ETL 09-1 Airfield Planning and Design Criteria for Unmanned

51 Pages·2009·3.61 MB·English

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEER SUPPORT AGENCY

28 SEP 2009

FROM: AFCESA/CEO
139 Barnes Drive, Suite 1
Tyndall AFB, FL 32403-5319

SUBJECT: Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 09-1: Airfield Planning and Design
Criteria for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

1. Purpose. This ETL provides guidance and criteria for planning and designing
airfields that support operations of Department of Defense (DOD) UAS presently fielded
or will be fielded by 2012.

2. Application: All DOD organizations responsible for planning and design of airfield
pavements.

2.1. Authority: Air Force policy directive (AFPD) 32-10, Air Force Installations and
Facilities.

2.2. Coordination:
• Major command (MAJCOM) pavement engineers
• HQ Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment (AFCEE/TD)
• HQ Air Force Flight Standards Agency (AFSSA/A3A, AFSSA/A3I)
• HQ Air Combat Command (ACC/A3YU, ACC/A8U1)
• UAS system program offices (SPO) and program executive offices (PEO)

2.3. Effective Date: Immediately. This ETL will remain in effect until these findings
are incorporated into joint-Service pavement doctrine and similar technical guidance.

2.4. Intended Users:
• Air Force Prime BEEF and RED HORSE units.
• Army Corps of Engineers.
• Navy NAVFAC offices and Seabee units, and Marine Corps combat engineer
units.
• Construction contractors building and expanding DOD airfields.
• Other organizations responsible for airfield construction.

3. References.

3.1. Air Force:
• Technical Manual 1Q-4(R)A-2-DB-1, 22 April 2008, Version 07.12.001,
RAC#7, Global Hawk Technical Orders, 303d AESG/LG, WPAFB, OH 45433,
DSN 785-3473.
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: DISTRIBUTION UNLIMITED
• Flight Manual TO 1Q-1(M)B-1, MQ-1B and RQ-1B Systems, 1 November
2003, Change 8, 22 January 2007, Det 3, 658 AESS, 16761 Via Del Campo
Court, San Diego, CA 92127.
• Flight Manual TO 1Q-9(M)A-1, USAF Series MQ-9A Aircraft, 20 February
2007, Change 1 – 30 April 2007, Det 3, 658 AESS, 16761 Via Del Campo
Court, San Diego, CA 92127.
• Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 08-6, Design of Surface Drainage
Facilities, 5 February 2008, HQ AFCESA, Tyndall AFB, FL 32403,
http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=33&c=125

3.2. Navy:
• A1-MQ8BA-NFM-000, NATOPS Flight Manual, Navy Model MQ-8B,
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Program Executive Office - Unmanned Aviation &
Strike Weapons, PEO (U&W) PMA-266, Multi-Mission Tactical Unmanned Air
Systems, 22707 Cedar Point Road, Building 3261, Patuxent River, Maryland
20670-1547.

3.3. Army:
• Engineering and Construction Bulletin (ECB) 2008-15, Design of Surface
Drainage Facilities, 22 April 2008, Directorate of Civil Works, Washington
D.C., http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=31&c=214
• Technical Manual (TM) 9-5895-XXX-10, Operator’s Manual for Shadow 200
TUAV System with RQ-7B Air Vehicle, 27 August 2004, US Army Aviation
and Missile Command, ATTN: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, ATTN:
SFAE-AV-UAV, Redstone Arsenal, AL 35898.
• Unified Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3-230-06A, Subsurface Drainage, 16 January
2004, http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=29&c=4

3.4. Joint:
• Pavement-Transportation Computer Aided Structural Engineering (PCASE)
design and evaluation computer program, http://www.pcase.com/
• UFC 3-260-01, Airfield and Heliport Planning and Design,
http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=29&c=4
• UFC 3-260-02, Pavement Design for Airfields,
http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/browse_cat.php?o=29&c=4

4. Acronyms.

ACN – Aircraft Classification Number
ASC/658 AESG – Aeronautical Systems Center, 658 Aeronautical Systems Group
C – Celsius
CBR – California Bearing Ratio
DOD – Department of Defense
ETL – Engineering Technical Letter
F – Fahrenheit
ft – feet
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GCS – ground control station
GDT – ground data terminal
in – inches
k – modulus of subgrade reaction
lbs – pounds
NAVFAC – Naval Facilities Engineering Command
PCASE – Pavement-Transportation Computer Aided Structural Design and
Evaluation
pci – pound per cubic inch
PCN – Pavement Classification Number
PGCS – portable ground control station
PGDT – portable ground data terminal
Prime BEEF – Priority Improved Management Effort - Base Engineer Emergency
Force
psi – pound per square inch
psig – pound per square inch gauge
RCR – Runway Condition Rating
RED HORSE– – Rapid Engineers Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron
Engineers
TALS – Tactical Automated Landing System
TDP – touchdown point
UAS – unmanned aircraft systems
UPS – uninterruptible power supply

