Runway 26L at KIAH
Runway 26L/08R at George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (KIAH) in Houston is a 9,402 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 270°/090°. The runway is 150 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 3,000 landings and 224 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.1% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (2 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.9°, touchdowns averaging 6,827 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 146 kt, a 2.2 kt average crosswind component, a 2.2 kt average headwind.
Runway 26L/08R at George Bush Intercontinental Houston Airport (KIAH) in Houston is a 9,402 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 270°/090°. The runway is 150 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 3,000 landings and 224 departures on this runway over the last 30 days, with approximately 0.1% of arrivals resulting in a go-around (2 events). Trace data shows an average final-approach slope of 2.9°, touchdowns averaging 6,827 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 146 kt, a 2.2 kt average crosswind component, a 2.2 kt average headwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
3,000 landings observed on Runway 26L in the last 30 days, alongside 224 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 21:00 with 14 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 6,827 ft from the threshold on Runway 26L.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KIAH have prevailed from the south-southeast (150°), accounting for roughly 30% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 6.1 kt with peak gusts to 48 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 2.2 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 26L alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 2.9° on Runway 26L, consistent with the standard 3° glide path.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 26L 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 26L grouped by hour-of-day (UTC).
Go-Around Analysis
A go-around occurs when a pilot aborts a landing attempt and initiates a climb to return for another approach. While go-arounds are a normal safety procedure, their frequency and causes provide insight into operational challenges at specific runways. Runway 26L experienced go-arounds in 0.1% of arrivals over the last 30 days (2 events of 3002 attempts).
Recent Go-Around Events
These events represent normal safety procedures and do not indicate operational deficiencies.
Go-Around Causes Distribution
Environmental factors dominate go-around causes, indicating that operational procedures remain sound.
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 26L 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.