questions RMIP 2 - Runways Length

[JKRMC 8]

I've been working on a RMIP airport and I've tried tons of designs, mostly boxy and awkward in length.

Usually it would seem that it's that the runway is either to short or to long in comparison with the rest of the airport. I don't have any pictures, because I've starting over yet again. What I want to know is, what is a good length (In tiles) for a runway? (Meaning from the end of the threshold.)

I'd also like to know what the diagonal, yellow lines extending from the side of the runways are?

  Edited September 11, 2012 by JKRMC  

[how_deep 2]

The in-game runways are too short but real-life runways (128-192 tiles) may be too long for the game. Depending on the size of your terminals, I'd say 80-120. Check out some City Journals and compare their runways.

The yellow stripes are called a stopway, which allows a plane to pull aside in the case of an aborted takeoff.

[JKRMC 8]

Thanks, I'll start out with 130 Tiles and then go from there!

[Wiecher 192]

The only realistic length of a runway is the full extent of a large city tile. Large tiles are slightly more than 4km, and the average runway of large international airports is about 4km.

The longest runway on London Heathrow is 3,9km, JFK New York has one of 3,6.

If you add blast pads, it should be the length of a large city tile.

[packersfan 666]

Yeah, if you are making a good realistic airport be prepared to devote an entire large tile to it. Obviously you don't need a 4km x 4km airport...but at least lengthwise it is good to have the space! Remember, realism dictates treating the "region" as a city and each city tile as sections of that city.

[TekindusT 3,809]

This post by GMT in the Show Us Your Airports thread will answer most of your questions regarding runway length.

[NorthStarDC4M 8]

I've been working on a RMIP airport and I've tried tons of designs, mostly boxy and awkward in length.

Usually it would seem that it's that the runway is either to short or to long in comparison with the rest of the airport. I don't have any pictures, because I've starting over yet again. What I want to know is, what is a good length (In tiles) for a runway? (Meaning from the end of the threshold.)

At approximately 55' per tile...

Some typical runway lengths would be:

4000' (small airport, general aviation/commuter): approx 73 tiles

7000' (smallish regional commercial airport (737/A320/similar)): approx 128 tiles

10000' (typical major airport): approx 182 tiles

12000' (International hub airport, strategic bomber base): approx 218 tiles

16000' (longest runway in US major airport use - Denver): approx 290 tiles

So, for realistic runways for a major hub, you would be using the entire length of a large city (256 tiles).

A small city won't even fit a SMALL commercial airport realistically (64 tiles).

I'd also like to know what the diagonal, yellow lines extending from the side of the runways are?

The diagonal hashing on the runway edges signify the runway edge area. This area is paved to a shallower depth and doesn't have the same strength as the runway proper. It is there to provide better drainage for the runway and keep plant growth back. It is important to note that the runway lights are normally raised and on the INSIDE edge of the hashing.

In case of an aborted takeoff the aircraft will either exit at the next runway exit or stop on the runway and request assistance. There would be no point to pulling into the hashed area as it would not be clear of the runway enough to allow operations to continue.

[krbe 193]

Runway lenghts have been properly There is no need to go for a four km rwy just because Heathrow has one; the best advice concering rwy lengths is to take a good look at which aircraft the airport will be serving, and more importantly at which ranges.

Hub airports (Amsterdam, London, Paris, New York, Atlanta, Singapore, Dubai) do have long rwys -- because planes fly far from these airports. Secondary cities can have both long or short rwys depending on where their main destinations lie.

Check with the real-life airport your airport will mimic; many European cities have airports with short rwys, because Amsterdam and London isn't that far away, and they are frequently served with narrow-body aircraft. On the other hand, many Asian cities have airports with long rwys, because their main cities lie further away and they are served less frequently with large aircraft.

Two examples come to mind: Phuket Airport (HKT) serving an island the size of Singapore but with a population of only 300,000 and of no particular global importance has a 3 km long rwy and receives in excess of 8MPAX a year, and a variety of wide-body aircraft from Bergen in Norway to Sydney in Australia. And even this is rwy is too short.

On the other hand, there is London City Airport (LCY) serving the financial district of London with a 1.5 km short rwy with short haul aircraft like the Dash-8, ATRs and Avros. Apart from its special service via Shannon to New York-JFK, LCY is serving European cities in its "neighbourhood".