FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Aircraft Performance and Weight and BalanceHard
A takeoff performance chart requires a 5% increase in required takeoff distance for each 1% of runway upslope. The unfactored (zero-slope) takeoff distance required is 6,500 feet, and the departure runway has a 2% upslope. What is the corrected takeoff distance required?
- A7,150 feet
- B6,825 feet
- C7,475 feet
- D6,500 feet
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 7,150 feet
Correction factor = 1 + (0.05 × 2) = 1.10. Corrected distance = 6,500 ft × 1.10 = 7,150 ft. Runway upslope increases required takeoff distance because gravity opposes acceleration, so the chart-specified correction must be applied.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. This reflects only a 5% total increase, not the required 10% for a 2% slope.
- C. This reflects a 15% increase, overstating the correction.
- D. This ignores the slope correction entirely.
Runway Gradient Correction
Runway slope affects takeoff acceleration; upslope increases required takeoff distance and downslope decreases it, per chart-specified correction factors.
- Upslope increases required distance
- Downslope decreases required distance
- Correction typically applied as a percentage per 1% of slope
Memory trick: Uphill takeoff = uphill battle — add distance for every percent of slope.