why you should know the length, width and height of your airplane

[IFLY_INDIGO]

How does it help to know the length, width, height of the jetliner that you fly?

[ShyTorque]

Height.. err.. who the hell knows.

You never know when you might want to fly under a bridge...

[Bergerie1]

Or through a hangar:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GCFWKBoV7E

[Escape Path]

+1 on the wingspan re: taxiway restrictions.

Length could be useful for an airport with small apron, to make an eyeball estimation of whether the aircraft will fit through a tight space (though you should have marshallers anyway)

[jurassicjockey]

I guess you've never taxied under the pedestrian bridge in Denver. Even though the numbers say it works, it makes you look the first time you do it.

[RAT 5]

Length is useful in assessing when the tail has vacated.

[Avenger]

Hmmm very amusing ! but the list is exhaustive and a quick review of the ground charts will help cure the mystery. When taking the time do do the research look at: Turning radius, min taxi width, gate sizes, parking position restrictions, one way taxi routes for wide body, bridge requirements, stair requirements, fire cover ,etc etc .. would you try and park a articulated truck in a mini parking space?

[J.L.Seagull]

I've seen several NOTAMs daily restricting access to taxiways for aircraft of a certain wingspan (or less). Better to know where you can and can't go rather then an embarrassing or expensive mistake.

[dixi188]

There's also the bridge at London Gatwick.

[flyboyike]

You never know when you might want to fly under a bridge...

We taxi under one at DEN.

[libellegeoff]

Does anyone know what the wingspan of the B737 with AviationPartners Split winglet is ?
The basic B737 with large "up" winglet is quoted as 35.7m. The gate limit is 36m for Code C. In flight the lower part of the Split winglet has more span the top tip, but the wing bends up in flight so the lower part bends out board.
It does look as though is would be very close to the 36m gate limit on the ground, and Mk 1 eye suggests the lower part sticks out further when the A/C is on the ground.

[Uplinker]

Question; why are the external dimensions not placarded somewhere on the flight deck? Why should we be expected to remember them all - especially challenging in a mixed fleet.

[wiggy]

Yep... never understood that - Funny how things like flap and gear limits (which I may well be electronically protected to some extent) are on display but stuff which you might need PDQ when driving round an unfamiliar airport on a dark wet night is buried in the FCOM.

[Escape Path]

I agree completely

[Icelanta]

These are basic limitations and have to be known by heart.
Same for min. Turn radius, fire category, wind limits

[Highway1]

We taxi under one at DEN.

We always used to finish off sim sessions by trying to fly under the one at LGW - I never made it.. :{

[megan]

Knowing the wing span also helps when you're standing in front of the beak. Local crop duster, who was not unknown to the regulator, was in front of the beak on a charge of low flying, under a bridge in fact. He provided irrefutable evidence that the distance between bridge spans was less than the wing span, ergo, couldn't be done. Charge dismissed, but what didn't come to light was he side slipped it through.

[FLCH]

How does it help to know the length, width, height of the jetliner that you fly?

To impress the wimmen folk we meet on a layover ?

[RAT 5]

To impress the wimmen folk we meet on a layover ?

Ah. Yet another of the 'when with women they talk of aeroplanes, and when with other pilots they talk of wimmen' brigade. Will it ever be thus? Sadly.

[good egg]

“Flight crew are responsible for wingtip clearance and are reminded of the importance of maintaining a careful lookout at all times, regardless of location and visibility conditions.”

“Memo issued re ‘Wingtips – Caution when parking’ ”

“Operators were also reminded of their obligations in relation to AIP AD 2.20 - Section 1.1 and all attendees acknowledged that the responsibility for wingtip clearance rested with the pilot.”

“An ATIS message now broadcasted: “Flight Crew are responsible for wingtip clearance and shall exercise particular caution in hotspot areas. ATC instructions may not ensure wingtip clearance”. All hotspot areas are defined on the aerodrome chart in the AIP.”

I presume length & height are probably as important at some airports....

[sonicbum]

Just to add that nowadays the trend is to stuff as many aircrafts as possible even in the smallest airports and sometimes You do get some ridiculous parking spots with ridiculous wing tip clearances and no marshalling mandatory to top it up.

[TURIN]

Yup. Knowing the length and span is important.

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20180328-0

Scroll down for the videos.

[Pugilistic Animus]

For height the best reason to know it is so that you can tell Air Canada so that they can figure out the initial altitude for a go around while trying to land on a taxiway...:}

:ouch:

[West Coast]

We taxi under one at DEN.

PHX as well.