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"The highway strips can be converted from motorways to airbases typically within 24 to 48 hours." Sounds like it wouldn't work for an emergency landing?

by jefftk 4y ago

zokier 4y ago
Idk what that is referring to, the ones I've seen have been mostly straight segments with extended shoulders (and I suppose reinforced beneath but that is difficult to eyeball); definitely something that could be used in emergency without any prep.
- rob74 4y ago
  At least in Germany, highways have a pretty sturdy central divider - either concrete blocks or steel guardrails, definitely not something you'd want near your landing gear or fuel tanks. They can be removed in a few days if needed, but while they're still there, I wouldn't recommend trying to land.
Xylakant 4y ago
They have a few properties that could make them more attractive for emergencies. There are no objects around the highway that would interfere with wings, especially no overpasses, poles or trees. The stretches are long and straight, as well as reasonably flat. The road surface was/is kept in a good enough condition for planes to land. There’s still the middle barrier etc., so in a planned conversion that would be removed, a control tower of sorts set up etc. But in todays traffic, you’d probably not find a gap large enough to squeeze an airliner in. And I don’t think these are still maintained as air strips, at least in Germany.
- rob74 4y ago
  This German Wikipedia article has a list of all "Autobahn-Behelfslandeplätze", and it looks like out of originally 29, only 9 are still usable: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notlandeplatz_auf_Stra%C3%9Fe#Autobahn-Behelfslandepl%C3%A4tze https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notlandeplatz_auf_Stra%C3%9Fe#... Trivia: Ramstein Air Base was originally also an autobahn air strip used by the nazis during the last months of the war, then the US forces occupied it, and the autobahn had to be rerouted.
SkyPuncher 4y ago
Based on the images, it still would. You might just end up with damage to a wing or engine. Wider runways also make it easier to land/takeoff in a wider range of weather conditions. If you plan to routine use something, it's worth removing the barriers.

"The highway strips can be converted from motorways to airbases typically within 24 to 48 hours." Sounds like it wouldn't work for an emergency landing?

by jefftk 4y ago

"The highway strips can be converted from motorways to airbases typically within 24 to 48 hours." Sounds like it wouldn't work for an emergency landing?

zokier 4y ago

Idk what that is referring to, the ones I've seen have been mostly straight segments with extended shoulders (and I suppose reinforced beneath but that is difficult to eyeball); definitely something that could be used in emergency without any prep.

rob74 4y ago
At least in Germany, highways have a pretty sturdy central divider - either concrete blocks or steel guardrails, definitely not something you'd want near your landing gear or fuel tanks. They can be removed in a few days if needed, but while they're still there, I wouldn't recommend trying to land.

Xylakant 4y ago

They have a few properties that could make them more attractive for emergencies. There are no objects around the highway that would interfere with wings, especially no overpasses, poles or trees. The stretches are long and straight, as well as reasonably flat. The road surface was/is kept in a good enough condition for planes to land. There’s still the middle barrier etc., so in a planned conversion that would be removed, a control tower of sorts set up etc. But in todays traffic, you’d probably not find a gap large enough to squeeze an airliner in. And I don’t think these are still maintained as air strips, at least in Germany.

rob74 4y ago
This German Wikipedia article has a list of all "Autobahn-Behelfslandeplätze", and it looks like out of originally 29, only 9 are still usable: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notlandeplatz_auf_Stra%C3%9Fe#Autobahn-Behelfslandepl%C3%A4tze https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notlandeplatz_auf_Stra%C3%9Fe#... Trivia: Ramstein Air Base was originally also an autobahn air strip used by the nazis during the last months of the war, then the US forces occupied it, and the autobahn had to be rerouted.

SkyPuncher 4y ago

Based on the images, it still would. You might just end up with damage to a wing or engine. Wider runways also make it easier to land/takeoff in a wider range of weather conditions. If you plan to routine use something, it's worth removing the barriers.