Owais Crawford
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Illinois, serving Chicago and the surrounding metropolitan area. The airport is located 12 miles from the city's Loop business district and is one of the busiest airports in the nation, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. MDW has four active runways, with the longest runway only offering a landing distance of 6,059 feet. The airport is known for its compact size, efficient operations, and its status as a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers. MDW offers various amenities, including pet relief areas and convenient parking, and has undergone several expansion and redevelopment projects over the years. In terms of CAT approaches, MDW does not have a CAT 2 approach, and its best-published approach is 4000 RVR.
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What You'll Learn
- Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Chicago, Illinois
- MDW's runways run from corner to corner across the block
- MDW has only Cat I capability, unlike O'Hare, which has multiple runways with Cat III capability
- Cat II and Cat III approaches require runway lighting to enable low-visibility approaches, which MDW lacks
- MDW is a small airport with only two commercial cargo buildings
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Chicago, Illinois
MDW is one of the busiest airports in the United States and the second-busiest in both the Chicago metropolitan area and Illinois state, serving 22,050,489 passengers in 2023. The airport is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of its passengers. The airfield is bounded by 55th and 63rd Streets, Central and Cicero Avenues.
The history of Midway Airport dates back to 1923 when it was built as Chicago Air Park on a 320-acre plot with a single cinder runway for airmail flights. The airport expanded over the years, and by 1928, it had twelve hangars and four runways with night lighting capabilities. A major fire in 1930 destroyed two hangars and 27 aircraft, resulting in a loss of over two million dollars. Despite this setback, the airport continued to grow, claiming the title of the "'World's Busiest'" in 1932 with over 100,846 passengers on 60,947 flights.
In the late 1970s, some of the shorter runways were closed or converted into taxiways, and in 1989, a new short runway was added for light aircraft. The airport has undergone various improvement projects, including the Midway Airport Terminal Development Program launched in 1997, which included the construction of a parking garage, a pedestrian bridge, and a new terminal building.
Regarding the CAT approach at Midway Airport, it is important to note that the airport's best runways have only Category I (CAT I) capability for landings with limited visibility. This is in contrast to O'Hare International Airport, which has runways equipped for CAT III landings. The lack of CAT II and CAT III capability at Midway is due to various factors, including the airport's compact design and the surrounding infrastructure, making it challenging to implement the required runway approach lighting and specialized equipment for low-visibility operations.
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MDW's runways run from corner to corner across the block
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. It covers just over one square mile (650 acres or 260 hectares) and is located in a square mile bounded by 55th and 63rd Streets, Central and Cicero Avenues. MDW's runways run from corner to corner across this block, with the longest runway being 6,522 ft (1,988 m) in length.
MDW's runways are not as well-aligned with the prevailing winds as might be preferred, and the airport's compact nature presents some challenges. MDW's best runways have only Category I capability for landings with limited visibility, unlike larger airports like O'Hare, which have multiple runways set up for Category III landings using the Instrument Landing System (ILS). Category II and III landings require specialized equipment and clear areas around the airport, which MDW lacks due to being hemmed in by roads and neighbourhoods.
The shorter distances available for landings than for takeoffs at MDW's runways further impact operations. For example, the longest runway, 13C/31C, only has a landing distance of 6,059 feet (1,847 m) in one direction and 5,826 feet (1,776 m) in the other. This runway is used by commercial planes for take-off and landing, while the other runways cater to smaller aircraft.
The compact design of MDW, with its runways intersecting in the middle, essentially makes it a one-runway airport. This layout, combined with its busy schedule, means that any weather conditions requiring additional spacing can cause backups and impact operations.
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MDW has only Cat I capability, unlike O'Hare, which has multiple runways with Cat III capability
MDW, or Midway International Airport, has only Category I (Cat I) capability. This is the basic form of Instrument Landing System (ILS) and is considered standard equipment. Cat I requires a decision height of 200 feet or more and a runway visual range of at least 550 meters or 2,400 feet. Standard pilot training is sufficient for Cat I, and pilots maintain visual contact with the runway at or below the decision height.
On the other hand, O'Hare International Airport has multiple runways with Category III (Cat III) capability. Cat III allows for landings with almost zero visibility and is the most precise of the ILS categories. It requires extensive redundancies, including separate power sources and independent flight management computers. Cat III demands highly specialized training and authorization for both pilots and aircraft. Additionally, Cat III requires autopilots capable of automatically following ILS guidance down to the decision height, with dedicated autopilot and flight management systems designed for automatic landing.
