---
title: "ATS.TR.260 Selection of the runway-in-use — SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDERS OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES, ATM/ANS · Avioverse"
description: "The aerodrome control tower shall select the runway-in-use for take-off and landing of aircraft taking into consideration the surface wind speed and…"
url: "https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/atm-ans/part-ats/subpart-b/ats-tr-260"
---

# ATS.TR.260 Selection of the runway-in-use

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDERS OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES · Regulation (EU) 2017/373 · EAR revision 12 Mar 2025

Official sources: [EASA Easy Access Rules (opens in a new tab)](https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/document-library/easy-access-rules/easy-access-rules-air-traffic-managementair-navigation-services-provision-services) · [EUR-Lex 2017/373 (opens in a new tab)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32017R0373)

IR Implementing rule

## ATS.TR.260 Selection of the runway-in-use

The aerodrome control tower shall select the runway-in-use for take-off and landing of aircraft taking into consideration the surface wind speed and direction as well as other local relevant factors, such as:

(a) runway configuration;

(b) meteorological conditions;

(c) instrument approach procedures;

(d) approach and landing aids available;

(e) aerodrome traffic circuits and air traffic conditions;

(f) length of the runway or runways;

(g) other factors indicated in local instructions.

IR · ATS.TR.260 — Regulation (EU) 2017/373 · Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469 · ATM/ANS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 12 Mar 2025

AMC Acceptable means of compliance

## AMC1 ATS.TR.260(g) Selection of the runway-in-use

CONSIDERATION OF NOISE ABATEMENT IN THE SELECTION OF THE RUNWAY-IN-USE

(a) The aerodrome control tower should select runways for noise abatement purposes for landing operations only when they are equipped with suitable glide path guidance, e.g. ILS, or a visual approach slope indicator system for operations in VMC.

(b) Noise abatement should not be a determining factor in runway nomination under the following circumstances:

(1) if the runway surface conditions are adversely affected (e.g. by snow, slush, ice, water, mud, rubber, oil or other substances);

(2) for landing in conditions:

(i) when the ceiling is lower than 150 m (500 ft) above aerodrome elevation, or the visibility is less than 1 900 m; or

(ii) when the approach requires use of vertical minima greater than 100 m (300 ft) above aerodrome elevation and:

(A) the ceiling is lower than 240 m (800 ft) above aerodrome elevation; or

(B) the visibility is less than 3 000 m;

(3) for take-off when the visibility is less than 1 900 m;

(4) when wind shear has been reported or forecast or when thunderstorms are expected to affect the approach or departure; and

(5) when the crosswind component, including gusts, exceeds 28 km/h (15 kt), or the tailwind component, including gusts, exceeds 9 km/h (5 kt).

AMC · AMC1 ATS.TR.260(g) — Regulation (EU) 2017/373 · ED Decision 2020/008/R · ATM/ANS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 12 Mar 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 ATS.TR.260 Selection of the runway-in-use

(a) Normally, an aircraft will land and take off into wind.

(b) Departing aircraft may be expedited by suggesting a take-off direction which is not into the wind. It is the responsibility of the pilot-in-command of an aircraft to decide between making such a take-off or waiting for take-off in a preferred direction.

GM · GM1 ATS.TR.260 — Regulation (EU) 2017/373 · ED Decision 2020/008/R · ATM/ANS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 12 Mar 2025

GM Guidance material

## GM1 ATS.TR.260(e) Selection of the runway-in-use

DESCRIPTION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONDITIONS

When considering the air traffic conditions for the selection of the runway-in-use, the following elements, inter alia, should be evaluated:

(a) traffic complexity;

(b) traffic density;

(c) task complexity; and

(d) traffic typology (e.g. prevalent aircraft types operating at the aerodrome and preferred runway-in-use.

GM · GM1 ATS.TR.260(e) — Regulation (EU) 2017/373 · ED Decision 2020/008/R · ATM/ANS Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 12 Mar 2025

[All rules in SUBPART B — TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDERS OF AIR TRAFFIC SERVICES (ATS.TR)](https://avioverse.aero/regulations/easa/atm-ans/part-ats/subpart-b)

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 12 Mar 2025, extracted 2 Nov 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.