CACHE IS NOT AT THE POSTED COORDINATES- Do NOT attempt to go to exact coordinates.

I have always had a love for traveling, especially flying. Ever since I was a kid, every aspect of aviation has fascinated me. One interesting tidbit of aviation is the global numbering of runways at almost every airport. Here the Wamego airport is no exception, but again please do not enter the runway area at the airport... there is no need to. The solution to this puzzle requires you to find the numbers of runways from the hypothetical approach I have proposed by Google Earth or similar satellite photos, a number you would see if you were a pilot landing from this direction. For example: If you are on approach to Wamego from the South, the number is 36; you can see this from satellite imagery.

So how are runways numbered? Sequentially, based on the number of runways at the airport? No. All runways are numbered based on the magnetic azimuth (compass bearing) in which a runway is oriented. There are 360 degrees on a compass rose. Runway numbers are determined by rounding the compass bearing of one runway end to the nearest 10 degrees and truncating the last digit, meaning runways are numbered from 1 to 36—as per the diagram below.

The opposite end of the runway always differs by 180 degrees, so it’s numbered 18 higher or lower.  For example, Runway 9-27 is oriented east-west.

You might be thinking that the numbers on this diagram are backwards. On a handheld compass, south is 180 degrees (so 18 in runway terms) and west is 270 (27). But the “W” is numbered 9 because the runway number is connected to the direction the plane is traveling. So if you’re on runway 9, then you’re heading east (90 degrees on a compass). Runway 36 means you’re moving north, and so on.

Most runways can typically be used in either direction, depending on prevailing winds. Furthermore, each runway end is identified separately. Therefore, an aircraft taking off easterly on Runway 9-27 would be considered to be utilizing Runway 9 for departure.

Many large airports have parallel runways, which requires further designation of each runway. For example, Boston, Massachusetts’ Logan International Airport (pictured) has two pairs of parallel runways. One is Runway 4L-22R and the other 4R-22L. The ”L” and ”R” designate the relative position (left or right) of each runway respectively when approaching/facing its direction. A small number of airports have three parallel runways—the runway in the middle gets a “C” for center.

During airport operations, runway number designations are pronounced individually.  For example, Runway 4L-22R would be pronounced by air traffic control as “Flight 123, you are cleared to land on Runway Four Left” or alternatively “…Two Two Right,” if cleared to land the opposite direction. This level of enunciation ensures clear communication and enhances safety. 

So the next time you travel by air plane and the pilot announces that you’ll be taking off on runway 27, you'll know that you’re traveling due west. (Stantec, https://ideas.stantec.com/blog/airport-runways-what-do-those-big-numbers-mean)

So: Puzzle time. The cache is located at N 39 1A.BCD W 096 1E.FGH

Replace Letters with numbers exactly from how they appear in the answers. Will require you to hunt down what numbers you would see as you land by using satellite images.

• Approach from the north at Lagos International Airport + approach from West at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport = AB
• Approach from the Northeast at Tokyo Haneda International Airport (NOT runway 23 on island- the other one) + Approach from North-Northwest at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport = CD
• Approach from SW at John F. Kennedy International Airport + Approach from NW at Washington Reagan National Airport + Approach from South at Mariscal Sucre International Airport = EF
• Approach from SE at Indira Gandhi International Airport + Approach from NW at Jorge Chavez International Airport + Approach from North at Lagos International Airport = GH

As for the physical container... do NOT approach railroad tracks, they are a safe distance from the container, so there is no need to be along the nearby track crossing.