Corvera runway length

[wowzz]

Not sure if this is the correct forum, but hopefully the mods will move if required.
It would appear that the new runway at Corvera is 10,000ft [3km] long - this seems excessive for most 'normal' commercial operations.
I know that length is everything [!] but why would anyone build a runway of this length unless they were expecting a 'shuttle' landing?

[eastern wiseguy]

I suppose it depends on the type of routes and aircraft you are expecting.I am unfamiliar with the elevation and temperatures there,but they also need to be taken into account (rule of thumb Hot High Heavy....you'll need more runway). At Belfast (BFS) our main runway is 9186 feet.so 10000 isn't that unrealistic.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Average runways in Europe are 2500m-3000m. New runways being built are over 3000m.

Have just saw a video of the new airport and its quiet nice looking. Also reading testing of the systems will start before March and it most lightly wont handle scheduled flights until November 2012 as not to affect the comming summer season.

[Johnny Tightlips]

Madrid Barajas RWY 36L/18R is 4300 meters long.....

[PPRuNeUser0176]

I did use the word Average....

[eastern wiseguy]

Madrid elevation, 667 m (2188 ft) ......so may well require it :)

[Bealzebub]

That runway length is about the same as London Gatwick and Manchester, and significantly shorter than most major airports such as London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris CDG, Madrid, Barcelona and Rome.

3000 mts is nothing special, and bear in mind it is the take off case that is usually restrictive and not the landing.

Malaga, Alicante and Palma are all pretty much a similar length.

[johnnychips]

Doncaster is 2893m long and seemed to handle the AN-225 with little difficulty, though I'm not sure of the load weight it took off with.

[Fly380]

It's that long to accommodate all the A380's bringing zillions of American and Japanese golfers to play overpriced golf and not to forget all the people visiting the new Paramount Studios which hasn't started being built yet. A complete while elephant when MJV is available and upgraded to 2 runways + millions spent on upgrading the terminal and car parks that will be left desolate like the old Alicante airport. It's perhaps 5-10 years too early in this financial climate but hey ho the Spanish seem to have plenty of money for that sort of thing.:rolleyes:

[kriskross]

Ummmm, mostly the rest of Europe's!!