What is the shoulder width for B-52 or fighter runways?

What is the shoulder width for B-52 or fighter runways?

• A. 25 ft paved
• B. 30 ft paved
• C. 5 ft paved
• D. 10 ft paved

Answer: (D)

The shoulder is a paved strip that runs along the edge of a runway to provide a safety margin and support for the aircraft in case of slight deviations, and to protect the main pavement from damage. For B-52 or fighter runways, a paved shoulder of 10 feet is used because it gives enough extra width to accommodate minor wheel or gear overhang, maintenance access, and occasional edge-off conditions without imposing the extra cost and loss of usable runway length that wider shoulders would entail. A 5-foot shoulder is typically too narrow to offer meaningful protection, while 25 or 30 feet would be unnecessarily wide for these aircraft and would waste runway space.

The shoulder is a paved strip that runs along the edge of a runway to provide a safety margin and support for the aircraft in case of slight deviations, and to protect the main pavement from damage. For B-52 or fighter runways, a paved shoulder of 10 feet is used because it gives enough extra width to accommodate minor wheel or gear overhang, maintenance access, and occasional edge-off conditions without imposing the extra cost and loss of usable runway length that wider shoulders would entail. A 5-foot shoulder is typically too narrow to offer meaningful protection, while 25 or 30 feet would be unnecessarily wide for these aircraft and would waste runway space.