Plain English Meaning
The runway you are planning to land on. The traffic pattern is built around this runway, so all your turns and legs are positioned relative to it.
Full Definition
The specific runway at an airport that a pilot intends to land on, around which the standard traffic pattern is flown and from which pattern legs (downwind, base, final) are oriented.
Context Anchor
Used when discussing the airport traffic pattern, radio calls, runway selection, and spacing with other aircraft near an airport.
Why Pilots Care
The traffic pattern, wind correction, and pattern all the landing runway. Misidentifying it leads to flying the wrong pattern direction or conflicting with other .