Training Notes on

LCN / PCN
Issued by Operation Performance Section

National Aviation Company of India Limited Central Training Establishment Hyderabad

AIRCRAFT CLASSIFICATION NUMBER (ACN) PAVEMENT CLASSIFICATION NUMBER (PCN) LOAD CLASSIFICATION NUMBER (LCN) Introduction All runways are constructed to provide a durable surface on which aircraft take-offs and landings may be conducted safety. For efficiency and durability, these surfaces must be smooth and at the same time offer acceptable rolling resistance and assist in the braking process. The weight of the aircraft exerts pressure on the surfaces, and pavements reaction is to distend to some extent. It is essential that these pavements are frequently inspected and maintained to the desired strength. Runway pavements cannot remain permanently durable. Pavement failures occur due to wear and tear. The runway surface degrades to states of excessive roughness, loss of surface drainage and water penetration. Such conditions adversely affect the aircraft operations in the following ways: Excessive braking co-efficient. Engine ingestion of pebbles and loose stones. Increased take-off distances. Rough landings and increases landing distances. Discomfort to passengers. Structural failure or Hairline cracks on airframes.

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2.

Pavement Rating Practice

In order to prepare the Runway and Apron pavements suitably to withstand the stress of aircraft weights, ICAO introduced the LCN/PCN system as a method to classify pavement bearing strengths. ICAO reference documents are Annex-14, Attachment B and DOC 9157 AN/901, Part-3. The Pavement Classification Number is notified by the Airport authorities through the medium of NOTAMs. 3. (a) PCN is qualified by following: Type of Pavement R- Rigid F-Flexible Subgrade Strength (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (c) A High (K = 150 MN / m3) B Medium (K = 80 MN / m3) C Low (K = 40 MN / m3) D Ultra Low (L = 20 MN / m3)

(b)

Tyre Pressure Category (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) W High, No Pressure limit X Medium, Limited to 1.5 Mpa (217 psi) Y Low, Limited to 1.5 Mpa (145 psi) Z Very Low, Limited to 0.50 Mpa (73 psi) (2/14)

(d)

Pavement Classification Method (i) (ii) T- Technical Evaluation U -Using Aircraft Experience

Calculation of PCN of the aircraft from the ICAO Tables PCN is notified by describing the type of Pavement, Subgrade reaction, tyre pressure category and classification method. (a) Type of Pavement: Two types of Pavements are commonly used, Rigid Pavement and Flexible Pavement

(i) (ii)

Rigid pavements are built using cement concrete Flexible pavements use Asphalt. The measures of reaction of these pavements are termed as Westergards Radius of Relative Stiffness (K) for rigid pavements and California Bearing Radio (CBR) for Flexible pavements. CBR is a measure of the penetration load of specific soil as compared to the penetration load of standard material. (b) Subgrade Strength: The lowermost base of the pavement is called Subgrade. The next upper levels are subbase and base. The topmost layer is the asphalt or cement concrete. The strength of the subgrade in the case of Rigid (3/14)

Pavements are measured as Mega New togs per Cubic Metre (K). They are classified as High (K = 150 MN/ m3) and Medium (K = 80MN/ m3), Low (K= 40 MN/ m3) and Ultra Low (K = 20 MN/ m3). (c) Tyre Pressure Category: Four categories of Tyre Pressure have been listed for arriving at PCN, these are: W High, No Pressure Limit X Medium, Limited to 1.5 MPa (217 psi) (MPa = Mega Pascals) Y Low, Limited to 1.0 MPa (145 psi) Z Very Low, Limited to 0.50 MPa (73 psi) (d) Pavement Calculation Method:

(i) Technical Evaluation (T): In Technical Evaluation, the surface is subjected to Penetrometer Tests and Deflection Tests. The results are correlated to PCN tables and PCN values are thus arrived at. (ii) Using Aircraft Experience (U): This is based on experience gained over a period of time. The impact on pavements by using aircraft is the basis of this evaluation.

