Final answer:
In LF/MF airway navigation, the splay begins 51 nautical miles from an NDB station and 31 nautical miles from an NDB for NDB to VOR airways. The width of the airway is 4.34 miles from the centerline on each side before splaying, with the degree of splay commonly at 4.5°.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of an LF/MF airway, which pertains to low and medium frequency radio navigation, such as the use of non-directional beacons (NDB) and VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), certain specifications determine the structure of the airway. The distance from the station to where the route begins to splay, the width of the airway, and the degree of the splay are all critical for navigation.
The splay of an airway starts at a specified distance from the navigation station. For NDB to NDB airways, the splay begins at a distance of 51 nautical miles from the station, while for NDB to VOR airways, the splay typically starts 31 nautical miles from the NDB. The width of the airway is generally 4.34 miles (4 nautical miles) from either side of the centerline up to that splay point, making the total width of the airway approximately 8.7 miles (8 nautical miles).
As for the degree of splay, once the route begins to splay from the point mentioned above, the width increases gradually forming an angle known as the 'splay angle'. While the specific degree can vary, a common standard is for the splay angle to be 4.5°, which means the width of the airway will continue to expand at this angle on each side from where the splay begins.