ORD runway numbers changing
Jul 2, 2007 | 11:57 am
#17
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHL
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Posts: 5,215
MSP's two main parallel runways were 29/11 until a few years ago. Now they're 30/10. The actual headings are 299.9 and 300.0 degrees so 30/10 is a bit more accurate. I'm not certain why or when they changed it. I worked in the control tower for a bit at MSP in the late 80's and got very accustomed to the "29 right" calls so it was a bit of a surprise to me listening to ch9 a while back and we were cleared to land on a runway that I didn't think existed 
Aug 31, 2007 | 5:14 pm
#19
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Louisville, KY, US
Programs: QF Plat - OW EMD | DL Gold / Starwood Gold
Posts: 6,106
You'd think... but then again, there are plenty of cases where the pilots of a flight land at another airport accidentally, such as when NW landed at Ellsworth Air Force Base instead of RAP. Or the numerous planes that try to land on Taxiway T at SEA.
NW landed a DC-10 at BRU instead of FRA (ouch)
CO landed a 757 (IIRC) on taxiway Z at EWR last year. Aircraft was cleared for ILS to 22L and cleared visual for runway 29. Taxiway Zulu is just north of runway 11/29. This particular runway is only used when there are significant cross-winds. Despite being 6800 ft long, I've landed on 777 heavies on that particular runway a couple of times.
UA landed a DC-8 at Troutsville, OR, instead of PDX many years ago.
BAX (cargo?) landed a DC-8 at 6D9 (Iosco County Airport) instead of of OSC where the plane was being ferried to for maintanance. 6D9's setup is 8/26 while OSC is 06/24. Airports are like 8 miles apart.
USx landed at PSB instead of UNV.
CO 737 landed at an abandoned military field instead of CRP
COx landed at K75 instead of LCH
The inaugural flight for Nations Air landed at SFB instead of MCO....
A UA 757 landed at JIG instead of SJU
DL had a 727 land at MacDill Air Force Base instead of TPA ... ooops
Lots of others, especially overseas that I've heard of.
Last edited by SDF_Traveler; Aug 31, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Aug 31, 2007 | 5:18 pm
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Bay Area
Programs: UA 1P, SPG Gold
Posts: 295
Several other airports number their runways in this fashion when they get above two runways. I know Atlanta has 5 runways numbered as 8L/26R, 8R/26L, 9L/27R, 9R/27L, 10/28, even though they are all at 94/274 degrees. I'll have to pay more attention the next time I have a flight into ORD, hopefully not soon 
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Aug 31, 2007 | 6:00 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,135
Surely 30/12? Given that, whatever the precise heading of the runway, going the other way down it will always be an offset of 180 degress?
Last edited by Wingnut; Aug 31, 2007 at 6:07 pm