Why Do Runway Headings Change?

Q: I recently heard that Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita (KICT) is changing its runway headings. Why? Is this common? Does AC-U-KWIK keep track of these changes worldwide?

Runway headings at Eisenhower National Airport (KICT) in Wichita, Kan., will change in 2019. This diagram produced by AC-U-KWIK displays the runway names as of April 2018.A: Yes, our data includes all changes in runway headings mandated by the FAA and various international aviation authorities. We also track changes in runway length, width and surface type.

Don’t look for bulldozers making physical changes to the 64-year-old runways in Wichita. These changes are in name only. The earth’s magnetic poles are not static, and the FAA requires airports to rename their runways when magnetic north deviates over three degrees from the runway’s current name.

Runway headings at Eisenhower National Airport in Wichita, Kan., will change in 2019. This airport diagram produced by AC-U-KWIK displays the runway names in effect as of April 2018.For small airports, the change doesn’t require much more than several gallons of white paint and a free afternoon.

Over the years, several other large airports including McCarran International in Las Vegas (KLAS), Metropolitan Oakland International (KOAK), Tampa International (KTPA) and London Stansted (EGSS) have been forced to make name changes.

It can be costly. Officials in Wichita will be spending hundreds of thousand dollars, not only for the white paint, but to replace illuminated airfield directional signage as well.

In Wichita, the longest runway will change from 1L-19R to 2L-20R. The shorter parallel runway will change from 1R-19L to 2R-20L. The intersecting runway will change from 14-32 to 15-33.

Watch for the headings to change in Wichita in 2019 and also in your print and digital versions of AC-U-KWIK.