Big Bird Takes Off (and lands safely) - Page 3

**Chris** · 28-04-2005, 10:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmxbandit

If one were to land at Nottingham East Midlands Airport (which is almost big enough in terms of runway size) then they would do what they do for all planes there, park it up on an empty stretch of concrete, then ferry people & bags around on those funny vehicles...

The difference, of course, is that the A380 would roll up with at least four times as many people on board than your average Airtours flight. Even airports like Heathrow are sweating at the thought of having to get that many people on and off a single plane. And that's assuming the plane is configured with the 'typical' 555 seats. They can get well over 800 on board one of those things if they want to.

bmxbandit · 28-04-2005, 10:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris T

The difference, of course, is that the A380 would roll up with at least four times as many people on board than your average Airtours flight. Even airports like Heathrow are sweating at the thought of having to get that many people on and off a single plane. And that's assuming the plane is configured with the 'typical' 555 seats. They can get well over 800 on board one of those things if they want to.

sure, but what i'm saying is it might not be as comfortable or as quick as at a big airport, but it wouldn't be a major problem. if it was full, i would imagine they could shut down the taxiways and everyone could walk the hundred yards or less to the terminal...

SMHarman · 28-04-2005, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmxbandit

if it was full, i would imagine they could shut down the taxiways and everyone could walk the hundred yards or less to the terminal...

Of course they could not it would be against 'elf n safete' wouldn't it.

Derek · 28-04-2005, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by SMHarman

Of course they could not it would be against 'elf n safete' wouldn't it.

The last time I flew from Luton to Glasgow on easyjet we had to walk from the terminal to the plane.

SMHarman · 28-04-2005, 11:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

The last time I flew from Luton to Glasgow on easyjet we had to walk from the terminal to the plane.

Was the plane parked at a gate, just not using the jetway? This is fairly common with the LCCs as it is quicker and avoids damage to the 'craft from the jetway.

An A380 would be parked on a remote stand, not outside the terminal building, to ensure you are not sucked into the engines of a passing plane (or run over by an airside vehicle) they need to use the shuttle busses to move you around.

**Chris** · 28-04-2005, 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by dezzo

The last time I flew from Luton to Glasgow on easyjet we had to walk from the terminal to the plane.

Aye, but you only had to walk a short distance, and the plane was on an official 'stand' at both ends. At Luton, they made you walk straight from the plane to the building and then skirt the outside of the building until you got to a door. At Glasgow the plane stops close to the door so you just walked from the plane to the door. If the plane stops on one of the stands at Luton that isn't next to the terminal building, then they provide a bus.

The problem with the A380 is it can't get anywhere near a terminal building at any airport in the world. The bigger the plane, the further apart the parking spaces need to be, and currently the largest stands are configured for a 747, which isn't as big as an A380. Having watched a 747 taxi behind another one on its stand at Heathrow, and seen just how little leftover space there was, it's evident to me that those airports that have announced they will make alterations to accommodate the A380 have an expensive job on their hands.

SMHarman · 28-04-2005, 12:21

The alterations to the various airports at a terminal level are not as bad as they could be as the A380 was designed around the 80m2 box that airports build 747 stands around. LHR has tweaked T5 to ensure that A380s can use that easily and are doing some tweaks to T3 for the same reason.

The more costly part is the review and re-engineering of taxiways and lighting as the 380 is not as manouverable as the 747 and needs additional shoulders added to corners and consequently lights need to be moved to put this extra concrete in place.

More forward thinking airports are also considering double deck boarding gates to board both decks from the terminal rather than all the upper deck pax having to walk upstairs.

Gareth · 28-04-2005, 12:35

SMH, you seem to know a lot about the aviation industry - mind if I ask if you're in any way connected, or is it just an interest of yours?

punky · 28-04-2005, 13:00

Theres a growing demand for both markets that Boeing and Airbus are going for.

More people are travelling to smaller, quieter airports, so making those cheaper would be a bonus, but many people are also travelling between major airports too. Demand is exceeding supply, not because of planes, but because of take-off/landing spots which are worth are nigh on impossible to get because they are so scarce. Having a much bigger jumbo, more people can travel, without needing to get another take-off/landing slot.

fireman328 · 28-04-2005, 13:36

There are also the logistics of servicing between flights, more catering trucks, cleaners, congestion at baggage reclaim, queues at imigration and customs.
Once the pax are through pressure on catering more cabs, parking on and off airport and buses, and just think when one goes tech and they have to find overnight facilities or have all those travellers camping out in departures. In other words it will be just like flying to Spain in the '60s and '70s

zoombini · 28-04-2005, 13:53

Will they be crashing one just so that the airport firemen can get some practise in dealing with real crash/emergency?

SMHarman · 28-04-2005, 13:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth

SMH, you seem to know a lot about the aviation industry - mind if I ask if you're in any way connected, or is it just an interest of yours?

Just an interest.

fireman328 · 28-04-2005, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoombini

Will they be crashing one just so that the airport firemen can get some practise in dealing with real crash/emergency?

Good point...... lots more body bags required

SMHarman · 28-04-2005, 14:45

Won't the skills for fighting a fire on one of these be very similar to a 747 though, two decks, lots of bodies...

Millay · 28-04-2005, 15:04

the things barley even flown and were talking about crashing one