Airports

Category Archives for Airports.

Very Cool Science: Airplanes Landing In Chicago Are Causing It To Snow

by Gary Leff on February 2, 2020

Feb 02 2020

With temperatures below freezing and saturated air (high relative humidity) aircraft descending to land can cause snow. It’s a very localized event, not widespread snow, but snow can form and then fall as a result of planes descending under the right conditions.

This requires “supercooled atmosphere interacting with exhaust” and “water vapor [that is] below freezing but [that] couldn’t entirely transition into ice crystals because of a lack of particulates upon which to freeze.” Then the plane descending through the atmosphere causes snow to form.

Texas Airport Has Spent Over $300,000 In Legal Fees Defending Decision To Ban Chick-Fil-A

by Gary Leff on January 25, 2020

Jan 25 2020

San Antonio airport was at the forefront of a nationwide trend to ban Chick-Fil-A over its political beliefs. This almost certainly violates the chain’s first amendment rights and is impermissible for a government-owned and run airport.

Nationwide Class Action Filed Against TSA & DEA For Seizing Travelers’ Cash At Airports

by Gary Leff on January 15, 2020

Jan 15 2020

Terry Rolin is 79 years old. He grew up skeptical of banks, and kept his life savings of $82,373 squirreled away in his house. His daughter came to visit from Boston and help him downsize into an apartment. They agreed she would set up a joint bank account for him.

Banks were closed for the day. Her flight departing Pittsburgh was early the next morning. So she had to take the cash with her. The cash was spotted at security and seized. No crime was ever charged, but the government decided to keep the money anyway. This is surprisingly common at airports across the country.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez May Stop New York LaGuardia From Getting Train Service

by Gary Leff on January 14, 2020

Jan 14 2020

To be sure, the plan is a hair-brained one. There won’t be a direct link to the city. It’ll take passengers away from the city before sending them back to it. And it’ll add congestion to the already crowded 7 line, trading airport road congestion for public transit congestion. Complaints about the plan though merely prevent anything from being done.

We’re looking an AirTrain to Willets Point as the best available option because we’re bad at doing major infrastructure projects in this country. And Ocasio-Cortez’s opposition, four and a half years in, illustrates why that is.

5 Strange Facts About The Airport McDonald’s That Doesn’t Serve Burgers, Re-heats Meals

by Gary Leff on January 3, 2020

united plane with ronald macdonald in it

Jan 03 2020

McDonald’s adapts to local conditions wherever they open. Whether it’s French-inspired items in French Polynesia, or delivery bikes in Asia. McDonald’s also has a long history, and makes a lot of sense at airports because of both the worldwide familiarity working well for travelers and the quick service model being great for a fast bite before and between flights.

Gander Airport Wants To Make Its Mid-Century Modern International Departure Lounge a Tourist Attraction

by Gary Leff on January 3, 2020

Jan 03 2020

The airport’s 1959 international departure lounge, opened by the Queen of England, has sat idle for decades. The airport is a strategic diversion point, but planes fly long distances now without the stop. And the old departure lounge was closed off in the late 1970s.

It’s one of the most significant modernist facilities in Canada, visited by over 200 bus tours last year, but it’s served other purposes or no purpose for years.

These 10 Airports Had The Most Departing Seats In 2019

by Gary Leff on December 29, 2019

Dec 29 2019

Over the last 10 years the number one and two airports by seat capacity – Atlanta and Beijing – have stayed constant, though both have grown in capacity. London Heathrow dropped from third biggest down to seventh. It doesn’t have the space to grow without a third runway.

A decade ago the list included Frankfurt, Madrid, and Dallas Fort-Wort but those have been outpaced over the last ten years.

Man Drove Across Tarmac, Ploughed Through Baggage Claim, and Crashed Into Alamo Rental Car

by Gary Leff on December 23, 2019

Dec 23 2019

The rental car employees weren’t hurt, which is great because the guy in the truck is going to need a car once he’s medically released and free of the penal system.

And as a basic reminder that nearly everything that happens is being videotaped, here’s footage of the incident.

Seattle Airport Now Lets Visitors Go Through Security Without Same Day Travel, Joining Growing Trend

by Gary Leff on December 17, 2019

Dec 17 2019

Ultimately very few people go to the airport just for the restaurants — except maybe Tortas Frontera sandwiches at O’Hare — and most people probably won’t know about this sort of option. It does mean incremental revenue for businesses and the airport, and convenience for customers.

With major US airlines and American Express lounges moving to require a same day departing boarding pass for admittance it’s unlikely to lead to greater crowding of lounges or greater costs for rail drinks.

Overturned Fuel Truck At DFW Airport

by Gary Leff on December 11, 2019

Dec 11 2019

A fuel truck overturned at Dallas Fort-Worth airport this morning near gate D15 around 10:15 a.m. local time. One person was hospitalized and a cleanup operation did delay flights.