This kind of screw up happens more than may you think. There is also something to be said about not mixing larger commercial aircraft with small private craft at the same airports. Still, this is not the first event like this for Harrison Ford. Yikes.
Orange County is just too congested. It's not the combination of GA and airlines, rather than the combination on such a congested airport. Runway 20L is hardly separated from the taxiway. Only 250' from centerline to centerline, compared to LAX were those distances are 400'. The distance from 20L and 20R centerline to centerline is 500'.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I over stated it. Both can co-exist in the same facility, but if congestion, space restrictions and traffic increases (as they have in Orange County) becomes exceedingly hard to do it safely.
DeleteI was going to write more, but something came up, so I shortened and posted. The thing is, Orange County is almost too small for the airlines. Technically, there are much smaller airports, usually on islands in the Atlantic or Pacific, that serve airliners, but they have also have much less traffic, and still the worst aviation accident (ever, unless you count the willful acts of 9/11 to be an accident) occurred at the small airport on Tenerife. Most would argue that GA should go, but I think if anything, airliners should go from Orange County. But only as it currently exists.
DeleteWhat I planned to note earlier is that a government interested in both the economic benefits of an airport like Orange County and the safety of the nearby community and those using the airport; would eminent domain the local area and expand the airport to ease the congestion. I normally would oppose such government action, but this is one of the cases in which it has a proper use. I might say "should be used", but that may be to strong if you think the economic benefit isn't as important. And that's a decision, one of the better ones Californian's could make, at the ballot box.
Eminent Domain is perfectly normal and right to expand an airport. But real estate around that one is damn expensive and they have to pay the going rate. Wouldn't it be cheaper to find land farther outside of town? Then again, it is pretty expensive all over Orange County and the mountains limit you one way and the ocean the other.
DeleteWe were going to get a better airport by repurposing MCAS Tustin but the FUD-meisters convinced the country to vote to convert it to a 'Great Park' with housing and amenities. Years later we don't have housing, we don't have a park, we don't have an amphitheater any more, but 10's of millions were spent on plans etc for nothing.
DeleteTo your question, that's the thing for the voters to decide. IMO, the question is weighed on whether the land is valuable because of the airport or because of other things around the town including the view of the beach and the mountains. I think it would be a tough question, because you are absolutely correct, the land is both expensive, and the only place to put the airport farther out of town is the other side of those mountains. You put the airport there, and you might as well stop airline traffic into Orange County now, because most people fly into Orange County over LAX because convenience.
ReplyDeleteThis just happens to be an interesting topic to me, because it touches a few things I'm well aware of and interested. I've flown into Orange County and talked to airline pilots that routinely make the flight. Weight is a major factor, because the runway is small. Landings are made with maximum braking, because the runway is small. I think aircraft carriers have less congested ramp space. And it is obvious the airport is a playground for some rich and powerful when you look at the beautiful craft sitting in general aviation. So Harrison Ford landing there seems ordinary. Harrison Ford having a near incident there seems par for that particular course. Yet, you are right. Harrison Ford has had one crash and now a major near miss. The FAA does strip older pilots of their license, and that may be necessary. However, for his sake and that of justice, I hope such a decision is weighed against what Orange County is, and not just on Harrison Ford (both his elite status on the good of keeping his license or somewhat unrelated previous accident on the bad of keeping his license). And if I was a California voter (ain't going to happen), I'd vote to expand the airport before (like happened in Burbank) a 737 ends up parked outside the gate, or worse, lands on another plane.
OTOH, the rocket-like take-offs at John Wayne International. Exhilarating.
ReplyDeleteThis is Harrison Ford's second strike. Previously landed on a golf course. Someone needs to have a come-to-Jesus meeting with him. I doubt the FAA is up for that. Maybe Ally McBeal can do it.