Runways At Pearson Airport: How Many Take-Off Strips?

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's busiest airport, serving 50 million passengers in 2019 and facilitating 6.3% of Ontario's GDP. The airport has five runways, two terminals, and over 110 gates. Its runways are carefully engineered structures, each approximately 3 km long, 4 ft deep, and as wide as 16 lanes of traffic. The number of runways an airport has is important for accommodating traffic and determining flight paths.

Toronto Pearson Airport has five runways

The five runways are labelled based on their compass bearings. For example, Runway 06Right (R)/24Left (L) is a north-south runway. When an aircraft arrives on or departs from Runway 24L or 24R, it is on a westerly heading, meaning it is either arriving from the east or departing to the west.

The assignment of runways at Toronto Pearson Airport depends on several factors, including wind direction and speed, runway conditions, and operational efficiency. As the prevailing winds are from the west, the most common runway configuration involves arrivals from the east and departures to the west using Runways 23, 24L, and 24R. When wind speed becomes unsafe, runways are reassigned to allow aircraft to land and take off into the wind.

The east-west configuration is the most frequently used because it aligns with the prevailing winds and provides greater capacity with its three runways. The north-south configuration is typically used when weather conditions require it or to facilitate airfield maintenance and construction.

Toronto Pearson Airport's five runways can be utilised in various configurations, such as single runway, dual runway, and triple runway, depending on traffic levels and operational needs.

Runways are 3km long, 4ft deep, and 16 lanes wide

Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's busiest airport, handling 50 million passengers in 2019 and 44.8 million in 2023. The airport has five runways and two passenger terminals. Three runways are aligned east-west, and two are north-south.

Each runway at Pearson Airport is approximately 3km long, 4ft deep, and as wide as 16 lanes of traffic. To put that into perspective, the runways are 3,000 metres long, or 9,842 feet. They are 1.2 metres deep, and 45.7 metres wide.

The runways are carefully engineered structures, designed to support the safe arrival and departure of aircraft. Due to their length, width, and depth, they can accommodate various aircraft sizes, from small private jets to large commercial planes. The runways are also equipped with the necessary lighting, markings, and instrumentation to ensure safe operations during the day and night.

The width of the runways is particularly notable, with 16 lanes of traffic being comparable to a large highway. This width provides ample space for aircraft during taxiing, takeoff, and landing. It also allows for safe separation between aircraft when multiple planes are using the same runway simultaneously.

The depth of the runways is important for ensuring a smooth surface. A depth of 4 feet allows for a robust foundation that can withstand the weight of aircraft and provides a stable base for the runway surface. This depth also ensures that the runway can withstand various weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, without compromising its integrity.

The length of the runways is crucial for takeoff and landing. A length of 3km provides aircraft with the necessary distance to accelerate to takeoff speed and lift off safely. During landing, this length allows planes to decelerate and come to a safe stop. The length of the runways can also accommodate different aircraft types, including large jets that require longer runways.

Runways are labelled by the compass bearing of the direction aircraft are heading

Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's busiest airport, serving 50 million passengers in 2019. The airport has five runways, labelled 06R/24L, 06L/24R, 15L/33R, 15R/33L, and 05/23. These runways are labelled based on the compass bearing of the direction aircraft are heading.

Runway labels at Pearson Airport consist of two digits followed by either "L" or "R". The two digits represent the first two digits of the compass bearing of the runway's direction. For example, Runway 06R/24L runs north-south, with "06" and "24" representing the compass bearings of 060 and 240, respectively. The "R" and "L" designations indicate whether the runway is on the right or left side when facing the direction of travel. In this case, "R" means the runway is on the right when facing north, and "L" means it's on the left when facing south.

The compass bearing-based labelling system is a standard method for designating runways globally. It provides a clear and consistent way to identify runways at airports, aiding pilots and air traffic controllers in efficient and safe operations. This system is particularly important when multiple runways are available, as is the case at Pearson Airport, where efficient runway management is crucial due to the high volume of traffic.

The prevailing winds in Toronto come from the east and west, so more than 95% of flights at Pearson Airport use the three east-west runways (06R/24L, 06L/24R, and 05/23). The north-south runways (15L/33R and 15R/33L) are typically used when weather or airfield work necessitates it. By utilising runways that align with the wind direction, aircraft can take off and land more safely and efficiently.

In addition to wind, other factors influencing runway selection at Pearson Airport include weather conditions, surface conditions, runway availability, time of day, traffic levels, and operational efficiency. The airport's runway configurations are adjusted as these factors change, ensuring optimal operations and safety for the high volume of flights and passengers passing through Toronto Pearson Airport.

Runways are assigned based on wind speed and direction, runway conditions, and operational efficiency

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's busiest airport, serving 50 million passengers in 2019. It has five runways and 30 taxiways, constructed from concrete, asphalt, or a combination of the two. The assignment of these runways is determined by several factors, including wind speed and direction, runway conditions, and operational efficiency.

The airport's runways are labelled according to the direction of travel. For example, Runway 24L or 24R indicates a westerly heading, with aircraft departing to the west or arriving from the east. As Toronto's prevailing winds are from the west, the most common runway configuration supports a westerly flow, using Runways 23, 24L, and 24R. This allows arrivals from the east and departures to the west. When the wind speed becomes unsafe, runways are reassigned to enable aircraft to land and take off into the wind.

Runway conditions are another critical factor. Wet or snow-covered runways reduce friction, so a lower wind speed will prompt an 'into the wind' runway assignment compared to dry runway conditions. Additionally, each runway must have an adjacent area designated as a Runway End Safety Area (RESA). The length of the runway pavement required for this purpose depends on what lies beyond the runway. For instance, if there is a field at the end, this can be included in the RESA, allowing more of the pavement to be used for aircraft operations.

The East-West configuration is the most frequently used at Toronto Pearson because it aligns with the prevailing wind direction and provides greater capacity with its three runways. The North-South configuration is typically used when weather conditions require it or to facilitate airfield maintenance and construction. The North-South runways cannot accommodate dual operations due to their proximity, impacting capacity when this configuration is necessary.

95% of flights use the three east-west runways

Toronto Pearson Airport is Canada's busiest airport, with five runways and 30 taxiways. The airport covers 4,600 acres of land and is the second-largest employment zone in Canada.

The airport's five runways are:

• Runway 06L-24R
• Runway 06R-24L
• Runway 15L-33R
• Runway 15R-33L
• Runway 05-23

These runways are carefully engineered structures, each approximately 3 km long, 4 ft deep, and as wide as 16 lanes of traffic. The prevailing winds in Toronto come from the east and west, and the three east-west runways provide the airport with the most capacity. As a result, 95% of flights use the three east-west runways. The north-south runways are used when weather conditions necessitate it or to accommodate airfield work.

The direction of the runway determines the naming convention, with the first two digits of the compass bearing used to label the runway. For example, Runway 06L-24R means that the runway points towards the east (06) from the west (24). When more than one runway points in the same direction, they are labelled Left (L) or Right (R).

The assignment of runways is based on several factors, including wind direction and speed, runway conditions, and operational efficiency. Aircraft ideally take off and land into the wind to ensure safety. Therefore, when it is no longer safe for aircraft to operate in a particular direction due to high wind speeds, the runways are reassigned to allow aircraft to land and take off into the wind.

Frequently asked questions