Definition
A performance chart published in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM) that shows the ground roll and total distance required for an aircraft to take off and clear a 50-foot obstacle under specified conditions of weight, pressure altitude, temperature, wind, and runway surface.
Plain English
A table or graph in the aircraft's manual that tells the pilot how much runway will be needed to get airborne and clear a 50-foot obstacle on a given day, based on the aircraft's weight and the conditions outside.
Context Anchor
Seen during preflight planning and aircraft performance calculations, especially when checking whether a runway is long enough for the planned takeoff.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether a runway is adequate for a safe takeoff and prevents runway overruns or insufficient climb performance.
Grounding Statement
The same airplane may need much more runway on a hot, high, heavy day than it needs on a cool day at sea level.
Intuition Check
Do not treat takeoff distance as one fixed number for an airplane. A takeoff distance chart is used because the needed runway distance changes with the conditions.
Example Sentence 1
Before departing the high-elevation airport on a hot afternoon, she pulled out the takeoff distance chart and confirmed the 4,200-foot runway was long enough for their loaded Cessna.
Example Sentence 2
Accounting for the headwind, the takeoff distance chart showed a shorter required runway length than expected.