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

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina (United States)

IATA: RDU ICAO: KRDU

Longest Active Runway

10,000 ft

3,048 meters

Field Elevation

435 ft

133 m MSL

Runway Inventory

3 active

Lighted / Paved

Coordinates & Class

35.8787°, -78.7873°

LARGE AIRPORT

🏆

Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →

RunwayFacts Published Dataset

#565 of 650

In curated primary commercial index

Global Commercial Universe

#961 of 7558

Top 13.4% percentile worldwide

National Standing (United States)

#59 in US

#191 of 2020 in full national registry

vs Large Airport Median

+0%

Compared to 10,000 ft baseline

💡 Statistical Statement: Raleigh-Durham International Airport's longest active runway measures 10,000 ft (3,048 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #565. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #961 worldwide (Top 13.4%) and #59 nationally in United States.

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

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

ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental

⛰️

Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Positioned at 435 ft (133 m MSL), this aerodrome operates near standard International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) sea-level air density. High ambient air pressure provides optimal turbine thrust conversion, maximum wing lift coefficients, and minimal ground roll distance requirements, allowing long-haul flights to depart at maximum structural takeoff weight limits without atmospheric density penalties.

🧭

Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Within its 100 NM cluster of 1 neighboring aerodromes, Raleigh-Durham International Airport is supported by major regional alternatives. Notably, Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO) lies just 57.4 NM away with a 10,001 ft runway, offering reliable operational redundancy for commercial diversions and congested airspace rerouting.

✈️

Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

At 10,000 ft (3,048 m), the primary runway comfortably accommodates mid-to-large twin-aisle widebody transports (such as the Boeing 787-9 and Airbus A330-900) as well as maximum-range narrowbody transcontinental configurations (Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 737 MAX 9) under typical atmospheric conditions.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator	Length (ft / m)	Width (ft / m)	Surface Material	Lighting	Status
05L/23R	10,000 ft (3048m)	150 ft (46m)	`Concrete (CON)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
05R/23L	7,500 ft (2286m)	150 ft (46m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ Lighted	✅ Active
14/32	3,570 ft (1088m)	100 ft (30m)	`Asphalt (ASP)`	✅ 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
Piedmont Triad International Airport (Greensboro)	`GSO`	57.4 NM (106.3 km)	10,001 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/rdu.json ↗