What is the starting width of the sloped plane of the approach-departure clearance surface?

What is the starting width of the sloped plane of the approach-departure clearance surface?

• A. 1000 ft
• B. 2000 ft
• C. 3000 ft
• D. 5000 ft

Answer: (B)

The starting width is 2,000 feet. The approach-departure clearance surface is a sloped plane that begins at the runway threshold and rises away from the runway; the base cross-section width is fixed at 2,000 ft so there’s a wide obstacle-free corridor right at the end of the runway for both approaches and initial departures. As you move away from the threshold, the plane slopes upward, so the effective width increases with distance, but the base width at the threshold is 2,000 ft.

The starting width is 2,000 feet. The approach-departure clearance surface is a sloped plane that begins at the runway threshold and rises away from the runway; the base cross-section width is fixed at 2,000 ft so there’s a wide obstacle-free corridor right at the end of the runway for both approaches and initial departures. As you move away from the threshold, the plane slopes upward, so the effective width increases with distance, but the base width at the threshold is 2,000 ft.