Understanding Aircraft Footprint

For hangar owners, having a clear grasp of each aircraft’s “footprint” (the amount of floor space an aircraft occupies) is essential for maximizing your facility’s capacity, setting competitive pricing, and avoiding overcrowding or safety issues. By leveraging Hangar Direct’s Aircraft Footprint Calculator, you can better manage your hangar space—whether you’re renting it out, scheduling multiple aircraft, or planning future expansions.

Optimized Space Utilization: Accurately assessing an aircraft’s footprint helps ensure you can fit multiple planes safely, minimizing wasted square footage and reducing the risk of collisions or damage.

Accurate Pricing and Revenue: Knowledge of an aircraft’s footprint lets you charge appropriate rates based on required space, ensuring fairness and profitability.

Compliance and Safety: Many airports and insurance policies have strict guidelines for aircraft storage. An aircraft’s footprint helps confirm that you’re meeting clearances, fire-safety codes, and other regulations.

Hangar Direct’s Aircraft Footprint Calculator quickly estimates an aircraft’s length × wingspan footprint, with height factored in for door clearance. As a hangar owner, here’s how you can use it:

Check Prospective Tenants’ Aircraft Dimensions

Ask potential renters to provide their aircraft dimensions (length, wingspan, height) or direct them to the calculator so they can determine their exact footprint.

Compare the results against your available hangar space to confirm compatibility.

1. Plan Multi-Aircraft Storage

If you store multiple aircraft in one hangar, use each aircraft’s footprint to map out arrangements.

This helps prevent accidental overlap, ensures maneuverability, and keeps emergency pathways clear.

2. Set Clear Pricing and Requirements

Base your monthly or transient rental costs on the actual square footage a renter’s aircraft occupies.

Outline any additional fees for equipment or maintenance areas, drawing on the footprint data as your guideline.

1. Keep a Record of Common Aircraft Footprint

Maintaining a quick reference (or a link to the calculator) allows you to instantly assess new inquiries and respond to prospects.

2. Verify Dimensions

Encourage pilots to reference manufacturer specs or official documentation to avoid underestimating.

3. Account for Extra Space

Ensure there’s buffer room around each aircraft for entry, exit, and equipment. Consider adding a safety margin when planning layouts.

4. Consider Vertical Clearance

If you have rolling doors or low ceilings, make sure the aircraft’s height fits comfortably—including any antennas, wingtips, or tail fins.

Understanding the aircraft footprint is crucial for any hangar owner aiming to manage their space efficiently and set fair pricing.

With Hangar Direct’s Aircraft Footprint Calculator, you can streamline your operations, welcome more aircraft, and maximize revenue—creating a win-win scenario for both you and your renters.

For more information on aircraft footprint pricing, visit our Aircraft Footprint Calculator.