A runway labeled 36 will be aligned for both takeoffs and landings on headings between 355 and 005 Magnetic North. The numbers on the runway are large enough to be clearly seen from a mile away. Even if you can not see the numbers, the runway can be identified using a standard magnetic compass or heading indicator.

Pilots identify runways using a combination of high-contrast visual markings and sophisticated electronic navigation aids. Each runway is numbered based on its magnetic heading, rounded to the nearest 10 degrees (e.g., Runway 09 points East at 90°). These large, white numbers are painted at the "threshold" or start of the runway. Additionally, pilots look for the "Aiming Point" (two thick white blocks) and "Touchdown Zone" markings (sets of white bars) to determine exactly where to land. At night or in low visibility, runways are identified by a specific lighting color code: white lights line the edges, green lights mark the beginning (threshold), and red lights mark the end. Furthermore, pilots use the ILS (Instrument Landing System), which sends radio beams to the cockpit, providing a "localizer" for horizontal alignment and a "glideslope" for vertical descent. In 2026, many pilots also utilize Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) on their flight displays, which render a 3D digital map of the runway and surrounding terrain, allowing for safe identification even when the strip is obscured by heavy fog or clouds.