Hello 3 Greens,
Runways have usualy been designated on their magnetic headings however I don't understand why they should be bound to the "degree" if a different number would reduce confusion be it on an ATIS or the line select key on a MCDU/FMS.
Paris CDG on my ILS charts shows all four runways 088/268 degrees so I think it makes sense to get some difference between them.
When they were a two runway terminal they were designated 08/26 and 09/27. I suppose that with the added extra parallels they had to use the left and right designators.
Incidentaly, I raised this point through my airline with regard to CYYZ after Transport Canada raised a bulletin about a significant number of right/left errors. Their response was "That's all very well but what are you going to do when a third runway is built?"
I dare say that IS a point but for the many terminals such as LHR why not give runways an individual identity?