Airfield capacity is defined as the maximum rate of aircraft movements on which components?

Airfield capacity is defined as the maximum rate of aircraft movements on which components?

• A. The runway only
• B. The taxiway system only
• C. The airspace around the airport
• D. The runway and taxiway system

Answer: (D)

Airfield capacity is about how many aircraft can move on the ground in a given period, based on the movement area that includes both runways and the taxiway system. The runways set how many arrivals and departures can occur, while the taxiways determine how efficiently those aircraft can move between runways, holds, aprons, and gates. If either the runway throughput or the taxiway flow is constrained, overall throughput drops. The airspace around the airport governs approach and en-route flow, not the ground movement area, so it isn’t part of airfield capacity. Therefore, the maximum rate of aircraft movements on the runway and taxiway system defines airfield capacity.

Airfield capacity is about how many aircraft can move on the ground in a given period, based on the movement area that includes both runways and the taxiway system. The runways set how many arrivals and departures can occur, while the taxiways determine how efficiently those aircraft can move between runways, holds, aprons, and gates. If either the runway throughput or the taxiway flow is constrained, overall throughput drops. The airspace around the airport governs approach and en-route flow, not the ground movement area, so it isn’t part of airfield capacity. Therefore, the maximum rate of aircraft movements on the runway and taxiway system defines airfield capacity.