Mixing
Is it possible to drive into Gibraltar Airport's runway?
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
The runway of Gibraltar Airport crosses an active 4 lane highway
Example Video.
My question is are there any security measures which prevent normal traffic from entering the airport through the runway when the runway is not in use?
How much security risk does such a runway intersecting with a civilian road entail?
Edit: To make the situation more realistic, assume that some very hostile elements are heading towards the airport, and maybe they need only 5 minutes to throw a grenade at an aircraft, or open fire or cause some other similar destruction.
I am specifically looking at how fast would the response of airport security at Gibraltar Airport would be in such a situation, especially given that it's a small airport with only around 15 departures a day. And simply if there are any measures to prevent normal traffic from entering the airport boundary in the first place?
runways security airport-design
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
The runway of Gibraltar Airport crosses an active 4 lane highway
Example Video.
My question is are there any security measures which prevent normal traffic from entering the airport through the runway when the runway is not in use?
How much security risk does such a runway intersecting with a civilian road entail?
Edit: To make the situation more realistic, assume that some very hostile elements are heading towards the airport, and maybe they need only 5 minutes to throw a grenade at an aircraft, or open fire or cause some other similar destruction.
I am specifically looking at how fast would the response of airport security at Gibraltar Airport would be in such a situation, especially given that it's a small airport with only around 15 departures a day. And simply if there are any measures to prevent normal traffic from entering the airport boundary in the first place?
runways security airport-design
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
2
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
2
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
5
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
2
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
up vote
17
down vote
favorite
The runway of Gibraltar Airport crosses an active 4 lane highway
Example Video.
My question is are there any security measures which prevent normal traffic from entering the airport through the runway when the runway is not in use?
How much security risk does such a runway intersecting with a civilian road entail?
Edit: To make the situation more realistic, assume that some very hostile elements are heading towards the airport, and maybe they need only 5 minutes to throw a grenade at an aircraft, or open fire or cause some other similar destruction.
I am specifically looking at how fast would the response of airport security at Gibraltar Airport would be in such a situation, especially given that it's a small airport with only around 15 departures a day. And simply if there are any measures to prevent normal traffic from entering the airport boundary in the first place?
runways security airport-design
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
The runway of Gibraltar Airport crosses an active 4 lane highway
Example Video.
My question is are there any security measures which prevent normal traffic from entering the airport through the runway when the runway is not in use?
How much security risk does such a runway intersecting with a civilian road entail?
Edit: To make the situation more realistic, assume that some very hostile elements are heading towards the airport, and maybe they need only 5 minutes to throw a grenade at an aircraft, or open fire or cause some other similar destruction.
I am specifically looking at how fast would the response of airport security at Gibraltar Airport would be in such a situation, especially given that it's a small airport with only around 15 departures a day. And simply if there are any measures to prevent normal traffic from entering the airport boundary in the first place?
runways security airport-design
runways security airport-design
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
edited 2 hours ago
psmears
25314
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6431153121
5,6431153121
2
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
2
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
5
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
2
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
2
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
5
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
2
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago
2
2
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
2
2
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
5
5
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
2
2
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
There are no physical restraints to entering the runway when the road is open.
You can see from this video of the crossing that Gibraltar police and the base for the Royal Air Force are present. The runway is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone attempting to drive on the runway will probably be intercepted in seconds, although I am not aware of any reported attempts.
There are plans to build a new four-lane diversion road and tunnel section. Construction started in 2008 but it still hasn't been completed as of 2018. The crossing across the runway will be kept for exceptional, specific, or emergency use but pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing.
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Yes you could. I would expect airport security to come right after you.
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
There are no physical restraints to entering the runway when the road is open.
You can see from this video of the crossing that Gibraltar police and the base for the Royal Air Force are present. The runway is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone attempting to drive on the runway will probably be intercepted in seconds, although I am not aware of any reported attempts.
There are plans to build a new four-lane diversion road and tunnel section. Construction started in 2008 but it still hasn't been completed as of 2018. The crossing across the runway will be kept for exceptional, specific, or emergency use but pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing.
