A Circular Runway?

[Sunfish]

A Dutch gentleman is proposing a banked circular runway, about 2 miles in diameter, as a solution for airport design problems.

The idea is apparently not fanciful. The only problem I can see is that, if the rest of the world decides to go clockwise, CASA will insist that all Australian circular runways must go anti clockwise.

http://www.curbed.com/2017/3/24/15043986/endless-runway-airport-design

[GA Driver]

I want to see how the ILS is going to be setup for that 'runway'

[JC4Real]

There's no fool like an April fool...

[jonkster]

The reason CASA have mandated that circular landing directions should be counter clockwise (CAO 52 appendix 10 para 2.1) is because of the Coriolis effect in the southern hemisphere.

It allows aircraft in the southern hemisphere to always land into the wind, when passing cold fronts and intense low pressure areas would make for a constant tailwind if aircraft were forced to land clockwise on a circular runway.

(NB CAO 52 appendix 10 2.2 then allows ATC to change runway direction temporarily to clockwise in the event of a passing high pressure area if that high pressure area is listed in the current NOTAMs for the specific aerodrome)

[Capt Fathom]

Discussion here (http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/592275-circular-runways.html?highlight=circular) a few weeks back.

[Capn Bloggs]

I'm sick of you jokers going round in circles!

I want to see how the ILS is going to be setup for that 'runway'
MLS has a curved LLZ beam. :ok:

[Berealgetreal]

As long as QF and VA pay for it and are then charged levies for using it I can't see a problem!LOL.

16R seems a little curved at times. Then again that could just be my poor scan rate..

[cattletruck]

I guess there is no need for V1 on such a circular runway, you can just keep going round and around until you finally reach V2.

Same goes for calculating landing distance, you enter "infinity" into the flight computer.

Could get interesting though if it gets slippery - which end will want to slide downhill? A bit like NASCAR.

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

Perhaps all future aircraft could be designed with a rather stronger port wing, equipped with a rather large 'loop' at the end.....instead of those 'winglet' thingies....

And the 'Runway' be equipped with a rather large rotating 'hook'.....
You get the idea..??

Just like the old model aeroplanes on the end of the wires...and....the 'flare' could even be controlled by a 'flare controller' on the ground...in the middle of course....

Only one at a time though chaps and chapesses, no 'overtaking' possible.

Makes as much 'sense' to moi....

Cheers :E

p.s. Hmmm.... Re 'A Dutch gentleman is proposing a banked circular runway'....Isn't Amsterdam the place where smoking 'pot' is perfectly legal..??
Hmmm.....

[QSK?]

And how will the control tower be designed? Maybe with a turntable so that the tower control workstations slowly revolve around the circular runway?

[hoss]

Control Towers would be a thing of the past. The future is CTAFs.

"I'm in the eastern sector...now the southern sector.....make it the western sector....doh".

😉

[underfire]

Isn't Amsterdam the place where smoking 'pot' is perfectly legal..??
Hmmm.....

It is also legal in Seattle, home of Boeing....hmmmmm indeed.

[BPA]

With nutters's like this get money from the EU for this study, you can see why the UK wants to leave the EU.

[clakajak]

The reason CASA have mandated that circular landing directions should be counter clockwise (CAO 52 appendix 10 para 2.1) is because of the Coriolis effect in the southern hemisphere.

It allows aircraft in the southern hemisphere to always land into the wind, when passing cold fronts and intense low pressure areas would make for a constant tailwind if aircraft were forced to land clockwise on a circular runway.

(NB CAO 52 appendix 10 2.2 then allows ATC to change runway direction temporarily to clockwise in the event of a passing high pressure area if that high pressure area is listed in the current NOTAMs for the specific aerodrome)

Jonkster, that cracks me up.... But I checked the AIP, and you're totally right!

[jonkster]

Indeed. I wouldn't joke about things like that.

[tail wheel]

As it is now April the First, I think this thread has run the full circle??

:}

[Checklist Charlie]

I think this thread has run the full circle

Groan. Please ban yourself for that one Taily.

CC

[Keg]

I reckon Tailwheel has been sitting on that for a few days now!

[Ex FSO GRIFFO]

It is also legal in Seattle, home of Boeing....hmmmmm indeed.

And also in Colorado....where in Denver, one can actually join the 'mile high thingy'.....on the doorsteps so to speak........

:}

I'll leave it to you to 'check out' the Elev........

[biscuit74]

This idea was seriously suggested many years ago, during the Second World War.