Aircraft Approach Categories
The FAA assigns each aircraft an Approach Category from its reference approach speed at maximum landing weight. Of the 364 types here, 117 are in Category A, 98 in B, 109 in C and 39 in D. Category E holds a single type, the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, so it has no page of its own.
| Category | Reference speed | Types | I | II | III | IV | V | VI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category A | under 91 kt | 117 | 108 | 8 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Category B | 91 to 120 kt | 98 | 34 | 41 | 20 | 3 | – | – |
| Category C | 121 to 140 kt | 109 | 16 | 25 | 47 | 12 | 8 | 1 |
| Category D | 141 to 165 kt | 39 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 15 | 4 |
| Category E | 166 kt and above | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – |
The largest cell is A-I with 108 types, followed by C-III with 47. Background: Aircraft Approach Categories A–E.
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.