List of longest runways

Although runway length may be of some academic interest, in terms of usability for airline operations, a runway of at least 6,000 ft (1,820 m) in length is usually adequate for aircraft weights below approximately 200,000 lb (90,900 kg). Larger aircraft including widebodies (Boeing 747, 767, 777, and 787 [Preproduction] ); Airbus A310, A330, A340, A350 (still in design), and A380; McDonnell Douglas DC-10 or MD-11; and the Lockheed L1011 will usually require at least 8,000 ft (2,430 m) at sea level and somewhat more at higher altitude airports. International widebody flights may also have landing requirements of 10,000 ft (3,048 m) or more and takeoff requirements of 13,000+ ft (3,962+ m).

At sea level, 10,000 ft (3,048 m) can be considered an adequate length to accommodate virtually any aircraft. For example, at O'Hare International Airport, when landing simultaneously on 22R and 27L or parallel 27R, it is routine for arrivals from the Far East which would normally be vectored for 22R (7,500 ft, 2,286 m) or 27R (8,000 ft, 2,438 m) to request 27L (10,000 ft, 3,048 m). It is always accommodated, although occasionally with a delay.

List of airports with a runway at least 4,000 m (13,123 ft)

Other notable runways

*Edwards Air Force Base, United States (coord|34|53|N|117|51|W|type:airport|display=inline) - 39,060 ft (11,905 m) dirt. [ [http://www.airnav.com/airport/KEDW Edwards Air Force Base at airnav.com] ] Runways at EDW are theoretically miles long in any direction, as they are dry lake bed, not conventional construction. As a military installation, the runways are not normally available for use by air carrier or civilian aircraft.
*Nellis Air Force Base United States (coord|36|14|N|115|02|W|type:airport|display=inline) - 18,067 ft (5506 m) asphalt/concrete [ [http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLSV Nellis Air Force Base at airnav.com] ] Marked as "abandoned" on satellite imagery. Total pavement length including overruns is 24,085 ft. The facility's sole active runway has a length of 11,980 ft (3651 m).Verify source|date=July 2008 An abandoned runway, is, for service purposes, a non-existent runway. However, abandoned runways may be used for emergency landings.
*Ramenskoye Airport/Zhukovsky Aerodrome, Russia (coord|55|33|N|38|09|E|type:airport|display=inline) - 17,726 ft (5403 m) concrete. As is the case with EDW, Zhukovsky Aerodrome, home of the Goleta Air & Space Museum, is a military installation—the runways are not normally available for use by air carrier or civilian aircraft.
*Alaska has the longest runway in the world as the entire length of the Richardson Highway is designated an emergency landing strip.Fact|date=March 2008
*Area 51/Groom Lake (coord|37|14|N|115|48|W|type:airport|display=inline) is reported to have a closed runway 14R/32L of total length of approximately 7,093 meters (23,270 feet), not including stopway.

ee also

* Aviation
* Density altitude

References