How do pilots choose which runway to use?

Do you know what those letters are in the beginning of every runway? How do pilots choose which runway to use and why?
These are some of the questions I will be answering in this podcast.
As always, send in you questions below in the comments and make sure do download the Mentour Aviation app and join the conversations in the chat. I will be there and so will many other pilots, students and enthusiasts!
Support the Mentour channel: / mentourpilot
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[@flywithcaptainjoe]

Dear colleague, I highly appreciate the mention regarding my video on this topic! Thank you very much! It´s about time we meet ;)

[@avatarda95]

amazing to see you there as well dear Captain Joe :)

[@jancovanderwesthuizen8070]

Nicely said

[@shuhaolu3257]

Yesssss they will FINALLY MEET! make sure to do a vlog if u get a chance to meet ;)! Cant wait

[@ahmadz251]

Absolutely! You guys need to do a video together... you both are amazing and an inspiration for all of us 😀

[@MentourPilot]

+Captain Joe Credit where credit is due Joe! Sounds like a great plan.

[@jessijacobs8]

Literally sitting here studying for my upcoming Law exam but instead I'm watching this which is SOOOO interesting!! 🤩❤️🤩 Thank you Petter!!!!

[@unflexian]

Mentour and Captain Joe uploads on the same minute! must be a sign

[@phillysub5115]

Excellent video! I have learned so much about aviation from both Mentour and Captain Joe!

[@bernieweber4663]

Recently at very large airports where it is difficult for controllers to see the windsock due to distance the controllers came up with an ingenious idea. Although the idea was stolen it is considered quite reliable on standard day standards. The ideal is a patch of lawn is grown on the tower ledge right outside the Head Controllers sight glass. The Head Troller opens the side sight glass and grabs a handful of grass and proceeds to toss it into the air. Which way the grass is blowing in the wind announces the direction of the headwind.

[@TheFicek]

Thank you for your explanation on why headwind is usually the preferred approach for landings/takeoffs. You make it easy to understand for the non-pilots out there.

[@elweewutroone]

Some airports have preferred runways due to noise constraints. An example is London Heathrow with a 5-knot tailwind preference for the 27 runway direction. Another example is the now-closed Hong Kong International (Kai Tak) with a 5-knot tailwind preference for runway 13 in wet weather and a 10-knot tailwind preference in dry weather due to buildings immediately ahead of runway 31.

[@timgoodall737]

I loved that video! It was so detailed and easy to understand. Thank you very much!

[@mybackpocket]

Another brilliant, simple video explaining things for us mere mortals that don't know about this stuff. Brilliant. Look forward to the next upload!

[@corporate_flyerguy6708]

Love your videos. Very inspiring and informative. Thank you very much for these.

[@traceyturner9428]

Thank you so much for that explanation. I've always wondered how runways got their numbers. 😊

[@sharoncassell9358]

Me too. I did not think they were random .

[@Exploratorium360]

Great ! Info. Thanks. As always ! My favorite one !

[@tensevo]

Great channel. Please more on navigation and programming routes. Ta.

[@ThomasGrillo]

Thanks for talking about runway selection, and for the explanation of runway numbering. I use that method of numbering when constructing runways in Minecraft, by the way. Keep up the great works! :)

[@AviatorAS777]

Thank you Mentour Pilot !!! Please make a detailed video on the actual use of flaps and slats and the meaning of the numbers used to set the flaps like for example: "Flaps to four." ; "Flaps to full." etc.

[@MentourPilot]

+Advait Shirbhayye On the way.

[@CaptRajuseriousflightsimmer]

Hello Captain, you are my mentor & like Teacher, I fly in to Simulation but I'm a serious flight simmer I'm following from past few years And I'm happy say have learn a lot about Aviation, such as aircraft behaviour, weather, etc... All thanks to you, also I follow Captain joo as well he also so good.

[@sarathw5740]

Thanks. I like your videos so much and decided to become a private pilot so now I am doing some reasrch.

[@JKMoviesyoutube]

Great Video :) Perfect Info for flying

[@mikaelsjostrom6257]

Great video as usual Mentour!

[@MentourPilot]

+Mikael Sjöström Thank you! Great to hear that you like it!

[@nickstmpl]

Hello from Indonesia. Thank you for the information from you and Captain Joe. Im still Junior High School but i want to be a pilot. So i got your videos and i really like the details of the your explanation. :)

[@thedon2099]

Great videos Mentour

[@IceCold111511]

Definitely looking forward to the ATIS video!

