Which statement correctly describes the RSA dimensions?

• A. It extends 250 feet on either side of the runway centerline and 1,000 feet beyond the departure end.
• B. It extends 250 feet laterally from the runway ends only.
• C. It extends 1,000 feet on either side of the runway centerline and 250 feet beyond the departure end.
• D. It does not include the ends of the runway.

Answer: (D)

The Runway Safety Area (RSA) is a defined safety buffer around a runway that helps protect aircraft in and around the runway environment. It is described as extending laterally about 250 feet to each side of the runway centerline, forming a broad safety belt around the runway, and it extends beyond the departure end to provide space for safety, but it does not include the runway itself—specifically, the ends of the runway are not part of the RSA. That’s why the statement that the RSA does not include the ends of the runway is the most accurate description. The other options mix up how far the area extends laterally or how far beyond the runway end the area reaches, which is why they’re not correct.