Discussion about airports and approaches

[west point]

Got in more than one argument about Midway having an east - west RR track right through the airport. That RR ROW is now a taxiway.
The 2 diagonal runways that intersect at the RR are the only 2 now used.

 

[Devil's Advocate]

My biggest concern @ SAT is the Miltary and Civilan Traffic Mix, not so much the Airlines!

It's true that we have several active airports (commercial, general, military, and mixed use) all within or very near the city limits, but they seem to do a good job of keeping things separated since I've only ever witnessed one potentially alarming mixed traffic event that was many years ago (B52 almost landing at SAT). We do have MIL and FR helicopters that cross over active runways at SAT, which looks dangerous at first glance but I think that's SOP for major airports. I'm not trying to say we're perfectly safe but our roads are much more dangerous than anything I've seen at our airports and bases.

Like landing on runway 27 in Boston, where you approach from the East over the water of Boston Harbor.

&

Similar at LGA on the East River, and JFK on Jamaica Bay.

If you mostly fly between mountains, deserts, and plateaus, airports like BOS and LGA are kind of fascinating by comparison, but I think my favorite over-water US landing experience are the dual touchdowns at SFO.

 

[AmtrakBlue]

It's true that we have several active airports (commercial, general, military, and mixed use) all within or very near the city limits, but they seem to do a good job of keeping things separated since I've only ever witnessed one potentially alarming mixed traffic event that was many years ago (B52 almost landing at SAT). We do have MIL and FR helicopters that cross over active runways at SAT, which looks dangerous at first glance but I think that's SOP for major airports. I'm not trying to say we're perfectly safe but our roads are much more dangerous than anything I've seen at our airports and bases.


&

If you mostly fly between mountains, deserts, and plateaus, airports like BOS and LGA are kind of fascinating by comparison, but I think my favorite over-water US landing experience are the dual touchdowns at SFO.

Now I want to fly to SFO.

 

[railiner]

It's true that we have several active airports (commercial, general, military, and mixed use) all within or very near the city limits, but they seem to do a good job of keeping things separated since I've only ever witnessed one potentially alarming mixed traffic event that was many years ago (B52 almost landing at SAT). We do have MIL and FR helicopters that cross over active runways at SAT, which looks dangerous at first glance but I think that's SOP for major airports. I'm not trying to say we're perfectly safe but our roads are much more dangerous than anything I've seen at our airports and bases.


&

If you mostly fly between mountains, deserts, and plateaus, airports like BOS and LGA are kind of fascinating by comparison, but I think my favorite over-water US landing experience are the dual touchdowns at SFO.

Landing on 4L and 4R at JFK is similar, when they use those. 31L and 31R are much further apart.

 

[Bob Dylan]

Now I want to fly to SFO.

Oakland is much easier to use and you fly over the Bay on Takeoffs and Landings!

 

[jis]

Speaking of railways across runways, the famous Khyber Railway, of erstwhile Northwestern Railway of undivided India, part of Pakistan Railway now, runs right across the main runway of Peshawar International Airport.

 

[Brian Battuello]

Speaking of railways across runways, the famous Khyber Railway, of erstwhile Northwestern Railway of undivided India, part of Pakistan Railway now, runs right across the main runway of Peshawar International Airport.

Is that still true? I was curious and looked at a very recent Google map (2025) and it appears to have been removed. There is an old train station to the east but it appears that the tracks are abandoned.