<grumble> Chicago is at it again....

[ChiXJeff]

Mayor Daley has apparently ordered the destruction of Meigs Field overnight.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-030331meigs,0,7637649.story?coll=chi-news-hed (this link may only work today....)

Not just painted crosses on the runways, but physically demolishing them.

ChiXJeff

[Beezil]

if you go to the friends of meigs website, you can see the live cam.....

I was student pilot once, and IIRC, the proper transition of an active airstrip to non-active or closed, must allow for a certain time span, all inbound traffic, and a period following, where the airfield can be used (white 'x's applied) for emergancy use only.

also, I just took a look at the senate bill s-83 il, and there doesn't appear to be any provision allowed for the city of chicago to "rip up" an airfild overnight, and the process used (bulldozers) seems to be in direct faa violation.

Jeff, you'll probably remember the last 18/36 closing.....friends of meigs acted and performed relentless touch-and-gos well into the night, past allowed operating times (600-2200 hr.) at dangerously (illegal) proximities to other aircraft on final (I witnessed this in person from 12th street beach) and I remember thinking what a dangerous situation that caused.....So its no surprise that this recent closing was performed suddenly during the night, ya just gotta wonder WHY?

the airport was supposed to remian open until 2006 and POSSIBLY 2026. i am wondering if Chicago was responding to some kind of intellegence that cannot be made public.

All i know is my sister got a call this morning and they said "congratulations" You just got 63 more acres to deal with.....

[ChiXJeff]

You're right, there's no excuse for unsafe operations.

However...... the FAA is apparently unaware of the airport closing.

Wonder if Daley can be charged with a felony violation of Homeland Security for committing a terrorist act against an airport? And seriously, if downtown Chicago is going to be protected, O'Hare, Midway, Palwaukee, Gary, DuPage, Schaumburg and every other little airport in the collar counties will be closed, and ZERO flyovers allowed.

Personally, I think Chicago's Dictator just got named.

ChiXJeff

[Beezil]

oh jeff, i think you are being a little harsh.

I wonder when bombing of the burbs will comence?

BOMB THE BURBS!

[dmillion]

Responding to some kind of intelligence!?! You've got to be kidding! The city has been coveting that land for years. They haven't been able to get it legally, so they decided to take it illegally. With someone named "Daley" in the mayor's office, can anyone be surprised?

[ChiXJeff]

<grin>

Got another friend up on the North side who's a pretty liberal chap, and usually a pretty level-headed and accurate guy. His comments? (just an excerpt...)

Jesus, Mary and Joseph--this guy has no accountability and no controls.
He proved in the Primary there's no one to challenge him; and he looks like
he's going to make full use of the fact.

[Rev Den]

Maybe he is going to turn it into a small off-road park.....ya think?

STRAFE THE CITY....whoops, Daley already started!!

Rev

[ChEwBaCcA]

Daley and the Republican guard are on the move.....we should call in the Marines.....w/ Blojo downstate they have no worries.

Funny thing is , what about the transplant teams that operate out of Meigs? They go between Meigs and N.western hospital and the extra time will be a big factor and will cause someone who could have lived to die?!

[ChEwBaCcA]

Not to mention if the city IS a target of terrorism ,,, the strips would be a GREAT Source for the National G. or bio terror teams to land.........now they will stop at Midway and wait through 4 hours of traffic......?????? Where does this make any common sense!?

[Rev Den]

It would seem that the city was safer with active air traffic control in the city, challanging any aircraft that approched. Oh well, the Chicago way!

Rev

[Beezil]

what they SHOULD have done is apply to have meigs be a class c airspace........

what they SHOULD have done is attach another 1200 feet of runway to the foot of 36 so that the field could have supported 737 operations

thing is, NO ADMINISTRATION gave a rats ass about the airport, not Bilandic, Byrne, Washington etc.....

if they did there would have been REAL usage instead of just general aviation, and weekend single-ricip pilots. Its tough to hear people bitch about this as if they cared.

BTW chewy, I know FoMeigs likes to use the medivac rationale, but lifeline runs out of both Loyola and University of Chicago, both operating their own equipment

[Rev Den]

Would be kinda nice to add a few more miles onto the Late Ride this year, call your sis...tell her to build a path...can't wait to ride on June 13th.

Rev

[Scott Mac.]

Originally posted by Beezil
what they SHOULD have done is apply to have meigs be a class c airspace........

what they SHOULD have done is attach another 1200 feet of runway to the foot of 36 so that the field could have supported 737 operations

thing is, NO ADMINISTRATION gave a rats ass about the airport, not Bilandic, Byrne, Washington etc.....

if they did there would have been REAL usage instead of just general aviation, and weekend single-ricip pilots. Its tough to hear people bitch about this as if they cared.

BTW chewy, I know FoMeigs likes to use the medivac rationale, but lifeline runs out of both Loyola and University of Chicago, both operating their own equipment

Was that the sound of undies getting all bunched up?:bawl:

[w_howey]

Wasn't Great Lakes Air operating out of Miegs? Or did they end that a while ago.

