𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Runway Designation

🛩️Since aircraft are affected by the wind during takeoffs and landings, runways are laid out according to the local prevailing winds.

🛩️Runways are numbered (designated) to the nearest 10° in relation to magnetic north based on approach direction.

✈️Example: 084° is marked 08
✈️Example: 085° is marked 08 or 09
✈️Example: 086° is marked 09

🛩️This number becomes the runway's name, and is how it is referenced by Air Traffic Control (ATC)and other pilots.

🛩️The opposite end of the runway is then marked with the reciprocal heading.

🛩️Reciprocal heading is determined by adding or subtracting 180° from the runway heading.

🛩️You must therefore add 180 to any runway 180 or below, and subtract 180 to anything 180 or above.

✈️Example: (using runway 26) 260° - 180° = 080°
✈️Example: (using runway 08) 080° + 180° = 260°


🛩️If your answer comes out to be greater than 360, or negative, then you added when you should have subtracted or vice versa.

🛩️Parallel runways are designated with numbers but also as "L," "C," and/or "R" which stand for left, center, and/or right.

✈️Example: 02L, 02C, and/or 02R


🛩️When there are only 2 parallel runways, the "center" is omitted and only "left" and "right" is used.

🛩️Note wind directions are reported in degrees magnetic, to provide an applicable reference to the runway direction.

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