Kingscote Airport Master Plan Apr 2010 - Kangaroo Island Council

KINGSCOTE AIRPORT MASTER PLAN
Runways
Runway Length Needed for the Critical Aircraft
In broad terms, a runway length of approximately 1600m is needed for turbo prop regional
airliners such as the Q400. Regional jets such as the Embraer 170, need around 1800m
while B737/A320 domestic jet aircraft require in the order 2000m of runway. Refer Appendix
A.
The actual length needed will depend primarily on the aircraft model and the destination
stage length (the longer the stage length means the aircraft has to carry more fuel which
adds to the weight which increases the length requirement). Within the master planning 15
year time frame, it is unlikely stage lengths longer than Kingscote direct to Melbourne or
Sydney will be needed. The runway lengths noted above would be suitable for Kingscote-
Melbourne/Sydney.
The existing 1402m main runway 01/19 can be increased to 1524m while remaining inside
the existing runway strip and clearway area (marked by the white gable markers). Further
lengthening in the order of 220m is available within the aerodrome boundary to the south if
needed.
An extension to the north beyond the current clearway is unavailable due to the presence of
Arranmore Road and a requirement to maintain an obstacle clear gradient over vehicles.
So it is possible to have a runway length of 1740m without the need for land acquisition,
although some clearing of trees on the adjacent properties will be needed.
A future runway length of 1740m has been adopted for the 15 year Master Plan.
Runway Width and Strength Considerations
The existing 30m runway width is sufficient for turbo prop and jet aircraft including Embraer
170. Boeing B737 and Airbus A320 models are also approved to operate off 30m runways.
The existing sealed aircraft pavements were constructed to Fokker F27 standard at a
maximum weight 20,000kgs. The pavements will require significant strengthening to cater
for the heavier turbo prop aircraft through application of additional layers of crushed gravels
and bituminous resurfacing. The heavier jets require much stronger pavements and possible
consideration to asphalt surfacing, although some regional ports (Broome, Gove and Hervey
Bay) cater for B737 services with only spray sealed runways. Strengthening of drainage
culverts that run beneath the main runway will also be needed.
Requirement for Secondary Runways
The percentage of time an aircraft can use a runway without restriction due to cross winds, is
termed the runway wind useability. The allowable cross wind tolerance increases as the size
of aircraft increases.
CASA does not specify a wind useability level; it is left to pilots to operate their aircraft within
the specified allowable cross wind. ICAO Annex 14 1 recommends the number and
orientation of runways should provide a usability of not less than 95% for the aeroplanes that
the airport is intended to serve.
1 Annex 14 –the International Standards and Recommended Practices” Aerodromes” Annex
14 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Volume I Aerodrome Design and
Operations
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