Definition

RUNWAY IN USE/ACTIVE RUNWAY/DUTY RUNWAY - Any runway or runways currently being used for takeoff or landing. When multiple runways are used, they are all considered active runways. In the metering sense, a selectable adapted item which specifies the landing runway configuration or direction of traffic flow. The adapted optimum flight plan from each transition fix to the vertex is determined by the runway configuration for arrival metering processing purposes.

Source: US FAA JO 7110.65 ATC

Description

The term "runway-in-use" is used to indicate the runway or runways that, at a particular time, are considered by the aerodrome control tower to be the most suitable for use by the types of aircraft expected to land or take off at the aerodrome.

More than one runway may be designated as runway-in-use. This is usually called "runway configuration". Examples include:

• Designating one runway (e.g. left) for departures and another (e.g. right) runway for arrivals.
• Designating a group of runways (e.g. all 27 and 28 runways into "west configuration")

Factors affecting the selection of the active runway:

• Wind. It is generally preferable that aircraft take off and land into the wind.
• Weather (i.e. adverse phenomena such as thunderstorms and wind shear).
• Runway length.
• Approach and landing aids, such as approach lightung, ILS availability, etc.
• Prevailing traffic flows. For example, if there are multiple aircraft coming from the north, it is often preferable to use RWY 18 for northbound departures.
• Noise abatement. It is often desirable to avoid noise-sensitive areas (e.g. densely populated urban areas especially at night) during the departure and final approach phases. However, choosing the active runway based on this criterion is subject to a number of limitations, such as:
  • Based on safety concerns, a pilot has the right refuse to use a runway offered due to noise abatement.
  • The runway-in-use must not be selected based on noise abatement criteria in case of reduced visibility, low clouds, wind shear, significant crosswind or surface adversely affected by snow/ice/slush/water/etc.
  • The runway-in-use for landing purposes should preferably be equipped with suitable glide path guidance, such as ILS (or VASIS for VMC operations).

The runway-in-use, if included in the ATC clearance, is one of the elements that must be always read back by the pilot.

An active runway can be used for taxiing in order to improve efficiency of operations provided that this does not compromise safety. Where control of taxiing aircraft is provided by a ground controller and the control of runway operations by an aerodrome controller, such movements need to be coordinated between the two controllers and communication should be transferred to the aerodrome controller prior to the aircraft entering the runway.

Further Reading

• ICAO Doc 4444 PANS-ATM
• FAA JO 7110.65 ATC