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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Washington Dulles International Airport

Dulles, Virginia (United States)

IATA: IAD ICAO: KIAD

Longest Active Runway

11,500 ft

3,505 meters

Field Elevation

312 ft

95 m MSL

Runway Inventory

4 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

38.9445°, -77.4558°

LARGE AIRPORT

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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#261 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#429 of 7558

Top 5.7% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#28 in US

#93 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+15%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Washington Dulles International Airport's longest active runway measures 11,500 ft (3,505 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #261. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #429 worldwide (Top 5.7%) and #28 nationally in United States.

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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Washington Dulles International Airport serves as United Airlines' transatlantic hub and the premier international portal to the US capital. Its three north-south parallel runways permit simultaneous independent instrument landings, while the 11,500 ft center runway (01C/19C) handles maximum gross weight departures to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Positioned 313 ft above sea level, IAD operates with high all-weather reliability across humid summers and winter snow events.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments

Four active runways: three north-south parallels 01C/19C (11,500 ft), 01L/19R (9,400 ft), 01R/19L (10,500 ft) and east-west crosswind 12/30 (10,501 ft).

Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities

Opened in 1962 as the first American airport designed specifically for commercial jet airliners, featuring Eero Saarinen's landmark main terminal and Mobile Lounges. Master plan protects space for a fifth future runway.

Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role

Primary long-haul international gateway for the US National Capital Region, contrasting with perimeter-restricted Reagan National (DCA) and domestic-heavy Baltimore (BWI).

Data Nuances & Operational Quirks

Ample land buffer (12,000 acres) shields IAD from the strict noise curfews imposed on urban airports, permitting round-the-clock heavy widebody transatlantic operations.

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) · FAA Form 5010-1 Airport Master Record & NFDC Surveyed Aeronautical Data · AirNav IAD Master Record ↗

Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.

ICAO Code 4E / 4F Super-Heavy

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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Washington Dulles International Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 312 ft (95 m MSL) in Dulles. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Primary long-haul international gateway for the US National Capital Region, contrasting with perimeter-restricted Reagan National (DCA) and domestic-heavy Baltimore (BWI). Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) located 39.2 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 11,500 ft (3,505 m)

Washington Dulles International Airport's active flight strips comprise 01R/19L (11,500 ft), 01C/19C (11,500 ft), 12/30 (10,501 ft), 01L/19R (9,400 ft). With a longest active threshold of 11,500 ft (3,505 m), the aerodrome satisfies unrestricted long-haul takeoff and landing distance requirements for heavy twin-aisle and four-engine widebodies (ICAO Code 4E/4F).

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
01R/19L	11,500 ft (3505m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
01C/19C	11,500 ft (3505m)	150 ft (46m)	`CONC-G`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
12/30	10,501 ft (3201m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
01L/19R	9,400 ft (2865m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name	IATA	Distance	Longest Runway	Lighting
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (Baltimore)	`BWI`	39.2 NM (72.6 km)	10,503 ft	✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database

Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01

Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected

Source Verification: Source-reported registry data

Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/iad.json ↗