What determines which runways the FAA chooses?
Logan s airfield layout consists of five runways, which vary in length from 2,557 feet to 10,081 feet. Logan s runways are aligned in three directions with runway ends pointing toward six distinct compass headings. Aircraft must generally takeoff and land into the wind, so the availability of specific runway configurations is determined by wind speed and direction, and other weather conditions. The runway layout provides necessary operating flexibility given Logan s coastal location and highly variable wind conditions. Non-coastal airports that do not experience the same variation in wind conditions may have a simpler airfield layout and fewer required operating configurations. When winds are calm the FAA has a choice to select which runways to use. During these periods the FAA will choose those runways that allow it to meet the demand (number of flights per hour). Also, the FAA will factor the preferential runway use goals in its decision making. Therefore, if certain runways have bee
