This is a modest part 2 of Airport Runway Design from last week. Last time, I explained a little about the nomenclature of runways, from the 10-degree approximated angles in the direction they are pointed. As review, the “09″ marker below indicates 90 degrees (which we know as pointing to the right). Note that the names of these runways are pronounced as “Runway Zero Nine,” with each digit read separately for clarity.

Runway Design Markings

In terms of design consideration, I had quoted from HowStuffWorks:

Main runways are usually oriented to line up with the prevailing wind patterns so that airplanes can take-off into the wind and land with it. Local and ground air traffic controllers determine which runways are used for take-off and which for landing, taking into account weather, wind and air-traffic conditions. In some airports, main runways cross each other, so the controllers have to pay even closer attention.

Let’s take second look at this …

Runway Sections

Runway Sections

The runway is technically the surface between the thresholds (see the above image). On either side of the runway are sections called blast pads, which function as emergency space to slowly stop planes that overrun the runway on a bad landing on an aborted take-off. They are also used to absorb the initial jet blast from large planes during take-off. Blast pads are marked with yellow chevrons and typically aren’t as strong as actual runways. This section isn’t used (for taxiing, take-off, or landing) except in an emergency.

In between the blast pad and the runway is the displaced threshold section which can be used for taxiing, take-off and landing rollouts, only. They cannot be used for the touchdown part of landings.

Runway Configurations

There are four basic configurations for runways. Of course, there are others, but those are just variations of the four. The single runway is the simplest of the four. Then we get the parallel runway of which there are four sub-types. Next there is the open-V runway, which have two sub-types. Finally, the most complex configuration is the intersecting runway, with three sub-types.

In the end, though, reasons for choosing one configuration over another is all about the prevailing winds, noise pollution, and local restrictions, among other. See the table below that summaries the different types:

Runway Design Markings and Runway Sections images are taken from here.

Check out these links for much more information on these runways:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runway

http://virtualskies.arc.nasa.gov/design/tutorial/tutorial1.html

Categories: In-Depth Articles
Tags: Airplane, Airport, Runway
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