Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Was at the airport today and saw something odd. They were using only one of the parallel runways. I don't know if perhaps dust from the midfield project was blowing across one of the runways and creating unsafe conditions but whatever the case all the traffic was on one. There was a CO Q400 on the runway getting ready to take off and incoming was a UA 737. I've never seen two planes that close together on a runway. This photo shows how close. The UA jet was just getting ready to touch down and the CO plane just off the ground making a hard left.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

I am still surprised of how closed they were. Especially at IND.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

I've seen that at many other airports - especially EWR. No reason to think the controllers at IND are any less capable of handling that kind of spacing.

Member

Joined: 21 Dec 2007
Posts: 117
Location: Indianapolis International Baggage Claim

I now have a friend who work for the airport authority. In case you didn't know these guys are the people who mow the grass, change light bulbs, paint taxi ways and runways, and a bigger job plow the snow. He informs me that 23R/5L is being closed during the day and the tower is having a fit about it, due to them repainting the whole runway ( a month long process). Also he informs me IND has won 8 years in a row as one of the safest airports in the US through the yearly FAA Saftey Inspection of the airport. Other airports are also asked before building to try to model like IND, due to its very safe design. More to come

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Very nice info. I figured it was closed due to dust from the construction project. But good to know. Guess I'll have to make a trip again to get more pics while I can. I get the best photos from planes landing on 23L/5R.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

So will 23L/5R be closed for painting next?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

I can't imagine them closing it. Imagine the expense that would create for FX.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Gotta be done sometime, and with the new terminal opening soon, they probably want it shiny for the grand hooha.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

So I must ask... what color are they painting it?

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Dash 8? Damn. Now I have some photo submissions to edit lol.

Member

Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 106
Location:

Well a Q400 is also a Dash 8, but the airplane in your photo is a Dash 8 Q200, not Q400.

Site Admin

Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Posts: 2316
Location: Indianapolis, IN

Saying Dash 8 is like saying CRJ right? Not model specific. Or am I getting this wrong?

Member

Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 106
Location:

Correct, the Dash 8 is a family of aircraft just like the CRJ, and there are several variations of it, two of which are the Q200 and Q400.

Site Admin

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 949
Location: Carmel, IN

Although to be fair, airlines generally use the term "Dash-8" or DH8 to refer to the old deHaviland Dash-8 aircraft. And they usually refer to the Bombardier Q400 as the Q400.