ACN PCN Module

Presented by:
Monique FUERI
Director Operational Performance
ACN/PCN module in PEP

Content
 ACN/PCN method
 ACN determination
 ACN/PCN PEP module
 Conclusion
© AIRBUS S.A.S. All rights reserved. Confidential and proprietary document.
ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 2

Content
 ACN/PCN method
 Conclusion

ACN/PCN method
• Aim:
Considering a runway with a given bearing strength, can a
given aircraft with a given load operate on this runway
without damaging the pavement ?
• Numerous methods developed:

44 methods in USA in the 80’s
• 1982: ACN/PCN method developed by ICAO

• Former official ICAO method: LCN (Load Classification

Number) still sometimes used.

ACN/PCN method
Pavement Classification number:
• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

unlimited operation
• The PCN is provided by airport authorities
• The PCN is qualified by:

Pavement type
Subgrade strength category
Tire pressure category
Pavement calculation method

ACN/PCN method
Pavement Classification Number:

unlimited operation
• The PCN is qualified by: Pavement

Pavementtype type
RR::rigid
Pavement type rigid

FF::flexible
flexible

ACN/PCN method

unlimited operation
• The PCN is qualified by:

Subgrade
Subgradestrength
Pavement type strength

category
category
Subgrade strength category AA::high
high
Tire pressure category BB::medium
medium
Pavement calculation method CC::low
low
DD::ultra
ultralow
low
ACN/PCN method

unlimited operation
Tire
Tirepressure
pressurecategory
category
(maximum
(maximumpermissible
permissibletire
tirepressure)
pressure)
• The PCN is provided by airport WW::nonolimit
authorities
limit
XX::to
to1.5
1.5MPa
MPa
YY::to
to1.0
1.0MPa
MPa
• The PCN is qualified by: ZZ::to
to0.5
0.5MPa
MPa
Pavement type

ACN/PCN method

unlimited operation

Pavement
Pavementcalculation
calculationmethod
method
TT::technical
• The PCN is qualified by: technical
UU::using
usinga/c
a/cexperience
experience
Pavement type

ACN/PCN method
Example :
PCN 58 R / B / W / T
The bearing capacity of a rigid pavement resting

on a foundation of medium strength has given,
by technical assessment, a PCN = 58.
There is no tire pressure restriction.

ACN/PCN method
Aircraft Classification number:
• The ACN expresses the relative effect of an aircraft on a

pavement for a specified standard subgrade
• ACN depends on aircraft parameters and runway

parameters:
Aircraft parameters:
weight, C.G. position,landing gear geometry (twin gear or
bogie), tire pressure
Runway parameters:
pavement type, subgrade category

ACN/PCN method
• Unrestricted operation if ACN is less or equal to PCN
• Overload operation is possible depending on country and

airport policy.
ICAO rule for overload operations:
– 10% PCN margin for flexible pavements
– 5% PCN margin for rigid pavements
– Annual number of overload movements less than 5% of total
annual movements

ACN determination
• ACN for Airbus aircraft can be determined using the

Airplane Characteristics for Airport Planning Manual

Content
 ACN/PCN method
 Conclusion


ACN determination
April 2007
Page 15

ACN determination
April 2007
Page 16
Content
 ACN/PCN method
 Conclusion

ACN/PCN PEP module
• With the increasing number of Airbus aircraft and Airbus

operators, more and more destinations have low strength
runways.
• Runway loading aspects start playing an important role in

landing fee determination.
• ACN determination with the curves presently published

may be fastidious and lead to errors.

ACN/PCN PEP module
• New PEP module: ACN and LCN calculation

ACN/PCN
ACN/PCN method
Runway Calculation
LCN method
F T
R A
D

ACN/PCN PEP module
• Compute ACN and LCN for every pavement type for given
aircraft data
• Compute maximum aircraft weight for a given runway
• Possibility to introduce the PCN value of each runway in

the airport database managed by the airport manager is
being studied
• Provide a graphical output: ACN function of aircraft C.G.

for a given pavement type

ACN/PCN PEP module
• Center of Gravity Position Influence ACN’s defined

at MRW and
max aft CG
A330-200 ACN's Flex Cat. B
250 15 20 25 30 35 40
ACN 65 F/B
MTOW 230 000 kg

230 ACN 60 F/B
ACN 55 F/B
210
ACN 50 F/B
190
ACN 45 F/B MLW 182 000 kg
MZFW 170 000 kg

170
ACN 40 F/B
150 ACN 35 F/B
<-- Flight
ACN 30 F/B
130
<-- Take-Off & Landing Landing -->
Flight -->
Tires 1400x530R23 PR36
Take-Off --> Tire Pressure (loaded): 14.2bar (206psi)
110 max
10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45aft CG Position: 37.5% MAC
Max Taxi Weight: 230.9t
Same ACN but several tons of Payload/Fuel difference

Content
 ACN/PCN method
 Conclusion

Conclusion
• New ACN/PCN module will be fully integrated in the PEP

user-friendly interface
• It will allow:
ACN computation of a given aircraft
Maximum aircraft weight for a given runway
LCN computation
• Availability: mid-2008

ACN PCN Module

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Presented by:

ACN/PCN module in PEP

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 2

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 3

• Numerous methods developed:

• 1982: ACN/PCN method developed by ICAO

• Former official ICAO method: LCN (Load Classification

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 4

Pavement Classification number:

• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

• The PCN is provided by airport authorities

• The PCN is qualified by:

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 5

Pavement Classification Number:

• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

• The PCN is provided by airport authorities

• The PCN is qualified by: Pavement

Pavement type rigid

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 6

Pavement Classification Number:

• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

• The PCN is provided by airport authorities

• The PCN is qualified by:

Pavement type strength

Pavement Classification Number:

• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 8

Pavement Classification Number:

• The PCN expresses the bearing capacity of a pavement for

• The PCN is provided by airport authorities

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 9

The bearing capacity of a rigid pavement resting

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 10

Aircraft Classification number:

• The ACN expresses the relative effect of an aircraft on a

• ACN depends on aircraft parameters and runway

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 11

• Unrestricted operation if ACN is less or equal to PCN

• Overload operation is possible depending on country and

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 12

• ACN for Airbus aircraft can be determined using the

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 13

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 14

ACN/PCN module in PEP

ACN/PCN module in PEP

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 17

• With the increasing number of Airbus aircraft and Airbus

• Runway loading aspects start playing an important role in

• ACN determination with the curves presently published

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 18

• New PEP module: ACN and LCN calculation

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 19

• Compute maximum aircraft weight for a given runway

• Possibility to introduce the PCN value of each runway in

• Provide a graphical output: ACN function of aircraft C.G.

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 20

• Center of Gravity Position Influence ACN’s defined

MTOW 230 000 kg

MZFW 170 000 kg

150 ACN 35 F/B

Same ACN but several tons of Payload/Fuel difference

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 21

ACN/PCN module in PEP April 2007 Page 22