Side-by-Side Comparison
Aircraft Sizing & Categories
Fuselage Cross-Sections vs. Wake Turbulence Categories
Comparing 2 standards across 9 specifications. 9 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Fuselage Cross-Sections
Wake Turbulence Categories
Commercial airliner fuselages are engineered around standardized interior cabin diameters that dictate cross-aisle seat arrangements: Single-Aisle Narrow-Body (3-3 seating, 3.5–3.7 m cabin) vs. Twin-Aisle Wide-Body (2-4-2, 3-3-3, or 3-4-3 seating, 5.3–6.5 m cabin).
Wake turbulence categories group aircraft by Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) to enforce mandatory radar and timed distance separation behind departing and landing aircraft, preventing hazardous counter-rotating wingtip vortex encounters.
Specification Comparison Table
9 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Narrow-Body Cabin Width
|
3.53 m (11.6 ft, B737) to 3.70 m (12.1 ft, A320) | — |
|
Wide-Body Cabin Width
|
5.28 m (A330) to 5.86 m (B777) to 6.54 m (A380 main deck) | — |
|
Standard Economy Seat Width
|
17.0" to 18.5" (43.2–47.0 cm) | — |
|
Standard Aisle Width
|
18" to 20" (45.7–50.8 cm) | — |
|
Standard Authority
|
— | ICAO Doc 4444 (Air Traffic Management) / FAA Order JO 7110.65 |
|
Super Category
|
— | Airbus A380-800 (MTOW 560–575 tonnes) & Antonov An-225 |
|
Heavy Category
|
— | MTOW ≥ 136,000 kg (≥ 300,000 lbs) — e.g., B777, A350, B787, A330, B747 |
|
Medium Category
|
— | MTOW > 7,000 kg to < 136,000 kg (15,500–300,000 lbs) — e.g., A320, B737, E190 |
|
Light Category
|
— | MTOW ≤ 7,000 kg (≤ 15,500 lbs) — e.g., Cessna 172, King Air 90, Piper PA-28 |