Not to mention, Air Angels operates out of Gary/Whatever stupid name they came up with to cover up that it is Gary Airport and it is a short chopper ride to any transplant center from there.



Hey, chewy wouldn't those be the Mell Guard, or the Madigan Guard??

[Beezil]

Was that the sound of undies getting all bunched up?

I think its clear that I couldn't give a rip about this one....

and I'm sure you are disappointed scott, that you can't give me crap, looks liek you though it would affect me....

so in the meantime, just keep smashing your imaginary airplanes into the imaginary chicago skyline in FS2002 if it makes you feel any better.

loser.

[ChEwBaCcA]

I thought is was too funny that people were protesting because they would have to change the new version of FSim to exclude the port LOL..... people need to get out more.

chewy

[ChEwBaCcA]

As far as gen. avi. is concerned i have never understood the concept from day one. You can have 100,000+ people on the ground for a fest and have private joes above doing fly overs 24/7?? Hey if thats your bag go fly over a freakin corn field....when your junk breaks you can kill yourself and NOT take 1,000's of people w/ you!

I like to wheel but im not going to go to Grant park during the Taste and wheel around the fountain!

The people bitchin the loudest are these Barrington/Oakbrook yuppies that want to patrol around the skyline via private plane.....screw em and make something usefull for the average tax payer of the city....

thats NOT to say this was the way to do it,.... but I agree w/ Daley that the air space should be off limits to anything OTHER than commercial aviation.

[Beezil]

this is where daley is probably misdirected.

IMHO, in order to make the skys around the loop safer, the best way that could be done is to reclassify meigs TCA area to class c like midway.

I mean, he thinks meigs is a security threat, but is fine with midway? Flight travel time from runway 4 L and 4 R (in perfect alignment with downtown) would be a mere 4 to 6 minutes at 100kts..... so I don't get it. What are you gonna do with an inbound aircraft with 4 minutes for responce time?

ANY aircraft leaving ORD, MDW, or CGX inbound to the loop on a terrorist mission will probably succeed.

Otherwise, inbound aircraft to downtown now have a gaping hole on the east (lake) approach at low altitude and under the radar of the ORD TCA. Nice going. A reclassification/TCA upate would have been a better strategy.

Northerly Island Beach volleyball anyone?

[ChiXJeff]

The People's Democratic Republic of Chicago (yes, I'm on a soapbox) does own the land, and can indeed shut down the airport at their whim.

The problem is how King Richard went about it. Apparently, about the only thing that the City may get hit on is violation of FAR Part 157 (http://www2.faa.gov/arp/ace/part157.htm)

ChiXJeff

[ChiXJeff]

Originally posted by Beezil
IMHO, in order to make the skys around the loop safer, the best way that could be done is to reclassify meigs TCA area to class c like midway.

I mean, he thinks meigs is a security threat, but is fine with midway? Flight travel time from runway 4 L and 4 R (in perfect alignment with downtown) would be a mere 4 to 6 minutes at 100kts..... so I don't get it. What are you gonna do with an inbound aircraft with 4 minutes for responce time?

ANY aircraft leaving ORD, MDW, or CGX inbound to the loop on a terrorist mission will probably succeed.

Otherwise, inbound aircraft to downtown now have a gaping hole on the east (lake) approach at low altitude and under the radar of the ORD TCA. Nice going. A reclassification/TCA upate would have been a better strategy.

According to my brother (VFR single engine rating,) he expects the EXISTING hole to be closed up. Evidently, due to the fact that an airport was there, flight rules were relaxed. Now that it's gone. there's some additional paperwork and such. Pilots should be picked up a lot farther out now.

Still, it's not the small planes he needs to be worried about. So you fly a Cessna downtown. And before anybody says anything, yes, it's tragic. But it's manageable. Run a Gulfstream business jet down (say from Palwaukee?) and see what you can do.

ChiXJeff

[Beezil]

I think that's what he must be worried about.

ya see, in case ya didn't know, Meigs sees a lot of two engine jet traffic (and three if you count the guy with the Dassault Falcon900)

Citations, Lears, GStreams all land at meigs......

yeah you are right, otherwise, a single engine ricip would have the same effect as a bug on a windsheild, not really a threat.

But I think its obvious from any angle...

this isn't about protecting the town from inbound airplanes is it?

[Rev Den]

Nope.

It is about building a park so that people from the 'burbs can come to the city, sit by the lake, and spend money.
Was it sneaky? Yup
Does it matter? Nope
Am I looking forward to a bike ride on the extension of the Lakefront bike path? Yup.

Rev

[ChEwBaCcA]

Me too,

Because BJ said I need to start bike riding if im going to date his sister ;-)

Chewy

[Beezil]

fawkin fat ass.

den, i agree....."this is what he must be worried about' is out of context.

about that g-damn bike path....

how can you stand it???

don't get me started, it pisses me off.