[@cptrobby5700]

Phenomenal explanation

[@penairways3129]

Of course we gonna love this one ;)

[@MentourPilot]

+PENAIRWAYS 😂😂😂

[@miraclechijioke1213]

Yes. I've watched the Captain Joe video on Runway numbering

[@eddietweed6894]

Thanks for another great video mentor!!!!

[@MentourPilot]

+Eddie Tweed Thank you for always being supportive!

[@Ratlins9]

Excellent video, explained subject matter clearly.

[@MentourPilot]

+ken bosco Thank you! Glad that you liked it!

[@leighs5048]

Always wondered about the runway numbers so having them explained, finally knowing it’s about degrees is great and makes perfect sense. Do you have any thoughts about airports with mostly parallel runways versus airports with many cross runways? In Chicago, for example, they’ve been going through a huge, expensive expansion and reconfiguration of runways, adding new, longer parallel runways, and eliminating all runways that cross other runways - for safety reasons. Getting rid of cross runways appears to be a big safety issue in the US and a lot of airports are doing it. But I have to wonder if eliminating these runways means there will be more crosswinds to deal with?

[@richarddastardly6845]

I like this one, I've learnt a few things. Thanks

[@renevanoyen3817]

Start and land pref. with a head wind. That's the same with flying model aircrafts and when it's a strong wind, it touches down with almost no ground speed at all. Cool to see, but hard to master. Good video (again).

[@jelteagteresch]

You always make me happy and learn me new things! Thank you :-)

[@MentourPilot]

+CaptainJelte Great to hear that you like it!

[@jelteagteresch]

Mentour Pilot :-)

[@kicikici5]

The best choose way without turbulence 😉😉 Thank you for video 🤗

[@infiniteaviationguy2.011]

Awesome Captain Petter! You should collab with Captain F/O Joe

[@CP140405]

Yeah... I remember pulling out my Jeppesen and spinning the crosswind components... Now for fun, have a look at the polar regions where True heading is used fro runways because the mag headings change too much!

[@brendaproffitt1011]

Totally cool great video too.and runways the tail winds and head winds you done an excellent job..Thank you so much for your videos and everything you do.

[@MentourPilot]

+Brenda Proffitt Thank YOU for supporting the channel!

[@brendaproffitt1011]

Mentour Pilot your welcome .

[@aircraftexpert3605]

Great Video

[@paulocesaralvarengaalvaren9881]

Awesome!!!

[@johnkelley9877]

Well that explains a lot. I had always wondered why they had numbers on the runway and now I know.

[@maciejzajac2935]

You r doing great job friend !

[@MentourPilot]

+Maciej Zajac Thank you!

[@TimeTraveller-xt1uo]

Great Video Mentour 🖒🖒🖒🖒🖒✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈

[@infiniteaviationguy2.011]

You're so kind

[@waldopepper4069]

so nice to see your shout out to captain joe. i have followed his channel as well with interest. both of you are a credit to your airlines and your industries. i also see his comment below. i hope you 2 manage to hook up for a beer. i do not earn on the level that you 2 do, in fact, at present i am not doing so well, but regardless, and like many others, i really value the time and effort you both take to make these great videos for us all. i shall sell a kidney (lol) and will shout you the beer with the proceeds by contributing to you via patreon. keep up the great work fellas. tip my hat to you both. cheers

[@clhagy]

Thanks for another great video! I was wondering, why do both the Captain and the First Officer push and appear to hold the throttle levers on take off?

[@NL355]

Always a pleasure to watch! In relation to runways I have another question. Why are some runways not completely flat but slightly wavy? (For example Birmingham Airport UK)

[@Biggles2498]

When I was flying light twins from the Channel Islands to Bournemouth(Hurn Airport) England many years ago we were routinely ordered to land on Runway 35 and not Runway 26 even though the wind was from the West ! I questioned this several times and was told the Dart Heralds and Larger Aircraft had priority on Runway 26 ! I thought it was expediency for ATC and we were told to do as we were told ! Also it meant we didn't have to be positioned by ATC due Magnetic Track from Channel Islands.

[@johnthegreek7356]

Can you do a video about the approach briefing? Thanks Peter

[@RahmanSajid]

Awesome video Petter

[@MentourPilot]

+RS Aviation Thank you!

