Which zone is located on either side of the runway centerline?

The runway lateral clearance zone is the correct answer because it encompasses the area on both sides of the runway centerline that is required to maintain a safe distance from the runway. This zone is critical for ensuring that any aircraft operating near the runway have sufficient space to maneuver without encroaching on safety limits. Maintaining this lateral clearance is essential for both takeoff and landing operations, facilitating safe operations and minimizing the risk of accidents.

In contrast, the runway clear zone is specifically focused on the area directly over and to the sides of the runway that should remain free of obstructions to protect aircraft during their takeoff and landing sequences. The accident potential zone refers to areas where accidents could potentially occur due to their proximity to runway operations, but it does not specifically delineate the lateral area beside the runway. The precision obstacle free zone is an area that must be kept free from obstacles to ensure precision approaches, particularly in instrument landing situations but does not define the lateral space beside the runway. Thus, the runway lateral clearance zone specifically addresses the need for cleared space immediately adjacent to the runway centerline.