How do airports choose which runway to use? (other than weather)?

Question

For example, my local airport has 2 main runways: 12R/30L and 3/21. 90% of the time, 12R is used, but every once in a while, they use 3 for no apparent reason. And sometimes they use 30L instead also. 21 hasn't been used while I've lived here, but satellite shows a few (very few) touchdown marks. Remember, I know weather can be a factor, I'm wondering why they'd switch under the same weather conditions.

Answer 1

Air traffic controllers will try to route their planes over the least populated areas, so as to keep the noise pollution to a minimum. This is especially true with take-offs because at that time the jet's engines are usually running full throttle. Landings aren't as critical because on approach the engines are usually being throttled down.
Ideally, you want to take off and land flying into the wind to maximize lift, but commercial jets today have enough power to make this option more of a luxury than a requirement. Ground traffic flow on the taxiways and at the gates is more likely to influence their routing nowadays.
Pilots also like long runways, so all else being equal, they will use the longer one first.

Answer 2

Wind, noise, runway length are all factors ad listed above. However another one is simply convenience. If all runways are equally long, and the winds are calm, a pilot may elect to request the runway that is most closely aligned with his/her flight route. Its just a matter or making life easier most of the time.

Answer 3

the main factor which determines which runway to use is the wind. then you have other factors like where the populated area are. for example in europe there are lots of runways which cant be used until around 7-8am because the approach path goes right over the city. during busy times they may land aircraft on more than one runway.

Answer 4

Many reasons. Winds, runway length, aircraft type, noise abatement, convience of the pilot. Somethimes the tower controller is just having a power trip about pilots making more than him.

Answer 5

Many of the forecasts written are for aviation. Forecasts are not usually issued that cannot be verified by observation so many of the observing sites are at airports. Many sites in towns have been compromised by urban sprawl and the urban heat island effect so the airport gives a truer picture of the airmass than can be measured in a town.

Answer 6

It's the wind. The runway will be selected which will let an airplane land or take off most directly into the wind.

Answer 7

Mainly it is the wind, but aside from that I think it is the features of the runway, at least for my airport. For instance we have 9R/27L and 9L/27R if winds are calm we always use 27's because they have the back course for IFR approaches.

Answer 8

Mostly they c Wind direction
and sometime
Traffic direction means they'll check which direction will be easy for
Air Traffic controller to manage his inbound n out bound

Answer 9

Wind, length is 90% if it followed by noise