Circular runways
Discussion
In theory, one could land in a curve using an RNAV approach, similar to the above picture. The stars are waypoints in space defined by GPS position only, no ground base nav aids like ILS are required. You could even have a circular holding pattern above the runway, with the planes flying in continuous descending circles all the way down to the ground.
However, once again, the disadvantages far outweigh the advantages of this shape of runway, I can't see this ever happening.
Yertis said:
Aeroresh said:
How would ILS work since its 2 axis straight lines? Strikes me its been invented by someone who's not a pilot
Or indeed, has ever seen an aeroplane take off or land. It's so absurdly stupid I wonder if it's a poorly executed joke.He's also Dutch, so perhaps the EU funding was spent in too many of those Dutch cafe's
IanH755 said:
Why don't you just have a 2 mile diameter circle of concrete instead, then you can land at any wind angle. Or what about a standard runway but mounted on a turntable so it can be spun into the wind at any time? Both are just as daft as this idea 
Massive centrifuge. Stick a plane on each end spin it up and fire them off once they get up to speed. Think of the fuel the airlines would save!Landing might be an issue. I'm thinking a giant catchers mit on the end of the centrifuge?
It appears the US navy had a go at this circular runway malarkey back in the 1960s and it worked. Traditional ILS and landing lights are obviously not terribly practical, but newer GPS-based systems are more flexible and virtual leading lights projected onto a Head-Up Display could serve the same purpose. Perhaps this is an idea that will be revisited once pilotless airliners arrive.
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