5. Definitions.

5.1. Pass. The movement of an aircraft over a specific spot or location on a
pavement feature.

5.2. Sun Screen. A cover to protect aircraft from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

6. Aircraft Characteristics. Table 1 lists aircraft covered in this ETL. Tables 2 through
7 list each aircraft’s dimension, weight, and operational characteristics.

Table 1. Aircraft by Service

Service Aircraft
RQ-4A/B Global Hawk
Air Force MQ-9A Reaper
RQ-1B/MQ-1B Predator
RQ-7B Shadow 200
Army
MQ-1C ERMP Warrior
MQ-8B Fire Scout
Navy/Marine Corps
RQ-4B Global Hawk
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Table 2. RQ-4 Global Hawk
(See Figures 1 through 4)

RQ-4A RQ-4B
Wing Span (ft) 116.2 130.9
Length (ft) 44.4 47.6
Height (ft) 15.2 15.4
Vertical Clearance (in) 19.5 20.65
Tread (ft) 10.6 21.1
Wheel Base (ft) 14.8 15.4
Pivot Point (ft) 75 31.24
Aircraft Turning Radius (ft) 67 20.7
Controlling Gear Main Main
180° Turn (ft) 133 97
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) 11,900 15,317
Basic Mission Take-Off Weight (lbs) 26,750 32,190
Basic Mission Landing Weight (lbs) 12,900 16,325
Max Landing Gross Weight (lbs) 26,500 32,250
Take-Off Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 3,500 4,800
Take-Off Distance, to 50-ft (ft) 4,300 5,800
Landing Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 8,000 7,800
Landing Distance, from 50-ft (ft) See Note See Note
Assembly Configuration Twin Tricycle Single Tricycle
% of Gross Load on Assembly 88.5% on Main 89.5% on Main
Tire Pressure, Nose Gear (at Max T/O weight) 88-98 psig 109-119 psig
Tire Pressure, Main Gear (at Max T/O weight) 201-206 psig 289-299 psig

Note: Not applicable since block 10 (RQ-4A) typically flares between 45 ft (Above
Ground Level [AGL]) to 55 ft (AGL) over the runway. The flare initiation altitude is a
function of sink rate. Mission planners build landing approach for a 4.5 degree glide
slope (with engine on) and 5.25 degree (engine out). They survey the area for terrain
and obstacle clearance required to safely fly on the glide slope autonomously.

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Table 3. MQ-9A Reaper
(See Figure 5)

Wing Span (ft) 66
Length (ft) 36.2
Height (ft) 11.8
Vertical Clearance (in) 20
Tread (ft) 12
Wheel Base (ft) 10.2
Pivot Point (ft) 32 to inside wing tip
Aircraft Turning Radius (ft) 98 to outside wing tip;
71 to outside wheel
Controlling Gear Main
180° Turn (ft) 196
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) 4,900
Basic Mission Take-Off Weight (lbs) 10,500
Basic Mission Landing Weight (lbs) 8,500
Max Landing Gross Weight (lbs) 10,500
Take-Off Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 3,450
Take-Off Distance, to 50-ft (ft) 3,600
Landing Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 4,375
Landing Distance, from 50-ft (ft) 5,000
Assembly Configuration Single Tricycle
% of Gross Load on Assembly 90% on Main (assumed)
Tire Pressure, Nose Gear (at Max T/O weight) 80 psig
Tire Pressure, Main Gear (at Max T/O weight) 170 psig

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Table 4. RQ-1B/MQ-1B Predator
(See Figures 6 and 7)

Wing Span (ft) 48.7
(MQ-1B Block 10 &15 is 55.25)
Length (ft) 27.0
Height (ft) 6.9
Vertical Clearance (in) 5.3
Tread (ft) 9.1
Wheel Base (ft) 10.2
Pivot Point (ft) TBD
Aircraft Turning Radius (ft) TBD
Controlling Gear Main
180° Turn (ft) 196
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) 1,680
(1,760 with Ice Protect System)
Basic Mission Take-Off Weight (lbs) 2,250
Basic Mission Landing Weight (lbs) TBD
Max Landing Gross Weight (lbs) TBD
Take-Off Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 1,800
Take-Off Distance, to 50-ft (ft) 2,500
Landing Distance, Ground Roll (ft) 1,150
Landing Distance, from 50-ft (ft) 1,700
Assembly Configuration Single Tricycle
% of Gross Load on Assembly 90% on Main (assumed)
Tire Pressure, Nose Gear (at Max T/O weight) 45±2 psig
Tire Pressure, Main Gear (at Max T/O weight) 50±2 psig

