Jfk Airport's Runway System: A Comprehensive Overview

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. Located in the Jamaica neighbourhood of Queens, JFK is the busiest airport in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. The airport features four runways and six passenger terminals, with over 90 airlines operating out of JFK, offering direct flights to all six inhabited continents.

JFK Airport's runway lighting and markings

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has a range of lighting and marking systems in place to ensure the safe operation of its runways. The airport utilises a variety of approach lighting systems, including the ALSF2 (approach light system with sequenced flashing lights configuration 2) and the MALSR (medium-intensity approach light system with runway alignment indicator lights). These systems provide visual guidance to incoming aircraft during their final approach and help them align correctly with the runway.

Additionally, JFK Airport employs precision approach path indicators (PAPIs) to provide vertical guidance to aircraft during their final approach. These PAPIs are located on the left side of the runways and offer a visual indication of whether the aircraft is positioned above or below the ideal approach path. The PAPIs at JFK are equipped with four lights, which display a specific configuration to indicate the path.

The runways themselves are also marked and lit to facilitate safe operations. JFK's runways are marked with centreline lighting, which helps guide aircraft during takeoff and landing, ensuring they remain aligned with the centre of the runway. The runways are also equipped with touchdown zone markings, which indicate the designated areas for aircraft to touch down during landing. These markings enhance the safety of operations, especially during low-visibility conditions.

Furthermore, JFK Airport utilises a glide slope indicator system, which provides pilots with vertical guidance during their final approach. This system ensures that aircraft descend at the correct angle towards the runway, maintaining a safe and stable approach path. The glide slope indicator is designed to work in conjunction with the approach lighting systems and PAPIs to provide a comprehensive visual guidance system for incoming aircraft.

By employing these advanced lighting and marking systems, JFK Airport ensures the safe and efficient management of air traffic, enabling pilots to accurately navigate towards the runways and make well-informed decisions during critical phases of flight. These systems are crucial in maintaining the airport's high safety standards and facilitating smooth air traffic flow, even during periods of low visibility or challenging weather conditions.

The airport's runways and taxiways

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) has four runways and over 25 miles (40km) of paved taxiways. The taxiways are generally made of asphalt concrete, with a standard width of 75 feet (23m), and are marked with painted lines and lighted signage for directional instructions.

The four runways surround the airport's central terminal area. The runways are:

• 14,511 feet (4,423m) long, the third-longest commercial runway in North America. It is adjacent to Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
• 10,000 feet (3,048m) long, adjacent to Terminals 5 and 7.
• 8,400 feet (2,560m) long, equipped with an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS) at the northeast end.
• 12,079 feet (3,682m) long, adjacent to Terminals 4 and 5.

The runways are equipped with visual slope indicators and instrument approach systems to guide aircraft during takeoff and landing. The airport also has a Visual Approach Slope Indicator (VAST) system, which provides a visual glide path for pilots during approach.

In addition to the runways and taxiways, JFK has a variety of operational facilities, including an air traffic control tower, a VOR-DME station, and a central heating and refrigeration plant that provides heating and cooling for all passenger terminals.

History of JFK Airport's runways

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) currently has four runways. However, the history of the runways at JFK Airport, which opened in 1948 as New York International Airport, goes back to its early days as Idlewild Airport.

Idlewild Airport opened with six runways and a seventh under construction. Runways 1L and 7L were never used as runways and were held in reserve. Runway 31R, which opened with the airport, is still in use today. Runway 31L opened soon after the airport's inauguration and is also still in use. Runway 1R closed in 1957, and runway 7R closed around 1966. Runway 4 opened in June 1949, and runway 4R was added ten years later. A smaller runway, 14/32, was built after runway 7R closed and was used until 1990 for general aviation, STOL, and smaller commuter flights.

Over the years, JFK Airport's runways have undergone changes and renovations to accommodate new aircraft and increase efficiency. In the late 1960s, for example, the airport had to be modified to accommodate the Boeing 747. More recently, in 2010, runway 13R/31L was closed for four months for reconstruction, widening it from 150 to 200 feet and replacing the asphalt base with concrete. Similar modernisation projects were undertaken on runways 4R/22L in 2015 and 13L/31R in 2019.

Today, JFK Airport's four runways continue to serve the busy international air passenger gateway, handling a significant volume of air traffic to and from New York City.

JFK Airport's runway operations

John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. It is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. The airport features four runways and five active passenger terminals.

JFK Airport covers 5,200 acres (2,104 ha) and is the largest airport in the New York metropolitan area. It is the busiest of the seven airports in the New York airport system, the sixth-busiest airport in the United States, and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. Over 90 airlines operate from the airport, with nonstop or direct flights to destinations on all six inhabited continents.

The airport has four runways surrounding the central terminal area. The runways are:

• Runway 13R/31L, which is 14,511 feet (4,423 m) long. It is the third-longest commercial runway in North America.
• Runway 13L/31R, which is 10,000 feet (3,048 m) long.
• Runway 4L/22R, which is 8,400 feet (2,560 m) long.
• Runway 4R/22L, which is 12,079 feet (3,682 m) long.

JFK Airport was originally built with six runways and a seventh under construction. The original runways were:

• Runway 1L and 7L, which were held in reserve and never came into use.
• Runway 31R (originally 8,000 ft or 2,438 m), which is still in use.
• Runway 31L (originally 9,500 ft or 2,896 m), which opened soon after the rest of the airport and is still in use.
• Runway 1R, which closed in 1957.
• Runway 7R, which closed around 1966.
• Runway 4 (originally 8,000 ft, now runway 4L), which opened in June 1949.
• Runway 4R, which was added ten years later.
• A smaller runway 14/32, which was used until 1990 by general aviation, STOL, and smaller commuter flights.

The airport's runway instrument procedures

John F Kennedy International Airport in New York has a number of instrument procedures in place for its runways. These procedures are in place to ensure safe and efficient operations during arrivals and departures.

The airport has several runways with instrument approaches: 04L, 22R, 04R, 22L, 13L, 31R, and 31L. These runways are made of concrete and are in excellent condition, with precise markings and lighting.

The airport utilises various types of approach lighting systems, including:

• Standard 2,400-foot high-intensity approach lighting with sequenced flashers, suitable for Category II or III operations.
• 1,400-foot medium-intensity approach lighting with runway alignment indicator lights.

The Visual Glide Slope Indicators (VGSIs) for these runways are 4-light PAPI systems, which are located on the left side of the runway. Some runways also have a second PAPI system with a transitional touchdown zone and a 3.00-degree glide path.

For instrument approaches, the airport uses procedures such as ILS (Instrument Landing System) for runways 13L, 04R, and 22L, which are certified for Category II and III operations. RNAV (Area Navigation) and RNAV (RNP) approaches are also used for various runways, providing precise and efficient navigation.

In addition, there are visual approaches available, such as the Belmont Visual RWY 22L and the Parkway Visual RWY 13L/R.

The airport also has specific Standard Terminal Arrival Charts (STARs) and Departure Procedures in place, which include special minimum requirements for take-off and departure.

These instrument procedures are essential for maintaining the safe and efficient flow of air traffic at JFK International Airport, ensuring that aircraft can arrive and depart accurately and on time.

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