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.

 

[saxman]

Ah... I kind of thought all airports had designated flight paths? Again... I'm a train geek who didn't fly at all until a few years ago so I don't really know.

Why does that make landing in DC dangerous?

I wouldn't say DCA is dangerous. It's challenging and there are some threats because its very busy and has some precise procedures to follow. There are indeed flight paths to follow. But the only actual prohibited airspace is directly north of DCA. It includes the National Mall that covers the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, along with the Capitol building and White House. It extends up to 18,000 feet. When the airport is on a north flow aircraft will land on runway 1 which is just straight in. Smaller aircraft can circle to land on runway 33 which increases capacity. Sometimes runway 4 is used too. Takeoff on runway 1 is the challange. To avoid the prohibited airspace, an immediate left turn is required and they fly up the river.

On a south flow, it's the opposite. Landing aircraft fly down the middle of the river, avoiding the Mall, and roll wings level at about 300-400 above the ground to land on runway 19. Some aircraft will land on runway 15 which is straight in.

The main threat is the 3 crossing runways and they all are used at times. ATC has to be on the ball. Pilots also have to be ball to not cross runways without a clearance and of course avoid the airspace. The big runway is also only 7000 feet long or so. Not terribly short but the pilots don't want to mess around with a smooth landing either. Thats why they pound it on there.

 

[crescent-zephyr]

Yeah, that makes sense. I'm sure all major airports have challenges though. About a year ago I flew in and out of DCA on the way to or from NYC, I can't remember which direction, and I was very surprised how close we got to some of the monuments. It was a really cool view, but surprised we could get so close. I'm wondering if that was coming into 33.

 

[jis]

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.

View attachment 39064

Yeah it is possible that it has been abandoned as part of the abandonment of the entire line from Peshawar to Landi Kotal after the line was severely damaged n the great Pakistan Flood a few years back. PR is literally broke with very little money on hand which is barely enough to keep the basic main line service what with the collapse of CPEC.

 

[west point]

The new Kansas City airport (KMCI) was built and opened sometime in mid 1970s. Before Kans city Municiple airport (KMKC) was considered a difficult airport. TWA airlines based there. Lost a CV-880 in a training accident. Was a special qualification airport. As well there was an airport across the river Fairfax that traffic often conflicted with MKC. MKC was also a night rail - day time aircraft transfer for a very short time. Fairfax was famous for B-25s being built there. the women ferry pilots (WASPs) started there with them ferrying many B-25s.

 

[MarkInAustin]

San Diego and San Antonio also scare me, lots of the same problems that DCA has!

Flying into Lindbergh [SD] is an adventure for the passenger, as you drop down over the hills on which Balboa Park and the famed old downtown SD Zoo sit, and seemingly through downtown, to the oceanfront. I once asked a pilot about it and he claimed they get used to it.

It strikes me that a helicopter night training mission should not occur over the Potomac until curfew at DCA. Just a thought. DCA shuts down around midnight, right?

 

[tgstubbs1]

The new Kansas City airport (KMCI) was built and opened sometime in mid 1970s. Before Kans city Municiple airport (KMKC) was considered a difficult airport. TWA airlines based there. Lost a CV-880 in a training accident. Was a special qualification airport. As well there was an airport across the river Fairfax that traffic often conflicted with MKC. MKC was also a night rail - day time aircraft transfer for a very short time. Fairfax was famous for B-25s being built there. the women ferry pilots (WASPs) started there with them ferrying many B-25s.

Once, on a return from a short trip, my Dad and I almost put down at the Fairfax airport. We were having trouble with the Navcom, (only one out of three worked) and the trim tabs for the elevator were all messed up. When we touched down (on the right runway at Downtown_) we collapsed one of the oleo struts.
I once lived in a high-rise a bit south o fthe airport and the planes coming in always looked like they were headed right for the building. They had little turboprop planes landing there every evening and it could be kind of weird to have the landing lights coming in the window.
My dad flew b-25s in the war, and I would guess that part of his job was ferrying planes, possibly from the Fairfax airport. (he usually did some kind of radio navigation testing, but he never explained the details.)

 

[UserNameRequired]

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

And it was so close that it got renamed “San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport” for a short while but not presently:
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/judge-oakland-airport-new-name-court-battle-sfo/3707682/