Runway 15 at KLOU
Runway 15/33 at Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville is a 3,580 ft, lighted, asph-g runway oriented 143°/323°. The runway is 75 ft wide, with a 206 ft displaced threshold on the 15 end. SkyMeter has observed 43 landings and 58 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 3.2°, touchdowns averaging 2,073 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 74 kt, a 6.6 kt average crosswind component.
Runway 15/33 at Bowman Field (KLOU) in Louisville is a 3,580 ft, lighted, asph-g runway oriented 143°/323°. The runway is 75 ft wide, with a 206 ft displaced threshold on the 15 end. SkyMeter has observed 43 landings and 58 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 3.2°, touchdowns averaging 2,073 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 74 kt, a 6.6 kt average crosswind component.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
43 landings observed on Runway 15 in the last 30 days, alongside 58 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 18:00 with 13 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 2,073 ft from the threshold on Runway 15.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KLOU have prevailed from the south (180°), accounting for roughly 14% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 4.8 kt with peak gusts to 44 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Moderate Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 6.6 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 15 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 3.2° on Runway 15, 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 15 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 15 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 15 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.