1 - 737-300 x Volkswagen - 0

[broadreach]

<a href="http://jbonline.terra.com.br/index1.html" target="_blank">http://jbonline.terra.com.br/index1.html</a>

<a href="http://oglobo.globo.com/infograficos/pag/?tit=Entenda%20o%20que%20aconteceu&graf=020131_RIO_14.gif&lar=700&alt=500" target="_blank">http://oglobo.globo.com/infograficos/pag/?tit=Entenda%20o%20que%20aconteceu&graf=020131_RIO_14.gif&lar=700&alt=500</a>

Darwin Awards Candidate #?

The photo shows a VW Santana taxi resting on the rocks at the southern end of Santos Dumont (SDU), Rio's downtown airport, 30 Jan. The road from town to the Naval College skirts the threshold (no fence, just a kerb) and the driver thought he'd just slip past before the Vasp 737 spooled up. He was wrong and the car was flipped up like a leaf, flew 25m and landed on its roof, pitching the driver through the windscreen (like many Rio taxi drivers he may have had the belt loosely draped over his chest but not plugged in).

Yes there are sirens and warning lights and it's not really too hard to see a stationary 737 at fifty feet.

[AtlPax]

This brings to mind those fools here in the States who feel the need to drive around activated railroad crossing gates, with the usual unfortunate result.

[AeroBoero]

More news <a href="http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/12894857.htm" target="_blank">here</a> ,in potuguese of course.

A witness says that the guy "apparently" stopped there on purpose to watch the flight take off - despite sound and visual warnings.... <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

. .AB

[ 01 February 2002: Message edited by: AeroBoero ]</p>

[RatherBeFlying]

Many years ago I was driving a Volkswagen near Mont-Joli, Quebec on a two lane highway in the middle of nowhere and came upon a traffic light showing red -- with no intersection, crosswalk, sign or markings!

While wondering why this traffic light was stuck here in the middle of nowhere with not even a building to be seen in hundreds of yards, a twin turboprop crossed at low altitude on its way to the threshold -- and the light turned green.

Dodged a Darwin or a fat ticket :)

[broadreach]

As a follow-up, the driver is in hospital with severe concussion.

My morning 40-minute walk takes me past the SDU threshold and today there was "increased security" in the form of two airport authority pickups with gaudy phosphorescent chest straps - not overly necessary at 0640 but what the hell.

Arrived at the red light just as an Emb145 was leaving and a 735 was waiting for him to get off. Light turned green when the 145 departed and under normal conditions I would have waited until the 735 had gone but the "increased security" guy was waving me and the car traffic across quite insistently. So as not to embarass him, I went. Ha! Halfway to the threshold I could see the 735 guys were in a hurry; had to sprint 100m to get past. Did me good but had I been the FO and looked up from my checklist I would have seen it all and been fully justified in lodging a complaint. On the way back the special security blokes had left and it was all back in the hands of the usual solitary guard - most of whom are pretty good at judging aircraft vs car/pedestrian speed - we exchanged knowing grins.

When I was twelve I taught my younger brother to ride a bike - on the nearest large flat surface available which happened to be a moderately active but unpatrolled runway. We both learned then to keep our eyes open. Prior to jets, which you can usually hear. Prop planes, particularly pistons, you don't.

Thanks to the moderator who bumped this here from R&N; I'll be more careful next time.

[lamer]

<a href="http://www.aviationpics.de/mov/civ/civ.htm" target="_blank">Graphic Demonstration of Jet Blast.</a>

Regards

[AeroBoero]

OK - In LA forum a poster said that the taxi driver died yesterday...is this true? <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

AB

[broadreach]

Afraid so, Aeroboero. The cab driver's family are now saying they will sue but haven't made up their minds who. Infraero, who manage the airports, or the municipality, whose road along which the taxi was driving skirts the threshold? I seriously doubt they have a legal leg to stand on but that doesn't really matter in a country that's as litigious as the US and in a city where ambulance chasing lawyers are thick on the ground (and the nearest tall building to the threshold is the OAB, Order of Brazilian Lawyers).

Whatever they do the outcome will probably be closure of the road to all but Naval College related traffic, with a gate on the city side and an end to pedestrians and cyclists. A shame for those who, like me, find it an enjoyable walk but probably the only thing that can be done - I've no doubt pilots consider the proximity of pedestrians a dangerous distraction.

[AeroBoero]

Here I know that Antwerp has a stoplight on the road close to the runway.. .In Brazil I know that Joinville people and some trucks stops at the road which is very close to the rwy 15 to see the planes take off. I suppose because they don't do the "static take-off" it have less influence - asides the distance being greater that the road at SDU.

AB

[Mirkin About]

Burnie/Wynyard Airport in Tasmania has stoplight on the runway to warn that trains are crossing . They cross inside the threshold at almost 90 degrees to the rwy.

[broadreach]

AB I'm not certain but I think Ilheus used to be similar to what you mentioned. And at St Maarten there's a road between the threshold and the beach - and a fence between the road and the threshold which I believe has been taken out on at least one occasion.

At SDU the chequerboard - as you probably know better than I - slopes slightly up from the road so the threshold itself is about 40cm higher than the road level and about 15m distant. The boulders between the road and the water are a poingnant reminder not to cut it too short and in fact from that (southern, Sugarloaf) end most touchdowns are at least 250m down the runway. Sometimes, though, people do land short - there are a few 737 (could be 319) marks on the chequerboard itself and, occasionally, watching from the balcony, I see a 737 who's been a bit low on the downwind lose too much altitude on base and blow two long mini-roostertails as he powers up to keep his feet dry and to clear the boulders.

At the other end the chequerboard leads into the water - a holdover from when they tried to start a hovercraft service - but it's much steeper. No boulders to worry about tearing your gear off on so touchdowns are much closer to the threshold. I believe hitting that threshold was the reason for the TAM F100 breaking off its port mg two or three years ago - a number of other planes have thumped it there without hitting the headlines.

Anyway, if the powers that be decide pedestrians and cyclists are a menace I will take my business to the Marina da Gloria! So there!

Mirkin, the penny just dropped - you mean a stoplight for trains or for aircraft?!

[ 07 February 2002: Message edited by: broadreach ]</p>

[Evening Star]

Back in the 1980’s while I was doing consultancy work for HM Forces, I recall that the perimeter road inside RAF Leeming has traffic lights where it passes near the end of the runway. The DWO guys advised me that should I ever be held up at these lights it was better to open the car windows and endure the noise in preference to wondering if the noise was going to push in the windows. Never did have an opportunity to find out if that was true or if they were winding up the guy from head office.

As for trains, apparently the wires on posts by the side of the railway under the flight path at Gatwick are trip wires. What happens, and I get this from my brother who drives trains in that part of the world, is that if an aircraft comes over too low it will cut the wire. This will turn the railway signals either side to red and cuts off the electrical supply to the live rail. Gather the logic is that if anybody is that low then they are real trouble and it is better to keep the trains out of the way.

[broadreach]

As expected, the access road to the Rio Naval College is now closed to all except specific Naval College business, cadets, etc.

[AeroBoero]

Well....after not yet a month from the accident that caused the death of the cab driver at SDU another car was flipped over.....not much to say. . .The two woman in the car were brought to the hospital with wounds (not clear if heavy wounds or light ones). A witness said that they ignored the stoplight (again).. .So much for the Darwin awards.. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0"> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">