2006-09-28 07:20:43 · 10 answers · asked by distalbicept 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Planes are easier to land/take off with the wind. As a result, by having runways in differing directions you can ensure a good headwind to help the plane.
It is also why they are numbered the way they are. Multiply the runway number by 10 and it'll tell you the compass heading. For example, runway 27 is actually 270 degrees or due west.
2006-09-28 07:22:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The number of runways running parallel to one another are because of the level of traffic coming in/going out of the airport. Busy airports usually have two or more runways running parallel. In the case of multiple runways that criss-cross each other at some airports, that is because the airport is located at a place where local winds blow in different directions...and also change directions rather frequently in the course of a day or month. Think of Heathrow Intl., I normally watch the UK forecast from my place in Nigeria (I'm a meteorolgy freak) and I'v always noticed that the Heathrow area has what looks to me like six different winds. The wind changes direction over the course of the day...I cant say how many times but several.
Because of these wind direction changes, different runways aligned with these winds are required.
2006-09-29 06:17:27 · answer #2 · answered by Fulani Filot 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everyone above is correct. Wind changes affect which runway you might use on any particular day (or in coastal places it may change significantly from morning to night due to sea/land breezes). But the reason they are all crossing each other is because to build them far enough apart that they would not cross would cost too much money. You need to buy the land, and that would be an enormous chunk of real estate
2006-09-28 14:35:30 · answer #3 · answered by Jason 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the wind is always changing direction they put the runways facing where the wind comes from the most in that location. Planes prefer to take off and land in a head wind. As the seasons change so does the predominate head wind ex: north in winter, west in summer, south in the spring, northeast in fall.
2006-09-28 14:26:45 · answer #4 · answered by brian L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An aircraft should always take off into the wind. Aircraft also have a crosswind component that allows the aircraft to take off in a crosswind.
The crossing runways allow the aircraft different directions to lift off as the wind and weather are never constant.
Add in taxiways and it does look rather confusing doesn't it?
2006-09-28 20:25:20 · answer #5 · answered by dyke_in_heat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On word: wind. airplanes land into the wind and take off into the wind. the direction of the winds change all the time, so by changing the active runways, planes are able to land
2006-09-30 14:30:47 · answer #6 · answered by ME 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prevailing winds mostly and topography. I like "herkco" answer
2006-09-29 01:35:20 · answer #7 · answered by wl98208 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wind, topography, noise.
2006-09-28 14:25:39 · answer #8 · answered by herkco 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Keeps things interesting for the pilots. Sort of like drunk drivers, but with planes.
2006-09-28 14:28:18 · answer #9 · answered by Michael A 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
so that planes can crash and people die and go to hell
2006-09-29 17:59:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