How long is the touchdown zone?

[CesnaCaptn]

I did a search on these forums and have searched the FARs and AIM. Does any one have a specific referrence?

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Don't AIM too FAR

First third of the runway or 3000'.

I'm a punny guy.

 

[hobbsmeter]

First 3000' or to the midpoint of the runway, whichever is less.
AIM 7-something I think.

 

[VNugget]

The length of the numbers

 

[atrdriver]

Ten Yards deep, 50 yards wide.

Actually, 10 yards deep, 53 1/3 yards wide...

atrdriver

 

[Cat Driver]

Judging by the skill level of a lot of todays flight school graduates...not long enough.

 

[TurboS7]

The place that you are suppose to land the airplane during a flight check or you get busted. First 3000 feet of the runway or the first 1/2 if the runway is less than 6000 feet.Aircraft performance is based on landing at 1000 feet down the runway. If you land longer you have sacrificed the 60% requirement of Part 135 and the additional 15% for a wet runway. I guess the FAA doesn't trust us to hit the point thus the 60% requirement to cover their butt.

 

[CesnaCaptn]

Ok, thanks or the responses. It wasn't in aim chapter 7. At least not that I could find.

The reason I need specific citation of where to find it, is because both a checkairman and a Fed told me it was the first third.

 

[Cat Driver]

The first three thousand feet or the first third of the runway does not seem to be a very demanding requirement.

What will your FAA have to say if you touch down on the first three hundred feet?

 

[TIS]

Your check airman and the Fed are right only when ...

... the runway is 9000' long.

The reason I need specific citation of where to find it, is because both a checkairman and a Fed told me it was the first third.

Reference #1 - Read the Pilot/Controller Glossary in the AIM - look under Touchdown Zone. It says there the first 3000' of the runway - nothing else. To get the first half of the runway part of this you have to look elsewhere.

Reference #2 - Read AIM 2-1-5(b) - There you will see that the TDZ lighting is embedded in the runway for the first 3000' or half the length of the runway, whichever is less. Since this paragraph only defines the lighting system it could be argued by a grumpy fed that this citation isn't about the touchdown zone itself but rather, only about the lighting. As a practical matter though, if the lights are there to show you where the TDZ is, then they do indeed define the TDZ.

No matter how you choose to define it though, the first third of the runway is the correct answer only when the runway is 9000' long (3000/9000 = 1/3). If you like rubbing noses in this knd of minutia, get out the book and show them that they're just flat out of touch.

TIS