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Wednesday, August 17, 2022

DFW Airport Announces Additional Runway Activity to Accommodate Heavy Holiday travel on Jan. 1, 2019

DFW Airport has notified the City of Southlake about an increase in aircraft operations that could impact airport noise overnight on Tuesday, January 1, 2019. In order to accommodate passenger loads due to the holiday season, on Tuesday evening, January 1, DFW Airport will experience 72 departures after 11:50 p.m. with the last departures at 2:04 a.m. Wednesday morning.

In light of the anticipated departure activity increase, with Runway 17C/35C being closed for runway rehabilitation, it is anticipated that Runway 17L/35R will remain operational until 1 a.m. Runway 13R/31L and Runway 13L/31R may also experience later than typical operations to accommodate these additional passenger loads.

What to Expect:
The weather forecast is not yet known for this day. In general, because aircraft take off and land into the wind when winds are southerly, aircraft take off to the south and land from north to south. When winds are northerly, aircraft take off to the north (or northwest in the case of the use of Runway 31L) and land from south to north. Keep in mind that surface winds don’t always dictate flow as winds above the surface and/or operational needs can affect the direction for which aircraft take off and land.

North Flow: When winds are out of the north. Departures will utilize Runway 36R and 35L.

  • Runway 35R will remain operational for arrivals until 1 AM.
  • Runway 31L may be needed if winds or operational needs require

South Flow: When winds are out of the south. Departures will utilize Runways 18L and 17R

  • Runway 17L will remain operational for arrivals until 1 AM.

This increase in aircraft operations to the runways during this flex schedule may primarily affect the cities of Irving, Coppell, Flower Mound and Lewisville. Southlake, Grapevine, Trophy Club, and Westlake could also experience some additional aircraft traffic.

Citizens with inquiries or comments should contact DFW Airport by email at dfwnoise@dfwairport.com, or on the Noise Complaint Hotline, at 972-973-3192 (manned 24/7). Follow-up response calls or emails will be provided when requested.

Possible arrival changes at DFW Airport

DFW Airport has informed The City of Southlake about a planned change to DFW arrival procedures.

The FAA has told DFW Airport of a possible increase in arrivals onto Runway 13R/31L, beginning Tuesday, March 6 during South Flow conditions while operating under the FAA Converging Runway Operations (CRO) rule.

The FAA instituted CRO rules at 17 airports across the U.S. including DFW which took effect on April 2, 2014. CRO rules significantly reduced the number of arrivals on RWY 13R which impacts DFW Airport’s overall capacity. DFW Airport and the FAA have been working together to find solutions that might permit additional arrivals on 13R especially in light of upcoming airfield work which could close other runways from time-to-time.

What to Expect:

In the next two weeks, the winds are forecast to vary in wind direction, 5 to 10 mph in either North Flow or South Flow. When strong winds are northerly, aircraft will take off to the north and land from south to north. When winds are southerly, aircraft will take off to the south and land from north to south. During South Flow conditions, the use of RWY 13R will increase due to an FAA operational evaluation.

The shift in aircraft operations during these weather conditions may affect the cities of Southlake, Grapevine, Trophy Club and Westlake.

DFW Airport encourages citizens with inquiries or complaints to contact them, by email at dfwnoise@dfwairport.com, or on the Noise Complaint Hotline, at 972-973-3192 (manned 24/7). Follow-up response calls or emails will be provided when requested.

Strong NW winds could cause DFW Airport runway changes

DFW Airport has informed the City of Southlake about potential west flow aircraft operational conditions due to strong northwest winds, forecasted for Thursday, January 11, 2018.

The best chance of west flow based on the forecast is between from 12:00 pm until 3:00 pm but could extend beyond these hours.

What to Expect:
Thursday weather forecasts show winds from the south-southwest at 15 to 20 mph, becoming north-northwest at 25-30 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph and a chance of precipitation at 20%.

