Whether a plane can land at an airport isn’t necessarily a function of it’s weight but it’s footprint, or how effectively that weight is distributed. Some other considerations would be whether the taxiways and runways could accomodate an aircraft with a wide wingspan. His argument was naive and probably suited for an audience that doesn’t understand the details. I was taking exception to the simplistic argument he was using. I do however agree with him on several of his points that are more critical than these two.
I didn’t think his argument was naive. He succinctly stated the problem without going into a paragraph or two of technical details explaining weight distribution, tire footprints, runway strength, etc...
I think the weight and size issues are very important, with the weight being critical. Weight is a crucial factor in all airplane operations. Airport and airfield design uses weight and one of the main factors in determining overall operational capabilities. Take away 20% of my available airfields and that is a BIG hit.
Big plane related: A C-5 came to town yesterday and did a 1/2 hour’s worth of touch-n-go at the local airport. What a treat to see a beast that size in low, steep banking turns. Very nice engine noise, much higher pitched than standard airliners.