Basics of runway

1. Runway Orientation
By Priyanshu Pathak

2. Runway
 “Rectangular area on an aerodrome used for landing and takeoff “
 Runway orientation is important in airport planning
 Current practice is to layout a runway in the direction of prevailing wind - wind force can be utilized
 Direction of runway controls the layout of other facilities(passenger terminals, taxiways/aprons,
circulation roads, parking etc)

3. Data required
 1)Wind data - direction, duration and intensity of Wind direction is variable and keeps on changing
throughout the year. Wind data can be obtained for 5 to 10 years from the Meteorological
department.
 Types of Wind:
 Head Wind: Wind blowing from opposite direction of head or nose of aircraft. It provides braking
effect during landing and greater lift on wings during take-off. Thus length of runway gets
decreased by 10%.
 Tail Wind: Wind which is blown in same direction as on aircraft. It increases stopping distance and
lift-off distance. Dangerous too.
 Cross Wind: makes an angle with the direction of aircraft movement If this component is more then
aircraft may not manoeuver safely. Generally it should not be more than 25kmph

5. Wind Coverage
 Wind Coverage: it is the % of time in a year during whichthe cross wind component remains within
the limit.& ICAO and FAA recommends minimum wind coverage of 95%& Calm Period: it is the
period in which the wind intensityremains below 6.4kmph& Calm period = 100 - wind coverage

6. Runway Configuration
 RUNWAYCONFIGURATION& FAA includes over 20 runway layouts& Amongst them there are 4
basic runway patterns :
 1.Single runway
 2.Parallel runway
 3.Dual parallel runway
 4.intersecting runways
 5.open-v runways

7. Runway Lighting
 RUNWAY LIGHTING& These lights are used to assist pilot in to identify the runway
 GREEN THRESHOLD LIGHTS: Line the runway edge& RED LIGHTS: Mark the end of runway
 BLUE LIGHTS: Run alongside taxiways
 While runways have YELLOW or WHITE lights marking their edges

9. Runways Signs
 Various kinds of runways signs are used for Facilitation.
 They differ accordingly to their purpose and action .