Why do mothers think the path was made for double-wide baby strollers?

Why do dog walkers INSIST that they must stay on the path while trying to walk 12 dogs at the same time?

I'm really surprised there are not more serious injuries or deaths.

You have road bikers zipping along at 25-30mph (maybe more)
Mountain bikers clipping along at 15-25
Roller bladers going "curb-to-curb" at 15
joggers moving at individual paces.....

and then you turn the corner and theres four dozen goddamn dogs on individual 20-foot leashes darting out in all directions, and a fawkin baby stroller made for quintuplets on the wrong side of the yellow line.....

Unreal.

dog walkers, use the grass

moms go to the zoo.

skaters, you should be in school right now

roller bladers practice your stride technique.

you don't really bike on that damn thing do you?

BOMB the LAKEFRONT Daley, X-out the path

[GSequoia]

I feel your pain Beez...except for the dogs we hav ethe same problem on the bike path going up the beach here (dogs aren't allowed on the beach...at all, in fact, alcohol isn't allowed on the beach damnit!). It's a nice ride, from Redondo Beach to Malibu (about 20 miles), nicer in the off season when you don't have useless f#$%s with their heads up their asses all over the path!

(Granted, the dead of winter is cold with that wind blowing off the ocean...sometimes it gets as low as 50 degrees!)

[Rev Den]

Once a year, early AM, I agree...you gotta be nuts to try and ride that thing during the day. Even in the early morning we see, lakefront residents, kids, and sightseers.

Damn scary...even at night.

Rev

[jjchgo]

heard they are going to turn it into a camp ground...

cheers,

jj

[ChEwBaCcA]

real nice beezil, make fun of the fat kid ;-) lol

chewy

[ChEwBaCcA]

I heard they are going to make an offroad park there.......

[macgyvr]

so all we got to do is start riding a bike to date beez sis?

mac 'i have a bike...somewhere' gyvr

[Beezil]

like I was telling chewy.....

my sister doesn't like fat kids.

[ChEwBaCcA]

thats not very PC of you......i make sure i tell your better half of this behavior

chewy

[w_howey]

Okay, I am not a pilot, nor do I pretend to be!

I am going to ask what is probably a really stupid question, but it is a burning one, at least with me!


I saw some pics of Miegs, with all the holes, and a ton of aircraft there. How in the heck do they get them out of there, to another airport?


Not to mention, lots of room at RFD!! World class facilities, no daytime commerical stuff, an occasional charter, and all the UPS birds at night!!!

[ChEwBaCcA]

they left from the taxi strip alongside of the main landing strip.

Regards,
Chewy

[macgyvr]

Originally posted by Beezil
like I was telling chewy.....

my sister doesn't like fat kids.

what about short fat kids that can kick her brothers bald ass?

mac 'in rememberance of winterfest 2002' gyvr

[Beezil]

you didn't kick my ass you sat on me fat fawk.

[macgyvr]

ah you were still down for the count...


mac 'drink diet budweiser to stay in shape' gyvr

[Beezil]

down for the count? You knocked the wind out me with your lard.

[jjchgo]

haha...i remember that.:D it made me think twice when beezil told me he had my back;)

cheers,

jj

[ChEwBaCcA]

lol , damn i think Mac just called Beezil big bad chicago azz out!

from where i come from thats an eye shot, or a busted mouth!

Regards
Chewy

[macgyvr]

The funny thing about that incident, is that there is a whole other side that only a few people know about.

mac 'low center of gravity' gyvr

[Beezil]

yeah, and believe me, next time, I'll be working under the same conditions.

[woody]

LOL@ Mac... I remember the "Yogi & Boo Boo" scene at ole site #26. What a blast...even if we wore out our welcome up at that CG...it was worth it.

I thinks Mac wanted to get cuffed & stuffed by Ranger Friendly. (so did I, now that I think of it,) we were all moon-eyed & like "Frisk Me!" "no, please Me first!" at least they didn't confiscate all the beverages. That would have sawked in a bad way.

Next time Mac...(or Nate if your ears are on) beers on you. Remember...I got pix.

[macgyvr]

is that a *** in your pocket, or are ya just happy to see me....


mac 'same conditions?...lower center of gravity?' gyvr

[macgyvr]

Woody,

Nate and I definately owe you and Chark and whoever else was there a couple of cases of beer for that weekend. Thats another incident with a whole other story...

mac 'nothing is ever the way it seems' gyvr


Originally posted by woody
LOL@ Mac... I remember the "Yogi & Boo Boo" scene at ole site #26. What a blast...even if we wore out our welcome up at that CG...it was worth it.

I thinks Mac wanted to get cuffed & stuffed by Ranger Friendly. (so did I, now that I think of it,) we were all moon-eyed & like "Frisk Me!" "no, please Me first!" at least they didn't confiscate all the beverages. That would have sawked in a bad way.

Next time Mac...(or Nate if your ears are on) beers on you. Remember...I got pix.