Hopkins Airport compass headings changed?

[Goatman24]

Years ago Cleveland Airport (Hopkins) used to have three runways marked 36R, 36C and 36L. Heading south was 18R, 18C and 18L.

Now, at Hopkins the numbers are listed as 6R, 6C and 6L. Heading south 24R, 24C and 24L.

We noticed that the runways 10 & 28 used to be 5 & 23.

What could be the reason for changing these because the runways were not moved to the best of our knowledge.


Mitch

[bkeske]

Those RWY headings are correct Mitch:

http://www.airnav.com/airport/KCLE

Goodness, I cannot remember when they were changed. I do remember when there wasn't the center RWY in FS.....but that was long ago, when there really wasn't one yet. Perfhaps the change was made when that was added?

I don't fly into CLE very much if ever, I'm just a GA junkie .

[Goatman24]

Yep, I'm getting this information from a 85 year old former WWII veteran. He's been into flying since he was a kid and used to go to the old Cleveland Air Shows. He was the first person to land at Burke Lakefront Airport and said he'd probably be in jail if he did it today because the runways were staked out but not in place. Him and his buddy messed up their bird and had to get some help getting it fixed before they could take off again. He introduced me to flight simming.

I was just curious if anyone knew why the change or how it came about.

I'm sure somebody out there knows.

I'll have to ask him if he remembers the center one being added.

[lnuss]

Years ago Cleveland Airport (Hopkins) used to have three runways marked 36R, 36C and 36L. Heading south was 18R, 18C and 18L.

Now, at Hopkins the numbers are listed as 6R, 6C and 6L. Heading south 24R, 24C and 24L.

We noticed that the runways 10 & 28 used to be 5 & 23.

What could be the reason for changing these because the runways were not moved to the best of our knowledge.


Mitch

Actually, the answer is fairly simple. Runways are numbered to the nearest 10º (rounded off) of their actual magnetic heading, and the earth's north (and south) magnetic pole moves constantly. Runway 36 has a heading that is within 5º either side of 360º, for example. So eventually a runway's number MUST change to retain the proper relationship to its magnetic heading. An additional example runway would be if the runway heading is 298º it will be runway 30, but after a few years, the shifting magnetic field may cause it to have a mag heading of 294º, at which point it will be runway 29.

As another example of the shifting magnetic field of the earth, when I was in the Air Force I worked on analog computers for the B-47, the Bombing Navigational system. The magnetic variation for any given location on the earth was provided by sensor arms on a 3 dimensional cam, positioned according to the current latitude and longitude of the aircraft. Because of the shifting magnetic field, this cam had to be changed about every five years.

You'll also find, if you compare an old sectional chart (say from 1970) to a current one, that the isogonic lines on the chart will have shifted (you don't actually have to go back that far, though -- that's just what I have on hand).

[mwilk]

Mitch,
I worked at CLE until five years ago. When I left, the runway configuration was as follows: 23L\5R, 23R\5L, 28\10. Two or three years ago a third parallel runway was added. The configuration is now: 24L\6R, 24C\6C, 24R\6L and 28\10.

Regards,
Mike W.
DFW

[Goatman24]

Thanks for the input. I never realized the magnetic field shifted. Especially that much.

Interesting.

Thanks again for the information.

Mitch