Why does everything have to be so difficult? No doubt you’ve thought this many times about flight training. Here’s something else to gum up your thinking—runway numbers. Although the two numbers that designate the magnetic orientation of the runway may appear permanent, the reality is that they are but a rough guide.
Since we’re only given runway designation in two numbers, the accuracy is only good within four to five degrees. Runway 27 could be 274 degrees, for example (the actual number can be found in the Airport/Facilities Directory). What’s more, the numbers are actually changing. The magnetic pole shifts, and since runway numbers are based on magnetic orientation, they too shift. Check the A/FD for the most recent date of when the runway was surveyed. Think about that the next time you set the heading indicator when you roll onto the runway.
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