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Shift in the magnetic north pole forces airport runway closure
Saturday 8th January, 2011
The magnetic north pole is currently drifting toward Russia at a rate of around 40 miles per year, which has forced Tampa International Airport to close its primary runway to adjust its signage.
Pilots depend on the earth’s magnetic fields to navigate, making the precise numbering of runways essential.
“You want to be absolutely precise in your compass heading,” Paul Takemoto, a spokesman for the FAA told Fox news. He added that, although the earth’s magnetic poles are constantly in flux, it is rare for an airport to have to close its runways to adjust numbering.
A pole shift of around 3 degrees is necessary for airport runway numbering to be effected and it is unclear how many other airport in the US or the world may have to make necessary changes.
The magnetic poles are not constant and can even flip entirely, as they did around 780,000 years ago.
Tampa International is due to have its main runway open again on January 13th.
Saturday 8th January, 2011
The magnetic north pole is currently drifting toward Russia at a rate of around 40 miles per year, which has forced Tampa International Airport to close its primary runway to adjust its signage.
Pilots depend on the earth’s magnetic fields to navigate, making the precise numbering of runways essential.
“You want to be absolutely precise in your compass heading,” Paul Takemoto, a spokesman for the FAA told Fox news. He added that, although the earth’s magnetic poles are constantly in flux, it is rare for an airport to have to close its runways to adjust numbering.
A pole shift of around 3 degrees is necessary for airport runway numbering to be effected and it is unclear how many other airport in the US or the world may have to make necessary changes.
The magnetic poles are not constant and can even flip entirely, as they did around 780,000 years ago.
Tampa International is due to have its main runway open again on January 13th.
