Existing comment:
Inside this structure is the top floor which gives you a panoramic view of the area. Below it is a simulated control tower (based on the Newark airport; for security reasons they don't give you a live feed or a nearby airport). Discussed in signs are various things about how airports are set up. One such sign:
Runway Names
Each end of a runway has a number from 1 to 36. Runway numbers are based on the directions in which aircraft take off and land using compass headings: east, 90 degrees; south, 180 degrees; west, 270 degrees; north, 360 degrees.
Runway numbers indicate the angle of the runway in relation to the magnetic North Pole. The runway direction is rounded off to the nearest 10 degrees.
Runway 12 at Dulles is oriented about 120 degrees, or roughly southeast. Its opposite end is designated Runway 30 because it is oriented at about 300 degrees, or roughly northwest. The opposite ends of a runway differ by 18 because they are 180 degrees apart.
Taxiway Names
Aircraft move on taxiways between parked areas and runways. Vehicles such as fuel trucks and snowplows also use taxiways.
Taxiways commonly have letter names. Some airports, including Dulles, use letters and letter/number combinations. Pilots and controllers use the phonetic alphabet when referring to taxiways. For instance, they refer to taxiway K as "taxiway Kilo." |