Definition
A runway whose magnetic alignment, when approached for landing or takeoff, points to approximately 110 degrees magnetic. The runway designator '11' is derived by taking the magnetic heading of the runway centerline and rounding to the nearest 10 degrees, then dropping the final zero.
Plain English
The runway you use when you are pointed roughly southeast — about 110 degrees on the compass. The number '11' is just shorthand for that direction.
Context Anchor
Seen on airport signs, charts, clearances, and instrument procedures that identify which runway end an aircraft is expected to use.
Derivation
Runway numbers come from the runway's magnetic heading. A heading of 110° rounds to 110, and the trailing zero is dropped, giving '11.' This convention keeps designators short and easy to read aloud over the radio.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures correct runway selection for takeoff and landing, especially when visibility is low or multiple parallel or crossing runways exist.
Intuition Check
Do not read “11” as the eleventh runway at the airport. In this context, 11 is a direction code: about 110 degrees magnetic.
Example Sentence 1
Tower instructed the Cessna to taxi via Alpha and hold short of Runway 11.
Example Sentence 2
With the wind at 120 degrees, Runway 11 was the active runway for departure.