Quote:
Originally Posted by Robag
I really don't think YQR needs to worry about runway extension for a long time. The future of air travel into our fair city will be regional jets with more frequency for the most part. The largest cargo aircraft we get right now is a B727, which our runways handle no problem. We have had a B767-300 from LAN-Chile to do a pig run, so we know the main runway can handle the bigger cargo planes as well. We've also had a B747-400 land here with the Chinese president 15 or 20 years ago, and had no issues, as well as the Concorde when the French president did a Canadian tour in the late 80's. I don't see a need in the next 20 - 30 years to build a new runway or extend the current 13/31 in my opinion.
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Yes, but cargo-only operators like to have as much runway space as possible. If the GTH requires more extensive air cargo ops, the runway will need to be lengthened. (I have been empirically apprised of that fact; even though that won't happen for quite a while.) Many people don't realize that very large aircraft arriving/departing Regina [or similarly-endowed airports] AVOID operating with more onboard fuel than what is required - no matter what the payload may be.
(Carriers calculate, as close as possible, the required IFR fuel for: Taxi; departure; enroute; approach; missed-approach; alternate; IFR reserve and contingency. These preconditions don't usually even require full tanks.) A large-type of aircraft would have a bitch of a time [if at all] departing YQR in high density altitude conditions at max weight. I'll guarantee anyone that.
Yes, Regina has accommodated noteworthy large aircraft in the past:
Early '70s, AC L-1011s;
1960s-82, DC-8 41/42/43/53/61/63s;
early-mid '80s, AC & PW B767 200s; Wardair B747-200s/DC-10-30s;
six Air Canada B747-200s in May '92;
a Czechoslovakian Illyushin-62, September '88;
A C-141 Starlifter during June of 1990;
and the aforementioned above AF Concorde in May '87; and Air China's B747-400 in April '96.