[@prachuryyabaruah6551]

2:56 "I recommend you to check out Ment...errr...not Mentour(facepalm)....Captain Joe's excellent video on the subject" 😂😂 That cliché😂

[@monavie9110]

but you gotta appreciate the one-take-approach

[@AFR3320]

Great Video! What s the app you use to calculate the runway and landing speed? Thanks again

[@jan-lukas]

How to choose runway to use to land: So we have la Guardia, Teterboro (or something like that) and the Hudson, but which one should we use? (I know that mentioned airports have multiple runways)

[@ahmadtheaviationlover1937]

Amazing video

[@MentourPilot]

Glad you liked it!

[@gonzalopinedacarmena8938]

Hello, hello. Such a fantastic channel, also Captain Joe. I enjoy a lot with of you guys. Congratulations. I have a question: on your point of view, what do you think is more risky, take off or landing? I always think it is landing... All the best, Gonzalo

[@Keo-ug1uf]

Awesome Video

[@anthonymaloco4336]

I enjoy watching your videos. Can you explain how you properly fly in a circle to land approach

[@raymondkoonce5827]

I just thought of something - you're giving away all our secrets. How are we supposed to maintain the fiction that we're so special? Just kidding, of course. As usual, a great presentation which I enjoyed.

[@allenk9342]

Greetings from Malaysia! Enjoy and learned so much from your videos! I would like to know do pilots already know which runway to be used for landing at the destination airport to be used for landing before they takeoff? Take KUL for instance, it has 3 runways (14L/32L, 14R/32R and 15/33) and as per your explanation the KUL ATC probably will decide which particular runway to be used subject to weather, wind direction and probably the number of flights approaching at specific time of the day (and I assume busy international airport will dedicate one runway for taking off while the other for landing at a given specific period). Do pilots know which runway to land before departure or only after they enter Malaysia airspace and guided the approach by KUL ATC? Are there designated "routes" to approach from either end of the runway? Those "routes" are pre-determined or as and when instructed by ATC? Thanks!

[@chosbach411]

Question Mentor : if you have 20 knots headwind for landing and can perform a safer, shorter stop - over time will that correlate to less wear and tear on the aircraft as well?

[@rlanddkkju3535]

That's great explanation, but please can you through more light on choosing the run way and the collision point, the point at which the air craft stricks the wind ...

[@GlennDavey]

2:57 "Good morning passengers and very welcome to Men-.. errr... Flight Number..."

[@robertp330]

I've always wondered - if you are taking off into an intermittent headwind (almost no wind is constantly blowing at a consistent speed), how is it safe to trust the rotation indicator? What if you reach 140 knots or whatever the rotation speed is for a 737, and just as you begin to rotate, the wind dies completely? Aren't you afraid of a stall? Or does the rotation indicator provide a margin for wind fluctuation?

[@kevinmooney7434]

Great video

[@MentourPilot]

+Kevin Mooney Thank you!

[@dulajkariyawasam1090]

thanks nice vedioe

[@A88RAR]

I asked you this question on the live yesterday, also on mentour app. Btw, if you could make a quick video of the seat position. As when you said during the live chat when I asked how is seating determined in a 737.

[@MentourPilot]

+Abrar Hasan I will see what I can do.

[@magicmedia7950]

Do you have a video on airport markings?

[@captainmidochannel778]

great explanation, can you pls tell us the difference between the fixed landing light and retractable landing lights?

[@c0ldw1nd27]

The fixed landing lights are in the wingroot, they can only be turned on and off and they do not create extra drag. The retractable landing lights are located in the lower fuselage centerline, they can be retracted, extended (off) and extended (on). They create extra drag when extended and can be used to reduce airspeed without turning the lights on. EDIT: This description is valid for the 737NG, in previous generations the location of the lights is different.

[@avamendez1272]

Captain Mido channel on the A320, it has two landing lights in the wings, they are controlled by a three position switch: Retract, Extend and ON. an aircraft with with fixed landing lights, they remain visible and do not retract.

[@sherwinsalvatori6997]

Captain Mido channel fixed landing gear means as its name implies it fixed to the fuselage and cannot be move like single slow moving aircraft , were as retractable landing gear means the landing gear can move into an inclosed area such the airfoils (wings) or the under belly or in some turboprop the nacelles, the aim is to reduce as much drag as you go forward into the air.

