The Airport Reference Code (ARC) is a coding system developed by the FAA to relate airport design criteria to the operational and physical characteristics of the airplane types that will operate at a particular airport.

The ARC has two components relating to the airport design aircraft. The first component, depicted by a letter, is the aircraft approach category and relates to aircraft approach speed. The second component, depicted by a Roman numeral, is the airplane design group and relates to airplane wingspan. In the case of Design Group I, an additional designation of “small aircraft only” relates to aircraft with gross weights of 12,500 pounds or less.

Generally, aircraft approach speed applies to runways and runway length related features. Airplane wingspan primarily relates to separation criteria and width-related features.

Airports expected to accommodate single-engine airplanes normally fall into Airport Reference Code A-I or B-I. Airports serving larger general aviation and commuter-type planes are usually Airport Reference Code B-II or B-III. Small to medium-sized airports serving air carriers are usually Airport Reference Code C-III, while larger air carrier airports are usually Airport Reference Code D-VI or D-V.

In order to determine the appropriate ARC for an airport, a “design aircraft” is first determined. The design aircraft is typically the most demanding aircraft (in terms of an airport’s physical features) that conducts at least 500 annual operations at the airport.

Table – FAA Airport Reference Codes for some Representative Aircraft

(source: FAA Advisory Circular, AC150/5300-13A, Airport Design)

For an example of how ARC is considered in the process of updating an airport Master Plan, see: http://haywardairportnoise.org/issuearc.html