 DISPLACED THRESHOLD
The Runway 9 TORA and TODA at SDIA are 9,401 feet long, extending the full length of the runway. The
Runway 9 ASDA also starts at the Runway 9 end, but extends only 8,280 feet to allow for a
full-width 1,000-foot (standard) RSA beyond the ASDA. The Runway 9 LDA starts at the Runway 9 displaced
threshold, and extends 7,580 feet to allow for a standard RSA beyond the LDA.
The Runway 27 TORA, TODA, and ASDA are 9,401 feet long, extending the full length of the runway. An
Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) is installed beyond the Runway 27 departure end, and provides
the safety equivalent of a standard RSA. The Runway 27 LDA starts at the Runway 27 displaced threshold, and
extends 7,591 feet to the end of the runway.
Runway 9 is equipped with an instrument landing system (ILS) for Category (CAT) I approaches and a Medium
Intensity Approach Light System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights (MALSR). This equipment provides
electronic vertical and horizontal guidance to aircraft approaching and landing on this runway using radio
signals and a high-intensity lighting array to enable a safe landing when the visibility is reduced (fog or rain).
There are three categories of ILS, which are characterized with unique decision height (DH) 6
and visibility
minimums: 7
Category I. DH not less than 200 feet and Runway Visual Range (RVR) 8 not less than 1,800 feet;
Category II. DH not less than 100 feet and RVR not less than 1,200 feet;
Category III:
- Category IIIa. No DH and RVR not less than 700 feet;
- Category IIIb. No DH and RVR less than 700 feet but not less than 150 feet; and
- Category IIIc. No DH and no RVR limitation.
These minimums are for the standard categories, and may be reduced with special authorizations. According
to the FAA Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS) Order 8260-3B 9 , the maximum glide path angle for aircraft
Approach Category D 10 is 3.1 degrees. Based on the same source, 60 feet is the maximum threshold crossing
height (TCH) 11 requirement for ILS Category I. For Airplane Design Group (ADG) IV 12 which includes Boeing
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Draft EA
A Decision Height (DH) is the height at which a missed approach must be initiated if the required visual reference to continue the
approach has not been established.
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Aeronautical Information Manual, Pilot/Controller Glossary, February
9, 2012.
The Runway Visual Range (RVR) is the range over which the pilot of an aircraft on the centerline of a runway can see the runway surface
markings or the lights delineating the runway or identifying its centerline.
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration, Order 8260.3B, United States Standard for Terminal Instrument
Procedures (TERPS), Changes 1-25, effective July 7, 1976.
Category D aircraft are aircraft with approach speeds of 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots (FAA, Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5300-
13A, Airport Design).
Threshold crossing height (TCH) is the theoretical height above the runway threshold at which an aircraft’s glideslope antenna would be if
the aircraft maintains the trajectory established by the mean ILS glideslope.
ADG IV refers to airplanes with wingspans of at least 118 feet up to but not including 171 feet wingspan or tail height from 45 feet up to
but not including 60 feet (FAA, AC 150/5300-13A, Airport Design).
Purpose and Need
[1-7]