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Raleigh-Durham International Airport

RDU · KRDU · Raleigh/Durham, NC · 435 ft elevation · var 9W · Towered

Airport information

ICAO / IATA
KRDU / RDU
Coordinates
35.8787, -78.7873
Elevation
435 ft MSL
Magnetic variation
9W
Sectional chart
CHARLOTTE
Airport use
Public
Control tower
Yes
Tower hours
24 hours
Airspace
Class C
Weather station
ASOS · 123.8 · ☎ 919-244-2891
ARTCC
WASHINGTON (ZDC)
Flight service (FSS)
RALEIGH · 1-800-WX-BRIEF
NOTAM facility
RDU
Attendance
ALL ALL
Beacon
white-green (SS-SR)
Segmented circle
No
Wind indicator
lighted
FAR 139 class
I D
Activated
1943/04
Distance from city
9 NW

Weather

METAR observed

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TAF forecast

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Sun & FAA night 2026-06-22

EventLocal (EDT)UTC
Morning civil twilight
Loggable night ends
05:29 AM09:29Z
Sunrise05:59 AM09:59Z
Sunset08:35 PM00:35Z
Evening civil twilight
Loggable night begins
09:05 PM01:05Z
Loggable night (§1.1)
09:05 PM → 05:29 AM
Night currency (§61.57)
09:35 PM → 04:59 AM

Plan a flight from KRDU

Night operations

Airport lighting
SS-SR
Rotating beacon
white-green · SS-SR
Pilot-controlled lighting
Usually keyed on CTAF 122.95 — confirm the click sequence in the Chart Supplement ↗

Runway lighting aids — 05L: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 23R: 4-light PAPI (left) + ALSF2 · 05R: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 23L: 4-light PAPI (left) + MALSR · 32: 4-light PAPI (left).

FAA night windows (civil twilight, loggable night §1.1, currency §61.57) are in the live weather panel above.

Traffic pattern

05LTPANESW
LEFT traffic
Landing
Rwy 05L · 054°
Pattern
left (turns left)
TPA
1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL)
CTAF
122.95

Enter the left downwind for Rwy 05L at 1,400 ft MSL (≈1,000 AGL) on a 45°. TPA estimated at 1,000 ft AGL (not charted for this field).

Runway 05L/23R

10,000 ft × 150 ft · Concrete (Good)

Edge lights: High. Surface: Wire comb. Weight bearing: Single wheel 75k, Double wheel 190k, Dual tandem 355k, Double dual tandem 750k.

05L
Heading
054° mag · 45° true
Threshold elev
367 ft
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSR
Instrument landing
ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 109.1 (GKK) · GS 3.00°
Traffic pattern
Left
Threshold crossing height
72 ft
TDZ elevation
384 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 ft
End lights
centerline, TDZ
23R
Heading
234° mag · 225° true
Threshold elev
409 ft
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
ALSF2
Instrument landing
ILS/DME · CAT III · LOC 111.7 (DMP) · GS 3.00°
Traffic pattern
Right
Threshold crossing height
69 ft
TDZ elevation
409 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 / 10,000 ft
End lights
centerline, TDZ

Runway 05R/23L

7,500 ft × 150 ft · Asphalt (Good)

Edge lights: High. Surface: Grooved. Weight bearing: Single wheel 75k, Double wheel 176k, Dual tandem 335k, Double dual tandem 750k.

05R
Heading
054° mag · 45° true
Threshold elev
398 ft
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSR
Instrument landing
ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 109.5 (RDU) · GS 3.00°
Traffic pattern
Right
Threshold crossing height
62 ft
TDZ elevation
420 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
7,500 / 7,500 / 7,500 / 7,500 ft
End lights
centerline
23L
Heading
234° mag · 225° true
Threshold elev
431 ft
Markings
precision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3°)
Approach lights
MALSR
Instrument landing
ILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 108.5 (LEI) · GS 3.00°
Traffic pattern
Left
Threshold crossing height
56 ft
TDZ elevation
435 ft
Declared TORA/TODA/ASDA/LDA
7,500 / 7,500 / 7,500 / 7,500 ft
End lights
centerline, TDZ

Runway 14/32

3,570 ft × 100 ft · Asphalt (Good)

Edge lights: Med. Weight bearing: Single wheel 12k. PCN 16.

