Runway orientation is a critical part of airport planning and design. It depends on prevailing wind directions to maximize usability. Runways should be oriented to allow at least 95% usability with crosswinds below safety limits. Wind data like direction, speed, and duration are analyzed in a wind rose diagram to determine the optimal orientation. For the example airport, the primary runway was determined to be 90-270 degrees (East-West) to achieve 90.8% usability. A secondary crosswind runway at 30-210 degrees was also recommended to achieve over 95% total usability.
Runway orientation is a critical part of airport planning and design. It depends on prevailing wind directions to maximize usability. Runways should be oriented to allow at least 95% usability with crosswinds below safety limits. Wind data like direction, speed, and duration are analyzed in a wind rose diagram to determine the optimal orientation. For the example airport, the primary runway was determined to be 90-270 degrees (East-West) to achieve 90.8% usability. A secondary crosswind runway at 30-210 degrees was also recommended to achieve over 95% total usability.
Runway orientation is a critical part of airport planning and design. It depends on prevailing wind directions to maximize usability. Runways should be oriented to allow at least 95% usability with crosswinds below safety limits. Wind data like direction, speed, and duration are analyzed in a wind rose diagram to determine the optimal orientation. For the example airport, the primary runway was determined to be 90-270 degrees (East-West) to achieve 90.8% usability. A secondary crosswind runway at 30-210 degrees was also recommended to achieve over 95% total usability.
Runway orientation is a critical part of airport planning and design. It depends on prevailing wind directions to maximize usability. Runways should be oriented to allow at least 95% usability with crosswinds below safety limits. Wind data like direction, speed, and duration are analyzed in a wind rose diagram to determine the optimal orientation. For the example airport, the primary runway was determined to be 90-270 degrees (East-West) to achieve 90.8% usability. A secondary crosswind runway at 30-210 degrees was also recommended to achieve over 95% total usability.
Landing Graphic shows planes lined up to land at O’Hare and Midway Airports Jan. 20, 2003 05:30 pm RUNWAY ORIENTATION Usability Factor Definition: “the percentage of time during which the use of a runway or system of runways is not restricted because of cross wind component” Usability of the runway depends upon the metrological and topography of the site (use of prevailing wind direction) Cross wind component is a function of airplane mass and the type of undercarriage System of runways should provide at least 95% usability factor Runway Orientation Critical task in the planning and design of an airport Depends on direction of wind (oriented in the prevailing direction of wind) Utilize the available wind force at time of take-off and landing (lift and drag) Runway govern the orientation of the remaining facilities (terminal building, parking, apron, taxiways hanger, etc.) Avoid delays in landing and take-off operation (least interference) Runway Orientation – cont’d Provide shortest taxiway distance to terminal building Provision of multiple taxiways Provide adequate taxiways so that landing aircrafts can exit runways as quickly as possible Provide adequate separation with other facilities of the airport and air traffic Depends on topography of the area (requires minimum grade changes) Wind Direction Data Wind direction Head wind (from front) Tail wind (from behind) Cross wind (perpendicular) Wind intensity (velocity in km/hr) Wind duration Direction of wind not same all year round Cross Wind (CW) Component Maximum CW depends on: Size of aircraft Wing configuration Condition of pavement For medium and light aircraft CW <= 25 kmph ICAO recommendations: Required Reference Field Length Max. CW Component 1500 m or more 37 kmph 1200 m to 1499 m 24 kmph < 1200 m 19 kmph Calm Period Wind intensity remains below 6.4 kmph (4 mph) Common to all directions and is added to the wind coverage for any direction Runway Orientation (Analysis of Wind) The principal traffic runway should be oriented as closely as practical in the direction of the prevailing winds when the crosswind is excessive. Guidelines are provided by ICAO and FAA for maximum allowable crosswind under different conditions Runways should be oriented so planes may be landed at least 95 percent of the time with cross wind components not exceeding 15 mi/ h. Wind Rose Diagram Consists of series of concentric circles cut by radial lines on polar-coordinate graph paper Radial lines are used to scale the wind magnitude Each radial line is 22.5 degree. Circle: wind is from SE, between 20 to 25 mph, 3.0 percent of the time Less than 4 mph is referred as calm period General Approach - wind rose (I) Draw three equidistance parallel lines on a transparent template. The middle line is the runway center line and distance between outside lines represents the allowable cross wind component Template placed on the wind rose such that the centerline passes through the center of wind rose General Approach - wind rose (II) Enter data for wind velocity, direction and percentage of wind in each direction Using the template, rotate to get the maximum wind coverage For fractional parts add the appropriate percentages Total area under template is 97 percent EW is the best orientation, also labeled as 9/27 (90 and 270 degree from north) Example (Wind Data) Example Solution (I) Example Solution (II) Primary runway Computed wind coverage is 90.8 percent Greater than 95 % is required The runway designation are: 90o to 270o N 90 E to S 90 W 9/27 or 9-27 Requires cross wind runway Example Solution (III) Proposed cross wind runway direction N 30 E to S 30 W 3/21 or 3-21 Total coverage equal to 85.8 percent Additional coverage = 5.8 percent Total= 90.8+5.8 = 96.6 percent Example Solution (IV) Percentage of Time in Specific Direction QUESTIONS ???