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facilities is based primarily upon the characteristics of the aircraft which are currently using, or are expected to use the airport. Planning for future aircraft use is of particular importance since design standards are used to plan separation distances between facilities. These standards must be determined now since the relocation of these facilities will likely be extremely expensive at a later date. The most important characteristics in airfield planning are the approach speed and wingspan of the critical design aircraft anticipated to use the airport now or in the future. The critical design aircraft is defined as the most demanding category of aircraft which conducts 250 or more operations per year at the airport. The FAA has established a coding system to relate airport design criteria to the operational and physical characteristics of aircraft expected to use the airport. This code, referred to as the airport reference code (ARC), has two components: the first component, depicted by a letter, is the aircraft approach category and relates to aircraft approach speed (operational characteristic); the second component, depicted by a Roman numeral, is the airplane design group (AD G) and relates to aircraft wingspan (physical characteristic). Generally, aircraft approach speed applies to runways and runway-related facilities, while airplane wingspan primarily relates to separation criteria involving taxiways, taxilanes, and landside facilities. According to FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5300-13, Airport Design, an aircraft's approach category is based upon 1.3 times its stall speed in landing configuration at that aircraft's maximum certificated weight. The five approach categories used in airport planning are as follows: Category A: Speed less than 91 knots. Category B: Speed 91 knots or more, but less than 121 knots. Category C: Speed 121 knots or more, but less than 141 knots. Category D: Speed 141 knots or more, but less than 166 knots. Category E: Speed greater than 166 knots. The airplane design group (AD G) is based upon the aircraft's wingspan. The six ADG's used in airport planning are as follows: Group I: Up to but not including 49 feet. Group II: 49 feet up to but not including 79 feet. Group III: 79 feet up to but not including 118 feet. Group IV: 118 feet up to but not including 171 feet. Group V: 171 feet up to but not including 214 feet. Group VI: 214 feet or greater. Exhibit 3B depicts typical aircraft within each ARC. CRITICAL DESIGN AIRCRAFT In order to determine airfield facility requirements, an ARC should first be determined, then appropriate airport design criteria can be applied. This begins with a review of the type of aircraft using and expected to use San Marcos Municipal Airport. 3-5