Advisory Circular (AC) No. 302-019

From: Transport Canada

Methodology for the Identification of the Aircraft Group Number

Issuing Office: Civil Aviation, Standards
Document No.: AC 302-019
File Classification No.: Z 5000-34
Issue No.: 01
RDIMS No.: 9914711-V6
Effective Date: 2015-07-31

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

  • (1) This Advisory Circular (AC) is provided for information and guidance purposes. It describes an example of an acceptable means, but not the only means, of demonstrating compliance with regulations and standards. This AC on its own does not change, create, amend or permit deviations from regulatory requirements, nor does it establish minimum standards.

1.1 Purpose

  • (1) The purpose of this document is to provide guidance on the identification of the Aircraft Group Number.

1.2 Applicability

  • (1) This document applies to all Canadian airport operators, manufacturers, suppliers, Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) Headquarters and regional personnel, and the aviation industry involved with the planning, design, and maintenance activities at Canadian aerodromes.

1.3 Description of Changes

  • (1) Not applicable.

2.0 REFERENCES AND REQUIREMENTS

2.1 Reference Documents

  • (1) It is intended that the following reference materials be used in conjunction with this document:
    • (a) Aeronautics Act (R.S., 1985, c. A-2);
    • (b) Part III, Subpart 2 of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) — Airports;
    • (c) Transport Canada Publication, TP 312 — Aerodrome Standards and Recommended Practices.
    • (d) Advisory Circular (AC) 302-018, Issue 01, 2014-11-27 — Grandfathering at Airports pursuant to CAR 302.07;
    • (e) Advisory Circular (AC) 302-021, Issue 01, 2015-07-31 — Introduction of TP312 5th Edition; and
    • (f) Advisory Circular (AC) 302-020 Issue 01, 2015-07-31 — Mixed Operations at Airports.

2.2 Cancelled Documents

  • (1) Not applicable.
  • (2) By default, it is understood that the publication of a new issue of a document automatically renders any earlier issues of the same document null and void.

2.3 Definitions and Abbreviations

  • (1) The following definitions are used in this document:
    • (a) Aircraft Approach Speed Category. A grouping of aircraft based on a reference landing speed (VREF), if specified, or if VREF is not specified, 1.3 times stall speed (VSO) at the maximum certificated landing weight. VREF, VSO, and the maximum certificated landing weight are those values as established for the aircraft by the certification authority of the country of registry.
      • Category A: Speed less than 91 knots. (Catégorie A)
      • Category B: Speed 91 knots or more but less than 121 knots. (Catégorie B)
      • Category C: Speed 121 knots or more but less than 141 knots. (Catégorie C)
      • Category D: Speed 141 knots or more but less than 166 knots. (Catégorie D)
      • Category E: Speed 166 knots or more. (Catégorie E) (Catégories de vitesses d'approche)
    • Note: FAA AC150/5300-13A contains a partial aircraft listing of aircraft approach speeds. Further information may be obtained from the aircraft manufacturer.
    • (b) Outer Main gear span: means the maximum width between the outer edges of the outer main landing gears, as stated by the aircraft manufacturer.
    • (c) Tail height: means the maximum height of the highest part of the aircraft, as stated by the aircraft manufacturer.
    • (d) Wingspan: means the maximum width of the aircraft between wing tips, as stated by the manufacturer.
  • (2) The following abbreviations are used in this document:
    • (a) AGN: Aircraft Group Number
    • (b) AOM: Airport Operations Manual
    • (c) CAR: Canadian Aviation Regulation

3.0 BACKGROUND

  • (1) The introduction of TP312 5th edition is a change in the application concept of the “standards” affecting airport certification. This shift from the design based concept under the previous editions of TP312 to an operational concept in TP312 5th aligns the certification standards to the actual (or planned) operation at site by linking the standards to specific aircraft characteristics, aerodrome operating visibility condition, and level of service (Precision, Non-Precision, Non-Instrument). It also complements the Canadian airspace design criteria under TP308 and other regulatory requirements currently stated in Parts VI and VII of the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
  • (2) This change to an operational concept requires airport operators to be more knowledgeable of the aircraft operations occurring (or planned for) at the airport whereas previous editions of TP312 were of a design based concept using primarily the runway length in a Code number system to link the standards applicable to the facility.
  • (3) With the introduction of TP 312 5th, all certified airport operators will be required to amend their Airport Operations Manual to include additional information in addition to submitting an update to the aeronautical publications regarding the certification level of the various parts of the certified aerodromes (airports). This is required so that aircrews may ascertain the aerodrome as being “…suitable for the intended operation” as currently required under 602.96 (2)(b) of the CAR. At this time, there is nothing in the Integrated Aeronautical Information Publications that informs the Aircraft Operator as to the certification level of the infrastructure provided at the airport. Only a general statement is provided as to whether or not the facility is “Certified” or “Registered”. This general statement does not provide the Aircraft Operator adequate detail as to the suitability for each facility offered at an airport.

4.0 AIRCRAFT GROUP NUMBER

  • (1) The operational based concept under TP312 5th edition uses specific characteristic of the critical aircraft (current or planned) to link the respective standards. Each standard in TP312 5th directs the reader as to which of these characteristics is being called upon by the standard. These characteristics include:
    • (a) Wingspan (with consideration of the aircraft approach speed category);
    • (b) Outer main gear span; and
    • (c) Tail height.

