Departure
96%
vs 95% ▲ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Raleigh-Durham International Airport (KRDU) is a major Class C airport sited between the cities of Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina's Research Triangle. It offers a full suite of instrument approaches and air traffic services across three physical runways, making it a busy but straightforward destination for instrument-rated visiting pilots.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport lies between the cities of Raleigh and Durham, North Carolina, and is classified as a large airport handling scheduled airline traffic. For a simulator pilot it offers the challenge and interest of operating into a busy Class C hub, with full radar and tower services, long ILS-equipped runways, and a mix of airline, corporate and general aviation traffic.
KRDU sits within Class C controlled airspace and is equipped for international arrivals, with customs and landing rights facilities noted for the field. It lies at coordinates 35.8776, -78.7875 at an elevation of 410 feet, positioned between the cities of Raleigh and Durham in North Carolina.
The airport has three physical runways. Runway 05L/23R is 9,988 feet long, hard-surfaced, lit, and equipped with an ILS. Runway 05R/23L is 7,495 feet long, hard-surfaced, lit, and also equipped with an ILS. Runway 14/32 is the shortest, at 3,553 feet, hard-surfaced and lit but without an ILS.
Air traffic services are provided across the full range of frequencies: Approach on 124.8 MHz, ATIS on 123.8 MHz, Clearance Delivery on 120.1 MHz, Departure on 125.3 MHz, Ground on 121.7 MHz, Tower on 119.3 MHz, and Radio on 122.2 MHz, with UNICOM available on 122.95 MHz. Instrument approaches are available to both the 05L/23R and 05R/23L runway pairs.
As a Class C airport with full tower, ground, approach and departure services, arriving and departing traffic is handled under a clearance and radar vectoring environment rather than informal circuit joining, and pilots should expect to work with Approach and Tower throughout the arrival or departure sequence.
Raleigh-Durham International Airport functions as a major commercial hub with full air traffic control services, customs handling for international arrivals, and long, ILS-equipped runways suitable for a wide range of aircraft. Its combination of airline, corporate and general aviation movements, together with comprehensive radio and approach facilities, makes it a realistic and instructive destination for instrument approach practice in the simulator.