[@teclasirilo345]

How can the mountains or the rift valley can have impact on landing and taking off of the plane

[@dindog22]

I used to work at a place that was right next to the end of one of the runways of Cleveland Hopkins airport. I remember seeing all the planes lined up waiting to take off and sometimes they would all turn around and taxi to the opposite end. now I know why. head wind

[@CJ-jf3oc]

By chance was it the 100th Bomb Group? I've spent many an hour there.

[@PauloGaetathe_original]

Great class, you should become an instructor at some point in your career. It made total sense to me. Thank you.

[@steeltrap3800]

I'm pretty sure he IS a simulator instructor etc.

[@avamendez1272]

Paulo Gaeta he is, TRE/TRI

[@sharoncassell9358]

Petter is already a line captain in airplanes and simulator. He even tests cadets for type ratings.

[@thomaskollamana2207]

Do you switch of the ac at higher altitudes?

[@amirsonofmatic5332]

Awesome Channel

[@MentourPilot]

+Amir sincara Thank you! Feel free to share it with your friends!

[@eugeneramosjr8052]

American a great big fan of both of use you and Captain Joe I hope you both make a video together I like to see that. it'll be great I'm not only a fan but I'm a follower and thank you I always feel safe as a passenger when I fly doing things about a plane thanks to both of y'all videos is very exciting in very entertaining I love it take care of your both

[@mshafimd]

Dear, whats that is chart which you show for tuning frequency is that named Aerodrome chart, how is it used? i believe they are handed out to the pilot by the airline, what in case if pilots are hijacked and are going to unknown airport (where you don't have the chart), in that case how you tune to that airport etc?

[@tomstravels520]

So when you have to input a runway to land whilst setting up FMC before takeoff do you guess the runway or find out what it is at the time and hope it doesn’t change?

[@ibrahimrasheed9585]

Hello captain ! Please can you make a Video about aircraft oxygen systems and how it works during emergencies ? Is the oxygen is store in the plane it’s self ?

[@linascekatauskas2790]

Hi Mentour, could you make a video about PA (Public Annoucments) its would be really interesting to start learning how to make good PA :) Maby like a BONUS video ? :) Thank YOU! Nice video!!!!

[@avamendez1272]

Sanil Sanil mentour has done a video on this: check it, mentour pilot: what is the pilot saying?

[@piotrkuler2474]

Hi :) Would You consider doing "approach briefing" video ?

[@MentourPilot]

+Piotr Kuler Absolutely, its on my "to do" list.

[@Bondubras]

Can I get a link to the video with the ATIS codes? I want to watch it, but I can't find the video.

[@jagadeeshanarve5667]

My question: Do you use both ends of a runway for landing /taking off. OR is it fixed ?. Only ne end for taking off/landing?. From your explanation,I understand that both ends are used for both landing and taking off..

[@jbadam262]

Hello Can you please post airport signs and how it works. Thank ya

[@jamesspeirs7461]

Awesome! What about a aerodrome operating minima video?

[@MentourPilot]

+James Speirs I will see what I can do!

[@jamesspeirs7461]

Mentour Pilot no stress 😉

[@scottwhitfield1456]

If the runways are numbered by compass bearing, how do they deal with magnetic declination over time? Do they need to renumber the runways every so often?

[@bernieweber4663]

Most of the time the controllers get together the night before and have their palms read and/or chart the alignment of the stars in the sky. After a long discussion at daybreak (after that morning's mixed drinks) they determine what runway to use by picking numbers written on paper out of a hat.

[@gop4usa12]

I understand runway numbers and preference to headwinds. But what about parallel runways? If you have two or more runways going the same direction, why would you not use the runway nearest to the departing gate and taxi all the way around the airport to use the other runway? I see a lot of that go on at airports like PDX, SLC, DEN, and ORD.

[@feyee6796]

How does the pilot know which STAR to use for arrival? As always awesome vid Peter !

[@avamendez1272]

FikerzZ Gaming it is included in the CFP

[@jamesries5534]

We want to see both of you in a KZbin vid!

[@johnsonaruson8320]

Add demonstration or animation sometimes please, is head wind the wind coming from the nose of the aircraft rushing to tail or the one coming from the tail going to the nose?

[@Petra44YT]

I have a question. What do you think of this idea to build circular runways so as to avoid crosswind?

