Questions will be based on the notes you took in class, information on the class web page, your handouts, quizzes, sample problems and handouts, and your homework problems. This is a closed-book closed-notes test. This type of information will be provided. Aircraft information on the test may not necessarily be for the same aircraft model. You should be familiar with the use of figures, tables and procedures related to runway design. You should know how to interpret (in plain English) and use the equations, figures and tables. Definitions should be memorized (for example "Wind coverage").
Bring with you a straight edge with English gradations, a good eraser and a calculator. You will need to measure dimensions off your test. Please remember to turn off cell phones, pagers, Ipods and other devices during the test and put them away in your backpack. No hats, hoods, earbuds during tests.
For full credit:
Indicate table number and circle the chosen values.
Indicate the figure number you are using write the input and output values along the corresponding axes. Interpolation lines: indicate which lines you are interpolating between, the value and units of interpolated information. Use the straight edge to draw lines on provided figures.
Show calculations, not just answers and provide a few words to explain their meaning.
Show units.
Mark the answer clearly.
Draw a neat sketch of the situation where appropriate. Dimensions should be shown by arrows to their exact extents.
Please do not crowd answers in-between problem statements. Answer space is provided below the problem statements.
Sources of information: AIRPORT DESIGN Handout M, Sample problem K, Homework problem W, other handouts, your notes, classroom information, links on class web page--anything covered in class or assigned. Nothing is excluded.
Topics covered in the test:
What is "crosswind?"
How does crosswind affect a/c performance and runway orientation.
Which runway dimension is affected by crosswind speed?
How does maximum allowable crosswind speed relate to a/c size?
What is "headwind?" What effect does it have on a/c operation and the needed runway length?
Be able to clearly draw and determine headwind and crosswind for a given wind direction on a diagram similar to Figure A2-1 p.4 of handout M.
Be able to explain in plain English what "wind coverage" is and what is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) required wind coverage for a set of runways.
Know how to fill information in, and how to use the "windrose." Be able to figure the percent time that a given set of runways can be used if the wind is blowing from given directions at given speeds.
What information does the wind analysis provide? (What design inputs will you be able to decide when you are done working with the windrose?)
How many years of wind data are necessary for wind analysis?
What is the source of wind data analysis?
Are wind directions provided with respect to True North or Magnetic North?
Typically, we obtain 24-hour wind data for wind analysis. Can a wind analysis be based on less than 24-hour periods? If yes/no, why would this be allowed?
If no wind data are available for a planned airport location what can you do?
Know how to select the proper runway configuration to meet an Annual Service Volume expressed in Operations/Year.
What is the Mix Index? What types of airplanes belong to Design Classes A, B, C and D?
How do airplane separations affect runway capacity?
What does VFR mean?
What does IFR mean?
Do runways have a higher hourly capacity under VFR or IFR? Why? Be able to support your answer with specific references to pages of handout M.
What can we do to increase the capacity of two parallel runways? Be able to support your answer with specific references to pages of handout M.
Know how to decide what is the proper runway length for a given design aircraft.
Is runway length based on an assumption of dry or wet runways? Why?
How does altitude and temperature affect required runway length? (For example, a higher altitude will require a longer or shorter runway?)
How does difference in elevation between runway points affect runway length? Why?
Which direction should aircraft land relative to the wind direction?
Which direction should aircraft take off relative to the wind direction?
Know how to properly mark runway ends to indicate their orientation when true and magnetic North are provided.
Make sure you can discuss the relative merits/disadvantages of different runway systems (e.g., closely-spaced parallel runways versus further-spaced runways, intersecting runways versus open V runways, staggered parallel runways versus non-staggered parallel runways, etc.) in terms of safety, capacity, space requirements, costs, taxiing distances etc.
What practice has the FAA allowed in order to increase the capacity of intersecting runways?
Be able to place a terminal building, and taxiways, when runway locations have been decided. Be able to provide the location of access to surrounding highways.
Be prepared to address any topic relating to the Airport Design homework. For example: figuring runway length, runway exit locations, runway exit geometry considerations, properly using English, Metric or ratio scales.
What is the purpose of blast pads?
What airplane dimension is important in determining taxiway width?
Which part of airport pavements should be able to support the heaviest airplane loads? Why?
What is airplane wheelbase, wingspan, wheel track?
Make sure you can use information in the Runway Design and Taxiway Design parts of handout M (see handout M table of contents for page numbers).