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
There are no physical restraints to entering the runway when the road is open.
You can see from this video of the crossing that Gibraltar police and the base for the Royal Air Force are present. The runway is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone attempting to drive on the runway will probably be intercepted in seconds, although I am not aware of any reported attempts.
There are plans to build a new four-lane diversion road and tunnel section. Construction started in 2008 but it still hasn't been completed as of 2018. The crossing across the runway will be kept for exceptional, specific, or emergency use but pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing.
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
add a comment |
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
up vote
19
down vote
accepted
There are no physical restraints to entering the runway when the road is open.
You can see from this video of the crossing that Gibraltar police and the base for the Royal Air Force are present. The runway is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone attempting to drive on the runway will probably be intercepted in seconds, although I am not aware of any reported attempts.
There are plans to build a new four-lane diversion road and tunnel section. Construction started in 2008 but it still hasn't been completed as of 2018. The crossing across the runway will be kept for exceptional, specific, or emergency use but pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing.
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
There are no physical restraints to entering the runway when the road is open.
You can see from this video of the crossing that Gibraltar police and the base for the Royal Air Force are present. The runway is owned by the Ministry of Defence. Anyone attempting to drive on the runway will probably be intercepted in seconds, although I am not aware of any reported attempts.
There are plans to build a new four-lane diversion road and tunnel section. Construction started in 2008 but it still hasn't been completed as of 2018. The crossing across the runway will be kept for exceptional, specific, or emergency use but pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing.
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
edited 21 hours ago
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
answered 21 hours ago
Ambo100
351211
351211
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
8
down vote
Yes you could. I would expect airport security to come right after you.
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
Yes you could. I would expect airport security to come right after you.
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
up vote
8
down vote
up vote
8
down vote
Yes you could. I would expect airport security to come right after you.
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
Yes you could. I would expect airport security to come right after you.
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
answered yesterday
CrossRoads
3,6651316
3,6651316
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
2
2
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
This should possibly be a comment.
– anshabhi
yesterday
6
6
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
This should be an answer. I don’t see security measure for road crossing the runway.
– vasin1987
23 hours ago
4
4
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
If you think security measures need to be visible to be effective, you've been spending too much time around airports ;)
– Harper
22 hours ago
24
24
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
Username checks out
– Zach Lipton
22 hours ago
2
2
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
@Sean in what way does this fail to provide an answer? It's an answer that could be built out a bit, but it directly and correctly answers the question; Ambo100's later answer corroborates that there are not barricades, and that RAF staff are present near the crossing.
– Jules
2 hours ago
|
show 4 more comments
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2
Grenade or gunfire are probably even more than you need. If a terrorist didn't care about surviving, I imagine they could just drive a big truck in front through those gates and stop it right in front of the plane, once the plane is going fast enough that it can't stop. I don't know whether the intersection is late enough that the plane could just take off earlier to miss the truck.
– yshavit
23 hours ago
Sumburgh airport also has a road crossing it. tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/…
– CSM
23 hours ago
2
But you could do this at most any airport. For instance, at the FBO we tie down at (medium-sized commercial airport), access is controlled by a chain-link gate. If you didn't care about scratching your vehicle, you could drive through it quite easily.
– jamesqf
22 hours ago
5
Your question is written with 4 different questions all mixed in. The title asks if it is possible to drive "into" the runway. The photo and video you posted obviously shows vehicle and pedestrian traffic "on" the runway. So, the question is self-answered. Next, you ask what security measures are in place to prevent this traffic from going to the airport. (I assume you mean the aircraft parking area of the airport?). Next you ask for a quantified "risk level". And, finally, you ask what the response would be to a given threat. I suggest you edit to clarify what you want to know.
– Jimmy
20 hours ago
2
It’s apparently not all that difficult to drive onto a US Navy base and crash into an F-18. Neither the navy personnel nor the police stopped them, but they did not survive the encounter with a parked jet.
– TomMcW
13 hours ago