Approach Category D
Of the 364 types on this site, 39 are in Approach Category D, the band for FAA reference approach speeds of 141 to 165 kt. Speeds here run from 141 to 160 kt, with a median of 145 kt. By Design Group they split into 3 in Group I, 3 in Group II, 9 in Group III, 5 in Group IV, 15 in Group V and 4 in Group VI. By engine type: 39 jets. The largest makers in the category are Boeing (20), Airbus (6) and McDonnell Douglas (4).
On the edges of the band
The FAA lists eleven of these types in two categories: the 737 MAX 9 (C/D), the 737-900 (C/D), the 737 MAX 7 (C/D), the 737 MAX 8 (C/D), the 737-800 (C/D), the 787-8 (C/D), the 787-9 (C/D), the Gulfstream IV (C/D), the A321 (C/D), the CRJ900 (C/D) and the MD-90 (C/D). Five types sit exactly on the category floor: the B-52, the CRJ100, the CRJ200, the CRJ900 and the MD-90.
All 39 types, highest reference speed first
| Type | Reference speed | Design Group | Wingspan | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon | 160 kt | I | 32.7 ft | 49.4 ft |
| Northrop T-38 Talon | 160 kt | I | 25.3 ft | 46.3 ft |
| Boeing 747-8 | 159 kt | VI | 224.4 ft | 250.2 ft |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11 | 158 kt | IV | 170.5 ft | 202.2 ft |
| Boeing 747-400 | 157 kt | V | 195.7 ft | 231.9 ft |
| Boeing 777-9 | 154 kt | VI | 235.4 ft | 251.8 ft |
| Airbus A340-600 | 153 kt | V | 208.2 ft | 247.2 ft |
| Boeing 777-8 | 152 kt | VI | 235.4 ft | 229.0 ft |
| Antonov An-124 Ruslan | 151 kt | VI | 240.5 ft | 226.2 ft |
| Boeing 737 MAX 9 | 150 kt | III | 117.8 ft | 138.3 ft |
| Boeing 747-200 | 150 kt | V | 195.7 ft | 231.8 ft |
| Boeing 767-400 | 150 kt | IV | 170.3 ft | 201.3 ft |
| Boeing 737-900 | 149 kt | III | 117.4 ft | 138.2 ft |
| Boeing 777-300 | 149 kt | V | 199.9 ft | 209.1 ft |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 149 kt | V | 212.6 ft | 242.3 ft |
| Boeing 787-10 | 149 kt | V | 197.3 ft | 224.1 ft |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10 | 149 kt | IV | 165.3 ft | 181.6 ft |
| Airbus A350-1000 | 147 kt | V | 212.4 ft | 241.4 ft |
| Airbus A340-500 | 146 kt | V | 208.2 ft | 222.9 ft |
| Airbus A340-200 | 145 kt | V | 197.8 ft | 195.0 ft |
| Airbus A340-300 | 145 kt | V | 197.8 ft | 209.0 ft |
| Boeing 737 MAX 7 | 145 kt | III | 117.8 ft | 116.7 ft |
| Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 145 kt | III | 117.8 ft | 129.7 ft |
| Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor | 145 kt | I | 44.5 ft | 62.1 ft |
| Boeing 737-800 | 144 kt | III | 117.4 ft | 129.5 ft |
| Boeing 747-100 | 144 kt | V | 195.7 ft | 231.8 ft |
| Boeing 787-8 | 144 kt | V | 197.3 ft | 186.1 ft |
| Boeing 787-9 | 144 kt | V | 197.3 ft | 206.1 ft |
| Gulfstream IV | 144 kt | II | 77.8 ft | 88.3 ft |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 144 kt | III | 107.9 ft | 147.8 ft |
| Boeing 757-300 | 143 kt | IV | 134.8 ft | 178.6 ft |
| Douglas DC-8-70 | 143 kt | IV | 148.4 ft | 187.7 ft |
| Airbus A321 | 142 kt | III | 117.5 ft | 146.0 ft |
| Boeing 747-300 | 142 kt | V | 195.7 ft | 231.8 ft |
| Boeing B-52 Stratofortress | 141 kt | V | 185.0 ft | 160.9 ft |
| Bombardier CRJ100 | 141 kt | II | 69.6 ft | 87.8 ft |
| Bombardier CRJ200 | 141 kt | II | 68.7 ft | 87.8 ft |
| Bombardier CRJ900 | 141 kt | III | 81.5 ft | 118.8 ft |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-90 | 141 kt | III | 107.9 ft | 152.6 ft |
The reference approach speed is the FAA input for the category at maximum landing weight. Background: Aircraft Approach Categories A–E.
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.