Runway 13L at KJFK
Runway 13L/31R at John F Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) in New York is a 10,000 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 121°/301°. The runway is 200 ft wide, with a 905 ft displaced threshold on the 13L end. SkyMeter has observed 1,270 landings and 17 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 2.4°, touchdowns averaging 1,511 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 146 kt, a 8.5 kt average crosswind component, a 1.7 kt average tailwind.
Runway 13L/31R at John F Kennedy International Airport (KJFK) in New York is a 10,000 ft, lighted, concrete runway oriented 121°/301°. The runway is 200 ft wide, with a 905 ft displaced threshold on the 13L end. SkyMeter has observed 1,270 landings and 17 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 2.4°, touchdowns averaging 1,511 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 146 kt, a 8.5 kt average crosswind component, a 1.7 kt average tailwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
1,270 landings observed on Runway 13L in the last 30 days, alongside 17 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 01:00 with 27 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 1,511 ft from the threshold on Runway 13L.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KJFK have prevailed from the south (180°), accounting for roughly 15% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 8.7 kt with peak gusts to 63 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Moderate Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 8.5 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 13L alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 2.4° on Runway 13L, shallower than the standard 3°.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 13L 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 13L 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 13L 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.