Airfield planning – key factors linking aircraft characteristics to facilities Which of the following statements correctly relates aircraft characteristics to airport facility sizing and operations?

Introduction / Context:
Airport design must align aircraft performance and geometry with facility dimensions and operational planning. Several fundamental relationships guide apron, taxiway, and runway design, and even traffic scheduling.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Representative commercial aircraft fleet.
• Standard planning principles for manoeuvring areas and airside capacity.

Concept / Approach:
Turn radii directly inform the size of fillets and aprons to prevent excursions. Take-off run available (TORA) and landing distance available (LDA) must at least match aircraft requirements, setting runway length. Typical stage length affects aircraft selection; longer hauls favour larger aircraft and fewer frequencies, whereas short hauls can increase frequency.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Relate geometry: turning radius → apron and taxi curves.Relate performance: take-off/landing distances → runway length.Relate operations: stage length → fleet mix → frequency.Each statement is valid; therefore, select All the above.

Verification / Alternative check:
ICAO/FAA geometric design manuals and airline scheduling practice reflect these linkages.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Only (a) and (b)” ignores the operational reality that stage length influences frequency and aircraft size.

Common Pitfalls:
Designing aprons without checking the fleet turn radii; setting runway lengths from historical norms without matching to performance of the design aircraft.

Final Answer:
All the above