Sunshine Coast Airport NAP 1: Preferred Runway Use
The NAP lists the preferred runways as:
Priority 1:
Arriving Runway 31 , departing Runway 13
Weather, in particular wind speed and direction, is generally the main factor in determining which runways are in use, as aircraft operate safest when taking off and landing into the wind. Air traffic control (ATC) will determine the optimal runway to be used based on wind and weather conditions, type of aircraft, traffic conditions and runway availability. Pilots can also request a runway that is best suited to the capability of their aircraft.
When there are easterly or southerly winds, aircraft will usually approach the runway from an inland direction (landing on Runway 13) and depart towards the ocean (taking off from Runway 13). This happens most frequently during the summer and autumn months.
When the wind is from a westerly or northerly direction, the runway is more commonly used in the opposite direction. This is more often in the winter and spring months.
ATC monitor wind and runway selection at all times, as weather conditions can quickly change. Once the runway is chosen, it needs to be available for an extended time to allow pilots to plan their descent, approach and landing. As this involves predicting developing weather, aircraft may continue to land on a runway when local weather conditions no longer appear to require it.
For more information on runway selection and seasonal winds, please visit this page
The report below provides the percentage of each operating mode during daytime and night-time periods for each month. Other Operations refer to modes used when preferred modes are not available, due to things like runway works, adverse weather and emergency situations.
The report is best viewed in full screen mode.
Note: Due to rounding, percentage values may not sum to exactly 100.0%. Minor discrepancies of up to ±0.1% are expected and do not indicate any errors in the underlying absolute figures, which remain accurate and unaffected.
