Summary The circular runway concept proposed in 2017 by Dutch scientists aimed to counter crosswinds, reduce emissions, and decrease queueing times. The circular runway design would allow multiple aircraft to land and take off simultaneously, shortening taxing and waiting times for flights. Despite potential benefits, the circular runway faces feasibility challenges, including cost, safety concerns, and operational complexities.
In 2017, the internet was abuzz with suggestions by Dutch scientists from the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) about the attention-grabbing concept of "circular" or "endless" airport runways. The endless runway was suggested as a way to help reduce cross winds as the aircraft would always be able to fly into the wind and have other benefits. Since then, there hasn't been much reporting or follow-up studies on the concept, suggesting it is not being seriously considered.
Instead, all-new airports proposed around the world are traditionally designed (like the major new airport for Vietnam's Ha Noi ). The concept of circular runways Henk Hesselink, the Senior R&D Manager at the Netherlands Aerospace Centre, claimed the circular runway would allow aircraft to take off and land in a circular pattern, with multiple aircraft simultaneously entering and exiting the circle. The conceptual length of the runway is over 6.
25 miles (10 km) with a diameter of 2.2 miles (3.5 km).
The sides of the runway were designed to be banked (similar to corners on a road). Th.