minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow) (11/07/83)
In an interview on All Things Considered last Friday, a representative
of Plessey Aerosystems (the general contractors for the Grenada
airport) gave a number of reasons why it wasn't -- and couldn't be --
a military airport. The following is what I remember:
1. The airport is situated on a spit of land, with little surrounding
level ground. Thus, it cannot be easily defended with anti-aircraft
weapons.
2. The fuel storage area is above ground. In fact, it is on top of
a hill. A military base would have its fuel store underground.
3. There is little in the way of ground facilities, such as hangers.
Also, the hanger facility is not secure against enemy attack.
4. The runway does not have a parallel taxiway -- aircraft must
taxi down the runway and turn on it to take off. A military
airport would have a separate taxiway to allow more frequent
takeoffs and landings.
Also, the runway length, 9,000 feet, is not impressive by Caribbean
standards -- when complete, it will be the seventh longest runway
in the Caribbean. The length is necessary to service the wide-body
jets used by charter companies. (Most military aircraft can operate
from very short runways. Read John McPhee's article in the New
Yorker for details.)
Martin Minow
decvax!minow