What term describes the maximum rate of aircraft movements on the runway/taxiway system?

What term describes the maximum rate of aircraft movements on the runway/taxiway system?

• A. Runway capacity
• B. Airfield Capacity
• C. Airspace Capacity
• D. Terminal capacity

Answer: (B)

Capacity for the surface movement area is described by airfield capacity. This term captures the maximum number of aircraft that can move on the airfield’s movement area—runways plus taxiways and their connections—per hour under given conditions. It reflects sequencing, taxi times, runway interchanges, and the overall flow of aircraft from gates to takeoff or arrival to gates. Runway capacity would apply to a single runway’s throughput and wouldn’t fully account for taxiing and interconnections; airspace capacity deals with the flow and separation of aircraft in the air, not on the ground; terminal capacity relates to passenger processing and gate operations.

Capacity for the surface movement area is described by airfield capacity. This term captures the maximum number of aircraft that can move on the airfield’s movement area—runways plus taxiways and their connections—per hour under given conditions. It reflects sequencing, taxi times, runway interchanges, and the overall flow of aircraft from gates to takeoff or arrival to gates.

Runway capacity would apply to a single runway’s throughput and wouldn’t fully account for taxiing and interconnections; airspace capacity deals with the flow and separation of aircraft in the air, not on the ground; terminal capacity relates to passenger processing and gate operations.