The difference in capabilities between the two airports becomes particularly relevant during low-visibility conditions. While O'Hare's multiple runways can accommodate Cat III landings using ILS, Midway's runways are limited to Cat I, which relies on standard pilot visibility.
It is worth noting that Midway Airport's size and location present challenges in upgrading its capabilities. Being an older airport surrounded by roads and neighbourhoods, there is limited physical space to implement the extensive infrastructure requirements of Cat II or Cat III capabilities, including specialized equipment and lighting.
The varying capabilities of MDW and O'Hare highlight the trade-offs between airport design, operational efficiency, and adaptability to adverse weather conditions.
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Cat II and Cat III approaches require runway lighting to enable low-visibility approaches, which MDW lacks
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States, serving over 22 million passengers in 2023. The airport was established in 1927 and served as Chicago's primary airport until 1944. Today, it is a base for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the airport's passengers.
MDW's runways run from corner to corner across the block, constrained by roads and neighbourhoods. The airport's compact nature and location pose challenges when it comes to implementing certain systems for low-visibility approaches.
The Instrument Landing System (ILS) is a precision navigation system that assists pilots in landing safely during low visibility conditions due to bad weather. There are three categories of ILS: Cat I, Cat II, and Cat III, which differ in their ability to guide aircraft to safe landings in low visibility. Cat I relies on standard runway lighting and equipment without redundancies. In contrast, Cat II and Cat III require specialised high-intensity approach lighting systems and specific terrain characteristics to enable landings in more challenging weather conditions.
MDW's runways have only Cat I capability due to physical constraints and the lack of necessary lighting infrastructure. The airport's runways are hemmed in by surrounding roads and neighbourhoods, leaving no room for the additional lighting required for Cat II and Cat III approaches. Implementing these higher-category approaches would involve significant land acquisition, impacting residential and commercial areas. While MDW's design limits its ability to accommodate low-visibility landings, dense fog requiring such approaches is not a frequent occurrence.
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MDW is a small airport with only two commercial cargo buildings
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is a major commercial airport located on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1927, Midway served as Chicago's primary airport until 1944 when O'Hare International Airport opened. Despite being one of the busiest airports in the nation, MDW is a relatively small airport, covering just over one square mile (650 acres or 260 hectares). The compact nature of Midway has presented challenges in terms of expansion and runway alignment.
MDW has a single passenger terminal and four active runways, with the longest runway being 13C/31C, which is 6,522 feet (1,988 meters) long. The airport is a hub for Southwest Airlines, which carries over 90% of the passengers at MDW. The compact design of the airport has led to challenges in implementing more advanced landing systems, with Midway's best runways offering only Category I capability.
Category II and III landings require specialized equipment and specific runway lighting configurations to enable low-visibility approaches. However, MDW's physical constraints, surrounded by roads and neighbourhoods, make it difficult to install the necessary lighting and acquire the land needed for expansion. While MDW may not have the expansive space of other airports, its size contributes to operational efficiency, especially with its quick access to the city centre, located just 8-12 miles away.
MDW's size also has its challenges, particularly with accommodating larger aircraft. The airport's runways are restricted from use by large commercial aircraft, except in emergencies. The largest aircraft typically seen at Midway is the Boeing 757, and commercial planes primarily utilize runways 4R/22L and 13C/31C. The other runways are reserved for smaller aircraft.
In summary, MDW is a small, compact airport with a single passenger terminal and limited runway space. Its size presents challenges in implementing advanced landing systems and accommodating larger aircraft. However, its central location and efficient design contribute to its high volume of passenger traffic, making it one of the busiest airports in the nation.
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Frequently asked questions
The CAT approach at Midway Airport refers to the Instrument Landing System (ILS) categories. These are I, II, and III, with subsets A, B, and C. Each category has different rules based on decision height and runway visual range (RVR). Midway Airport's runways have only Cat I capability.
Cat I has a decision height of >200 feet and an RVR of >2,400 feet. Cat II and Cat III have requirements for runway approach lighting to enable low-visibility approaches.
Midway Airport is an old airport surrounded by roads and neighbourhoods. There is no room to install the required lighting for Cat II and Cat III approaches, and it would require significant land acquisition.
Pilots can refer to approach charts or consult with the tower to determine the appropriate CAT approach for their destination airport.
