Texas - DFW runways 13-31 and 17-35

Has anyone been on a flight that have used these? Any background on protocol for their usage? Thanks!

Please follow this thread in the FT South Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

The question's a bit confusing.....(I've been on a/c using all of them at one time or another).

DFW's runways:

17L/35R is 8,500 feet long (East side of airport, separated from the two main East side RWs, lesser usage, mostly commuter a/c when utilized)
17C/35C is 13,400 feet long
17R/35L is 13,400 feet long (The two "main" Eastside RWs)

18L/36R is 13,400 feet long
18R/36L is 13,400 feet long (the two main West side RWs)

13L/31R is 9,000 feet long (SE corner of DFW, used primarily by commuter a/c)
13R/31L is 9,300 feet long (NW corner of DFW, used primarily by commuter a/c, busier than 13L/31R)

The 18/36s and the 17/35s are all actually oriented about 360/180T.

Normal ops features "2 sided" operations, a/c departing on each of the "inboard" long runways, and a/c landing on the 2 long "outboard" RWS, with commutters often using 13R/31L. Wind changes and volume of ops may bring the 2 lesser utilized runways into use.

I don't get the question. There are three runways 17-35 and they are used all the time. Two 13-31 and they too get used every single day.

Protocol for their usage? Get assigned one of those runways by ATC!

Can OP elaborate on the vague question?

Normal ops features "2 sided" operations, a/c departing on each of the "inboard" long runways, and a/c landing on the 2 long "outboard" RWS, with commutters often using 13R/31L. Wind changes and volume of ops may bring the 2 lesser utilized runways into use.

Just to expand on this, 13/31 also feature in "normal" operations for big jets. When the airport is in a south flow 13R is the most common runway assignment for arriving aircraft on the UKW STAR (arrivals from NW). When the airport is in a north flow 31R is the most common runway assignment for arriving aircraft on the CQY STAR (arrivals from SE). The "diagonal" runways are used all the time.

Thanks for the feedback--reason why I asked in the first place was when I lived in Irving during 82-83, I saw a total of *one* landing on 31R (a Delta 722).

When I planespotted at STL in the 60s, I was used to seeing operations in four directions on a calm wind day!

I thought my question was too esoteric for a web search, but I did find info that did detail the diagonal runways' use for turboprop traffic, but it also mentioned that 'prop traffic had decreased greatly--and I've never flown a 'prop out of DFW!

I really haven't been able to note any activity on 13/31 and 17L/35R during my transits through Terminals A and C, but I have three hours to kill next month...

Thanks for the feedback--reason why I asked in the first place was when I lived in Irving during 82-83, I saw a total of *one* landing on 31R (a Delta 722).

When I planespotted at STL in the 60s, I was used to seeing operations in four directions on a calm wind day!

I thought my question was too esoteric for a web search, but I did find info that did detail the diagonal runways' use for turboprop traffic, but it also mentioned that 'prop traffic had decreased greatly--and I've never flown a 'prop out of DFW!

I really haven't been able to note any activity on 13/31 and 17L/35R during my transits through Terminals A and C, but I have three hours to kill next month...

Got it. I can attest that 13R and 31R are very commonly used by arriving big jets.

13R is the most common runway to land on when coming from the NW (UKW - Bowie arrival) and the airport is in a south flow. Similarly, 31R is the standard landing runway when coming from the SE (CQY - Cedar Creek arrival) and the airport is in a north flow. These runways are used every day as landing runways by everything up to and including 747s (freighters of course since we don't get many pax 747s round these parts!).

You're right though that departures off the diagonal runways (barring a strange crosswind event, see below) are less common and generally restricted to props (since almost all jets departing DFW are nowadays assigned RNAV departure procedures). The only time I remember a diagonal runway takeoff was on 31L in a Saab headed down to CLL.

Maybe once a year we'll get a wind event with very strong winds out of the west. This causes major delays at DFW the diagonal runways will be used for all operations; huge cut in the amount of traffic that the airport can handle when it goes from 7 usable runways to 2!

As for the East Texas runway :D 17L-35R the good news is that it's less commonly used now that AA's depeaking of the DFW hub has smoothed out operations throughout the day a little bit but I'm sad to say that the runway does still feature in DFW's normal operations (for landings) - expect a VERY long taxi when you do land on that runway!

When the airport is operating in "south flow" mode, Runway 13R is very commonly used for flights originating in OKC.

Bumping this. My US Airways 737 came in last night on 13L/31R; it's been a long time since I landed on that one on a mainline jet.

Great views of downtown Dallas and Los Colinas out the right side on the approach.