Royal Australian Navy Discussions and Updates 2.0

[Going Boeing]

There’s a big difference between commercial B737’s operating out of an airport with only short distances to fly to their next port compared to P-8’s & E-7’s that usually depart at MTOW to give them the endurance needed for their missions. I believe that the current length of Momote’s runway would restrict the P-8’s to only having half full tanks and the cost of positioning a KC-30A to top up the tanks makes it prohibitive.

Google maps indicates that there is room to extend the runway by about 200m at each end which would make it much more useable by these aircraft types. Expensive, yes - but not as expensive as having to overhaul jet engines more frequently (turbine blades cost big money) and having KC-30A tanker aircraft on station.

 

[StevoJH]

There’s a big difference between commercial B737’s operating out of an airport with only short distances to fly to their next port compared to P-8’s & E-7’s that usually depart at MTOW to give them the endurance needed for their missions. I believe that the current length of Momote’s runway would restrict the P-8’s to only having half full tanks and the cost of positioning a KC-30A to top up the tanks makes it prohibitive.

Google maps indicates that there is room to extend the runway by about 200m at each end which would make it much more useable by these aircraft types. Expensive, yes - but not as expensive as having to overhaul jet engines more frequently (turbine blades cost big money) and having KC-30A tanker aircraft on station.

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Maybe, I do wonder why the displaced thresholds at each end though.

Is it a clearance issue with the boundary fence?

 

[Going Boeing]

Maybe, I do wonder why the displaced thresholds at each end though.

Is it a clearance issue with the boundary fence?

They design runways with “overruns” (normally 1,000’ in length but obviously less in Momote) which are useful in event of a rejected takeoff. They are normally not full load bearing strength (although the ones at Cocos were) and the latest designs are for them to crush so that the aircraft tyres settle into them thus increasing the retardation and prevent an overrun.

Engineered materials arrestor system - Wikipedia

The other reason for them is in case there is a wind-shear close to the ground which causes the aircraft to touchdown prior to the threshold.

If there’s an obstacle on/near the extended centreline of a runway, they move the threshold further in to provide the required clearance during the approach (eg Rwy 16L at Sydney airport). The runway section before the threshold is available to be used for takeoff ie full length.