AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/pilot-runway-number-magnetic
Runway 27 is aligned closest to what direction?
270 degrees magnetic.
- 270 degrees true
- 270 degrees magnetic ✔
- 027 degrees magnetic
Why: A runway number is the magnetic direction of its centerline, divided by ten and rounded. So Runway 27 points about 270 degrees magnetic, which is west.
Huh, didn't know that: Parallel runways add a letter, L, C, or R, to tell them apart.
I'm terrified of negative numbers. I'll stop at nothing to avoid them.
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References
Answer: 270 degrees magnetic. A runway number is the magnetic direction of its centerline, divided by ten and rounded. So Runway 27 points about 270 degrees magnetic, which is west.
- AIM 2-3 Airport Marking Aids and Signs www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap2_section_3.html
The runway number is the whole number nearest one-tenth the magnetic azimuth of the centerline of the runway.
Checked 2026-10-07.
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