Can anyone explain how runways are numbered?

runway numbering system





A runway's compass direction is indicated by a large number painted at the end of each runway. A runway's number is not written in degrees, but is given a shorthand format. For example, a runway with a marking of ';14'; is actually close to (if not a direct heading of) 140 degrees. This is a southeast compass heading. A runway with a marking of ';31'; has a compass heading of 310 degrees, that is, a northwest direction. For simplicity, the precise heading is rounded off to the nearest tens. For example, runway 7 might have a precise heading of 68 degrees, but is rounded off to 70 degrees. It is still good practice to check your compass prior to take-off or landing as it has been known that the numbers have been painted on the wrong ends!








http://www.pilotfriend.com/training/flig鈥?/a>Can anyone explain how runways are numbered?
check these sites out they have tonnes of info...





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runway





http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A810145Can anyone explain how runways are numbered?
Airport runways are numbered by the direction they run in reference to a compass reading from magnetic North.
Runways are numbered to show you which heading to follow while coming in for a landing. The other end of the runway will show you a difference of 180 degrees. For example, a runway will have markings '04' and '22' showing directions pf 040 and 220 degrees from their respective ends.These numbers are taken from the direction compass starting from 000 to 359 degrees, but with the last zero deleted. For example 04 marking on a runway will show you that you must steer a course of 040 degrees to come in for a landing. Runway 17 will mean a direction of 170 degrees, '00' will indicate 360 degrees and 18 will mean 180 degrees.
Good bunch of answers. Except for those runways on aircraft carriers.
Everyone assumed you mean the numbers painted at the end of the actual runway. They are probably correct, but just in case you mean Runway 1 or Runway 2 etc, that is at the discretion of the Airport and are not genrally used by pilots, more by groundstaff ';Go and sweep runway 1'; etc.


Some airports have parallel runways with the same headings........in which case they have a L or R next to the number. 28L is the 280 degree Leftmost.


Carriers don't have runways, they have examination boards :-)