That plan also calls for 2 mile long runways on either side of the terminal. That would require 4.5 to 5 miles of airport space. Problem today is with urban spawl, real estate is at a premium.

That idea would only work if the wind direction were to remain fairly constant. There's a reason why major airports have multiple runways at different angles after all...

 

Nothing to stop there being multiple runways at different angles. That example in the link shows two parallel runways, but you could have as many as you want at any angle you want.

Nothing to stop there being multiple runways at different angles. That example in the link shows two parallel runways, but you could have as many as you want at any angle you want.

 

Los Angeles is an airport with 4 runways facing the same direction, however they are placed in such a way to save space. I get the concept and think it is great in the fact that utilizing the basic law of gravity can have a significant savings in energy costs.

 

The real challenge to implement is making it feasible. Real Estate is a problem as this would be larger then current airports. Safety is a problem with emergency landings and runway overruns. The terminal and taxiways are at the end of the runway so the jets would plow into (most likely) taxing aircraft.

 

I like the 'outside of the box' approach to change, but the next stage is implementation (if it can be done)

Being first and foremost a GA guy I'd simply ban hard surface runways. No tarmac = no big jets = no need for ICAO. All that is left is us enthusiasts having fun in small planes on small fields as it was from the beginning. :Party:

I'd say that we need to force every aircraft to use GE TF-39-1C engines.... :LMAO:

I'd say that we need to force every aircraft to use GE TF-39-1C engines.... :LMAO:

 

So what was wrong with the JT9D's then??? :LMAO:

So what was wrong with the JT9D's then??? :LMAO:

 

Because JT8's are so much better fuel pigs! :Pig: All that should be allowed are Darts, Garrets, and JT8's!

Nothing like the 1970's guzzlers, Who ever came up with that hush kit on the 727 :Hypnotized:

 

Nothing beats a noisy guzzler.