Airfield Numbers

Location : Bristol

Not quite sure if this is the right place to ask, but hoping that someone can tell me how airfields give the numbers they do to each end of the runway (ie. 05/27, etc). Is there logic to it?

Thanks. Mark.

Subject: Re: Airfield Numbers 2009-08-26, 11:09

There is indeed logic to it. From my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong), the numbers are based on the bearing of the runway with relation to north. So runway 05 could be anything from 050 degrees to 059 degrees - the last number is knocked off. At Mildenhall we have 11 and 29, so 110 degrees from north and 290 degrees from North. If you know one you can work out the other, just plus or minus 180 degrees (+/-18).

Ben

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

markrgv wrote:: Not quite sure if this is the right place to ask, but hoping that someone can tell me how airfields give the numbers they do to each end of the runway (ie. 05/27, etc). Is there logic to it?

Thanks. Mark.

There is indeed a logic, it's runway headings (the compass bearings) - Runway 09 will be 090, runway 27 will be 270.

Edit: Ben beat me to it, with a much more detailed explination. Spot on.

Location : Bristol

TheOriginalMonty wrote:: There is indeed logic to it. From my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong), the numbers are based on the bearing of the runway with relation to north. So runway 05 could be anything from 050 degrees to 059 degrees - the last number is knocked off. At Mildenhall we have 11 and 29, so 110 degrees from north and 290 degrees from North. If you know one you can work out the other, just plus or minus 180 degrees (+/-18).

Ben

Thanks to both replies - very informative.

But now another question. The bearings on a compass run round clockwise, but the airfield bearings are working anti-clockwise - is there a reason for this??

Mark.

Subject: Re: Airfield Numbers 2009-08-26, 12:02

markrgv wrote:

TheOriginalMonty wrote:: There is indeed logic to it. From my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong), the numbers are based on the bearing of the runway with relation to north. So runway 05 could be anything from 050 degrees to 059 degrees - the last number is knocked off. At Mildenhall we have 11 and 29, so 110 degrees from north and 290 degrees from North. If you know one you can work out the other, just plus or minus 180 degrees (+/-18).

Ben

Thanks to both replies - very informative.

But now another question. The bearings on a compass run round clockwise, but the airfield bearings are working anti-clockwise - is there a reason for this??

Mark.

How do you work that one out ?

Location : Bristol

On a compass the position at East is marked 90 degrees. But the end of a runway at the same position is marked as 27 (270 degrees). It is West on a runway marked as 90 degrees.

This was my confusion.

Mark.

Subject: Re: Airfield Numbers 2009-08-26, 12:40

If you are waiting to take-off on runway 09,you will see "09" painted in HUGE numbers on the tarmac right in front of you.
That means the runway is facing 090 on the compass(due East).

Location : Bristol

Flaps wrote:: If you are waiting to take-off on runway 09,you will see "09" painted in HUGE numbers on the tarmac right in front of you.
That means the runway is facing 090 on the compass(due East).

Ahhhh..... Genius Clap

Case solved Smile

Thanks Mike. Mark.

Subject: Re: Airfield Numbers 2009-08-26, 13:03

markrgv wrote:

Flaps wrote:: If you are waiting to take-off on runway 09,you will see "09" painted in HUGE numbers on the tarmac right in front of you.
That means the runway is facing 090 on the compass(due East).

Ahhhh..... Genius Clap

Case solved Smile

Thanks Mike. Mark.

No problem Mark,just glad to help mate. Thumbs Up

Subject: Re: Airfield Numbers 2009-08-26, 13:52

Quote :: From my understanding (correct me if I'm wrong),
the numbers are based on the bearing of the runway with relation to
north. So runway 05 could be anything from 050 degrees to 059 degrees -
the last number is knocked off.

Not quite right RW 05 can be from 045 to 055, then RW 06 from 055 to 065 etc.

S

Location : Beverley Spotter Watch Member : no

And don't forget also that due to the magnetic variation changing each year, eventually runway numbers also change to reflect this, not every year it happens but eventually it will. Like Humberside airport used to be 03/21 and 09/27 but are now 02/20 and 08/26. Don't really know when it happened but just noticed it one day on my scanner after having a break to scanning for a couple of months.

When this happens it suddenly puts your Flight simulator to cock if you buy new charts etc

Admin Location : Abu Dhabi

Didnt Lyneham's change recently?

If I remember rightly, when I left Yeovilton, the runway heading was creeping up and wasnt far off being declared 10/28.

Admin Location : Bristol, UK

Dunk wrote:: Didnt Lyneham's change recently?

If I remember rightly, when I left Yeovilton, the runway heading was creeping up and wasnt far off being declared 10/28.

Lyneham was 07 and changed to 06 didn't it?

Mike

Location : Fairford

MikeB wrote:

Dunk wrote:: Didnt Lyneham's change recently?

If I remember rightly, when I left Yeovilton, the runway heading was creeping up and wasnt far off being declared 10/28.

Lyneham was 07 and changed to 06 didn't it?

Mike

Indeed it did. Not sure when it happened, but the runway headings were 25/07.

Location : UK Spotter Watch Member : no

Aye, it took them all night to move it round :)