4.1 Aircraft Characteristics - Sources of Information

  • (1) Air operators serving (or planning to serve) the airport are excellent sources of information for the characteristics of the aircraft they are providing (or intending to provide) at the airport. Most of the information needed to identify the Aircraft Group Number(s) of the aircraft and is included in the approved Aircraft Flight Manuals.
  • (2) In addition, some aircraft manufacturers have provided a significant amount of information relating to the characteristics of their aircraft on their websites such as the following:
  • (3) Also, ICAO has included a listing of common aircraft and their physical characteristics in the following publications:
    • (a) ICAO Aerodrome Design Manual, Part 1. Runways; and
    • (b) ICAO Aerodrome Design Manual, Part 2. Taxiways, Aprons and Holding Bays.

4.2 AGN Flow Methodology

  • (1) Previous versions of TP312 were of a design based concept. Under this concept the critical aircraft and its relation to the airfield infrastructure elements was established through a Runway Code number and this number was related to the standards throughout the document.
  • (2) TP312 5th edition uses an operational concept in that the critical characteristic of the aircraft relating to the infrastructure element being discussed is identified for each and every airfield element.
  • Note: The outer main gear width is the aircraft characteristic relating to runway and taxiway widths, wingspan relates to taxiway strip widths, and wingspan with an approach speed consideration relates to runway strip and safety area widths.
  • (3) Under this concept, it is a reality that any given aircraft may have more than one AGN depending on the airfield element being addressed, due to physical aircraft characteristics (wing span, outer main gear span), or approach speed influence.
  • (4) Once the AGN is identified for the element being addressed, this information needs to be included in the relevant sections of the AOM describing the physical characteristics of the manoeuvring area. In addition, the AGN information must to be forwarded to the AIS provider for publication in the CFS as advised in AC 302-021 Introduction of TP312 5th Edition.
  • (5) Appendix A includes examples of the flow/methodology to identify the AGN.

5.0 INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

  • (1) Not applicable.

6.0 DOCUMENT HISTORY

  • (1) Not applicable.

7.0 CONTACT OFFICE

  • [original signed by]
  • Jacqueline Booth
    A / Director, Standards
    Civil Aviation

APPENDIX A — AGN FLOW METHODOLOGY EXAMPLES

  • (1) The following is an example using the following tables from TP312 5th edition to identify the aircraft group number relating to the minimum runway width.
  • A SAAB 340B+ with optional extended wingtips has the following characteristics;
    • Wingspan – 22.75 m
    • Outer main gear span – 7.3 m
    • Reference landing speed - 116 kts (Approach Category B as per definition)
  • 3.1.1.1 The runway has the minimum width specified in Table 3.1.1.1, except where an aircraft is approved in the aircraft flight manual to operate on a narrower runway.

 

Table 3.1.1.1 - Minimum Runway Width in metres

Aircraft Group Number
Table 1-1 Column II		 Non-Instrument /
Non-precision Runways		 Precision Runways
I 18 23
II 23 30
III (A & B) 30 30
IV 45 45
V (2) 45 45
VI (2) 60 60

TABLE 1-1 (Runway Environment)

Column I Column II Column III
Aircraft Group Number Wing Span Outer Main Gear Span (a)
I (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) Less than 14.94 m Less than 4.5 m
II (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) 14.94 m up to but not including 24.10 m 4.5 m up to but not including 6 m
IIIA  (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) 24.10 m up to but not including 36.00 m 6 m up to but not including 9 m
IIIB  (Includes Groups I - IIIA with C & D approach speeds) 24.10 m up to but not including 36.00 m 6 m up to but not including 9 m
IV 36.00 m up to but not including 52.12 m 9 m up to but not including 14 m
V 52.12 m up to but not including 65.23 m 9 m up to but not including 14 m
VI 65.23 m up to but not including 79.86 m 14 m up to but not including 16 m
  • (a) – Distance between the outside edges of the main gear wheels
    Note: Table 1-1 includes consideration of the higher approach speeds that occur in the runway environment.
  • (2) The following is an additional example using the following tables from TP312 5th edition to identify the aircraft group number relating to the minimum runway safety area width. It is to be noted that this example includes consideration for the approach airspeed of the aircraft.
  • A Boeing 737-400 has the following characteristics as stated by the manufacturer;
    • Wingspan - 28.9 m
    • Outer main gear span - 6.4 m
    • Reference landing speed - 139 kts (Approach Category C as per definition)
  • 3.1.5.2 The runway safety area extends each side of the runway centreline and extended centreline within the strip, to the minimum distances specified in Table 3.1.5.2.

 

Table 3.1.5.2 - Runway Safety Area

Minimum distances of each side of centreline and extended centreline in metres

Aircraft Group Number
Table 1-1 Column II		 I II IIIA IIIB IV V VI
Non instrument 30 40 40 75 75 75 75
Non precision 40 40 40 75 75 75 75
Precision 40 45 45 75 75 75 75

TABLE 1-1 (Runway Environment)

Column I Column II Column III
Aircraft Group Number Wing Span Outer Main Gear Span (a)
I (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) Less than 14.94 m Less than 4.5 m
II (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) 14.94 m up to but not including 24.10 m 4.5 m up to but not including 6 m
IIIA  (for approach speed category C or D use AGN IIIB) 24.10 m up to but not including 36.00 m 6 m up to but not including 9 m
IIIB  (Includes Groups I - IIIA with C & D approach speeds) 24.10 m up to but not including 36.00 m 6 m up to but not including 9 m
IV 36.00 m up to but not including 52.12 m 9 m up to but not including 14 m
V 52.12 m up to but not including 65.23 m 9 m up to but not including 14 m
VI 65.23 m up to but not including 79.86 m 14 m up to but not including 16 m

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