Panama City Airport on hold

[flyguy]

I am a pilot and work with a land use planner in the area. Long runways are coming to accommodate the A-380.

Assuming the taxiways and runways as currently planned are stressed for the weights specified. And they later want to accomodate an A380, a longer runway is not the only thing required.


They will also have to completly remove all the concrete/asphalt from the runways and taxiways and repour them much thicker to accomodate the A380 weight. The A380 is not only the largest commercial aircraft, it is also the heaviest and would literally break apart the taxiways if they are stressed according to the info posted above.

JMHO,
Flyguy

 

[Babyblue]

Assuming the taxiways and runways as currently planned are stressed for the weights specified. And they later want to accomodate an A380, a longer runway is not the only thing required.


They will also have to completly remove all the concrete/asphalt from the runways and taxiways and repour them much thicker to accomodate the A380 weight. The A380 is not only the largest commercial aircraft, it is also the heaviest and would literally break apart the taxiways if they are stressed according to the info posted above.

JMHO,
Flyguy

The concrete will be poured for future flights.

 

[flyguy]

After closer examination of the weight bearing and runway length. I don't think the airport will be able to handle any commercial aircraft with the range to fly from Europe. The smallest international aircraft (ex. Boeing 757) won't have the range to go from Europe to PCB. And the next step up (ex. Boeing 767) is too heavy.

I have to agree that for now the international part of the name will apply to small business jets.

JMHO,
Flyguy

 

[GoodWitch58]

I don't believe the intention has ever been to have international commerical flights....perhaps some of the hype implied that, but I don't believe any of the plans actually call for it....just my cynical opinion!

 

[Jdarg]

After closer examination of the weight bearing and runway length. I don't think the airport will be able to handle any commercial aircraft with the range to fly from Europe. The smallest international aircraft (ex. Boeing 757) won't have the range to go from Europe to PCB. And the next step up (ex. Boeing 767) is too heavy.

I have to agree that for now the international part of the name will apply to small business jets.

JMHO,
Flyguy

How about cargo? If you have cargo jets going outside of the US, your airport can be an International Airport.

 

[Will B]

How about cargo? If you have cargo jets going outside of the US, your airport can be an International Airport.

International means nothing more than Customs services are available which applies to pax and freight. Based on the initial build, though, cargo ops out of there are a future endeavor. In order to have international freight, there will have to be bonded and secure areas at the airport for international freight. I don't recall seeing that but may have missed it.

I don't dispute that the airport will be able to handle huge birds at some point, but based on the proposal for the initial build it's not happening for a while and will require extensive taxiway and runway rework based on what they are currently spec-ed for.

 

[Will B]

Minimum FAA requirements to handle something the size of an A-380...weight not withstanding...

200 foot wide runways and 100 foot wide taxiways. The new airport is not being built to handle them in any manner. My belief is that it is a rumor run wild...

 

[Matt J]

After closer examination of the weight bearing and runway length. I don't think the airport will be able to handle any commercial aircraft with the range to fly from Europe. The smallest international aircraft (ex. Boeing 757) won't have the range to go from Europe to PCB. And the next step up (ex. Boeing 767) is too heavy.

I have to agree that for now the international part of the name will apply to small business jets.

JMHO,
Flyguy

What about South America?

 

[flyguy]

What about South America?

The large southern cities like Rio, Santiago, Buenos Aires are too far. But I would think anything north of the Equator would be in range. And all of Central America and the Caribbean would be accessible to the airport as currently designed.

JMHO,
Flyguy

 

[flyguy]

International cargo ops are certainly possible. But I think any type of a hub is very unlikely. No cargo carrier could run a hub of any size if their heavy lift aircraft could not use the airport.

I suppose I find this topic interesting because I am actively shopping property in PCB and I constantly hear all of these opinions from the realtors of thousands of visitors a day arriving from all over the world at the new airport.

And of course they say that now is the best time to buy before everyone else figures out the wave of buyers will soon be flying in.

I will probably buy but the airport is not a factor, just trying to figure how low that market will go before I jump in.

JMHO,
Flyguy