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Google to splurge $82M for airport facility

16 points by swohns 14y ago

lutusp 14y ago
> The plan calls for an $82m extension to the San José International Airport with hangers [sic] ... An airport in a closet? Or did they mean hangars? Next question. Where have all the proofreaders gone?
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  Where have all the proofreaders gone? The same place the investigative reporters have gone. We get what we deserve.
- zalzane 14y ago
  The register is a tabloid, not a news site. God knows why this is even on the front page.
manish 14y ago
Is it an extension to San José International Airport, or exclusive airport for google? How does that work out? I am confused by "The companies would be granted a 50-year lease and pay an estimated $2.6m in annual rent, along with an estimated $400,000 in fuel-flow fees and between $70,000 and $300,000 in new taxes."
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  I believe this means they are paying rent to the city for the land, which explains why San Jose is excited that it would bring in revenue. I'm inferring the city is the recipient of rent, because the statement about rent is lumped in with fuel fees and taxes, which are already doubtless going to the city.
sswezey 14y ago
Misleading title, forgot the 'exec enclave'. Google is purchasing a lease for hangers and terminal space. They are _not_ buying an airport.
giblfiz 14y ago
"Google's executive jets – of which is has at least eight – carry very few people in great luxury, with the larger aircraft in the Chocolate Factory's fleet coming equipped with double beds" Chocolate Factory? What the hell is going on with this article?
- mpclark 14y ago
  It's The Register's friendly name for Google, and comes from -- I think -- Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, an impenetrable monolith where nothing was what it seemed and anything could happen.
- caw 14y ago
  Does Google have non-executive jets? I ask because Intel maintains a fleet of planes to ferry normal employees between sites called the Intel Shuttle.
michael_miller 14y ago
The HN title is misleading. What the article is stating is that Google is essentially building its own FBO [1] at the airport. There won't be any additional runways, nor control towers. Just a small (relative to commercial terminals) terminal and space for Google to store their planes at. A little bit of background for people who aren't pilots / have never flown private before: if you're not flying commercial, you fly out of a Fixed Base Operator at the airport. These are usually on the other side of the airport from the commercial terminal, and are responsible for filling up planes with gas and providing hangar or tiedown space. They usually have a nice lounge area with flatscreen TVs, comfortable seating, and a pilot's lounge with computers that can be used to file flight plans and check weather. Some of the nicer ones go so far as to have beds for pilots who are doing a layover, and offer amenities like free snacks, and movie rooms. These FBOs have (in almost all cases) no TSA security - you just walk out to your plane and hop in. This is infinitely nicer than commercial air travel. The people at the FBO actually want to earn your business and treat you nicely, going out of their way to help you! In this case, Google is just contracting with an existing FBO to build a new building with a lounge area, and building out more hangars to store planes, both of which will be exclusively for Google's use. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-base_operator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-base_operator

16 points by swohns 14y ago

> The plan calls for an $82m extension to the San José International Airport with hangers [sic] ... An airport in a closet? Or did they mean hangars? Next question. Where have all the proofreaders gone?

sliverstorm 14y ago
Where have all the proofreaders gone? The same place the investigative reporters have gone. We get what we deserve.
zalzane 14y ago
The register is a tabloid, not a news site. God knows why this is even on the front page.

manish 14y ago

Is it an extension to San José International Airport, or exclusive airport for google? How does that work out? I am confused by "The companies would be granted a 50-year lease and pay an estimated $2.6m in annual rent, along with an estimated $400,000 in fuel-flow fees and between $70,000 and $300,000 in new taxes."

sliverstorm 14y ago
I believe this means they are paying rent to the city for the land, which explains why San Jose is excited that it would bring in revenue. I'm inferring the city is the recipient of rent, because the statement about rent is lumped in with fuel fees and taxes, which are already doubtless going to the city.

sswezey 14y ago

Misleading title, forgot the 'exec enclave'. Google is purchasing a lease for hangers and terminal space. They are _not_ buying an airport.

giblfiz 14y ago

"Google's executive jets – of which is has at least eight – carry very few people in great luxury, with the larger aircraft in the Chocolate Factory's fleet coming equipped with double beds" Chocolate Factory? What the hell is going on with this article?

mpclark 14y ago
It's The Register's friendly name for Google, and comes from -- I think -- Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, an impenetrable monolith where nothing was what it seemed and anything could happen.
caw 14y ago
Does Google have non-executive jets? I ask because Intel maintains a fleet of planes to ferry normal employees between sites called the Intel Shuttle.

michael_miller 14y ago

The HN title is misleading. What the article is stating is that Google is essentially building its own FBO [1] at the airport. There won't be any additional runways, nor control towers. Just a small (relative to commercial terminals) terminal and space for Google to store their planes at. A little bit of background for people who aren't pilots / have never flown private before: if you're not flying commercial, you fly out of a Fixed Base Operator at the airport. These are usually on the other side of the airport from the commercial terminal, and are responsible for filling up planes with gas and providing hangar or tiedown space. They usually have a nice lounge area with flatscreen TVs, comfortable seating, and a pilot's lounge with computers that can be used to file flight plans and check weather. Some of the nicer ones go so far as to have beds for pilots who are doing a layover, and offer amenities like free snacks, and movie rooms. These FBOs have (in almost all cases) no TSA security - you just walk out to your plane and hop in. This is infinitely nicer than commercial air travel. The people at the FBO actually want to earn your business and treat you nicely, going out of their way to help you! In this case, Google is just contracting with an existing FBO to build a new building with a lounge area, and building out more hangars to store planes, both of which will be exclusively for Google's use. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-base_operator http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fixed-base_operator