Greetings,

   Was planning a trip to Key West Florida (FS9). I have to say after all my years of simming I've never flown there, so I did some research on the Web to get some info about the airport. The runway is 4,801 ft, but Southwest Airlines have 737-700 flying in/taking off from that airport. I've done some research on the specs of the aircraft, and found that the basic takeoff length is 5,249 ft...400+ ft longer than the runway at Key West. My question being...is this correct??? If so, if the basic take off length is longer that the runway isn't this against FAA rules, or am I missing something about takeoff length of an aircraft??? In the real world if I did take a vacation there should I worry about flying in a 737-700 out of that airport???

 

                                                          Thanks

                                                             J.R.

   Greetings,

   Was planning a trip to Key West Florida (FS9). I have to say after all my years of simming I've never flown there, so I did some research on the Web to get some info about the airport. The runway is 4,801 ft, but Southwest Airlines have 737-700 flying in/taking off from that airport. I've done some research on the specs of the aircraft, and found that the basic takeoff length is 5,249 ft...400+ ft longer than the runway at Key West. My question being...is this correct??? If so, if the basic take off length is longer that the runway isn't this against FAA rules, or am I missing something about takeoff length of an aircraft??? In the real world if I did take a vacation there should I worry about flying in a 737-700 out of that airport???

 

                                                          Thanks

                                                             J.R.

 

Don't eat before the flight, that will lighten the load, and you'll be fine. :smile:

 

John

John Wayne Airport (KSNA) has just over a 5,000ft runway and they have 757s/A300s go there everyday. So a 737 could easily takeoff/land on a 4,801ft runway

Thanks for the replies, but my question is if the takeoff length specs of the aircraft are longer than what the runway is...isn't this against FAA rules??? If not...why do the manufacturers list them, or even make them???

 

                                           Thanks 

                                              J.R.

Boeing offers a SFP package (short-field performance) option for the 737. I know some Brazilian operators did this to theirs to fly in and out of Santos Dumont (among others I'm sure, but that's a well-known one). I imagine Southwest has done the same. The specs you saw might not have taken that option into account.

 

 

John Wayne Airport (KSNA) has just over a 5,000ft runway and they have 757s/A300s go there everyday. So a 737 could easily takeoff/land on a 4,801ft runway

 

Actually John Wayne/Orange County's primary runway is 5,700 ft.  757's indeed have no trouble taking off.  Depending on load they do often spool up while holding the brakes.  That is also due to noise abatement requirements that dictate a sharp climb to 2,000, then a pitch to a shallow climb rate accompanied with a greater than normal power reduction.  Once out over the ocean they resume normal power application and climb rate.  KSNA was the airport I traveled out of for 10+ years as a passenger on business, mostly on United in 757's.  I do have to say that I had more concern on landings that on takeoffs.  I recall a number of flights pilots came in hot, really stood on the brakes, and exited the runway at its end with little margin left.

Thanks again for the replies, but Metalmike got it correctly. Boeing offers a 

737 with enhanced short runway landing and takeoff capabilities. The 737 design enhancements allow operators to fly increased payload in and out of airports with runways less than 5,000 feet long...taken from Boeings website.

 

                              Thanks to all, Take Care

                                               J.R.

They could also be flying very short distance like  to Tampa so they don't need a lot of fuel.

 

Actually John Wayne/Orange County's primary runway is 5,700 ft.  757's indeed have no trouble taking off.  Depending on load they do often spool up while holding the brakes.  That is also due to noise abatement requirements that dictate a sharp climb to 2,000, then a pitch to a shallow climb rate accompanied with a greater than normal power reduction.  Once out over the ocean they resume normal power application and climb rate.  KSNA was the airport I traveled out of for 10+ years as a passenger on business, mostly on United in 757's.  I do have to say that I had more concern on landings that on takeoffs.  I recall a number of flights pilots came in hot, really stood on the brakes, and exited the runway at its end with little margin left.

 

 

I hear ya' on Orange County.  I've flown in there a lot, most recently with my daughter.  I always coach her on the takeoff since there's a pronounced sensation of "weightlessness" for a moment depending on how the aircraft levels off.  And almost always on landing, we exit at the end of the runway.  But the most harrowing takeoff I ever had was in 1977 at JFK in a DC8-63 charter flight to Europe.  It was terribly stormy and windy and the DC-8 was full to capacity.  Our takeoff roll seemed to last forever and a number of us were becoming anxious.  At the last moment, we took off steeply, as steep as I've ever climbed in a passenger jet.  Then we hit severe turbulence through the storm which lasted until we climbed above the deck.  A short time later we were informed we were the last flight to take off from Kennedy that evening--they shut the airport down due to the storm.  Certainly a memorable experience.  I am not sure what runway we used--it was already dark and it was my first trip into Kennedy so I did not know the layout.

 

John