Originally Posted by
ToiletDuck
Load bearing capacity isn't something many are worried about (if any). Just about any airport with a terminal is capable of taking most aircraft. I don't know of any airports I've flown into for CHQ that couldn't take Boeings. The heaviest 757 has a lower load bearing than the 737-400, 600, 700, 800, 900ER and every model of the MD-80 family.
Exactly - more (and larger) wheels to distribute the weight.
Pax loads/environment are main issues. It wasn't very uncommon for 727s to be weigh limited out west because of the heat. 6,300ft runway could take the weights just fine but they need more runway so they'd take off almost empty then head to SAT to get gas before their longer trip.
For the older mainline aircraft powered by turbojet/low-bypass turbofan engines, then yes, that would be a consideration for the RJ...but the vast majority of today's aircraft with 5:1 bypass are phenomenal in comparison. Nearly 80% of a high-bypass's takeoff thrust is from the N1 Fan...