Runway numbers changing...BACK !!

[pierre smith]

Our runway numbers changed from 12-30 about ten years ago, to 13-31. I was just informed that they're changing BACK to 12-30, shortly.

What kinda phenomenon causes this? I thought that the next change would be to 14-32..

Thanks,

[tnelson]

According to the doomsday special I watched a few weeks ago, its because the magnetic poles are going to swap suddenly then BAM, end of the world!! It must be true cause it was on TV!

[DEWATSON]

It's called "government". Geeeez. I'm approximately 150 miles south with almost the same headings (14-32) and ours have never changed. I guess you'll call downwind wrong for a while until you get used to your new/old numbers.

[John Clark]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

Our runway numbers changed from 12-30 about ten years ago, to 13-31. I was just informed that they're changing BACK to 12-30, shortly.

What kinda phenomenon causes this? I thought that the next change would be to 14-32..

Thanks,

Logically it looks like it should change to 14-31 as the airport information shows the runway at 136-316 degrees magnetic.

John Clark ATP, CFI
FAAST Team Representative
EAA Flight Advisor
RV8 N18U "Sunshine"
KSBA

[Ironflight]

If my ancient Mayan isn't too rusty, I think that's the first sign of the end of the world coming up on the 21st....yes, it says right there ...."Pierre's runway magnetic bearings will fluctuate..."

Eat, Drink and be Merry folks.... while you still can....

[Low Pass]

Originally Posted by pierre smith

What kinda phenomenon causes this? .....

My vote is on unnecessary federal bureaucracy.

[krwalsh]

My vote is for a runway-marker painting contractor that has lined the pockets of the right federal bureaucrat.

[BobTurner]

The magnetic pole does "wander" with time, in a little understood and hard to predict way. Apparently it has moved back to where it was earlier.

PS Because GPS units have an up to date database while VORs are only re-aligned once in a while, you sometimes will see a gps track of 150 to track a VOR radial of 151, etc.

[FlyingArcher]

The most probable reason is that your magnatic declination has varied back to where it was some years ago.

You can calculate it here for any location in the US

Cheers

[fatherson]

I'm surprised none of the Naval Aviators in the group called out the correct answer: your runway is moving. They're all used to that. The rest of us expect our runways to stay where we put them.

--
Stephen