Perth Int. runway designation question

[Leon Tsao]

Hey all. new here and i have a question on my mind about perth airport.
Why is runway 03/21 not a 01/19 which is more accurate for its heading?
Thanks heaps.

[Somewhere In Time]

Id say it was because it would have been too close to the third (now closed) runway 11/29.

[Leon Tsao]

Thank u for reply, but the new runway is 03R/21L, so should be another reason for the runway "wrong" designation.
The actual orientation of the main runway at Perth Int. SI 016/196 degrees Magnetic. On this basis, the runways should have a designation of 02/20.

[Bullethead]

Years ago the present 03/21 at YPPH was known as 02/20. The name was changed, in the mid 1980s I think, to try and avoid the confusion of having too many to's/2's/02's/20's and the resultant cockups due to misunderstanding or mishearing ATC instructions. This despite the fact that there are many other R/W 02/20 combinations elsewhere that seem to function well.

Cheers,
BH.

[kcockayne]

Well,

I'd never heard of this practice before !

[haughtney1]

Well,

I'd never heard of this practice before !

Then you've never had any dealings with Oz and aviation? Best practice and practical are often two mutually exclusive terms in Oz aviation..repeat after me Daaaaayseeemal :8

[Bullethead]

Not so uncommon really. There are four parallel runways at KLAX all aligned 069/249 magnetic but the north complex is designated 06/24 L&R and the south complex 07/25 L&R. Strictly all the runways should be 07/25 something but it's convenient and it works.

Cheers,
BH.

[haughtney1]

Bullet, are you honestly comparing KLAX to YPPH? particularly in relation to runway designation? the 24/25 designation is to differentiate between the north and south complex.

[kcockayne]

Well, You live & learn! & no, I've never been to Oz.

[DaveReidUK]

Strictly all the runways should be 07/25 somethingYou mean:
07L/25R
07-second-from-the-left/25-second-from-the-right
07-second-from-the-right/25-second-from-the-left
07R/25L

I guess the runways weren't wide enough to paint on those designators. :O

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runway#Naming

[Bullethead]

Yeah, yeah I know all that. :rolleyes:

I was just pointing out that sometimes runways are given convenient names rather than strictly correct designators.

Cheers,
BH.

[flying.monkeyz]

WSSS has 02 / 20 L C R!

[sunnySA]

WSSS has 02 / 20 L C R!

I think the L C R makes a difference.
YSSY should be 16L&R, 34L&R and 06/24 however 16/34 and 06/24 would be a good combination.

Sometimes common sense comes into play. Perhaps YPPH runway designations will be reviewed when the concrete is being laid on the parallel.

[Leon Tsao]

ICAO AN14 V1 5.2.2.4
On four or more parallel runways, one set of adjacent runways shall be numbered to the nearest one-tenth magnetic azimuth and the other set of adjacent runways numbered to the next nearest one-tenth of the magnetic azimuth.

So, the runway designation in KLAX is reasonable.

[DaveReidUK]

I was just pointing out that sometimes runways are given convenient names rather than strictly correct designators.Fair enough.

In fact, the "convenient naming" is simply conformance with ICAO SARPS (Annex 14 - Aerodrome Design & Operations):

"A runway designation marking shall consist of a two-digit number and on parallel runways shall be supplemented with a letter. On a single runway, dual parallel runways and triple parallel runways the two-digit number shall be the whole number nearest the one-tenth of the magnetic North when viewed from the direction of approach. On four or more parallel runways, one set of adjacent runways shall be numbered to the nearest one-tenth magnetic azimuth and the other set of adjacent runways numbered to the next nearest one-tenth of the magnetic azimuth".

[Bullethead]

G'day Leon and Dave,

Thanks for that info I wasn't aware of those regs but it all makes sense.

Cheers,
BH.