Essendon Airport has two intersecting runways, one oriented north-south (Runway 17/35) and one east-west (Runway 08/26).

Each runway is referred to differently according to in which direction it is being used. For example, the north-south runway is referred to as Runway 35 when used in a northerly direction and Runway 17 when used in a southerly direction.

Runway numbering reflects the runways’ orientation and correlates with degrees on a compass. Runway 35 is 350 degrees magnetic.

The following video explains how runways are named and used.

Runway selection and seasonal winds

Runway selection is based on wind direction, weather conditions, traffic volume and other factors. See the Runway Selection page for more details. Aircraft primarily take-off and land into the wind for safety and performance reasons. Therefore, as the wind direction changes the runway in operation may also change depending on the strength of the wind.

This means that Melbourne’s seasonal wind patterns affect usage of the different runway directions. For example, Runways 35 tends to be used more often in the cooler months when there are frequent winds with a northerly component. Runway 17 tend to be used more frequently in the warmer months when the predominant wind direction tends to be southerly. Often the wind will also have a westerly component, such as a north westerly or south westerly, and for this reason Runway 26 is used frequently throughout the year.

Noise abatement procedures

A curfew that restricts both aircraft type and usage between the hours of 11pm and 6am applies. Certain classes of aircraft are permitted to operate during the curfew, including emergency services. More detail on curfew restrictions and dispensations is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

Noise abatement procedures are designed to help reduce the impact of aircraft noise on communities. While they are applied whenever it is possible to do so, their use is not mandatory and is subject to weather conditions and traffic requirements.

The Essendon noise abatement procedures set out preferred runways at different times.

From 6:00 am to 11:00pm the preferred runways are:

• for landing: Runway 26 or 17 (equally preferred), followed by Runway 35 and lastly Runway 08
• for take-off: Runways 26 or 35 (equal), followed by Runway 17 and lastly Runway 08

From 11:00pm to 6:00am the preferred runways are:

• for landing: Runway 17, followed by Runway 26, then 35, then 08
• for take-off: Runway 35, followed by Runway 26, then 17, then 08