What is the maximum allowable runway slope for operation?

• A. +-2
• B. +-3
• C. +-1
• D. +-5

Answer: (A)

Understanding allowable runway slope for operation: Runway slope is the incline along the length of the runway, and a limit of plus or minus 2 percent means the height can change by up to 2 meters for every 100 meters of runway. This range is set because slope affects aircraft performance—takeoff and landing distances, braking effectiveness, and controllability. A steeper slope alters how quickly an airplane accelerates or decelerates and can complicate drainage and maintenance, which is why the standard maximum keeps performance within what most aircraft certifications assume. Slopes of ±3% or ±5% would impose larger performance penalties and aren’t generally allowed, while ±1% would be unnecessarily restrictive. So the maximum allowable runway slope for operation is ±2%.