Aircraft approach categories are based on what factor?

• A. Maximum Landing Weight
• B. 1.3x Stalling Speed in Landing Config
• C. Bank Angle at Stall
• D. Ground Speed at Touchdown

Answer: (B)

Approach categories are defined by how slow you can safely fly during an approach, which is set by the airplane’s stall speed in the landing configuration. A margin factor of 1.3 is applied to that stall speed to account for gusts, maneuvering, and potential configuration changes, giving a safe approach speed range. This is what determines the category: faster-stalling airplanes require higher approach speeds and fall into higher categories, while slower-stalling airplanes stay in lower categories.

It isn’t based on maximum landing weight, bank angle at stall, or ground speed at touchdown, since those factors don’t establish the safe approach speed margins used for categorization.