Building your own airstrip is complex and would ordinarily take more space than is normally available in a wikiHow article, so this article will limit itself to the basics only, while giving links to more in-depth sources below.

Method 1
Method 1 of 4:

Site Selection

  1. 1
    Consider the following factors:
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Method 2
Method 2 of 4:

Soil

Method 3
Method 3 of 4:

Minimum Dimensions

  1. 1
    Dimensions:
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Method 4
Method 4 of 4:

Preparations for Construction

  1. 1
    Clear entire area.
  2. 2
    Completely remove roots of trees and shrubs.
  3. 3
    Fill in low areas.
  4. 4
    Eliminate any breaks in grade or surface mounds as well as any ditches.
  5. 5
    Fill in and compact the soil in any animal burrows.
  6. 6
    Remove any obstructions at the ends of the strip. Power lines, trees, etc should be removed, lowered and/or lighted.
  7. 7
    Grade the strip 6 inches (15.2 cm) higher in the middle to improve drainage. Stabilize with topsoil and grass seeding if necessary.
  8. 8
    Mark airstrip boundaries in such a way as to be visible from the air.
  9. 9
    Install a wind cone or tetrahedron and mark a circular area around it to draw attention to it from the air.
  10. 10
    Create a tie-down area away from the airstrip.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How long does a runway need to be for small aircraft (Cessna, Piper etc.)?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Cessnas are infamous for being able to land and takeoff with relatively short runway space, and I've landed a Cherokee 140 in 600ft on grass, and been back airborne in about 550.
  • Question
    How far from the end of the runway can residential structures be?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Individual restrictions might vary depending on the state, county, or specific land used, so I would check with your local government to be sure.
  • Question
    What type of grass is used on a grass runway?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Any grass will do. It's the soil that is important as stated in the article.
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Warnings

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Things You'll Need

  • Flat, barrier free, acreage in line with prevailing winds.
  • Money
  • Earth moving equipment
  • Windsock or tetrahedron
  • Access to local roads and buildings.
  • FAA permission
  • Possibly State and Local permission.

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 11 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 149,659 times.
190 votes - 86%
Co-authors: 11
Updated: December 12, 2022
Views: 149,659
Categories: Aviation
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