Site Admin

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

http://www.airportbusiness.com....jsp?siteSection=4&id=6997

This article talks about an expansion at MEM designed to allow FedEx and other cargo planes to operated more efficiently, without having to cross runways and share taxiways with pax planes. Some interesting comments about how MEM is paying for the improvements while still lowering landing fees - and the airport employees are taking pay cuts.

All this makes me think of parallels to IND. The third runway, if ever built, would be for cargo, primarily FedEx planes. Basically, it would allow FedEx birds to use the third runway and never have to cross the existing two or comingle with pax planes. It would also keep taxiing to a minimum. I wonder if IND would face similar funding issues to MEM if and when the third runway would be built.

Site Admin

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

Interesting story. Without using tax dollars it seems MEM is selling themselves short. A great lack of space makes anything they do extremely expensive. Space is our greatest asset here. It allows alot to be done for little. Just look at what it cost to build a runway in ATL and STL. A billion dollars for a runway is just out of line. MEM is faced pretty much with the same problems.

Site Admin

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

I agree. Of course, until our third runway gets built, there's no telling how expensive it will be. It will be very close to a lot of businesses and even some residences. There could be a bunch of lawsuits that get in the way and drive up the cost.

And can you imagine if we were trying to build the third runway right now? With all the concrete you'd need for that, plus the terminal, plus the stadium, plus all the other construction going on around Indy, the concrete companies probably wouldn't be able to keep up.

Site Admin

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

Don't forget the expressway being built between I-70 and I-74.