ORD runways
 

I saw a map showing that ORD has 7 runways. Do they normally use all of them at the same time or just some? Thanks.

The most common situation is to use 4 runways at a time - 2 for arrivals and 2 for departures. The pattern depends on the prevailing winds.

[This message has been edited by JerryFF (edited 05-30-2001).]

JerryFF is correct with the caviat that during peak hours there is typically a "trip" runway in use -- meaning triple-simultaneous approaches or departures. This means that during some arrival/departure configurations, LAHSO (Land-and-Hold-Short Operations) are in effect. If you are into aviation, it is a beautiful thing to watch as the ATC controllers must synchronize this very precisely.

Note: the 7th runway at ORD (Runway 18/36) is rarely used... only by the very occasional commuter aircraft.

Ord12,

Is it my imagination, or does ORD sometime operate "intersection" departures. It has seemed at times (on AA aircraft 2-3 years ago) that we were not using the full runway length at ORD; I thought most airlines prohibited their pilots from accepting intersection departures-- do they make an exception for ORD?

HKG_Flyer1 -

You are correct. There are often intersection departures on runway 32L to avoid conflict with runway 27L/9R and on runway 32R to avoid conflict with runway 27R/9L.

Incidentally, here is an excellent site with a large number of airport diagrams, as well as lots of other interesting airport information.
http://www.wesellplanes.com/preflight.asp

Check out this link for runway diagrams...
http://www.aopa.org/asf/taxi/

Thanks everyone for the information. If a new runway is built at ORD, where will it be? How long will it be? Thanks.

HKG_Flyer1 -- Once again, JerryFF is on top of this. 32L is 13,000 feet in length. As such, to avoid the "trip" departure off 27L (on what is known as Plan W), 32L departures occur just north of the 27L/32L intersection at an entry point called T10. Even with a T10 departure, the pilot still has a little over 10,000 feet of runway -- more than many runways at numerous major airports.

Also, during Plan X, 32L is the "trip" departure runway, and T10 departures occur to avoid arrivals from the west on 9R. There are, however, several operations during the day that used full-length departures off of 32L. These are primarily international heavies (i.e. 747-400's to HKG or Europe).

np -- regarding new runways at ORD, plans show the first would most likely be just to the north of runway 27R/9L, thus creating north airfield parallels. A second runway would then be added south of 27L/9R. There are numerous scenarios out there, but that is the most widely accepted... for now. Should be interesting to watch over the next few years.

Incidentally, you may have read about a 2nd Chicago Delay Task Force that will be starting next week. They will attempt to address the runway issue; but as you can imagine, runways are only a part of the equation with regard to solving delay problems.

Great site!

This confirms something I suspected last year when I first visited RSW ... they have a huge runway! Anyone know why they have such a large runway at that airport (12,000 feet x 150 feet)?

It warms my heart to see several FTers that are "into this" as much as I am. I don't feel so weird knowing about (and often thinking about) the ORD runways: T10 vs. full-length departures on 32L, "trip" runways and LAHSO, etc. Thanks, everyone! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

From a possible diagram published in the Chicago Tribune, there would be an East-West runway on both the North and South side of O'hare that would occupy land not currently part of O'Hare.

Panel: Other airports not in the wings to ease congestion at O'Hare

By Rogers Worthington
Tribune staff reporter
June 5, 2001


A task force charged with reducing air traffic congestion and flight delays at O'Hare International Airport will not discuss as possible solutions reliever airports or a possible third regional airport near Peotone, members of the panel said today after their first, closed-door meeting.

The group, appointed by the city of Chicago and the Federal Aviation Administration, "will be looking at alternatives" that will include some computer simulations, said Philip Smithmeyer, manager of the FAA's Chicago Airports District Office and co-chairman of the Chicago Delay Task Force. Those simulations could include air traffic control procedures and "choke points" on taxiways, he said.

But it will not look at having existing airports in Gary, Rockford or Milwaukee take up more of the air-traffic load to ease congestion at O'Hare, nor will it consider a new airfield in the Peotone area, task force members said after their one-hour meeting at the O'Hare Hilton Hotel.

Kitty Friedheim, task force co-chairman and deputy commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, said the group aims to make its recommendations "in about nine months."

Its findings -- which could recommend new runways, as a previous incarnation of the delay task force did in 1991 -- would go to the city and to the Federal Aviation Administration, Gov. George Ryan and other interested parties.

The 50 task force members today split up into four groups to consider airport improvements, air traffic control procedures, technical procedures and collaborative decision-making, members said.

They also heard Chicago's airport consultant, Landrum & Brown, report the results of the 1991 study by the delay task force. The city adopted most of the panel's recommendations except the politically explosive one of building new runways at O'Hare.

Flight delays were reduced by 40 percent between 1991 and late 1998, despite an 11½ percent increase in air traffic during that period, according to the consultant.

The current delays started in 1999, and can be attributed to new safety procedures barring the use of intersecting runways for simultaneous take-offs and landings, as well as adverse weather and labor disputes, Landrum and Brown said.

The consultant did not identify any specific labor dispute, but the most obvious one was the pilot slowdown at United Airlines last year that forced the carrier to cancel thousands of flights.

Task force participants include representatives of the city, FAA, airlines, private pilots, air traffic controllers and airline employee unions -- but not the Suburban O'Hare Commission or other citizens groups or suburban officials critical of the city's operation of O'Hare.

Joseph Karaganis, attorney for the SOC, tried to enter today's meeting but was told he was not an invited participant.

He then made a telephone call to Senate President James "Pate" Philip (R-Wood Dale) and again tried to enter the meeting, this time as a representative of the state senator, but was told Philip wasn't invited, either.

"They are rejecting representation by the affected communities, which I represent," Karaganis said. "What is there that is so secret, the press and the public are being kept outside?"

He called the task force meeting "an illegal meeting under federal law" and said he would ask the office of U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.) to look into the alleged violation.

"They've excluded others who are concerned about this issue," Karaganis said. "Unless action is taken, they will continue to decide the region's future behind closed doors."

Suburban opponents of O'Hare expansion, who have vowed they would never compromise on additional runways, have called their own meeting to let residents and officials speak out on the topic. That hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Indian Lakes Resort, 250 W. Schick Rd., Bloomingdale.

According to the Official O'Hare Website, there were about 900,000 flight operations (I assume that this includes both takeoffs and landings) in 2000.

On average, this is 2,465 operations per day. Assuming the airport is active 18 hours a day, or 6AM-midnight (I know there are operations outside these hours, but I think they're minimal, so is this a reasonable assumption?), this is 137 operations per hour, or about 2.3 per minute!

No wonder Air Traffic Control ranks as one of the most stressful jobs.



[This message has been edited by Mikey likes it (edited 06-06-2001).]