Return-Path: <CoyoteSurf@aol.com-DeleteThis> Received: from opus.labs.agilent.com (root@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis [15.0.168.176]) by jr.labs.agilent.com (8.9.3 (PHNE_18979)/8.9.3 AgilentLabs Workstation) with ESMTP id KAA03723 for <wind_talk_ls@jr.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis>; Sun, 7 May 2000 10:47:26 -0700 (PDT) From: CoyoteSurf@aol.com-DeleteThis Received: from cosrel1.hp.com (cosrel1.hp.com [15.88.192.10]) by opus.labs.agilent.com (8.9.3 (PHNE_18979)/8.9.3 AgilentLabs Workstation) with ESMTP id KAA24392 for <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis>; Sun, 7 May 2000 10:47:26 -0700 (PDT) Received: from imo-r20.mail.aol.com (imo-r20.mx.aol.com [152.163.225.162]) by cosrel1.hp.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 1D9394E1 for <wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis>; Sun, 7 May 2000 11:47:43 -0600 (MDT) Received: from CoyoteSurf@aol.com-DeleteThis by imo-r20.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v26.7.) id f.ae.4b7305e (4244); Sun, 7 May 2000 13:41:19 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <ae.4b7305e.264704be@aol.com-DeleteThis> Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 13:41:18 EDT Subject: Regarding the floating runway To: tomjmartin@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, Kirk_69@ix.netcom.com-DeleteThis Cc: Bigronsurf@worldnet.att.net-DeleteThis, lc@musictailor.com-DeleteThis, rcausey@pacbell.net-DeleteThis, handpen@best.com-DeleteThis, Ssato@acuson.com-DeleteThis, dickson@cup.hp.com-DeleteThis, hpopper@scu.edu-DeleteThis, Glassius@aol.com-DeleteThis, BBerlly@aol.com-DeleteThis, tc@sj.znet.com-DeleteThis, thomas_zaugg@hp.com-DeleteThis, kenfsail@ix.netcom.com-DeleteThis, gatkins@mail.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis, muddog@onlinestriping.com-DeleteThis, Csgraef@aol.com-DeleteThis, emunyak@argotech.com-DeleteThis, mcgarr@isdmnl.wr.usgs.gov-DeleteThis, u_priel@yahoo.com-DeleteThis, skillm_g@ins.com-DeleteThis, JRHOUGHTON@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, doug@mtrinc.com-DeleteThis, will@x.cx-DeleteThis, RBeck980@aol.com-DeleteThis, Swrob14@aol.com-DeleteThis, rpiirain@pacbell.net-DeleteThis, dainuri@worldnet.att.net-DeleteThis, richjan2@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, rrathbun@ricochet.net-DeleteThis, cems1@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, paintman@newmail.net-DeleteThis, jackollila@yahoo.com-DeleteThis, deborah_bartens@city.palo-alto.ca.us-DeleteThis, jsparkes1@compuserve.com-DeleteThis, vittles_for_you@worldnet.att.net-DeleteThis, shamman@slip.net-DeleteThis, katrinanjim@earthlink.net-DeleteThis, vittles2@pacbell.net-DeleteThis, poulton@hplabs.hpl.hp.com-DeleteThis, mschuh@mail.arc.nasa.gov-DeleteThis, wind_talk@opus.labs.agilent.com-DeleteThis, lyon@kron.com-DeleteThis, BJLINDS@aol.com-DeleteThis, winer@redshift.com-DeleteThis, SHutchison@sjmercury.com-DeleteThis, dgillmor@sjmercury.com-DeleteThis, gdavis@gray-davis.com-DeleteThis, mguido@sjmercury.com-DeleteThis Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 105
Regarding the floating runway, this is typical of the airport's misleading PR
campaign.
Pull out any navigation chart of the Bay - the mean low, low water level near
the end of the runway is 4 feet or less. To support a fully loaded 747 on
takeoff would require a structure strong enough to carry the live load of
600,000 pounds, or more. Envision a structure with the structural depth of
the Bay Bridge, or more.
Obviously, this structure will sit in the mud, not float. And worse yet, no
floating structure to support large jumbo jets has ever been developed. The
SFO Airport would have you believe that such airports have been developed,
but in fact, they have been developed only for small General Aviation
aircraft, with weights of only a few thousands pounts, AND, they have been
developed only in places where the water is quite deep.
Finally, think about a fully loaded plane landing on a floating device. A
lot like landing on an aircraft carrier. I have talked to pilots who have
landed on a carrier. It is a very harrowing experience. I for one would not
fly on an airliner that would land on a floating structure.
The pier-supported structure is only slightly better, but just as massive,
and bringing significant siltation, leading to a filled bay.
Thus, the floating runway or pier-supported runway was always a bogus idea,
like many of the other bogus ideas "floated" by the airport (pun intended).
This reminds me of the proposal 30 years or so ago, to build large tunnels
through the mountains around L.A., install fans and blow the dirty air out
into the desert. Yes, that was a serious proposal.
-- Bob Whitehair
CoyoteSurf@aol.com-DeleteThis
650-571-0865
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