"Bill Denton" wrote in message
...

But I would have to question your statement: "Milwaukee's varies
with runway usage. Sometimes it's along runway 7/25, sometimes
it's along runway 1/19".


Well, that's the way it is. It's specified that way in the Letter of
Agreement between Milwaukee approach and Chicago Center. I'm familiar with
the letter because I was a controller at Chicago Center.



How often would a pilot know the active runway prior to
calling Approach?


A pilot would know the active runway upon listening to the ATIS. If he does
that before he calls approach then he knows the active runway prior to
calling approach.



I just don't see anything other than a fixed point being used for this
purpose.


Believe what you wish.