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105 votes
Accepted

Why are Gatwick's runways too close together?

Historically, Gatwick had only one runway (08R/26L) with a taxiway to the north, but this obviously would cause problems if that runway was out of use for any reason - emergency, scheduled maintenance,...
CatchAsCatchCan's user avatar
90 votes
Accepted

Why don't short runways use ramps for takeoff?

V1. There are other valid reasons, as have been listed - cost, bidirectional runway use, etc. These would still not completely disqualify ramps, just limit them to very special circumstances. But the ...
Therac's user avatar
  • 22.6k
71 votes

Why do airports have directional runways instead of a large area to operate in any direction?

The typical World War II "A" runway shape solves this issue, without covering a huge amount of area with concrete, etc. Even so, that configuration has fallen out of use in modern airports. ...
Dan's user avatar
  • 9,180
68 votes

Why can't some airports handle heavy aircraft while others do it easily (same runway length)?

There are a few possible reasons Bournemouth (EGHH) can support a Boeing 787 but Kherson (UKOH) can't. Runway length is definitely not the issue. The runway at EGHH is 2271 metres long, the one at ...
60levelchange's user avatar
63 votes

Why do airports in the UK have so few runways?

There are perhaps 101 non aviation-related reasons why the UK does not have larger airports, such as space consideration (we're only a small island!), politics (NIMBY!), civil engineering (Airports ...
Jamiec's user avatar
  • 31.1k
59 votes
Accepted

Does runway 32/33R at Madrid actually have a kink in it?

An interesting feature of your question is the apparent double-exposure of runway number in your image. And I suspect it will also account for/explain why you see a kink in an image. Occasionally, ...
Jamiec's user avatar
  • 31.1k
55 votes
Accepted

Why are taxiway and runway centerline lights off center?

The painted line and the lights do not align for a very practical reason: it would be a major pain in the behind to paint over the lights, as each one of them would need to be masked for the painting, ...
Jpe61's user avatar
  • 26.7k
50 votes

Why don't short runways use ramps for takeoff?

Because then you can only land in one direction. What do you do if the wind blows exactly along the runway so that departing and landing planes have only tailwind then? You would waste a precious ...
Federico's user avatar
  • 32.3k
48 votes
Accepted

Are there any real life instances of aircraft aborting a takeoff or landing to avoid a vehicle?

Not only is it possible but it happens. This is formally called a "runway incursion" and it does happen like 2005 Logan Airport runway incursion or the B733 / vehicle, Amsterdam Netherlands, 2010. ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 100k
48 votes
Accepted

Why would a pilot request that ATC dim the runway lights?

That is quite a normal request. Runway lights can be extremely bright because they need to be visible through fog during daylight to provide lateral guidance during take-off and roll-out. See this ...
DeltaLima's user avatar
  • 81.8k
47 votes
Accepted

Minimum number of runways required for international airports?

Instead of just looking at the minimum number of runways, I though it would be interesting to have a look at the overall statistics for the number of runways. So I went through my navigation database (...
Bianfable's user avatar
  • 53.5k
45 votes
Accepted

Do military bases still employ wheel watchers?

No They do not continue this practice anymore. This is likely because landing gear are more reliable now than they were in the 70's. There is also the practice of Air Traffic Control prompting ...
M28's user avatar
  • 2,409
44 votes
Accepted

Why might a too-wide runway be a problem?

The issue has always been human perception. Pilots are tasked with trying to make great landings. One way they do that is with peripheral vision. If the runway is too wide, they lose that extra ...
wbeard52's user avatar
  • 12.2k
43 votes
Accepted

What is the biggest airplane that does not need a paved runway?

Military transports are designed to be operated from unpaved runways- by extension, any of these converted to civilian use can operate from unpaved runways. For example, the Antonov Airlines ...
aeroalias's user avatar
  • 99.8k
43 votes

What is the biggest airplane that does not need a paved runway?

The H-4 Hercules (Spruce Goose) should easily win this contest. That plane was ridiculously huge and, in fact, couldn't use a runway, rather it was a "flying boat" that took off from the the water. ...
Jay Carr's user avatar
  • 24k
43 votes

What does the letter G mean in a runway identifier?

For runways with other than hard surfaces it is common to list the runways with a letter G for grass or in the case of a seaplane base, with W for water. An example of this is runway 8G at Boulder (...
Pugz's user avatar
  • 3,658
42 votes

Why do airports remove/realign runways?

In some cases the prevailing winds change and certain runways fall out of use. Since airports tend to be land limited they may wish to use the land for hangars or other facilities so the runways are ...
Dave's user avatar
  • 100k
39 votes

Southwest corner of LAX has peculiar airplane parts, what is this area?

It is an aircraft fire simulator. They use it for training emergency response personnel and vehicles. You can see them training on one in this YouTube video Source: Leipzig Halle Airport
Ron Beyer's user avatar
  • 36k
38 votes
Accepted

Why can't runway 18 at Frankfurt Airport accept takeoffs or landings in the opposite direction?

Let us consider the operations other than takeoff on runway 18. Takeoff Runway 36 There are buildings not far off the departure end and directly after the end of the runway is a movement area and ...
casey's user avatar
  • 35.2k
37 votes

Why not make the touchdown zone of runways wider than the rest?

Because most runways already are as narrow as safely feasible. Let us look at your question piece by piece: Save money by making the rest of the runway narrower You seem to be assuming we are ...
AEhere supports Monica's user avatar
35 votes
Accepted

Should I wait for Tower to provide runway exit instructions?

Note: I am assuming you are asking about US regulations. If the tower does not give you an instruction, you should not wait for one. Leave the runway at the next available taxiway and then wait for ...
Bianfable's user avatar
  • 53.5k
34 votes

Do any airports have runways or taxiways that cross active rail lines at grade?

There is at least one: In Gisborne, New Zealand, there is a freight rail line which crosses the south end of runway 14/32 at Gisborne Airport (GIS). It appears to still be an active line for freight (...
Dan1701's user avatar
  • 1,447
34 votes

Are runways booked by airlines to land their planes?

No one can "book" runways. Traffic on a runway is managed by air traffic control, whose job it is to ensure a safe and expeditious flow of air traffic. Generally speaking, a place on the runway is ...
60levelchange's user avatar
34 votes
Accepted

How can pilots differentiate runways and taxiways during landing?

During daytime and good visibility, it should be pretty obvious that runway markings are white and taxiway markings are yellow. Runways have the runway designator in big white numbers at the end and a ...
60levelchange's user avatar

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