Definition
The runway or runways currently being used by air traffic control for takeoffs and landings at an airport. The active runway is selected by ATC based primarily on wind direction, but also on traffic flow, noise abatement procedures, runway length, and other operational factors. More than one runway can be active at the same time at busier airports.
Plain English
The runway or runways the tower is using right now for arrivals and departures. Other runways at the airport may be closed, used only for taxiing, or simply not in use at that moment.
Context Anchor
You will hear or see this term when communicating with a control tower, listening to airport traffic, or preparing to taxi at an airport with more than one runway.
Derivation
Active comes from a Latin word meaning “doing” or “in action.” In this term, it points to the runway being in current use, not just existing on the airport map.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots must know which runways are active to follow ATC instructions and avoid runway incursions or traffic conflicts.
Intuition Check
Do not read “active” as meaning simply “open” or “available.” An active runway is the runway being used now for takeoffs, landings, or both.
Example Sentence 1
The ATIS reported runways 27L and 27R as the active runways, so we planned our taxi route accordingly.
Example Sentence 2
Before taxiing, we confirmed the active runways on the ATIS so we knew which direction to expect traffic.