Meanwhile, SFO continues its fool’s errand of taking its worst-in-the-whole-world baggage handling system, and making it into even more of a cluster_____ in anticipation of 380s flown by Asian carriers. I do not relish the inevitable pain these are going to cause. To boot, our envirowackos nixed the plan to build a new more separated twin runway so now, when one of these whales lands, it will cause a stack up. Neat, eh?
Who were the morons who laid out the airport in the first place? IAH would be able to handle handle A380's on existing runways and taxiways that were built almost 40 years ago. The airport director pointed out recently that the world's largest plane the Antonov AN-225 regularly visits IAH, and that IAH can easily handle smaller planes.
IAH is ready for the Airbus A380
For years Bush Intercontinental Airport has been accommodating the Antonov 225 – now the airport is ready for the Airbus A380
Houston Airport System
April 12, 2007Weighing in at 1.3 million pounds, the massive six-engine Antonov 225 Mriya has been comfortably handled by George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) for many years now.
The Mriya, Ukrainian for “dream” is the largest aircraft in the world.
It is 275 feet long and has a wing span of 290 feet. The aircraft has a spacious cargo compartment that can carry up to 50 automobiles or a single piece of cargo weighing up to 200 tons. The aircraft is also capable of transporting up to 200 tons of cargo outside the fuselage.
Originally, the An-225 was constructed to convey the Russian space shuttle, Buran, strapped on its back.
Today, the Antonov 225 is used to transport boats, cars, trucks, trailers and camping gear such as tents, air conditioners and other equipment to the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq.
The world’s first double-deck passenger aircraft, the Airbus A380 was unveiled by Airbus, a European aircraft manufacturer, in January 2005.
The A380 weighs in at 1.3 million pounds, the same as the Antonov 225. It has a shorter length of 240 feet and a smaller wing span of 262 feet.
Tom Bartlett, deputy director of operations for the Houston Airport System (HAS), says IAH will have no problem accommodating the A380 when it makes its first arrival at the airport. No set date has been established as of yet.
“We joke around a little bit because a lot of people do ask us if this airport is equipped or capable of handling the Airbus 380 – knowing we accommodate the Antonov, we’re happy to say absolutely we can accept a smaller plane,” says Bartlett. “With that in mind, yes it can come safely and efficiently.”
Bush Intercontinental has seen changes over the years. Once HAS management knew the A380 was going to be built, some proactive design criteria requirements were made at the airport.
Plans were implemented with the new runway expansion. All of the aircraft bridges built in the last five years have been designed to handle 1.4 to 1.6 million pounds, more than the gross weight certified for the An-225 and A380.
The rehabilitation done on Runway 15L/33R included design criteria for the A380. In addition, the turning radius has been widened on taxiways to accommodate the wider turn radius of the large airliner.
Although no A380-specific passenger facilities have been built at IAH, it is still possible to de-plane the double-deck aircraft by using two loading bridges.
There are no foreseeable plans for the A380 to come to Bush Intercontinental; however the airport has been designated as an alternate place to land for Air France.
Air France has scheduled a flight from Paris to Mexico City in the near future. Under certain circumstances such as bad weather or an emergency in flight, the A380 would land at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental.