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MikeNC

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Posts posted by MikeNC

  1. Something I would like to see Jerry do is to expand the cargo portion of the business. It seems that with a large intermodal rail yard, 2 major interstates and eventually the Garden Parkway (regardless of your feelings about the project) plus 3 parallel runways, the airport would be a prime place for expanding air cargo. I would like to see a major cargo airline (i.e. ABX/DHL) and a smaller cargo airline (i.e. Kalitta, Atlas, Polar) to build air cargo hubs in Charlotte. Additionally, I would like to see more international cargo airlines such as Lufthansa Cargo, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Icelandair Cargo, Air France Cargo, China Cargo Airlines, and Cargolux operating out of CLT.

    There really are not that many domestic hub and spoke cargo carriers anymore. Kalitta (American Intl Freight) had a station in CLT back in the ninetys, DHL did'nt last long here, Kitty hawk went tits up and Atlas/Polar basically offer ACMI service to other carriers . But it would be nice to see some intl carriers that run twice/thrice weekly service move their ops from ATL to CLT. The airport has no one on staff with cargo experience and will probably never hire anyone in a cargo capacity...Right now there are three cargo buildings sitting vacant on the property..I know JO was pretty pi$$ed when Fed Ex went up the road with their baby hub..

  2. I apologize if this has been answered in a previous post, but are there any plans to revamp the airport overlook? I ask because our overlook sort of seems like an afterthought, especially compared to other airport overlooks I've seen. A simple paving would go a long way in improving that gravel lot.

    On a side note, has anyone visited the overlook when the large Luftshansa (Munich) flight lands? There is an older lady there who sort of puts on a show :) .

    Yes there are plans on the table for a revamp. An island has been installed already and the next phase should most likely be repaving. Also on the list is solar lighting, FAA audio and possible stadium seating....probably the earliest will be spring time....

  3. When I went back home this past July to vist family in Buffalo, I needed to stop in Wegmans to pick up some cold cuts. I struck up a conversation with the store manager and asked him if they were looking at North Carlolina in their next expansion move. I told him I moved to Charlotte about 15 years ago and he stated that he had been here a few times and had some nice things to say about the city, he then started snickering, I asked what was so funny...He asked me if I shop at HT and I told him I do, he claims that they have HT on their radar screen but did not say when they planned on making any moves. Wegmans is a great store, I can only hope they commit in the next few years.....

  4. Is the 747-8i even going to be flown to and from Munich? I didn't think Lufthansa flew their 747-400s from Munich and figured that would apply to the 747-8i as well.

    I think LH is just doing some prep work in case the market were to change, I couldn't imagine CLT filling an aircraft that size..unless there is a whole bunch of cargo to help pay for the operating costs.

  5. Someone on another forum who claims to have access to CLT airport planning says that Lufthansa recently asked the airport to model in CAD the new Boeing 747-800 at their current gate to see if it will fit.

    True...saw it myself...

    Also, Curbside Valet is to start using the new Business Valet Deck soon, their current parking lot (old red lot) is getting torn out for the A Ramp expansion....

  6. The "emergency" expansion of Concourse E could accomidate 54 additional daily flights....but this March will only be used for 12 additional dailys. So to get to that 710 number they will need to expand Councourse B and/or build the International Terminal...or park planes on the tarmac and bus people in.

    Whats really strange is the final expansion of e-con will have at least 1 widebody gate supposedly for a 330, that was just thrown in the plan recently....but that could change as fast as it was added....

  7. Yeah, I work for US Airways and am very much aware of what transpires at my employer and its hubs. That said, dirt, poor maintenance, lackluster architecture, and a general disdain for anything the least bit current is inexcusable. I mean, shouldn't customers be able to find their flights on a television monitor that works? Flying to Ft Lauderdale and want to find your gate? Sorry, the monitor that contains the "Fs" is burned out and has been since last year.

    Miesian....Your dislike for the CLT airport and Jerry seems very strong and you do have some legitimate concerns, but you have heard "he who lives in a glass house". Yes I do work for the AD and at any given time when driving across the ramp I see many of the Thugs on Tugs acting like fools...Just look out the terminal windows and see how many rampers are walking around with their pants have way down their butts and hats on sideways, breakrooms that are trashed everyday....There is plenty of blame to go around, I just thinks it's not fair that all of it is pointed at the managment of the airport...Poor maintenance, is that the same as an overhead bin that been sealed off with duct tape, I've seen a few of those in my travels...Believe it or not, but Jerry had a lot to do with keeping this hub here...I wont argue that he has his strange ways of doing things, but his ultimate goal is keeping the cost as low as possible for the hub to survive....Airlines and airports must work together more now than ever.....

  8. Does anyone know if an actual date has been set for the opening of the new runway? I've got to imagine it's getting close as I remember they thought it would be open for visual flight rules in November, and fully operative by February.

    1/6/10...Flightcheck starts this week for the localizer, glideslope and papi's, then there will be a 6 month navaid burn-in...

  9. And as far as CLT expansion being some kind of striking architecture, let's not forget that it is one of the lowest cost airports in the country to fly in and out of (for the airlines) and also park at. I'd rather have $6/day parking than $10 or more, and the low cost to airlines is to CLT advantage.

    You are spot on!!!! Why do you think PIT was dehubbed after the BK's, because it was just to expensive to move all that traffic through that beautiful airport....CLT may not be the prettiest, but it is cost effect for US...I do not know the numbers right now, but two years ago it cost the airlines 1.29 per pax to move them thru CLT..As for the maintenance or lack of, there is a reason for that, the airport does a bad job funding and manning the maintenance department, all they are doing is putting lipstick on a pig...

  10. It's to bad that land in between 18C and the new 18R was not already accounted for. If a new runway beyond 485 was built far off in the future, I could imagine a mega airport facility with two parallel runways on each side of it, much like ATL today.

    There is a plan for the land between 18C & 18R, another runway....Good wx runway is to be built in the not so far off future, if you ever get a chance to go back into the construction zone you will notice that taxiways N & S are crowned for the additional runway...

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