What does runway direction mean?
Runway direction describes which runway direction an airport is likely to use. At Sky Harbor Airport, this means aircraft land from a certain compass direction and take off towards the matching runway direction.
The forecast for Sky Harbor Airport in Sultan shows the likely direction aircraft land from and take off towards. Actual runway use can differ because of air traffic control, traffic, weather and local procedures.
Landings probably arrive from
← west
Departures probably head to
→ east
Current weather
21°C
Klarer Himmel
Updated: 18.09.2026 02:53 · Fallback cache
Wind 3 km/h
Gusts 6 km/h
Clouds 1%
Forecast confidence: uncertain
Runway & wind
07/25 → 07
70° heading
Headwind
3 km/h
Crosswind
0 km/h
Length
588 m
Width
30 m
Surface
TURF-F
Lighting
no
Airport data
S86
Small airport
City
Sultan
Country
United States
Codes
S86
Runways
1 runway
Elevation
86 m
Scheduled service
no
Lighted runway
no
Region
US-WA
Landing
Takeoff
Wind
Airport
The map shows a simplified view of where aircraft are likely to land from and where they take off towards. Actual use can differ.
Runway direction at Sky Harbor Airport
What the forecast means and how it is calculated.
How is the forecast calculated?
The calculation compares current wind direction with known runway headings. The runway with as much headwind and as little crosswind as possible is preferred.
Airport facts
Sky Harbor Airport is located near Sultan in United States. The airport has 1 runway, the longest is about 588 m. Field elevation is about 86 m.
Important to know
The actual decision is made by air traffic control. Closed runways, traffic, storm cells, noise abatement procedures or operational rules can make real runway use differ from the forecast.
Forecast timeline
stays similar
direction changes
medium confidence
uncertain
Show details
Frequently asked questions about Sky Harbor Airport
Short answers about runway direction and how to interpret the forecast.
From which direction do aircraft land today at Sky Harbor Airport?
The current card shows the most likely landing direction based on wind and runway heading. With weak or variable wind, confidence can be lower.
In which direction do aircraft take off today at Sky Harbor Airport?
The forecast shows the likely departure direction. It is based on the runway direction that offers the best headwind component under current wind conditions.
Why can the real runway direction differ?
Air traffic control can decide differently for operational reasons, including traffic, weather cells, runway closures, noise abatement procedures or local arrival and departure routes.
Is this an official airport source?
No. The forecast is a calculated estimate and does not replace official information from the airport, air traffic control or airlines.