Right now we offer a glimpse aT the beginning of a discussion that could result in even more delays and reevaluation of the embattled new KCI plan that's currently stalled and already over-budget.
Prelude . . .
Below is a letter from Charles Cammack who is concerned about the safety of the proposed new airport . . . This letter and several more letters have been sent to everybody involved at city hall, the KCAD and Edgemoor. The FAA will not approve the proposed plan if Charles’ comments prove to be correct.
Here's the word . . .
KCI - SAFETY SECURITY & ACCESSIBILITY - GET YOUR DUCKS IN A ROW!
Greetings to All:
People hope that the Single Terminal Airport (STA) project will be transformative, and it will surely be that. Here is why: “Get your ducks in a row!” is always a desirable goal for us, but we are always behind the gun whereas ducks are in front. The STA plan will transform us into ducks. One-half of all KCI passengers will be moved 100 to 1,000 feet closer to an active runway where aircraft are operating at speeds of 140 mph and more. Aircraft will be parked in a row next to the far concourse not far from the active runway like sitting ducks. This condition is far less safe than we have now and would have with renovation.
An Air Canada pilot lined up his aircraft on a taxiway rather than the adjacent runway as described in the attached article. He missed hitting planes on the ground by just 60 feet. Had the plot not aborted his landing, about 1,000 people would have died. How many orphans will such a crash create at KCI? How many parents will lose their children? Safety and security risks at KCI can be greatly reduced or eliminated by renovating Terminals A and B whereas the STA plan increases those risks.
Which airport do your family members use?
My family uses KCI, so I am doing everything I can to prevent KCMO from transforming us into sitting ducks. I have no agenda against any person. I am simply opposed to the STA plan.
I outlined nine defects in the current STA plans in a previous email message. Three defects involve security risks of categories 1, 2, and 3. Level 3 risks might take the lives of 1,000 people. Renovation eliminates level 2 and 3 threats and greatly reduces the risk of level 1 attacks. My messages are aimed at reducing deaths at KCI.
KCAD and Edgemoor have not yet openly discussed the problem of getting people to and from Terminals B and C during construction. The attached annotated rendering shows the convoluted route that cars and buses will follow to reach Terminals B and C during 3 to 4 years of construction. A new section of roadway and two roundabouts (two intersections) will be constructed transforming International Circle into a 2-way roadway. Steven Kellerman, Chief Engineer of Clarkson, told me that Clarkson found it necessary to design this complex, convoluted roadway system when they realized that the original route for a new roadway located between the control tower and the new parking garage could not be built because that location would have been unsafe and made construction of the parking garage unfeasible.
Traffic movements stop if traffic volumes exceed roundabout capacity or if accidents occur within them. This system, with two additional intersections, is far from safe for such a large and important facility. Road rage incidents and accidents will occur. With renovation, no new roads or intersections need be built, and traffic patterns will remain virtually unchanged.
This change in plans was not made to improve appearance or convenience. Rather, it came about because of necessity. Had this problem been identified prior to the election, KCAD would have put forth a different plan.
The problem with the roadway system will become clear to the public in the near future even if you continue to use the BCA issue as a smoke screen. It will be abundantly clear to the public that you are hiding information from them.
Why will you not discuss these issues with me or address them in your public meetings?
Someday your maker will surely discuss them with you.
Charles H. Cammack, PE, PhD
President, Cammack GeoConsulting, PA
##########
Developing . . .
I don't think what we've seen are designs so much as just sketches and drawings. For instance, I'm holding out hope that there is still an effort to hold city hall to the grand fountain that was promised before the vote. It seems like that design was used to show the impressive scale and design potential of the facility but was quickly taken away. We need to ask for it back.
ReplyDeleteAs for the safety risks that have been outlined here, of course we need to take that seriously but I don't expect the FAA will let KC move forward if those concerns are valid.
Oh, they'll let us move forward alright and then charge KC another 1 billion for a mandated repair before the opening. That's the way that other airports keep getting overrun with additional costs. This will cost 7 billion before all is said and done.
DeleteSeems like all of the promises before the vote have been invalided. Maybe a recall election is in order.
DeleteClassic Kansas City bait & switch.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^ +100
DeleteTypical KCMO cluster.
ReplyDeleteMore
ReplyDeleteLiberal
Kash
How can this be?
ReplyDeleteYou mean to say that Sly's and Justus' vast business know-how and the aviation expertise of a former assistant manager of public works aren't exactly what's needed to address such a costly and complicated public project?
