How to read airport runway data

Runway length, surface and lighting decide which aircraft can use an airport — and in what weather.

Designators

Runways are numbered by magnetic heading rounded to the nearest ten degrees, with the last zero dropped: a runway pointing 090° is "09", its opposite end "27". Letters L, C and R distinguish parallel runways (left, centre, right). When the magnetic field shifts enough, the numbers are repainted — which is why some runways change designator every few years.

Length

Length is the single most important operational limit. A short runway restricts take-off weight because an aircraft must reach flying speed before the end; at high-altitude or hot airports the required length grows again because the air is thinner. Runway tables here give length in feet and metres so you can compare across datasets.

Surface

Asphalt and concrete handle heavy jets; grass, gravel and water suit light aircraft and seaplanes. Surface condition matters as much as type: a wet or contaminated runway increases stopping distance, which is why grooved concrete is common at busy airports.

Lighting

Runway edge lights, centreline lights and approach lighting allow operations in darkness and low visibility. A runway without lighting effectively closes at sunset for commercial traffic. The "lighted" column on each airport page tells you which runways have it.

Reading the table

Each airport page lists up to six runways with length, metric length, surface, lighting and designator — enough to judge whether an airfield suits a given aircraft without hunting through aviation publications.