How wide is a standard airway?

• A. 2 NM on each side (4 NM)
• B. 4 NM on each side of CL (8 NM)
• C. 6 NM on each side (12 NM)
• D. 10 NM on each side (20 NM)

Answer: (C)

The width of a standard airway defines the protected corridor around the centerline where navigation signals are assumed reliable and ATC spacing is planned. For low-altitude Victor airways, this width is four nautical miles in total, which means the airway is centered on the centerline and extends 2 nautical miles to either side. This provides a consistent, predictable corridor for guiding aircraft and ensuring adequate separation and signal reception along the route. At higher altitudes, other types of airways use wider corridors (for example, jet routes are wider than Victor airways), but the standard low-altitude airway is 2 NM on each side, totaling 4 NM.