The gulf between all the hoopla, hype, and rah rah about "smart cities" and other nonsense that comes out of 12th and Oak and the ACTUAL performance of KCMO government to address even the most important responsibilities of city government like safe neighborhoods gets more ridiculous every day.
KCMO is a laughingstock in the entire country.
Let's have the New York Times visit and spend enough time to write a really good expose' of this fiasco.
KCMO= a sucking chest wound on the entire region.
I'm not sure why we are continuing on this path knowing that the project will have cost overruns and design issues. What does it take to stop this madness? Do we have to have another ballot initiative a recall petition? Do we have any lawyers in the group that can get an injunction on the project? I'm being serious
ReplyDeleteKCMO is one of these fly over city's creative class guru (huckster) Richard Florida called "probably beyond help at this point" back in 2009.
ReplyDeleteWatch the City Council meeting on TV sometime. You will see unimpressive and uneducated council members who have the purse strings here. It is very depressing.
ReplyDelete^^No. I don't have time to watch TV. You do it. You don't have anything else to do!
ReplyDelete^^^ If you don't have time perhaps it's time to reevaluate your life and where it's going.
ReplyDeleteMaybe we could close the downtown airport and sell the land to help pay for this airport. We have to start thinking creatively before this town is bankrupt.
ReplyDelete^^Dull, insipid, and boring. If you can't bring anything better than this turd to conversation, go away.
ReplyDeleteDude, suicide is your best option.
Deletethank goodness for the faa.
ReplyDeletethey'll check out the allegations and much more.
there's a reason that federal agencies such as the faa exist.
Remodeling the airport might have made more sense.
ReplyDeleteTeresa Loar wanted to remodel, but she was too drunk to get any real traction. And besides her colleagues are so tired of her nagging no one supports her. They just want to get away from her before she runs her mouth about nothing.
DeleteThe KC Star- didn’t they do all the research and promote this to voters by asking voters to vote yes for this?
ReplyDeleteThey are so smart despite their downhill spiral (stock... layoffs... etc) that a person would only have to have confidence on reading something they bought for a buck... and can use it for even primary purposes like fish wrap and bird cage lining.
That’s why they keep adding to the editorial board... so citizens can do the right thing and vote how they suggest.
Who cares if it’s safe? It must be... after all... you pay a buck for the paper.
"This organization has been operating for approximately 4 years. Cammack Geoconsulting, P.C. is estimated to generate $80,931 in annual revenues, and employs approximately 1 people at this single location."
ReplyDeleteExpert? Ha. Maybe to himself and Tony but not to anybody else.
Airports designed: 0.
"Someday your maker will surely discuss them with you."
ReplyDeleteSure thing, buddy. How's the view up there on the mount?
Looks like it might be better to use the St. Louis Airport.
ReplyDeletehyperloop to st. louis, then fly out of there?
ReplyDelete^^Ugh. Stupid.
ReplyDeletePlease bring back the free air fountain.
ReplyDeleteIt was why the airport proposal passed.
mr. cammack:
ReplyDeletecould you please look at the design and asses its vulnerability to tornadoes?
A Lenexa engineer with zero aviation experience who is pissy because he didn’t get a piece of the Edgemoor pie.
ReplyDeleteoTo
ReplyDeletethat is a sketch
ReplyDeletethat is a schematic
how fun is it to get a plane out of one of those interior corners
ReplyDeleteseriously WtH
ReplyDeletethe longer the hallway to the runway side terminal, the more you push the runway side terminal into the runway.
ReplyDeletemore aisles of parking? well ....
ReplyDeletewhat if someone asked, can you rip out terminal A, keep the parking garages at terminal A & B, and rip out the parking garage at terminal C?
ReplyDelete-terminal C
ReplyDelete-fountain
-rolling fields of wheat
-terminal B preauthorized security parking
-terminal A preauthorized lower security parking and upper/outer public parking
-terminal A ground level cargo?
oTo
-------terminal C
ReplyDeletefountain
rolling fields of wheat
flight arrivals & departures
--------terminal B
upper level arrival departures
lower level baggage pickup at the tips
lower level passenger pickup at the tips
pre-authorized security parking
--------terminal A
lower level cargo/freight
lower level/ground level interior pre-authorized security parking
lower level public surface parking
upper levels public garage parking
T=
upper level passenger drop off
Security
lower level baggage
lower level passenger pickup
F O O D - S H O P S
&&&
oTo