The issue of whether a runway should be classified as BII or CII can be a complicated technical subject. The classification of a runway, referred to as its Airport Reference Code or “ARC” relates to the size and speed of the most demanding “Design Aircraft” aircraft that use the runway.

The continuing design configuration of airport facilities is typically driven by the requirements of the Design Aircraft.

The Category letter A, B, C or D in the ARC relates to the approach to landing speed designed to be employed by a given aircraft. For example, “A” aircraft have an approach speed of less than 91 knots. An example of an “A” aircraft would be a single engine piston airplane such as the Cessna 172. “B” aircraft have an approach speed of 91 to less than 121 knots. Examples of “B” aircraft include piston twins, turbo props such as the Beechcraft King Air and the Piper Cheyenne I and a fairly wide variety of lighter business jets such as the Cessna Citation I and II. “C” aircraft have an approach speed of 121 to less than 141 knots. An example of a “C” aircraft is the Falcon 50.

In general, a “C” aircraft requires a longer runway to operate from than a “B” aircraft.

The Group number I, II or III in the ARC relates to the wingspan of a given aircraft. Group I aircraft have a wingspan of less than 49 feet. Group II aircraft have a wingspan of less than 79 feet. Group III aircraft have a wingspan of less than 118 feet.

In general, a Group II aircraft requires a wider runway to operate from than a Group I aircraft.

The implications to airport design at the Venice Municipal Airport are, therefore, that if the current 5000 foot runways can be constrained to approximately 4000 feet by demonstrating that the Design Aircraft for our Airport is in fact of the BII variety, rather than CII, the number of jets capable of using our Airport could be reduced.

The VABA opposes any attempt by Airport critics to downgrade the ARC of our Airport as discrimination as defined within the FAA regulations. The Airport Sponsor (the City of Venice) has an absolute obligation to make the Airport facilities available to all aircraft capable of utilizing them on a non-discriminatory basis. This obligation stems from the Deed Assurances agreed to by the City when it took title to the Airport after World War II and it is perpetual.

To learn more about the Deed Assurances see How the Airport differs from other City owned property.

The VABA maintains that adequate evidence exits to confirm that the Design Aircraft for the Venice Municipal Airport is CII.