ICAO GEOMETRIC DESIGN STANDARDS

TABLE -1 ICAO Aerodrome Reference Codes

Aerodrome Reference field Aerodrome Wingspan, m Outer main
Code number length, m Code letter Gearwheel span*, m

1 <800 A <15 <4.5

2 800-<1200 B 15-<24 4.5-<6
3 1200-<1800 C 24-<36 6-<9
4 ≥1800 D 36-<52 9-<14
E 52-<65 9-<14
*Distance between outside edges of tires on the main wheel gears.
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.

TABLE –2 Parallel-Runway Centerline Separation Criteria, m (ft)

Simultaneous VFR operations
Aerodrome code 1 120 (400)
Aerodrome code 2 150 (500)
Aerodrome code 3 or 4 210 (700)
Simultaneous IFR operations
Segregated operations 760 (2500)*
Independent departures 760 (2500)
Dependent arrivals 915 (3000)
Independent arrivals 1525(5000)

*If the runway thresholds are staggered and the approach is to near threshold, reduce by 30 m (100ft)
for each 150 m (500ft) of stagger to a minimum separation of 300 m (1000ft);if the runway
thresholds are staggered and the approach is to the far threshold, increase by 30m (100ft) for each
150 m (500ft) of stagger.
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.

TABLE-3 ICAO Runway and Runway Strip Dimensional

Standards, m

Aerodrome code

A B C D E

Pavement width
Aerodrome code
1* 18 18 23
2* 23 23 30
3 30 30 30 40
4 45 45 45
Pavement and shoulder width†,‡ 60 60 60
 Aerodrome code
1 2 3 4

Runway strip width‡

Precision approach 150 150 300 300
Non-precision-instrumental approach 150 150 300 300
Visual approach 60 80 150 150
Clear and graded-area width‡
Instrument approach 80 80 150§ 150§
Visual approach 60 80 150 150

∗The width of a precision-instrument approach runway should not be less than 30m where the
aerodrome code number is 1 or 2. Minimum width of pavement and shoulders when pavement width is
less than 60m.
‡ Symmetric about the runway centerline.
§It is recommended that this be provided for the first 150m from each end of the runway and that it be
increased linearly from this point to a width of 210m at a point 300m from each end of the runway and
remain at this width for the remainder of the runway.

TABLE-4 Runway Surface Gradient Standards

Aerodrome code
1 2 3 4
Runway longitudinal
Gradient, %
Maximum 2.0 2.0 1.5* 1.25*
Maximum change 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5
Maximum effective† 2.0 2.0 1.0 1.0
Vertical curve, m
Minimum length of curve‡ 75 150 300 300
Minimum distance between
Points of intersection§ 50 50 150 300
Runway strips
Gradient, %
Maximum longitudinal 2.0 2.0 1.75 1.5
Maximum transverse 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5
Aerodrome code
A B C D E
Runway transverse gradient, %
Maximum 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5
Minimum 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Shoulder transverse gradient, %
Maximum 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5
*May not exceed 0.8 percent in first and last quarters for runway of aerodrome code 4 or for a
category II or III precision-instrument runway for aerodrome code 3.
†Difference in elevation between high and low point divided by runway length.
‡For each 1 percent change in grade.
§Distance is multiplied by sum of absolute grade changes in percent; minimum length is 45m.
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.
TABLE-5 Runway-to-Taxiway Separation Criteria on the
Airfield

Aerodrome code
A B C D E
Runway centerline to:
Parallel-taxiway centerline
Non-precision-instrument
runways
Aerodrome code 1 37.5 42
Aerodrome code 2 47.5 52
Aerodrome code 3 93 101
Aerodrome code 4 101 107.5
Precision-instrument runways
Aerodrome code 1 82.5 87
Aerodrome code 2 82.5 87
Aerodrome code 3 168 176
Aerodrome code 4 176 182.5
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.

TABLE-6 Runway-to-Holding-line Separation Criteria on the

Airfield

Type of runway
Non- Non- Precision-instrument
Precision- Precision- Approach category
instrument approach I II & III Takeoff
Aerodrome code 1 30 40 60* - 30
Aerodrome code 2 40 40 60* - 40
Aerodrome code 3 75 75 90*‚† 90*‚† 75
Aerodrome code 4 75 75 90*‚† 90*‚† 75
*This distance may have to be increased to avoid interference with radio aids; for a precision-
instrument category III runway, this increase may be in the order of 50m.
†If holding bay or a taxiway holding position is at a lower elevation compared to the runway
threshold, the distance may be decreased by 5m for every 1m that the holding bay or the holding
position is lower than the threshold, contingent upon not interfering with the inner transitional
surface; if a holding bay or a taxiway holding position is at a higher elevation compared to the
runway threshold, the distance should be increased by 5m for every 1m that the holding bay or
holding position is higher than the threshold.
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.
TABLE-7 Taxiway Dimensional Standards, m

Aerodrome code
A B C D E
Width
Pavement 7.5 10.5 15* 18† 23
Pavement and 25 38 44
shoulder
Edge safety margin 1.5 2.25 3‡ 4.5 4.5
Strip 27 39 57 85 93
Graded portion of 22 25 25 38 44
strip
Minimum separation
Taxiway centerline to:
Taxiway centerline 21 31.5 46.5 68.5 81.5
Object 13.5 19.5 28.5 42.5 49
Aircraft stand taxilane
to:
Object 12 16.5 24.5 36 42.5
*18m if used by aircraft with a wheelbase equal to or greater than 18m.
†23m is used by aircraft with an outer main gear wheel span equal to or greater than 9m.
‡4.5m if intended to be used by an airplane with a wheelbase equal to or greater than 18m
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.

TABLE-8 ICAO Taxiway Gradient Standards

Aerodrome code
A B C D E
Gradient, %
Pavement longitudinal
Maximum 3.0 3.0 1.5 1.5 1.5
Maximum change 4.0 4.0 3.33 3.33 3.33
Pavement transverse
Maximum 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5
Strip
Maximum transverse
Graded portion
Upward 3.0 3.0 2.5 2.5 2.5
Downward 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Ungraded portion
Upward 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0
Vertical Curve, m
Minimum length* 25 25 30 30 30
*For each 1 percent of grade change.
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.
TABLE-9 Radii of Curvature for Transport Aircraft

Taxing speed Radius of exit curve

mi/h km/h ft m
10 16 50 15
20 32 200 60
30 48 450 135
40 64 800 240
50 80 1250 375
60 96 1800 540
SOURCE: International Civil Aviation Organization.