Although the type is experiencing a gradual decline in the aviation world, the mighty Boeing 747 has been a key part of commercial air operations for decades. Today, it still plays a key role in cargo transport, ferrying freight all over the world. However, its massive size and ability to carry vast amounts of weight come at a cost.
Indeed, the Queen of the Skies requires a lengthy runway to accomplish safe takeoffs and landings. But if the jet had to perhaps make an emergency landing somewhere, what might be the shortest possible runway length acceptable?
The key factors to consider
Those with some knowledge of aviation will know that the minimum landing distance will depend on a long list of factors. Not at all specific to the Boeing 747 and applicable to all aircraft, factors include aircraft weight, wind and other weather conditions, runway conditions, the type of runway surface, and altitude. This is well-visualized in the chart below, which shows the 747-400's landing runway length.
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According to data shared by Flugzeuginfo.net, the empty weight of a 747-400 is 184,567 kg (406,900 lbs). Considering things like fuel, seats, passengers, crew, and freight present in an operational jumbo jet, we would certainly have to add a few thousand kilograms (or pounds) to this number, even in a best-case scenario.
The chart notes that if a Boeing 747-400 had an operational landing weight of 475,000 lbs (215,456 kg) and wanted to land at a runway located at sea level, then the suggested runway length would be a little over 1,500 meters, or roughly 5,000 feet. This length is approximately the same as London City Airport (LCY), although getting the jumbo jet back out would be another interesting scenario!
Naturally, the length required will vary between 747 models. The short-fuselage 747SP, after all, has an empty weight that's almost 37,000 kg below the 747-400!
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What is the shortest distance recorded?
Interestingly enough, a pilot and contributor to Quora by the name of Ty Joseph notes that the larger and heavier Boeing 747-8 model has been recorded as having managed to land with even less distance. Joseph reports that, during cold weather and landing tests in Iqaluit, Canada, Boeing performed a test emergency landing using no more than 4,200 ft (1,280 meters) of the airport's runway.
The jet, he notes, was set at Flaps 30, and thrust reversers were set to 100% upon landing. Speed brakes were set to auto, auto brakes were engaged, along the pilot was manually braking as well. Additionally, with the excessive temperature of the brakes (thought to be over 700°C), a safety system deflated the tires.
While it's a slight tangent to this article's main topic, it's interesting to note what is required when an aircraft lands on a runway that is generally too short for normal operations. In the case of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 767 that accidentally landed at the wrong airport, a successful takeoff was accomplished by leaving passengers on the ground and taking off with only the minimum amount of fuel.
Runways can be much shorter for other aircraft
While we have established that the 747 can touch down on surprisingly short runways if required, many fall well below the type's limits. Indeed, small airports all over the world have runways of less than a kilometer in length, which severely restricts which aircraft can use them. For an example of a trip between two such airports, read our review of a flight on Isles of Scilly Skybus from 2021!
Just under a year ago, Simple Flying took a look at where you can find the world's shortest commercially-used runways. Notable examples included Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland, as well as the famous Saba Airport in the Dutch Caribbean. To find out the exact lengths, you can read our analysis in full here!
Are you surprised by the minimum distance required? Did you think it was shorter than this, or perhaps longer? Let us know your thoughts on the matter by leaving a comment!
Sources: Flugzeuginfo.net, Quora