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Table 5. MQ-1C ERMP Warrior

Wing Span (ft) 56.3
Length (ft) 27.5
(29 with Alpha Probe attached)
Height (ft) 9.9 - Level
(10.32 - for uneven surfaces,
allow for an additional 5 inches)
Vertical Clearance (in) TBD
Tread (in) TBD
Wheel Base (in) TBD
Pivot Point (ft) TBD
Aircraft Turning Radius (ft) 97.5
Controlling Gear Main
180° Turn (ft) TBD
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) TBD
Basic Mission Take-Off Weight (lbs) 2,250
Basic Mission Landing Weight (lbs) TBD
Max Landing Gross Weight (lbs) 3,200
Take-Off Distance, Ground Roll (ft) TBD
Take-Off Distance, to 50-ft (ft) TBD
Landing Distance, Ground Roll (ft) TBD
Landing Distance, from 50-ft (ft) 1,700
Assembly Configuration Single Tricycle
% of Gross Load on Assembly 95% on Main (assumed)
Tire Pressure, Nose Gear (at Max T/O weight) 45±5 psig
Tire Pressure, Main Gear (at Max T/O weight) 50±5 psig

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Table 6. RQ-7B Shadow 200

Wing Span (ft) 14
Length (ft) 11.33
Height (ft) 3.2
Vertical Clearance (in) TBD
Tread (in) TBD
Wheel Base (in) TBD
Pivot Point (ft) TBD
Aircraft Turning Radius (ft) TBD
Controlling Gear Main
180° Turn (ft) TBD
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) 252 to 257
Basic Mission Take-Off Weight (lbs) 370 to 375
Basic Mission Landing Weight (lbs) TBD
Max Landing Gross Weight (lbs) TBD
Take-Off Distance, Ground Roll (ft) TBD
Take-Off Distance, to 50-ft (ft) TBD
Landing Distance, Ground Roll (ft) TBD
Landing Distance, from 50-ft (ft) TBD
Assembly Configuration Single Tricycle
% of Gross Load on Assembly 95% on Main (assumed)
Tire Pressure, Nose Gear (at Max T/O weight) TBD
Tire Pressure, Main Gear (at Max T/O weight) 35+1 psig

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Table 7. MQ-8B Fire Scout
(See Figure 8)

Max Length (Main rotor Spread, tail rotor vertical) (ft) 31.67
Length (nose to tail, main rotor folded over tail, tail rotor 23.25
vertical) (ft)
Length (nose to tail rotor horizontal)(ft) 24.73
Width (outer diameter of skid tubes) (ft) 6.2
Height of main rotor blades (ground to flat rotor disc) (ft) 8.92
Height of vertical stabilizer antenna (ft) 9.75
Main rotor diameter (ft) 27.71
Tail rotor diameter (ft) 4.25
Ground clearance (fuselage, Water Line to ground) (in) 21
Ground clearance (tail skid) (ft) 3.25
Turning Radius in tow (ft) 20
Maximum gross take-off weight (lbs) 3,150
Maximum towing weight (lbs) 3,150
Basic Empty Gross Weight (lbs) 2,029
Assembly Configuration Skid tubes

5.2. Aircraft Classification Numbers. The International Civil Aviation Organization
(ICAO) has developed and adopted a standardized method of reporting pavement
strength for conventional rigid and flexible pavements. The procedure is known as
the Aircraft Classification Number/Pavement Classification Number (ACN/PCN). The
ACN is a number that expresses the effect an aircraft will have on a pavement. The
PCN is a number that expresses the capability of a pavement to support aircraft
operations. The ICAO manual specifies that the bearing strength of a pavement
intended for aircraft of mass greater than 5,700 kg (12,500 lbs) shall be made
available using the ACN/PCN method. Therefore, the Global Hawk is the only UAS
aircraft that will be included. Figures 9 and 10 are ACN relationships for the Global
Hawk on flexible and rigid pavements respectively.

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Figure 1. RQ-4A Global Hawk Dimensions

10