UFC 3-260-02
30 June 2001
CHAPTER 2
ARMY AIRFIELD/HELIPORT REQUIREMENTS
1. ARMY AIRFIELD/HELIPORT CLASSES. Army airfields are divided into six classes referred to as
Class I (heliports-helipads with aircraft 11,340 kilograms (25,000 pounds) or less), Class II (heliports-
helipads with aircraft over 11,340 kilograms (25,000 pounds)), Class III (airfields with Class A runways),
Class IV (airfields with Class B runways), Class V contingency (theater of operations) heliports or
helipads supporting Army assault training missions, and Class VI assault landing zones for contingency
(theater of operations) airfields supporting Army training missions.
2. ARMY AIRFIELD AND HELIPORT LAYOUT. The layout for all Class I, II, III, and IV Army airfields,
heliports, and helipads will be designed in accordance with the tri-service manual UFC 3-260-01. All
Class V and VI Army contingency (theater of operations) airfield, heliport, and helipad layouts shall be
designed in accordance with FM 5-430-00-2/AFJPAM 32-8013, Vol. II. Class VI airfields used for Army
contingency training missions shall be designed in accordance with AF ETL 98-5. Any deviations from
these criteria must be submitted through the installation MACOM to the U.S. Army Aeronautical Services
Agency (USAASA) for waiver approval.
3. TRAFFIC AREAS FOR ARMY AIRFIELD PAVEMENTS. Construction of primary taxiways,
runways, and apron taxi lanes with keel sections (alternating variable thickness) as indicated by traffic
will not be authorized for Army aircraft operational surfaces. Uniform pavement section thicknesses will
be used.
a. Class I and II Heliports. These heliport classes have only one traffic area, Type B.
b. Class III Airfields. These airfields contain three traffic areas, Types A, B, and C. Type A traffic
areas consist of the primary taxiways and the first 152 meters (500 feet) of runway ends. Type B traffic
areas consist of parking aprons, warm-up pads, arm/disarm pads, compass calibration pads, power
check pads, dangerous/ hazardous cargo pads, and taxiways connecting the primary taxiway to aprons
and pads. Type C traffic areas consist of runway interiors between the 152-meter (500-foot) end
sections, secondary (ladder) taxiways, hangar floors, washracks, and hangar access aprons. Type C
traffic areas are designed using 75 percent of the aircraft gross weight and the same aircraft passes as
Type A traffic areas. A typical layout of Army airfield traffic areas for Class III airfields is shown in
Figure 2-1.
c. Class IV Airfields. These airfields contain three traffic areas, Types A, B, and C. Type A traffic
areas consist of the primary taxiways and the first 305 meters (1,000 feet) of runway ends. Type B traffic
areas consist of the parking aprons, warm-up pads, arm/disarm pads, power check pads, compass
calibration pads, dangerous/hazardous cargo pads, and taxiways from the primary taxiway to aprons
and pads. Type C traffic areas consist of runway interiors between the 305-meter (1,000-foot) end
sections, secondary (ladder) taxiways (between runway and primary taxiway), hangar floors, hangar
access aprons, and washracks. A typical layout of Army airfield traffic areas for Class IV airfields is
shown in Figure 2-1.
d. Class V Heliports. This heliport has only one traffic area, Type B.
e. Class VI Airfields. This airfield has only one traffic area, Type A.
2-1
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