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runway

Also known as landing strip, RWY

thumb|Runway 13R at Palm Springs International Airport thumb|upright|An MD-11 at one end of a runway

AI overview

A runway is a long, flat strip of paved ground at an airport where aircraft take off and land. Runways are essential to airport operations because they provide the necessary space and surface for planes to safely accelerate for flight or decelerate when returning to the ground.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Ardabil Airport Sharifi-1.jpg

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OpenStreetMap tag: aeroway=runway
Commons category: Runways
catalog code: 2304

Sources (3)

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~32 min read

Article

22 sections

Contents

History
Design
Orientation
Naming
Letter suffix
Renumbering
Declared distances
Sections
Markings
National variants
Lighting
Technical specifications
Control of lighting system
Safety
Surface
Pavement surface
Pavement subsurface drainage and underdrains
{{anchor|surface_types}} Surface type codes
Length
See also
References
External links

thumb|Runway 13R at Palm Springs International Airport thumb|upright|An MD-11 at one end of a runway

In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (grass, dirt, gravel, ice, sand or salt). Runways, taxiways and ramps, are sometimes referred to as "tarmac", though very few runways are built using tarmac. Takeoff and landing areas defined on the surface of water for seaplanes are generally referred to as waterways. Runway lengths are now commonly given in meters worldwide, except in North America where feet are commonly used.