Runway (RWY)
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Definition
A defined rectangular surface on an airport prepared for aircraft takeoff and landing
Related Terms
Airfield Lighting (AGL)
The system of lights on runways, taxiways, and aprons that guide aircraft during low visibility
Airport Fire Station (ARFF)
Airport Rescue and Firefighting facility providing emergency response for aircraft incidents
Blast Fence
A barrier designed to redirect jet engine exhaust away from people and structures on the apron
Displaced Threshold
A threshold not located at the beginning of the full-strength runway surface
Holding Bay
A designated area near the runway where aircraft wait before receiving takeoff clearance
ILS Localizer Antenna (LOC)
A ground-based radio transmitter providing horizontal guidance for precision approaches
Magnetic Variation
The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location
PAPI (PAPI)
Precision Approach Path Indicator — a visual aid providing glidepath guidance during approach
Runway End Safety Area (RESA)
An area beyond the runway end intended to reduce risk of damage to aircraft undershooting or overrunning
Runway Incursion
Any occurrence involving unauthorized presence of an aircraft, vehicle, or person on a runway
Runway Threshold
The beginning of the usable portion of a runway for landing
Stopway (SWY)
An area beyond the takeoff runway designated for decelerating an aircraft during an aborted takeoff
Takeoff
The phase of flight in which an aircraft accelerates and becomes airborne
Taxiway (TWY)
A defined path on an airport for aircraft to travel between runways and aprons
Windsock
A conical textile tube mounted on an airport that indicates wind direction and approximate speed
Mentioned In
How Airports Work: From Runway to Gate
…element of any airport. A standard commercial runway for wide-body aircraft is approximately 3,000–4,500 meters…
Why Runways Are Numbered the Way They Are
The Magnetic Compass and Runway Numbering Every runway on earth is identified by a number…
Airport Runway Operations: How Planes Take Off and Land
Runway Selection: Wind, Weight, and Configuration The selection…
Airport Lighting Explained: What All Those Lights Mean
…high-intensity lights installed on the ground before the runway threshold, extending up to 900 meters (3,000 feet) ahead…
Aviation During Wartime: Military to Civilian Conversion
Airport Operations Manager
…(DAL) during a ground service equipment fire, and the 2013 runway incursion at JFK involving a Delta 737, are examples of…