Runway 31 at KPAO
Runway 31/13 at Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (KPAO) in Palo Alto is a 2,441 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 322°/142°. The runway is 70 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 2,505 landings and 3,764 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 4.4°, touchdowns averaging 1,678 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 72 kt, a 1.3 kt average crosswind component, a 6.1 kt average headwind.
Runway 31/13 at Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County (KPAO) in Palo Alto is a 2,441 ft, lighted, asphalt runway oriented 322°/142°. The runway is 70 ft wide. SkyMeter has observed 2,505 landings and 3,764 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 4.4°, touchdowns averaging 1,678 ft past the threshold, a typical touchdown ground speed of 72 kt, a 1.3 kt average crosswind component, a 6.1 kt average headwind.
Runway at a Glance
Arrival Volume
2,505 landings observed on Runway 31 in the last 30 days, alongside 3,764 departures.
Peak Hour
Busiest landing window observed at 20:00 with 15 arrivals on the recent sample.
Average Touchdown Zone
Aircraft touch down on average 1,678 ft from the threshold on Runway 31.
Prevailing Wind & Gust History
Over the past 365 days, winds at KPAO have prevailed from the north-northwest (330°), accounting for roughly 28% of windy observations. Average wind speed sits at 6.9 kt with peak gusts to 59 kt. Strong-wind days are infrequent here.
Light Crosswind Component
Average crosswind on landing is 1.3 kt at touchdown, measured against runway 31 alignment.
Approach Slope
Final-approach slope averages 4.4° on Runway 31, steeper than the standard 3°.
Landing Behavior and Touchdown Performance
The metrics below are computed from ADS-B trace data observed at Runway 31 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 31 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 31 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.
Related Pages
Airport Overview
View complete statistics for KPAO
Other Runways at KPAO
This is the only runway at KPAO.
Search Flights on Runway 31
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