The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has different classifications for airplanes. Small airplanes, for instance, fall under the Normal, Utility, Transport or Acrobatic category depending on how they are used.
Airplanes in the Normal category are used for carrying passengers and cargo. Airplanes in the Utility category are used for more strenuous flight maneuvers. Airplanes in the Transport category are used to transport passengers and cargo under 14 CFR Part 25. Airplanes in the Acrobatic category are used for aerobatic maneuvers. In addition to these categories, however, the FAA has Airplane Design Group (ADG) classifications.
What Are ADG Classifications?
ADG classifications are groupings created by the FAA that categorize airplanes based on their wingspan and tail height. They are used primarily in airport planning. With ADG classifications, airport facilities can safely accommodate the airplanes for which they are designed.
ADG Groups
There are six ADG groups, ranging from ADG I to ADG VI. Below is a breakdown of these six ADG groups and their respective wingspan and tail height specifications.
- ADG I: wingspan of up to 49 feet and tail height of up to 20 feet
- ADG II: wingspan of 49 to <79 feet and tail height of 20 to <30 feet
- ADG III: wingspan of 79 to <118 feet and tail height of 30 to <45 feet
- ADG IV: wingspan of 118 to <171 feet and tail height 45 to <60 feet
- ADG V: wingspan of 171 to <214 feet and tail height of 60 to <66 feet
- ADG VI: wingspan of 214 to <262 feet and tail height of 20 to <30 feet
Statistics show that over two-thirds of all commercial airliners fall under the category of ADG II or III. There are still some larger commercial airliners, such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8, but they aren’t as common as ADG II and III airplanes.
Why ADG Classifications Matter
ADG classifications allow for safer and more efficient airport infrastructures. Airplanes with a wide wingspan will require wider taxiways and more distance between parallel taxiways than their counterparts with a narrower wingspan. The clearance zones around runways depend on the size of the airplanes that use them. Even storage hangars must take into account both the wingspan and tail height of airplanes.
In Conclusion
ADG classifications give airports a clear framework for matching facilities with airplanes. By grouping aircraft by wingspan and tail height, the FAA ensures that runways, taxiways and hangars have the right dimensions in mind.
