[championoftruth (OP)]

I just watched a programme in which a pilot managed to overshoot a runway because of wind and used a shorter runaway because the pilot could not be bothered to do a another approach to a longer runway.

In a brilliant moment of brilliance it occurred to me why not just tarmac the whole airport and do away with runways altogether. A pilot can then use his discretion to land in any direction at any time.

Also no more holding patterns which waste fuel and cause air traffic congestion and thus reduce fuel costs too.

[alancalverd]

In the bad old days, there were no specific runways - you just taxied around the grass field until you were at 90° to the wind, then turned into wind and flew away. This worked pretty well until WWII, when aircraft became heavier and changed from "taildraggers" to tricycle undercarriages. Nosewheels don't like bumpy grass and whilst a Spitfire or  Hurricane could leap out of a damp field, Lancasters and even Mustangs (a) needed something dry and reliable and (b) were less worried about crosswinds, plus (c) the B24 Liberator and B29 Superfortress really don't like mud when fully loaded. 

Modern airliners can cope with 90° crosswinds of up to 40 kt - gale force 8 - so a long runway into the prevailing wind (usually around 07-25 in the UK)  and a short cross runway (15-33) for really severe weather will handle all commercial traffic. The more tarmac you have, the more lights, drains, approach aids and maintenance crews you need, so third runways are rare.

Most municipal  airports maintain a hard runway but there are plenty that also have some well-drained, compacted grass (think cricket pitch) strips for light aircraft. With a 15 kt crosswind limit for Pipers and Cessnas, one cross runway is usually sufficient, but it still needs to be mown, cleared, repaired and signposted.

Bizjets and private aviators are usually happy to delay, cancel or divert to a big airport if it all goes horrible, and most of them (but not Luton - name and shame!) will accept a genuine emergency without charge, or a precautionary diversion at "club" rates. Been there, done that, and most grateful to Ryanair and Easyjet for letting me go ahead.

The 4-minute racetrack holding pattern is sometimes essential to maintain safe separation in time (particularly between heavy and light aircraft) and distance. Light aircraft are sometimes advised to make 2-minute circular orbits to avoid wake or rotor turbulence from preceding heavy machinery. And not just for approach and landing: the worst accidents are collisions whilst taxiing in fog, so you want everyone to take off and land in the same direction to prevent them taxiing towards or across each other.

And finally: airfield grass is a vital refuge for biodiversity! It isn't sprayed and is rarely cut, so is a great haven for insects and rodents.