Runway/Wind Alignment

dell30rb

dell30rb

Final Approach
Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
7,147
Location
Raleigh NC
Display Name
Ren
Home Airfield
KTTA, NC81
So, we know that the average wind direction is always taken into account when deciding to build a runway. Around here all of the runways seem to be 03/21 or 05/23 - oriented in that direction.

Now that probably makes sense for the average winds. However the average winds are not very strong and would not pose a crosswind problem. The strongest winds we have are following cold fronts, and it always blows from the NW after a cold front. Probably every 7-10 days in the winter we have a full day of 20-30 knot gusty direct crosswinds.
 
N659HB said:
Westerly winds gusting to 32kts at CAE earlier today.
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Been pretty gusty up here in NC as well. But hey, at least it's VFR. :D

Hopefully the wind will calm down. The next few days should be pretty nice.
 
They typically do a study on historical winds and consider them while laying out runways and approaches. Obviously it's not the only factor, local geography, political boundaries, and other land users play a role.

Here's the wind rose data for KTTA... http://climate.ncsu.edu/windrose.php?state=NC&station=KTTA

You can filter it for any time range since ~2001. The FAA's airport GIS page has better data, you can filter for IFR days vs VFR days, etc, but it requires registration and is kind of cumbersome to use.
 
The old airports were basically a big square field, and you could always takeoff into the wind! :D
 
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Our runway alignments are also 3/21, 5/23 and 2/20.
The way the mountain chains run through E Tennessee, has an affect on the wind directions. Usually works out well too!
 
Our runways are all lined up directly into the tallest tree or ridgeline in the area. Sometimes they substitute a radio/cell tower to mix things up.
 
Matt C said:
Our runways are all lined up directly into the tallest tree or ridgeline in the area. Sometimes they substitute a radio/cell tower to mix things up.
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Chain saw. Hack saw. Yup.
 
So is the OP complaining that he can't fly 1 out of 7-10 days in the winter for 20-30 knot gusty winds. How many of those days would you fly if you had a second runway oriented into those winds?
 
mscard88 said:
The old airports were basically a big field, and you could always takeoff into the wind! :D
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Reminiscing about your days at the airline, huh? :p :p :p
 
We usually have a direct crosswind, unless a front comes through, then it's a quartering gusty crosswind. But if you know how to use our runway,
gusty crosswind is not a real problem, because on those days the wind is usually wbnw, and 34 is in use.
 
Then we have the aircraft carrier, turn into the wind for launch & recovery.

Yes, I believe historical winds are used, look at Maui and Aruba, very much into the customary wind.
 
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