Definition
An area beyond the takeoff runway, no less wide than the runway and centered on its extended centerline, designated by the airport authority as suitable for an aircraft to decelerate and stop during a rejected takeoff. A stopway is able to support the airplane's weight during a rejected takeoff but is not used for normal takeoff or landing operations.
Plain English
A paved or prepared strip of ground just past the end of the runway, set aside as a safe place for an airplane to roll out and stop if the pilot has to abort a takeoff.
Context Anchor
You may see stopway information in runway data, airport diagrams, and takeoff performance planning.
Derivation
A simple compound of 'stop' and 'way' (a path or strip). The name describes its purpose: a way for stopping, not flying or taking off from.
Why Pilots Care
The length of the stopway directly affects how much total stopping distance is available during an aborted takeoff, which can change the maximum allowable takeoff weight or safety margins.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a stopway is simply more runway. It is a specially designated stopping area beyond the runway, mainly for a takeoff that is stopped before flight.
Example Sentence 1
After the engine warning during the takeoff roll, the captain rejected the takeoff and used part of the stopway to bring the aircraft to a safe stop.
Example Sentence 2
Yellow chevrons mark the stopway so pilots know it is available for an aborted takeoff but not intended for normal operations.