Runway 18L at KDFW
Runway 18L/36R at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) in Dallas-Fort Worth is a 13,401 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 180°/000°. The runway is 200 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 76 landings and 12,296 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.4°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 81 kt, a 3.1 kt average crosswind component, a 7.9 kt average headwind.
Runway 18L/36R at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (KDFW) in Dallas-Fort Worth is a 13,401 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 180°/000°. The runway is 200 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 76 landings and 12,296 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.0% of arrivals resulting in a go-around. Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 3.4°, a typical touchdown ground speed of 81 kt, a 3.1 kt average crosswind component, a 7.9 kt average headwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
76 landings observed on Runway 18L in the last 30 days, alongside 12,296 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 22:00 with 8 arrivals on the recent sample.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KDFW have prevailed from the south-southeast (150°), accounting for roughly 27% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 7.9 kt with peak gusts to 78 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 3.1 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 18L alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 3.4° on Runway 18L, steeper than the standard 3°.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 18L over the last 30 days. Each value is shown only when at least 10 valid samples were available; sparse cells are hidden rather than estimated.
Hourly Landing Distribution
Recent observed landings on Runway 18L grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Approach Types and Categories
Aircraft approach runways using different procedures based on weather conditions, visibility, and available navigation equipment. An Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach provides precision horizontal and vertical guidance using ground-based radio signals, enabling aircraft to land in low visibility conditions. Visual approaches require pilots to maintain visual contact with the runway and surrounding terrain, typically used during clear weather. Area Navigation (RNAV) approaches use GPS technology to guide aircraft along specific flight paths.
Approach Categories Explained
Category (CAT) classifications define minimum visibility and decision height requirements for instrument approaches. Higher categories enable operations in lower visibility conditions.
Wind and Environmental Factors
Wind conditions directly impact runway operations, influencing approach difficulty, landing performance, and runway selection. Runway 18L benefits from favorable wind alignment, with prevailing winds creating minimal crosswind components for most operations. Average wind speeds of 12 knots pose no operational constraints for commercial aircraft.
24-Hour Wind Pattern
Wind patterns show typical diurnal variation with stronger winds during midday hours.