Approach Category


In the context of aerospace engineering, the Approach Category is a classification of aircraft based on their reference landing speed, also known as Vref. This speed is the one at which the aircraft should be flying when it is at a height of 50 feet above the runway during landing under standard conditions. The Approach Category is crucial in determining the minimum safe operating speeds for an aircraft during various phases of flight, particularly during landing. It also plays a significant role in the design and certification of aircraft, as it directly impacts the aircraft's structural and aerodynamic design. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) classifies aircraft into five approach categories (A, B, C, D, and E) based on their Vref. Category A includes aircraft with a Vref of 90 knots or less, while Category E includes all aircraft with a Vref of more than 166 knots.


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