Simviation Forums

Just wondering My local regional airport has a 8000 foot runway they extended it to accomadate the forest service tankers that is now based there but what is the normal runway length for the mediem size aircraft like 737 or 757 and the average for heavys.  I can land most planes there without using reverse thrust but is that a exceptable size for Most larger jets.

Pick some airports in AfCAD and check their lengths. kmia,kord & klax all have 12-13000 ft for the heavies. kbos only goes to 10000. warmer climates require more length for takeoff and landing (thinner air).
medium jets are probably pretty comfy at 6500', depending on the approach.
papa-metro usaf 1953-57

5,500 will do for a 737, and you can probably get it off in less.  The only other figure I know is that a fully-loaded 747 can get off, at the ABSOLUTE minimum, 8,000 ft (in the sim).  Mid-sized jets fall somewhere inbetween.

 For your purposes, your 8000 ft runway will probably do for most aircraft short of the heavies, or older large jets (707 etc).
 In the real world it gets far more complex. The runway length needed for any aircraft on any particular flight will vary, in some cases quite a bit, based on the type aircraft, it's takeoff (landing) weight, and the "density altitude" of the airport at the time. With a high density altitude (0ver 3000 ft) your 737 could take up to 2000 ft more runway at high weights.  Density altitude is the physical altitude corrected for temperature (and other factors).
  As someone pointed out, a fully loaded 747 takes about 8000 ft near sea level, but Air Force one routinely operates out of an airport with a runway of only 8600 ft and an altitude of about 500 ft (KCNW near Waco, TX). But they don't operate anywhere near max gross weight! The up-graded engines also help.
  But then, half the fun of this simulator is seeing how far you can push the limits isn't it?

 

Yup!  Can never get over landing on a carrier with an Airbus!  Its sooo much fun!  ;D