There is a website by the Manhattan Airport Foundation dedicated to the proposition that Central Park in New York City be converted into a regional airport. From their press release-
NEW YORK, NY, July 15, 2009 – For the past three years The Manhattan Airport Foundation has been quietly laying the groundwork to provide New Yorkers with a most fundamental urban amenity: access to viable air transportation. And today, TMAF releases its much-anticipated Stage One call for entries to a hand-picked group of top architecture firms worldwide in what is sure to be one of the most closely-watched design competitions in recent memory.
This has to be some kind of a joke. What a horrible place for an airport. Even if the people of NYC consent to the loss of a large greenspace in the middle of their high density glass and steel jungle, there is the issue of air traffic. Do these people understand how loud jet aircraft can be? Someone should remind them that Hong Kong was so anxious to be rid of their mid-town airport that they built an artificial island to put it on. Imagine jet traffic lumbering in on final approach over the tops of the buildings in Manhattan? It might even drown out the sound of honking taxis.
Even better, imagine the noise of jets on departure, clawing for altitude at full power trying to get out of the Manhattan airspace? Imagine the the roar of jet engines reflecting off of the skyscrapers from 777’s and other heavies on their takeoff rolls. Power failure on takeoff? The skyscrapers downrange will absorb the impact energy.
Yep, this has to be a gag of some kind. Imagine someone actually trying it? Pffft!
Lamentations on Chemistry 
From where does the fuel originate? A literal river of aviation diesel need flow. Same problem for passenger flow to and from. Takeoff challenges are simply met: Each jet is lofted to few thousand feet by a hydraulic elevator (or ground-tethered balloon). It then lights its engines, is pushed off, and catches air on the way down. Landing amidst 50-story buldings is left as an exercise for the interested reader.
Coming into New York airports by breaking through the cloud deck onto 3-story tenements barely below is quite the visual experience.
I think they are still accepting proposals. I’ll add my name to your cover letter.
It’s a joke. Yes, let’s devalue the cities real estate further! Some of the wealthiest people on the planet have homes thereabouts. Not to mention the fact it’s unsafe.
You should reserve your blog for serious topics, such as the below story.
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/airline-says-passengers-are-willing-to-stand
Hmmm. I don’t think I’ll be flying Ryanair anytime soon.
Haven’t You Americans learn’t anything from 9/11
Wait a minute friend, a few of us did. For instance, my personal foreign policy is to stay the hell out of
thereMiddle Eastern countries. Period.So I shouldn’t be expecting a visit???
See above edit. I think I am going to go to Tuscon to see IK. Heard he has recovered nicely from surgery.