Definition
The runway currently designated as active for takeoffs and landings at an airport. It is the runway air traffic control or the airport authority has selected for use based on wind, traffic flow, and operational conditions, and is the runway pilots are expected to use unless otherwise instructed.
Plain English
The runway that is in use right now. If you're taking off or landing at this airport, this is the one you'll be using unless ATC tells you something different.
Context Anchor
You may hear or see this term in airport operations, tower instructions, or an airport’s recorded information broadcast.
Derivation
‘Duty’ comes from Old French ‘deu’ meaning ‘owed’ or ‘that which is required.’ A duty runway is the runway ‘on duty’ — the one currently assigned to do the work of handling traffic, like a person on shift.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures pilots use the correct runway to avoid conflicts with other traffic and comply with local procedures.
Intuition Check
Do not read “duty” as an obligation or responsibility. In this term, it means the runway currently assigned or being used for the job.
Example Sentence 1
ATIS reported the duty runway as 27, so we briefed a left traffic pattern for landing.
Example Sentence 2
After landing we were told to hold short of the duty runway while a departure was cleared.