LFPG and choice of runways

[Fancy Navigator]

Hello,

A few questions about the use of runways at LFPG....

If we take a west configuration, are landings always on 26L and 27R, or can the other runways be used? If yes, when and how?

I heard that flights coming from the north (MERUE and LORTA) will always land on 27R and flights from the south (BALOD and OMAKO) will land on 26L.... Is it the way it works? or is the landing runway determined by the terminal where the aircraft will be parked?

In the same spirit, is the departing runway (26R or 27L) determined by the parking position (South terminal to 26R and North terminal to 27L) or by the direction of the flight (flights to the north on 27L and flights to the south on 26R)?

A guy who used to work at CDG was saying that all crossing traffic occurs on the ground?

Anybody well placed to answer these questions?

Thank you

[potkettleblack]

Can only speak for landing on the 09/27's. We arrive on a DPE4W via MERUE from the NW with an RNAV transition which we don't end up doing as it is usually vectors onto the localiser for 27R. Departure is off 27L. If on the easterly then its 09R for departure and 09L for landing. For both runways you have to cross an active runway after landing which is always guaranteed to make sure your awake. Made more difficult if you don't speak French and hence your situational awareness is severely hampered. Short taxi to our terminal so I would hazard a guess that the parking dictates which runway.

Incidentally there is always a trade off with parallel runways that are side by side and not "split" by the terminal. You can either land near the terminal and have a short taxi in or a short taxi out for departure but not both. Not that it is to bad at De Gaulle anyway. Try landing on 18R at EHAM at taxi around Z at the end of 18C. Soul destroying it is, although very good for taxi practice and time in your logbook!

[1Way2Live]

I think the northerly runways are usually used for Northerly dep and arr aircraft, but I have been sent down to the southerlys a few times. Must be when its getting busy to the North. Outer runways are always used for landings, though. No negotioation there.

[Max Angle]

Try landing on 18R at EHAM at taxi around Z at the end of 18C. Soul destroying it is, although very good for taxi practice and time in your logbook!And what is really soul destroying is when you find they have changed to 36L for departure and you have to go all the way back.

[FrenchATCO]

Hello guys,

as a controller in Paris ACC here are details about how it works for LFPG:

there are 2 situations : if the traffic is high then all arrivals from MERUE,LORTA and VELER will land on north runway; all arrivals from BALOD and OMAKO on south runway.
If the traffic is low we are on what we call "the minimum taxiing time configuration" so you can land on north or south runway depending on where your company is based.
But sometimes even when traffic is high you can land on the south runway (if arrivang from MERUE or LORTA) if there is a "hole "in the sequence in the south...
Here is how it works...

[flyr767]

To quote my Jeppesen airport briefing pages,

For ARRIVAL:

"Outer RWYs 08R/26L and 09L/27R preferential used for arrivals.
To minimize the risk of confusion between RWYs during final approach:
- the inner RWY ILS is 'off' most of the time (except when RVR is less than 400m, for the need of LVP departures),
- the inner RWY approach lighting system and TDZ are switched off.
Read back of landing and RWY clearence."

For DEPARTURE:

"Inner RWYs 08L/26R and 09R/27L preferential used for departure."

And there you have it from the horse's mouth.. Well a friend of the horse at least. :}

[lilibulle75]

As parisATCO explained CDG has 2 different strategies for sequencing:

-Anticrossing (MERUE and LORTA on the north runway/ BALOD and OMAKO on the south runway)

-Minimum taxiing time (runway choice depending on the company to have a short taxi time)

Sometimes they change runway if there is space on the other. That 's why Paris ACC can't tell you for sure your runway before the IAF.

Inner runways are used for departures as they are longer. But if you are heavy you can ask for them for landing. CDG is flexible when they are not busy.