14
Heading
144° mag · 135° true
Threshold elev
432 ft
Markings
nonprecision
Traffic pattern
Left
TDZ elevation
432 ft
32
Heading
324° mag · 315° true
Threshold elev
425 ft
Markings
nonprecision
VGSI
4-light PAPI (left) (3.5°)
Traffic pattern
Left
Approach obstacle
Trees, 120 ft, 3,046 ft from threshold, 1 ft L of centerline — 24:1 slope to clear
Threshold crossing height
47 ft
TDZ elevation
429 ft
End lights
REIL
ft · ≥1.5× comfortable, under 1.25× tight · saved across airports

Communication frequencies

Tower & ground · “Raleigh”

ATIS123.8
Clearance120.1
Ground121.9
Tower127.45
UNICOM122.95
Flight service122.2
Emergency121.5

Approach & departure · “Raleigh”

Approach124.95055-229 · BLOGS · BRADE · TAQLE arrivals
Approach127.675230-054 · BUZZY · DMSTR arrivals
Departure125.3055-229 · HOOKZ · HURIC · PACKK +2 more departures
Departure132.35230-054 · BEXGO · LWOOD · OXFRD +3 more departures

ATC assigns the exact frequency (in your clearance or on handoff) — which one depends on your SID (departing) or STAR (arriving).

By procedure & sector (11 frequencies)
FrequencyUsed by
124.95BLOGS STAR · BRADE STAR · TAQLE STAR
125.3CLASS C (055-229) · HOOKZ DP · HURIC DP · PACKK DP (055-229) · RALEIGH DP (055-229) · ROZBO DP
127.675BUZZY STAR · DMSTR STAR
132.35BEXGO DP · CLASS C (230-054) · LWOOD DP · OXFRD DP · PACKK DP (230-054) · RALEIGH DP (230-054) · SHPRD DP
256.9BEXGO DP · CLASS C (230-054) · DEP/P (230-054) · LWOOD DP · OXFRD DP · PACKK DP (230-054) · RALEIGH DP (230-054) · SHPRD DP
257.8LCL/P
285.425FINAL (EAST)
307.9APCH/P IC (230-054) · BUZZY STAR · DMSTR STAR
318.2APCH/P (055-229) · BLOGS STAR · BRADE STAR · TAQLE STAR
348.6GND/P
353.675CLASS C (055-229) · DEP/P (055-229) · DEP/P (SOUTH) · HOOKZ DP · HURIC DP · PACKK DP (055-229) · RALEIGH DP (055-229) · ROZBO DP

Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).

Instrument landing systems

RunwayILS
RWY 05LILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 109.1 (GKK) · GS 3.00°
RWY 23RILS/DME · CAT III · LOC 111.7 (DMP) · GS 3.00°
RWY 05RILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 109.5 (RDU) · GS 3.00°
RWY 23LILS/DME · CAT I · LOC 108.5 (LEI) · GS 3.00°

Source: FAA NASR (current 28-day cycle).

Nearby navigation aids

NavAidTypeFreqRadial / Dist magnetic
RDU · Raleigh-DurhamVORTAC117.20r336° / 0.4 NM

Airport diagram

Open PDF ↗
Preview diagram Open the airport diagram PDF

Chart Supplement FAA A/FD

Open PDF ↗
Preview Chart Supplement Open the Chart Supplement PDF

Services

Fuel available
100LL, Jet A
Bottled oxygen
NONE
Bulk oxygen
HIGH/LOW
Airframe service
MAJOR
Powerplant service
MAJOR
Parking
tiedowns, hangars
Other services
Air freight, Air ambulance, Avionics, Cargo, Charter, Instruction, Rental, Aircraft sales, Survey

Ownership & management

Owner
RALEIGH-DURHAM ARPT AUTH
P.O. BOX 80001, RDU AIRPORT, NC
919-840-7700
Manager
MICHAEL LANDGUTH
RALEIGH-DURHAM ARPT AUTH, P.O. BOX 80001, RDU AIRPORT, NC
(919) 840-7701

