<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by AS Flyer:
I don't think slot limitations are necessary at all. The times the airlines publish as departure times are "push-back" times. The time the plane pushes back from the gate. You can have five flights push back from the gate at 7:00am and all five could feasibly arrive at their destination on time or early. SFO often operates with only one runway for both take-offs and landings, and while it is often a problem - look at the size of SFO compared to, say, ELP. If ELP was down to one runway all day,every day it wouldn't ever be a problem. If an airline had four departures leaving within 10 minutes of each other and they don't staff for that you're looking at a whole different story. But that isn't what your talking about I don't believe.
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>>> Hey there, just a quick chime in then time to call the fiance.
Can't resist this opportunity...
SFO uses 2 runways, always. One is South to North which is for all landings and the 747 take offs. The other is West to East for standard take offs.
I would love to see them do landings on the West to East, would be like a Hong Kong ( Kai Tak ) and I for one would enjoy it. Though others may not
...
Plus the fact, that they have parallel runways on both sides. Came in on a Untied 733 and we had a company sister right to our side, was cool! Would be so freaky if it were your first flight. I have done the East to West landing once, that was fun. A few winds, some rain, a little turbulence, what more can a guy ask for? LOL
Anyway, it is not just landing space, it is also terminal space, area at security, check in, etc... I have not been to El Paso, would be fun. Mexico would be right there.
If it is anything like San Antonio!?, plenty of space, plenty of room. I think the slot issue is being played here too much. Gatwick has one runway, unfortunately(on there being one runway), and does fine. What makes me nervous if a plane blows out a tire or worse, OUCH!!! That airport could be shut down for a long time... but we can't have too much noise from an airport, that wouldn't be ecologically correct... smile...
Ok, you know where I'm going...
[This message has been edited by Worldtraveler36 (edited 03-26-2002).]