Definition
The length of runway declared available and suitable for the ground run of an aircraft taking off. TORA is one of the four declared distances published for a runway and normally equals the physical length of the runway from the start of the take-off roll to the end of the runway surface, unless the airport authority has declared a shorter usable length.
Plain English
The amount of runway you actually have to roll along while taking off, from where you start the roll to the end of the runway you're allowed to use.
Context Anchor
Seen in runway performance planning, airport data, and declared-distance information for takeoff.
Why Pilots Care
It sets the maximum safe takeoff weight and determines whether the runway is long enough for the planned departure.
Intuition Check
TORA is not the distance your airplane needs to take off. It is the runway distance the airport makes available for the takeoff run.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot checked the airport chart and confirmed the TORA for Runway 27 was sufficient for the calculated take-off distance.
Example Sentence 2
When the runway is wet, confirm the reduced TORA before calculating required takeoff distance.