How to play Runway Madness
You are the control tower. Planes arrive to land, wait to take off and line up to cross the runway. Tap a plane to select it (or tap its name in the list under the airport), then press one of the big buttons: Take off, Land, Go around or Cross. If two aircraft meet on a runway, the game is over.
Nine airports
Start by choosing your airport. Madness International has one runway; Twin Peaks has two parallel runways with crossings over both; at Crosswinds two runways cross in the middle, so a landing on one can meet a take-off on the other. These three are free for everyone. Premium members also get Midnight Madness after dark, Palm Island with landings over the sea, Desert Twins, Alpine Cross in the snow, three runways at Triple Trouble and the airliner rush of Rush Hour. Your best score is kept for each airport.
Landing and the decision line
Arriving planes fly in along the final approach. Each must have its landing clearance by the time it reaches the yellow ◆ decision line — otherwise the pilot goes around on their own and comes back later. You can also send a plane around yourself, right up to touchdown, when the runway isn’t clear. Small planes approach slowly, business jets fast, and airliners need the runway the longest.
Take-offs and crossings
Departures wait at the yellow hold line next to their runway: clear them when it is free and they roll, lift off and climb away. After the first few movements, planes start waiting to cross — let them go when nothing is coming on any runway they cross. With more than one runway, each one shows its own state: free, busy, or a conflict ahead.
Keep the pilots happy
Waiting planes slowly lose patience, and fed-up pilots and go-arounds drain the airport’s satisfaction meter. When it is empty, the airport closes. Every landing or take-off scores 100 points, every crossing 60, and movements in a row add a streak bonus. Your best score at each airport is saved on your device — share it and challenge your friends.
The leaderboard
One leaderboard for all the airports, for this week and for all time. Sign in (it’s free) before you play and your best score at any airport goes on the board, with your name, your ATC Square photo and the airport you made it at. The weekly board starts again every Monday (UTC), so there is always a new chance to take first place.
Like this? Try the real thing
Runway Madness is the playful side of the ATC Radar Simulator, where you control real arrivals on a radar scope at airports such as London Heathrow, Dubai and Sydney. Learn how it works in the guide to air traffic control, or try Flappy Pilot and the ATC card maker in the Fun Zone.