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Plane Crazy
Douglas:
--- Quote from: ApplianceJunk ---The one that is already on the ground? How do we know it's landing? :P
--- End quote ---
Based on my 4 years of experience of working at an International Airport (with enough clearance to go anywhere except across the runways themselves... access included walking across the jetways/tarmac from terminal to terminal and US Customs area (I even did bomb sweeps on international flights)), that plane isn't landing, it's taxiing to a takeoff point.
It's a bit hard, depth-perception wise to pick up on it, but it's actually further "back" than most, if not all, of the departing aircraft.
You will *never* see a plane taking off in the opposite direction of arrival aircraft. They all take off and land in the same direction, unless there's a shift in the wind. Then they all change directions.
That one plane in the opposite direction either landed and is heading to the jetway or it's taxiing into position for a takeoff. It's definitely not in the landing phase of its flight. :)
The Craw:
--- Quote from: Douglas on June 05, 2012, 03:28:42 PM ---
--- Quote from: ApplianceJunk ---The one that is already on the ground? How do we know it's landing? :P
--- End quote ---
Based on my 4 years of experience of working at an International Airport (with enough clearance to go anywhere except across the runways themselves... access included walking across the jetways/tarmac from terminal to terminal and US Customs area (I even did bomb sweeps on international flights)), that plane isn't landing, it's taxiing to a takeoff point.
It's a bit hard, depth-perception wise to pick up on it, but it's actually further "back" than most, if not all, of the departing aircraft.
You will *never* see a plane taking off in the opposite direction of arrival aircraft. They all take off and land in the same direction, unless there's a shift in the wind. Then they all change directions.
That one plane in the opposite direction either landed and is heading to the jetway or it's taxiing into position for a takeoff. It's definitely not in the landing phase of its flight. :)
--- End quote ---
Sooo, you're saying I'm wrong then? ::)
Kindred:
yup... both Douglas and I agree. :P
The Craw:
Just checking. LOL
Douglas:
Dunno how I managed to skip past Kindred's post. Sorry about that, man!
One other thing to point out (building on what Kindred said) about the dual (or more) runways. It boils down to how much air traffic an airport has and how many runways they have, as well as how the runways are situated.
LAX has three runways... two running parallel and one shooting off at an angle (something like 30 degrees off the outside runway). They use the two main ones for both takeoffs and landings simultaneously, and the third one is used for VIP aircraft (Air Force 1 or other dignitaries, etc).
SeaTac Airport (where I used to work) had two at last count (I think they were trying to get a third, shorter runway in for smaller passenger jets and/or delivery jets (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc)) while extending their two main runways by an additional 1000 feet to more easily accommodate the Triple 7's (and now the 787's). Had a bunch of NIMBYs that stopped the 3rd runway, IIRC, but they were unable to stop the lengthening of the two runways. SeaTac uses one exclusively for takeoffs and one exclusively for landings. Planes take off and land in the same direction.
ATL's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport has 2 runways that are both used for takeoffs and landings, and they alternate as each craft comes in:
1. Runway A (closest to the airport): Plane 1 takes off.
2. Runway B (furthest away): Plane 2 lands
3. Runway B: Plane 3 takes off.
4. Runway A: Plane 4 lands.
Sometimes they'll change the order to 1, 4, 2, 3 (examples above). Regardless of the order, you have a plane taking off AND a plane landing every 60 seconds (There IS a reason why it's called the US' Busiest Airport).
Colorado Springs Airport (before they built the new one with its own separate runways) shared 3 runways with Peterson Air Force Base. Runway closest to the airport was dedicated to the airport itself. Runway in the middle was shared between the Airport and Peterson AFB's larger aircraft (the C130's, etc). When the space shuttle landed in the Springs in the 80's, it landed on the second runway. How do I know? The house I grew up in was 4 miles from Peterson AFB and 7 miles from the Airport. You always knew which runway was in use at that moment by how far the plane was from the house (we were approximately 1500 feet east of the middle runway.
The third runway at CS Airport/Peterson AFB was used exclusively for fighter jets taking off and landing, and was set at a slightly different angle.
By the way, if you ever fly into Colorado Springs, hold onto your lunch as you come in for a landing. Since the city is nestled at the base of the Rockies, winds tend to have a coled effect (they hit the mountains and roll downwards towards the base). It's not as bad with where the new airport is situated... but it's still a rocky approach.
Boston Logan Airport has just two runways and is actually situated on a man made island in the Atlantic Ocean. Because the runways tend to be considerably shorter than the typical airport runway, the descent is much quicker, sharper and steeper, plus the stop is much harder and faster. If it's windy, you're gonna feel that too. Boston's one of the worst airports to land at if you're suffering from a head cold with plugged ears (speaking from experience).
Can you tell I've got quite a bit of traveling experience? HAH! There's only 9 states I have NOT been in. Alaska and Hawaii are two of 'em. I've been in at least 30 different airports (probably closer to 50) ranging from the little regional airports that serve 8 seat puddle jumpers all the way to the biggest and baddest of 'em all... Chicago's O'Hare.
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