Comments on: Pedestrians share Gibraltar runway http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851 Online perspective from the editors of "AOPA Pilot". Mon, 20 May 2013 06:19:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Kurt Larsen http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-60122 Kurt Larsen Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:45:23 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-60122 After sailing from Falmouth, England … my father and I took a slip at one of the marinas adjacent to the runway. It was a thrill to watch commercial and military jets land and take off. We always knew a plane was about to arrive or depart when the “bird chaser” truck would speed up and down the runway … blasting its horn and siren. Of course, the several walks across the runway, through Customs, and into La Linea for cervezas was fun too! Never did it seem a problem.

]]> By: Chris Parker http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-60051 Chris Parker Thu, 09 Jul 2009 01:05:05 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-60051 I landed there a couple of times in the 80s in a Harrier, and it wasn’t easy.

Firstly, because to get to Gibraltar from anywhere in a Harrier meant using external 330 gallon fuel tanks, and that meant landing at 140kt or so instead of the 0kt we were used to!

Secondly, the Spanish were (are) very protective of their airspace and it’s very easy to infringe it on the finals turn, especially to the Easterly runway,

I don’t expect much has changed…

]]> By: Totila Grandbergs http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-60012 Totila Grandbergs Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:46:38 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-60012 That is pretty impressive, but Congonhas in Sao Paulo, Brazil is a little closer to town. In fact, it is in town. As you arrive at the terminal by car, chances are that you will drive under the wing of an aircraft that is above you on the ramp or the taxiway. The first few times one lands there tend to be very dramatic.

]]> By: Dennis McDaniel http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59796 Dennis McDaniel Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:21:18 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59796 I walked across that runway a couple of times this past winter and what people may not realize is just how little traffic there is there now compared to years ago. Once upon a time (1950s, maybe later) there was an RAF Hunter sqdn there and a number of airlines (with recips) but now the military is virtually gone and there is only one incoming and one outbound commercial flight a day to London. This winter the entire aircraft presence on the field was one single-engine recip with no propellor mounted.

]]> By: Sheldon http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59295 Sheldon Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:27:37 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59295 It might be true it takes a few minutes to clear the runway of pedestrians and vehicle traffic, bear in mind any aircraft landing at Gibraltar is going to be in contact with tower/approach with enough notice to clear the runway. There isn’t casual traffic landing at Gibraltar for an aircraft to be a complete surprise to the tower folks.

Every time I was on Gibraltar (2006-2008), yes, the runway crossing was quite casual, but I never thought there were aircraft circling the rock waiting for the pedestrian traffic to clear. The airport authority seemed to have their act together when it was time for an aircraft to take off or land, blocking entry to the crossing area when necessary.

We always stayed in La Linea and walked onto Gibraltar as it was cheaper to stay in Spain than pay the higher lodging prices on the Rock.

]]> By: Alan Pace http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59193 Alan Pace Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:35:31 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59193 Gibralter remains part of the UK & every time someone suggests that Spain take over, the locals reject it, opting to remain British citizens. The old saying goes something like ‘when the Barbary Apes (the only monkeys in Europe) leave the Rock (ie. Gibralter), the Brits will relinquish hold of this crucial stategic lookout overseeing the entrance to the Mediterranian Sea’. The airport doubles as an airbase especially for RAF Maratime Reconissance Flights etc..

]]> By: Julien Suttle http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59169 Julien Suttle Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:58:52 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59169 I have visited Gibraltar a number of times from Spain and am always surprised at the casualness of the walkers crossing the runway when aircraft are in the traffic pattern and on the runway.It’s a whole different world there!!!! Sutt

]]> By: Dale Draper http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59168 Dale Draper Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:38:09 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59168 Just be glad that the crooks who killed Meigs Field Chicago
aren’t in power here

]]> By: Chuck http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851&cpage=1#comment-59161 Chuck Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:03:41 +0000 http://blog.aopa.org/blog/?p=851#comment-59161 I had the opportunity to see this first hand in 2006 when my ship pulled into Gibraltar for a 3 day port visit. It was, to say the least, an interesting experience to make that drive across the runway. The folks there act like it’s no big deal, I guess that just goes to show that a person can used to just about anything.

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