Slog - Comments on Runway Hell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell From an AP report of the recent air crash in the "Blade Runner of the tropics," Sao Paulo: The pilot of an airliner that burst into flames after trying to land on a short, rain-slicked runway apparently tried to take off again, barely clearing rush-hour traffic on a major highway. The death toll rose Wednesday to 189 and could climb higher. The TAM airlines Airbus-320 flight that originated in Porto Alegre in southern Brazil on Tuesday cleared the airport fence at the end of the runway and the busy highway but slammed into a gas station and a TAM building,... Copyright 2008 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:20:54 -0800 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:55:37 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Matt from Denver Holy crap, that is short. The runways at Denver Int'l are 12,000 feet and one (presumably for 747's) is 16,000. At Seatac they're 9,426 and 11,901 feet.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765218 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765218 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:32:23 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver BTW Charles, don't fly to Chicago's Midway either. The longest runway there is 6,522 ft and you swear you're going to crash into the neighborhood when your plane is making the landing.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765220 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765220 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:34:15 -0800 Comment by kinaidos Midway in Chicago has a main runway at 6522 feet, and it has some two story buildings right around the perimeter.

]]> kinaidos http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765222 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765222 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:36:43 -0800 Comment by monkey I don't get "Blade Runner of the tropics".

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765231 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765231 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:45:46 -0800 Comment by Dylan! A Blade Runner is a cop that hunts replicants in a science fiction movie. I don't see how this is related.

]]> Dylan! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765233 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765233 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:47:14 -0800 Comment by Gitai Will you also call Britain Airstrip One?

]]> Gitai http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765253 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765253 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:09:06 -0800 Comment by SteveR @1 - Denver's runways are longer due to the altitude. Thinner air requires faster take-off and landing speeds.

I flew out of a 12000 foot altitude airport in Peru once ... My god! The runway was about 5 miles long, and we were moving WAY faster than normal in order to take off. In order to handle the speed, they have to put special tires on airplanes that fly to high-altitude airports.

]]> SteveR http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765256 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765256 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:11:37 -0800 Comment by SteveR @1 cont - Hmmm... looks like I exaggerated a bit. The airport in Juliaca, Peru has a 13,700 foot runway (altitude 12,700 feet). So actually, shorter than Denver, but no 747's.
http://www.aircraft-charter-world.com/airports/southamerica/peru.htm

The planes do have special tires, and they have to modify the oxygen sensors to prevent the masks from deploying when they open the doors.

]]> SteveR http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765265 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765265 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:20:03 -0800 Comment by seattle98104 Jesus christ, city-scapes were a major visual theme in Blade Runner. He means it's dense as fuck.

for example:
http://eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/i/uk/tr/tg/lp/19/500_19ae47c7afaec0407c5a2f63b0277947.jpg

]]> seattle98104 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765267 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765267 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:23:28 -0800 Comment by RonK, Seattle At least at LGA you don't have to worry about careening into a Brazilian slum.

]]> RonK, Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765270 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765270 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:30:17 -0800 Comment by SDA in SEA Yeah, and putting a fuel dump right off the end of the runway doesn't strike me a optimal civic planning either.

]]> SDA in SEA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765287 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765287 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 10:45:21 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle LOL, what wusses.

Part of my college education was at Selkirk College, which operates a pilot training program in a much more challenging location - in the middle of the Rocky Mountains way north of the border.

And if you think that's bad, you should see a certain airport in New Zealand.

LOL.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765315 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765315 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:00:31 -0800 Comment by Airport 75 This airport has been operating at very high capacity for over 40 years. Yes, its safety margins suck. But basically, the pilot fucked up.

I've been a passenger in and out of this airport a handful of times, it is not in the middle of a 'Brazilian Slum', but it is built right up to the road that goes around it. With a hefty (70 foot, I'd say) dropoff at the end. Not as big as the dropoff at the north end of the Seatac runways. The fuel dump was NOT at the end of the runway, it is well off to the left, but the plane careened that way. Planes have gone 'long' at LaGuardia, they end up in the water.

]]> Airport 75 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765333 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765333 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:14:05 -0800 Comment by Lloyd Clydesdale Well Will, I'm sure that's all hairy. I personally crowned a me own pee-drop on landing in sleet, snow, and wind in December at a short-decked Logan in Boston. The reverse thrust, spoilers and friction brakes seemed to be deployed simultaneously as soon as the wheels touched the ground. Everyone applauded afterwards.

]]> Lloyd Clydesdale http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765775 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/runway_hell#c765775 News Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:55:37 -0800