What is the difference between runway 18 and 36?

Runway 36 is the entire runway, with traffic moving to the north (i.e. facing about 360 degrees, magnetic). Runway 18 is the same north/south strip of pavement, with traffic moving to the south (i.e. facing about 180 degrees). If you're lined up ON runway 36, you're at the south end of it, facing north.



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In addition, runway numbers are connected to the direction a plane is traveling—so while on a handheld compass, south corresponds to 180 degrees, or 18 in runway terms, if a plane is on runway 18–36, then it's heading north, according to the designation on a compass with the runway overlay (see image below, courtesy of ...

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A: The runway number is the approximate magnetic heading. As an example, runway 35 is pointing approximately 350 degrees magnetic. The opposite end of the runway is 17 or approximately 170 degrees magnetic.

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Single Physical Runways North-oriented runways are designated 36 (not 00). In simple words, the runway designator represents the heading used for taking off or landing at the runway. If the runway is used in both directions, then each of them receives its own designator.

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As Atlas Obscura explains, the numbers that runways have aren't arbitrary. A runway always has a number between 1 and 36, and that number isn't just the runway's nickname, but also indicates how many degrees away that runway is from magnetic north, rounded to the tens.

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The main runway is known as Runway 34 when used in a northerly direction and Runway 16 when used in a southerly direction. Runway numbering reflects the runways' orientation and correlates with degrees on a compass. Runway 34 is 340 degrees. The following video explains how runways are named and used.

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The width will be determined by the size, popularity, use, and commercialism of the airport. For instance, a runway catering to only general aviation aircraft might be 50 ft wide and 3000 ft long, whereas a runway catering to Boeing 737s and international flights might be 150 ft wide and 10,000 ft long.

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Measuring just 1,312ft (400m) in length, Juancho E Yrausquin Airport (IATA: SAB / ICAO TNCS) officially has the shortest runway in the world available for commercial use. The runway has three cliff edges over the sea, with the fourth side enclosed by high hills.

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