Roberta Aguirre
Crossed runways were common in the past because aircraft had to land facing the wind. Today, this is no longer a requirement, and parallel runways are preferred as they are safer and have more capacity. Commercial airports aim to maximize the number of parallel runways to improve traffic flow and ground operations. Crossed runways can be a hassle and a safety concern, especially during Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO), where aircraft land and hold short of the intersecting runway.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use of crossing runways | To aid in traffic flow on the ground and getting planes in the air |
| Use of parallel runways | Safer |
| More capacity | |
| More efficient use of space | |
| Use of crossing runways | A hassle |
| Safety issues | |
| Logistical nightmare |
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What You'll Learn
- Crossed runways were historically used as aircraft had to land facing the wind
- Crossed runways can aid in ground and air traffic flow
- Crossed runways allow for continuous landing and take-off
- Parallel runways are safer and have more capacity
- Crossed runways present safety issues and logistical challenges
Crossed runways were historically used as aircraft had to land facing the wind
Crossed runways were historically used because aircraft had to land facing the wind. When the wind shifted, runways that intersected allowed aircraft to take off and land according to the new wind direction. This is still the case at some airports, such as LGA, where both runways are used simultaneously in what is called a Land and Hold Short Operation (LAHSO).
However, such operations can present safety issues and logistical challenges, and some airlines refuse to allow their pilots to accept these procedures. Crossed runways are also less efficient in terms of capacity; parallel runways can handle more aircraft at the same time.
Major commercial airports try to have as many parallel runways as possible, as crossing runways are more difficult to manage. For example, DFW, ATL, and LAX are examples of major airports that have been built or remodelled to use almost exclusively parallel runways.
While it is true that larger planes can land with a tailwind, all airlines provide guidelines for how much tailwind their pilots can accept. Therefore, airports build their runways in alignment with the relative wind as well as the terrain.
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Crossed runways can aid in ground and air traffic flow
Crossed runways were common in earlier times when aircraft had to land towards the wind. Today, aircraft are not bound by this restriction, and parallel runways can be used simultaneously, offering increased capacity. However, crossed runways can still aid in ground and air traffic flow in certain situations.
When one aircraft clears the intersection on a crossed runway, another aircraft can immediately land or take off from the other runway, reducing the time wasted waiting for aircraft to taxi into position. This can improve the efficiency of air traffic operations.
The use of crossed runways depends on the terminal layout and wind conditions. In calm wind situations, crossed runways can be utilized to manage both ground and air traffic flow effectively. Airports with specific terminal layouts may find that crossed runways aid in ground traffic flow by providing separate paths for incoming and outgoing aircraft.
However, it is important to note that parallel runways are generally considered safer and provide more capacity. Major commercial airports aim for as many parallel runways as possible, as crossed runways can be a hassle for ground operations. Additionally, the use of crossed runways in certain wind conditions, such as Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO), can present safety issues and logistical challenges, with some airlines refusing to participate in such procedures.
In summary, while crossed runways can provide benefits in specific situations, such as improving traffic flow, most modern airports prefer parallel runways due to safety, capacity, and operational considerations.
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Crossed runways allow for continuous landing and take-off
Crossed runways were common in earlier times because aircraft had to land towards the wind. Today, planes can land with tailwinds, so parallel runways are preferred. Parallel runways have more capacity and are considered safer.
However, some airports still utilize crossing runways under certain conditions. Crossed runways allow for continuous landing and take-off operations. As soon as one aircraft clears the intersection on one runway, an aircraft on the crossing runway can land or take off. This means that there is always an aircraft landing or taking off, and no time is wasted waiting for aircraft to taxi into position. This can aid in traffic flow on the ground and getting planes in the air.
The use of crossing runways does present safety issues and logistical challenges, especially during Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO). Some airlines do not allow their pilots to accept such procedures.
Overall, while crossed runways can facilitate continuous landing and take-off operations, they are generally considered a hassle and less safe compared to parallel runways. As a result, most new or remodelled major airports use almost exclusively parallel runways.
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Parallel runways are safer and have more capacity
In earlier times, runways were built to cross because aircraft had to land toward the wind. Today, however, this is no longer necessary, and parallel runways can be used simultaneously. This means that parallel runways have a higher capacity than crossed runways. For example, with crossed runways, as soon as one aircraft clears the intersection on runway "x", an aircraft on runway "y" can land/take off, but this presents a safety issue as well as a logistical nightmare. Some airlines don't even allow their pilots to accept such procedures. Generally, commercial airports try to have as many parallel runways as possible, as crossing runways are a hassle.
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Crossed runways present safety issues and logistical challenges
Parallel runways are generally considered safer and have more capacity. With parallel runways, aircraft can take off and land at the same time, increasing the number of aircraft that can use the runways simultaneously. In contrast, crossed runways can present a safety issue and a logistical nightmare, as an aircraft must clear the intersection on one runway before an aircraft on the other runway can land or take off. This means that aircraft may have to wait precious minutes for the runway to be cleared, delaying flights and impacting the efficiency of the airport's operations.
Additionally, some airlines do not allow their pilots to accept Land and Hold Short Operations (LAHSO), where both runways are used simultaneously. While using crossing runways may aid in traffic flow on the ground and getting planes in the air, it is generally done in calm wind situations. The relative safety of crossing runways also remains to be investigated and researched.
Major commercial airports try to have as many parallel runways as possible, as crossing runways are a hassle. For example, many new or remodelled major airports, such as DFW, ATL, and LAX, use almost exclusively parallel runways.
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Frequently asked questions
Crossed runways were used in earlier times because aircraft had to land towards the wind. Today, planes don't have to do this and parallel runways can be used simultaneously, offering more capacity.
The relative safety of crossing runways is still to be investigated and researched. Generally, parallel runways are considered safer and have more capacity.
Crossing runways can aid in traffic flow on the ground and in the air. As soon as one aircraft clears the intersection on runway "x", an aircraft on runway "y" can land/take off, reducing the time aircrafts spend waiting to taxi into position.
