Take-off distance
Also: takeoff distance, take-off run, TODR
Distance an aircraft needs from the start of its take-off run until it reaches a reference height above the runway, normally 35 feet for transport aircraft.
What it is
It is not just how far the aircraft rolls along the runway. Certified take-off distance includes the ground run plus the airborne segment up to a screen height of 35 feet (about 10.7 metres) for transport aircraft. For airliners the calculation also covers an engine failure at the most critical moment: the aircraft must be able either to continue the take-off or to stop within the runway available.
The distance grows with weight, temperature and airport elevation, because thinner air reduces both lift and thrust. Wind, runway slope and surface condition also play a part. That is why long-haul flights from high-altitude airports such as Bogotá or Mexico City sometimes have to take off with less weight.
Before every flight, pilots calculate the take-off speeds and the thrust needed for the runway and conditions of the day, with the margins set by regulation.
On Vuelopedia
Vuelopedia's airport pages show the designation, length and surface of their runways.
Related terms
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This page was last updated on October 9, 2026
APA
Vuelopedia. (2026, October 9). Take-off distance. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance
MLA
“Take-off distance.” Vuelopedia, Fundación Poderia, 9 Oct. 2026, vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.
Chicago
Vuelopedia. “Take-off distance.” Fundación Poderia. Last modified October 9, 2026. https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance.
Harvard
Vuelopedia (2026) Take-off distance. Available at: https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance (Accessed: 18 October 2026).
BibTeX
@misc{vuelopedia_en_glossary_take_off_distance,
author = {{Vuelopedia}},
title = {{Take-off distance}},
publisher = {Fundación Poderia},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-10-09},
url = {https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance},
howpublished = {\url{https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance}},
urldate = {2026-10-18},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18}
}Wikipedia
{{cite web |url=https://vuelopedia.org/en/glossary/take-off-distance |title=Take-off distance |website=Vuelopedia |publisher=Fundación Poderia |date=2026-10-09 |access-date=2026-10-18 |language=en}}