When strong winds are northerly, aircraft will take off to the north and land from south to north. When winds are westerly or northwesterly (West Flow), the diagonal Runways 13R/31L and 13L/31R may be needed for arrivals and/or departures. Potential northwest weather conditions are most likely during the hours of 12:00 pm– 3:00 pm Thursday.

The shift in aircraft operations during these weather conditions may affect the cities of Southlake, Grapevine, Coppell, and Irving, which could experience some additional aircraft traffic.

DFW Airport encourages citizens with inquiries or complaints to contact them, by email at dfwnoise@dfwairport.com, or on the Noise Complaint Hotline, at 972-973-3192 (manned 24/7). Follow-up response calls or emails will be provided when requested.

DFW Runway Closure Update: April 5, 2017

The Partial Closure of runway 18L/36R, which has been partially closed since March 15th, is scheduled to reopen at 6 AM on Thursday, April 6. With the partial closure, the runway is usable for limited daylight hour operations; after sunset/before sunrise, the runway must be closed due to limited visibility of the construction area. Due to north winds today and tomorrow, Runway 31L will be needed for departure after sunset/before sunrise and may be used until 11 PM (or later due to weather).

Weekend Closure: DFW tentatively plans to again fully close its primary departure Runway 18L/36R from Friday, April 7 at 10 PM to Sunday, April 9 at 4 PM, weather permitting, to accommodate the FAA’s ongoing installation work. A go/no go decision will be made by Thursday, April 6 at 3 PM; closure will be confirmed after that time.

What to Expect:
The shifts in operations may affect the cities of Southlake, Grapevine, Coppell, Irving, Flower Mound, Lewisville, Euless and Arlington, which could experience some additional aircraft traffic, including:

  • Potential jet departures on Runway 31L;
  • Increased arrivals Runway 31R and 35R during north winds;
  • Increased arrivals to Runway 17L and 13R during south winds;
  • Outboard runways may be needed later at night or early in the morning.

Partial Closure:

  •  The winds for Wednesday, April 5 through Thursday, April 6 are forecasted to be from the north around 5-29 mph with gusts as high as 40 mph.
  • If winds persist from the north after sunset, FAA will require the departure usage of Runway 31L due to the inability for departures off of Runway 18L/36R for safety reasons due to limited visibility of the construction area.

Weekend Closure:

  • The wind forecast for Saturday and Sunday will be south winds 10-20 mph gusting as high as 25 mph.
  • If winds persist from the south, FAA will require the departure usage of Runway 18R and arrival usage of Runways 17L and 13L due to the inability for departures off of Runway 18L/36R.

The graphics shown depict the closures and their effects of the runway utilization:

March 15 – April 6 [Partial North Closure of Runway 18L/36R] April 6 Runway update

  • During the partial north closure of Runway 18L/36R, the runway will be available for day time only limited takeoffs and landings, as determined by the wind flow.
  • The runway will be closed after sunset as well as during any poor weather or low clouds (due to limited visibility of construction zone).
  • If the winds are out of the north, jet aircraft may need to depart Runway 31L.
  • The use of the outboard runways (diagonal runways and Runway 17L/35R) may be extended at night to 11pm.

March 25-26; April 1-3; April 7-9; April 15-16; April 22-23; April 29-30; May 6-7; May 13-14; May 20-21; and June 3-4 [Weekend Full Closures of Runway 18L/36R] April 6 Runway update 2

  • Runway 18L/36R is the primary departure runway on the west side. During its closure:
  • If the winds are out of the south, departures will shift to Runway 18R and arrivals will shift to Runways 17L and 13R.
  • If the winds are out of the north, Runway 36L will be the used for arrivals and Runway 31L will be the primary departure runway on the west side.
  • The use of the outboard runways (diagonal runways and Runway 17L/35R) may be extended at night to 11pm.

Citizens with inquiries or complaints are encouraged to contact DFW Airport by email at dfwnoise@dfwairport.com, or on the Noise Complaint Hotline, at 972-973-3192 (manned 24/7). Follow-up response calls or emails will be provided, when requested.