Why runways have so many side paths?

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In the image below, you can see a visual of the new runway (in red) which will be constructed at the Prague airport.

[https://imgur.com/a/536YPqM](https://imgur.com/a/536YPqM)

I understand the need of multiple crossings, but one thing I don’t realize is the side pathway you can see on the left side, where when departuring from the airport, you can turn right, away from the runway. I am talking about the green circled part specifically. What purpose does it have?

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6 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

>when departuring from the airport, you can turn right

An active runway is only used in one direction, facing into the wind as much as possible (for faster takeoffs and landings). Both arrivals and departures use the same direction: you don’t depart away from the airport and arrive into it, you go the same way every other plane does no matter how you’re using the runway.

Yes, that means longer taxi when the runway threshold is miles away and you end up overflying the apron itself before climbing out of the airspace. And vice versa for arrivals: you land away from the terminal and circle back around on land to get to it. But it’s how it’s done for safety and economy reasons.

Thus, all of those runway exits have a purpose.

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