CaptSkibi From United States of America, joined May 2004, 150 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1070 times:
I had noticed during my travels this year that RWY 9L/27R at DTW has been closed for the better part of the year, if not longer. I am just wondering why this runway has been closed?
I realize that RWY 9L/27R intersects three (4R/22L, 3L/21R, 3R/21L) of the four parallel runways that are normally used, and thus would require special operations on those three including RWY 9L/27R itself. I also realize that there are probably special spacing/timing requirements for RWY 4L/22R if 9L/27R were used.
It doesn't appear that RWY 9L/27R is under construction, either. It seems to be used only as a 200' wide E-W taxiway. I also noticed that although the RWY isn't in excellent condition, it is certainly not in bad condition.
Are there any plans to ever re-open this runway, and if so, when might it be opened? What is the usage history of this runway? If it is not going to be re-opened, will there ever be at time where it is only marked as a taxiway, thus effectively making RWY 9R/27L be RWY 9/27?
Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land / DL Gold Elite
PSU.DTW.SCE From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 6867 posts, RR: 29 Reply 1, posted (8 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1033 times:
9L/27R is still used on occasion
It can still be used as a runway, but it is only used in rare occasions when there are strong winds out of the west that require the use of the 27's. This only happens during storms or when strong fronts are passing through and the west winds exceed the allowable crosswind components on the 3's/21's & 4's/22's.
It is marked as closed mostly for safety reasons since it intersects three of the parallel runways and is used as a taxiway. Last time I saw it used was in March of 2004, but it does get use.
The 9's are never used since due to prevailing weather, you never get strong winds out of the east.
TVCFlyer From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 47 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (8 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1012 times:
I have landed on 27L one time, But I have never seen 27R used since the new terminal opened.
CaptSkibi From United States of America, joined May 2004, 150 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 3 months 4 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 892 times:
There is a NOTAM that says that RWY 9L/27R is closed, but not the reason why. I have even seen the lighted X at least a couple of times last summer at the end of RWY 9L when landing RWY 22R.
But why go through the bother of putting out a lighted X and issuing a NOTAM if all it would take is for ATC not to issue take-off or landing clearances on RWY 9L/27R? The tower operates 24 hrs a day, so it's not like they'd need it for when the tower closes.
I'd sure like to see operations on 27R and 27L for the regular air carriers. That'd certainly be a change to see!
Private Pilot, Airplane Single Engine Land / DL Gold Elite
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From United States of America, joined May 2004, 150 posts, 
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