Definition
The runway designated by an airport or air traffic control as the first choice for takeoffs and landings under normal conditions, selected to balance wind, noise abatement, traffic flow, and safety considerations.
Plain English
The runway the airport would like you to use when conditions allow, chosen because it usually works best for wind, noise, and traffic.
Context Anchor
You may hear this in airport procedures, tower instructions, or planning notes that describe which runway is normally used first.
Derivation
Preferred comes from the Latin idea of “putting before” or “choosing ahead of another.” That helps here because a preferred runway is the one placed first for normal use, not the only runway that can be used.
Why Pilots Care
Following the preferred runway keeps noise over nearby neighborhoods low and maintains orderly traffic patterns at busy airports.
Intuition Check
Preferred does not mean “required” or “the pilot’s personal favorite.” It means the runway normally chosen first when conditions make it suitable.
Example Sentence 1
The ATIS announced that Runway 27 was the preferred runway for the calm-wind period.
Example Sentence 2
Even though the wind favored runway 18, the controller assigned the preferred runway to avoid overflying the residential area.