Remarks FAA

  • VISIBILITY OF BCN SHIELDED TO THE NORTH.
  • NO JET ENGINE MAINTENANCE RUNS BETWEEN 0000-0600.
  • NG PPR FOR LDG CTC V582-9181 C(919)664-9181.
  • NG 24 HR PPR FOR JET ACFT & TRANS MIL ACFT - 919-840-7510.
  • RSTD: PPR FOR ALL MILITARY AIRCRAFT F/W - R/W & UNSCHEDULED CHARTER FLIGHTS WITH 30 OR MORE PASSENGERS. 24 HR PN RQR FOR MIL PRACTICE APCH. CTC ARPT OPS 919-840-7510 OR RDU APP C919-380-3125. 24 HR PN RQR FOR PPR FOR ALL F/W AND R/W MIL ACFT GOING TO ARNG RAMP, POC C984-661-6200. OSACOM FLT DET C984-661-6202.
  • ARPT CLSD TO AIRSHIPS.
  • TWY E BEHIND SOUTH CARGO 4 & TWY J BEHIND CORPORATE HANGARS NOT VSBL FM ATCT.
  • ARNG: LTD PRK. ARNG OPS C984-661-6200. CTC FORECAST BASE 10 MIN PRIOR LDG. RAMP CLSD TO ALL F/W EXCEPT ARMY & MIL TRANSPORT WITH PPR, FACILITY HRS 1300-2130Z++ MON-FRI EXC HOL. MAKE APPT FOR AFTER DUTY HRS. OSACOM FLT DET C984-661-6202.
  • TWY F4 & F5 IS CLSD UFN.
  • ALL TDG V AIRCRAFT TXG ON TWY A ARE RSTD TO TAXI SPD OF 15 MPH.
  • APN TXL F BTN TWY T1 AND TWY T7 CLSD TO ACFT WITH WINGSPAN MORE THAN 171 FT.
  • TWY D CLSD TO ACFT WITH WINGSPAN MORE THAN 171 FT WHEN TWY G AND H ARE OCCUPIED.
  • TRML 1 ACFT MUST CTC ATC ON 121.9 PRIOR TO PUSH ONTO TWY A. TRML 2 ACFT MUST CTC RAMP TWR ON 130.175 PRIOR TO PUSH. NORTH CARGO APRON ADG IV OR V ACFT MUST CTC ATC ON 121.9 PRIOR TO PUSH.
  • TWY C BTN TWY F AND G IS RSTRD TO ACFT LESS THAN A MAX GROSS TKOF WEIGHT OF 490000 LBS.
  • TWY E CLSD TO AFCT WITH WINGSPAN MORE THAN 171 FT.
  • PCR VALUE: 801/R/B/W/T
  • PCR VALUE: 783/F/C/X/T
  • RWY 05L/23R UNGROOVED.

Weather is live from the Aviation Weather Center; airport facility data is from the FAA NASR (28-day cycle). For planning and education only; always verify against official sources. Open KRDU in a full tool: METAR/TAF decoder, crosswind calculator, sun & night times, or the density altitude calculator. Planning from here? Find the nearest airport with fuel or an approach, or check whether an IFR alternate is required.

About KRDU

Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU · KRDU) is an airport in Raleigh/Durham, NC, at 435 ft MSL. It has 3 runways, the longest 10,000 ft, with a control tower. This page shows live METAR/TAF weather, runway crosswinds, frequencies, navaids, and FAA charts for KRDU, refreshed from the Aviation Weather Center and FAA NASR.

Does KRDU have a control tower?

Yes. Raleigh-Durham International Airport has an operating FAA control tower. Check the Comms & NavAids tab for tower and ground frequencies.

What is the longest runway at KRDU?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport has 3 runways; the longest is 10,000 ft. See the Runways tab for headings, surface, and lighting.

Where is KRDU?

Raleigh-Durham International Airport is in Raleigh/Durham, NC, at an elevation of 435 ft MSL. Coordinates: 35.8787, -78.7873.

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