T.F. Green Airport Improvement Program - FEIS Chapters - PVD

T.F. Green Airport Improvement ProgramEnvironmental Impact Statement and Final Section 4(f) Evaluationgreatest flexibility and operational efficiency to accommodate anticipated airline service. The analysis aims toaccommodate as many aircraft as possible without weight reductions to ensure sound investment in runwayinfrastructure.As part of the planning process under Step 1 of the Level 5 screening, a runway length analysis was undertakento determine whether, and to what extent, an 8,300 or 8,700-foot runway as compared to a 9,350-foot runwaywould meet the Purpose and Need, and whether it would be practicable to construct. The analysis determinedthe following comparative factors between the different runway lengths:• Number of aircraft that could operate; and,• Construction costs.Aircraft AccommodatedBased on the determination of possible runway length options and physical constraints of the Airport, thenumber of different aircraft types that could be accommodated by these revised runway options was evaluated.Two different payload, or aircraft weight, scenarios were examined:• Maximum gross takeoff weight; and,• Belly cargo payload reductions.Maximum Gross Takeoff WeightIn general, the flexibility of the airfield to accommodate various aircraft types that are capable of operating nonstopto West Coast destinations at maximum gross takeoff weight decreases as the length of the proposed runwayextension decreases. Airlines prefer to have the ability to operate at maximum gross takeoff weight as much aspossible because it represents a full passenger and belly cargo load, thereby maximizing the profitability of eachflight. To ensure sound investment in runway infrastructure, FAA guidance recommends that airports provideadequate runway lengths to accommodate aircraft operations without weight penalties or reductions.The runway length analysis relies on the best publicly available data, which is the aircraft manufacturers’ (suchas Boeing and Airbus) airport planning manuals, to determine runway length requirements. FAA guidance 113states that “the guidelines, the airplane performance data curves and tables, and the referenced airplanemanufacturer manuals are not to be used as a substitute for flight planning calculations as required by airplaneoperating rules.” Air carriers determine runway length requirements and weight restrictions at their owndiscretion. Therefore, runway length requirements calculated for flight planning purposes may differ fromthose produced for airport design purposes using the FAA AC guidance.A total of seven aircraft models in the forecast fleet mix are capable of flying non-stop to West Coast markets fromT.F. Green Airport, or approximately 2,300 nautical miles (Chart 2-5). Variations of the general aircraft types that113 FAA Advisory Circular 150/5325-4B, Runway Length Requirements for Airport Design.Chapter 3 – Alternatives Analysis 3-20 July 2011\\mawatr\ev\09228.00\reports\FEIS_Final_July_2011\PVD_CH03_Alternatives_JUL_2011.doc