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Circular Runways: Engineer Defends His Proposal

posted by Fnord666 on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:44PM   Printer-friendly
from the roundabouts-for-airplanes dept.

tangomargarine writes:

BBC News has a follow-up article to the circular airport runway proposal:

Last month we published a video arguing the case for circular runways at airports, as part of a series called World Hacks. It took off and went viral. The video has had more than 36 million views on Facebook and generated heated debate on social media - including within the aviation community. Many people are sceptical about the concept.

So we decided to hand-pick some of the top concerns and put them straight to the man proposing the idea: Dutch engineer Henk Hesselink. This is what he had to say.

Original Submission

 
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  • (Score: 2) by pgc on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:50PM (8 children)

    by pgc (1600) on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:50PM (#498040)

    What did he have to say?

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:57PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:57PM (#498043)

    RTFA!!!

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:59PM

    by Scruffy Beard 2 (6030) on Saturday April 22 2017, @07:59PM (#498044)

    Many of the concerns can be addressed with automation.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @08:09PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @08:09PM (#498047)

    I have no background in this sort of thing, but my superficial understanding is that he didn't have any good replies, he just said "we know this may be a problem and we're thinking about it". to be honest, i think he would have been better off staying silent, now i actually believe he's stupid (before i thought he was just being naive).

  • (Score: 4, Funny) by cafebabe on Saturday April 22 2017, @09:31PM

    by cafebabe (894) on Saturday April 22 2017, @09:31PM (#498074) Journal

    Well, it was a circular argument.

    --
    1702845791×2

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @11:53PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 22 2017, @11:53PM (#498113)

    To paraphrase:

    If you're wondering how they'll land the planes
    And other science facts,
    Then repeat to yourself, "It's just a concept
    I should really just relax"

    But if you want actual excerpts:

    Either we put a simple form of ILS on each direction of the runway, or we can install a movable ILS-system that will move around the runway, for example on a rail-track . It is a bit far-fetched, I know.

    We have been thinking about building offices and parking spaces under the runway and the remaining heat could be transferred to the runway, but this is an idea that will need further exploration.

    If someone one hundred years ago would have said that we would be transporting as many passengers in aircraft as we would in trains, people may have thought , "a steam engine would never fit in an aircraft made of wood and ropes".

  • (Score: 4, Informative) by gringer on Sunday April 23 2017, @03:23AM (1 child)

    by gringer (962) on Sunday April 23 2017, @03:23AM (#498155)
    Wings nearly hitting the tarmac
    The bank angle is designed such that even the most constrained aircraft (Boeing 747 and Airbus A380) will be able to land; there is less margin for error than is currently the case. Pilots will need automated support for take-off and landing.
    Rakeoffs that didn't go to plan
    As there is no end to the runway, a starting aircraft can keep rolling and come to a stop in a safer way than is currently the case.
    Can the ILS (Instrument Landing System) cope with a circular approach?
    Either we put a simple form of ILS on each direction of the runway, or we can install a movable ILS-system that will move around the runway, for example on a rail-track . It is a bit far-fetched, I know.
    Ice and rain will reduce the centrifugal force which circular runways rely on, increasing the stopping distance. What if three airliners are landing, something goes wrong and they abort landings?
    We have designed a system where the air traffic controller is supported by a 'circular' planning tool.
    Stalling speeds while the aircraft is banking
    Take-off and landing run will increase because of this and the time that an aircraft spends on the runway will be about five to ten seconds longer.
    what would happen in the event of an emergency if a plane slipped off the runway?
    The width of the runway has been extended by another 20 meters for safety.
    --
    Ask me about Sequencing DNA in front of Linus Torvalds [youtube.com]

    • (Score: 2) by bob_super on Sunday April 23 2017, @05:47AM

      by bob_super (1357) on Sunday April 23 2017, @05:47AM (#498181)

      My question was what happens when a gust of wind puts you fifty or a hundred yards short or long (not a problem if your runway is straight), missing the sweet spot for your landing speed.

      If he doesn't address that, he can take his round thing and go home.