[@sherwinsalvatori6997]

I agree both dutch girl, captain joe and you should do a fun video

[@shuvam4613]

Hey capt. Hope Ur doing well. Can u make a video on landing gear of b737 Plzz.. Coz I need to know why it has 3 parts :- down/up/off... Thanks

[@GeneralPotatohead]

It has down/up/off because in its either up or down, but after they have been airborne for a while, they can turn it to "off", which will turn off the hydraulics that keep the gear hanging up in the landing gear bays. Then it will be mechanically held in place. Hope that helps, as far as I know :)

[@timward2001]

Parallel runways are not always named "left, centre, right". I know one airport where the parallel runways are "23 main" and "23 grass".

[@HungryGuyStories]

I suppose this suggestion is not really possible, but here goes... How about a fan ride where you get about 100 of your fans to commit to a short flight where you allow them to walk around the aircraft with you, show them the cockpit, and "behind the scenes" areas inside the aircraft like the crew quarters, then go an a short flight circling the airport where you talk about all the things you are doing while in flight. It shouldn't cost any more per person than any other short flight, or maybe a little more...

[@andykr2253]

Hell, just tell everyone to book some random flight 6 months in the future.

[@matimartinez9583]

Please can you explain a VOR aproach? Greetings from chile

[@MentourPilot]

+Mati Aviacion I can give it a try. I actually talked a bit about it in my livestream yesterday.

[@avamendez1272]

Mati Aviacion basically, on a VOR approach, you track the VOR radial to the runway. as you pass the FAF, you may descend to the MDA (minimum descent altitude) until you arrive at the MAP. here's where it gets interesting, if you do not see the runway or approach lights upon reaching the MAP, you must execute a missed approach procedure. the VOR provides no glideslope, therefore it is a non-precision approach.

[@stupidtreehugger]

Aren't wind conditions are often a lot higher than 10 or even 15 knots? Really good video though

[@TommyTheHeist]

So ACARS can not only send MVT for AA and AD, but it can also receive ATIS messages? wow, that was new for me. What else can you do with ACARS?

[@MentourPilot]

+Tommy The Heist Not ATIS Per say but the same information in a different format.

[@slnRao]

Hello, I am from India, I have seen one or two aircraft investigation due to both engine failures due to out of fule and another is some other issue. Could you please make a video on two engine failure.

[@bria6094]

your cooking videos are real good but you should do more airplane videos.

[@user-fn1xm3pq6t]

How about parallel runways? Which runway do pilots and ATC choose to land the plane on?

[@sharoncassell9358]

The one with headwind facing usùally.

[@daancrijnen6452]

Innsbruck then is really interesting.... They sometimes use 26 when the wind is like 080/06 is that because its below the limit or is it because the circling is way to much work? And at night they also don't use the 08 is that because of Low vis and terrain? Let me know! ;D

[@erictaylor5462]

Aside from engine failure, what sorts of other failures might cause you to abort take off before you reach the decision speed?

[@sharoncassell9358]

A bird strike cracked windsdshield a thrust reverser deploying suddenly an obstacle in front of your plane. Animal or another plane. Etc.there's a video as such.

[@joshjenk1613]

Hi Mentour, I am curious how you receive the ATIS while on the primary ATC frequency. Do you turn down/off your primary frequency and tune to the ATIS or do you just use a separate comm for ATIS?

[@avamendez1272]

Josh Jenk on the A320, the RMP or ACP (audio control panel) you must realize that every control is independent. for example, you can tune on VHF 2 while listening on VHF 1 while transmitting on VHF 3. on the RMP (radio management panel) a green triangle light will indicate which radio is being tuned and on the ACP a triple bar green light will indicate which radio is set to transmit. I cannot speak for the Boeing

[@joshjenk1613]

Ava Mendez as an avid simmer and aspiring pilot, I know this. However, I am unsure how pilots deal with chatter that would disrupt listening to the ATIS while not missing their callsign on the primary frequency... Also you have multiple comms on Boeing aircraft...

[@avamendez1272]

Josh Jenk in my airline, the number-one radio is for takeoff (tower or common traffic advisory frequency), departure, en route, approach, and landing frequencies. the second radio is assigned clearance, ground, weather (ATIS, ASOS), and flight service duties. if we are unable to copy via VHF, the ATIS can be selected via AOC in the FMS.

[@squawk7thousand]

Could you explain what is "yaw damper" please?

[@baruckmubua505]

woooo captain joe!!!