For the purposes of airport planning & design, aircraft are grouped via the
Airport Reference Code according to two characteristics - the aircraft
approach category (depicted by a letter, relates to approach speed) and the
airplane design group (depicted by a Roman numeral, relates to
wingspan). For example, a Bonanza V35B has an airport reference code of
A-I (lowest approach speed category 'A' and shortest wingspan category
'I'). A B747-400 is classified as D-V ("group 5"), while a Lockheed C-5B
Galaxy is C-VI. This information can be found in FAA Advisor Circular
150/5300-13 (my source is a 1989 revision, may have been updated since).
The criteria are:
Aircraft approach category:
A: <91 kts
B: 91-120 kts
C: 121-140 kts
D: 141-165 kts
E: 166+ kts
Airplane design group (wingspan):
I: <49'
II: 49-78'
III: 79-117'
IV: 118-170'
V: 171-213'
VI: 214-261'
~Greg Rendell
PHL & ATL
At 12:18 AM 12/2/2003, you wrote:
>What is a group 5 aircraft?
>
>Mark
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
>B787300@xxxxxxx
>Sent: Monday, December 01, 2003 9:06 PM
>To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: AIRLINE Digest - 28 Nov 2003 to 29 Nov 2003 (#2003-196)
>
>
>But as I understand it, and I could be wrong, you can't even get them on =
>to
>the LAX runways safely to begin with, let alone from a runway to the =
>gate,
>unless someone makes darn sure that there are no B747-400's and maybe =
>other
>group 5 aircraft on immediately adjacent runways and/or taxiways. What =
>kind
>of operation is that? A damn unsafe one.
>
>Jose Prize
>Fan of reality