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Note: The two all-up masses shown in columns 2 and 3 in the table each aircraft type are respectively the Maximum Apron (ramp) Mass and a representative Operating Mass Empty. To compute the ACN for any intermediate value, proceed on the assumption that the ACN varies linearly between the Operating Mass Empty and Maximum Apron Mass. 4. Example of NOTAM VABB Chhatrapati Shivaji Intl. A0040 / 09 A new TWY N10, located west of TWY N9 at a dist of 2812M FM THR Rwy 27, has been commissioned. The details are as follows: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) WGS Co-ord 190519. 16N0725057.68E LEN 330M WID 25M Shoulder WID 17.5M PCN 110 / R / C / W / T Edge LGT colour and Spacing Blue / 15M TWY CL LGT Provided Dist FM THR Rwy 27-2812M. 21 Jan 04:30 2009 until Perm. Created: 14 Jan 12: 42 2009.

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Explanation of the above Notam At Mumbai, with effect from 0430 UTC on 21 Jan 2009, a new taxi way N10 located West of TWY N9 at a distance of 2812M from Threshold of Rwy 27, has been commissioned. The bearing strength of the Rigid Pavement, resting on a low strength Subgrade has been assessed by technical evaluation of PCN 110 and there is no tyre pressure limitation. 5. Availability of PCN values: Details of PCN of all Runways / Taxi ways / Bays of the airports are available in Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) of the country. Any change or new constructions of Runways/ Taxi ways/ Bays etc., are promulgated through NOTAM. 6. Aircraft Classification Number (ACN)

ACN for aircraft depends upon its All-up Weight, Tyre Pressure and type of surface over which it is to be operated e.g., ACN value of B737 200 with tyre pressure of 165 psi operating to or from a Rigid Pavement with Medium Subgrade strength varies from ACN = 14 at AUW of 27293 Kgs to ACN = 30 at AUW of 52616 Kgs. ACN Tables for B737 series, A319/ A320/ A321 and A330 aircraft are enclosed herewith from page 11 to 14. ACN values for Maximum Ramp Weight and Operating Empty, Weight Empty are listed in the tables. (6/14)

To compute ACN for any intermediate value, proceed on the assumption that ACN vary linearly between these two listed weights. ACN should be equal to or less than PCN. Occasional minor overloading upto 10% above PCN on Flexible pavements and 5% above PCN on Rigid pavements may be made subject to approval of the appropriate airport authority. 7. Examples of ACN Tables Problem: Find the Maximum Take-off weight for B737-200-17A from SILCHAR Solution: 1. PCN at SILCHAR is PCN 27 FCWT. 2. From ACN Tables (Page 11) for B737200-17A (Tyre Pressure 160 psi), The values are as follows: ACN (FWCT) ACN 31 ACN 14 Weight 52616 Kgs 27593 Kgs

PCN being 27, aircraft cannot operate at maximum weight. Interpolating linearly, the following maximum take-off weight is arrived at, ACN 31 ACN 14 Difference 17 52616 Kgs 27593 Kgs 25323 Kgs (7/14)

25323 Difference per unit value of ACN = 17 25323 Difference for 4 unit values = 17 (i.e. 31 27 = 4) Therefore, Maximum Take-off Weight = 52616 5935 = 46681 Kgs As this is lower than Maximum Landing Weight (MLW) Structural Limit (46720), MLW is also limited to 46681 Kgs 8. Load Classification Number Classification Group (LCG) (LCN)/ Load X 4 = 5935 Kgs

Defence airfields in India classify the bearing strength of runway pavements by LCN. This is notified by NOTAM-D series. LCN for a given aircraft is to be determined and compared with the specific runway LCN. Normally aircraft LCN should not exceed Runway LCN. The information required for determining the aircraft LCN are Single Isolated Wheel Load (SIWL) or Estimated Single Wheel Load (ESWL) obtained from Aircraft Operations Manual and Tyre Pressure. SIWL / ESLW for A320 Bogie Gear aircraft are 47% of All-up weight and B737-200 17A is 45.5% of All-up weight.

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Example for calculation of LCN from the graph Refer Graph on Page 9. B737-200 AUW = 45 Tons SIWL = 45.5% of 45 T = 20.475 T Tyre Pressure = 120 psi (say) Therefore Aircraft LCN = 60 Load Classification Group LCG = III *******

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