Runways

At Parafield Airport there are two sets of parallel runways. One set is orientated east to west (Runways 08 Left/26 Right and 08 Right/26 Left) and the other is orientated north to south (Runways 03 Left/21 Right – 03 Right/21 Left).

Each runway is referred to differently according to in which direction it is being used. For example, the north-south runways are referred to as Runway 03 Left and Right when used in a northerly direction and Runway 21 Left and Right when used in a southerly direction.

Runway numbering reflects the runways’ orientation and correlates with degrees on a compass. Runway 03 is 30 degrees magnetic.

Runway selection and seasonal winds

Runway selection is based on wind direction, weather conditions, traffic volume and other factors. See the Runway Selection fact sheet 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 Adelaide’s seasonal wind patterns affect usage of the different runway directions. For example, Runways 03 Left and Right tend to be used more often in the cooler months when there are frequent winds with a northerly component. Runways 21 Left and Right tend to be used more frequently in the warmer months when the predominant wind direction tends to be southerly.

Noise abatement procedures

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.

Circuit training is only allowed between specific hours. At night, circuit training can only be conducted from the north-south runways to the west. Outside of Tower hours the preferred runway is 03 Left/21 Right.

Runway usage statistics for each quarter are available below. In some cases the runway used is unknown (“UNK”). This is due to limitations in the data.

April - June 2022