Gov. Snyder, Mayor Bing, Kevyn Orr and Boeing

[DetroitPlanner]

We have a test to see if the right to work law accomplishes its aims. After the machinist union in Seattle turned down a new contact, Boeing threaten to move production of the 777X to some other location. Metro Detroit has, arguably, a larger pool of skilled machinists, metal workers and electricians than other metropolises. Either the Coleman Young Airport or the I-94
Industrial Project Renaissance Zone would provide the space needed for a large plant. We will owe Governor Snyder a tip of the hat if 777xs are assembled in Detroit or Michigan. There are rumors that Boeing will pick a site in Alabama, California, South Carolina, Texas or Utah. If Michigan is high on their list, I can understand why local officials would keep quiet.

Use DET for 777? Come on dude. Willow Run would be most logical. It has long runways and lots of unused factory space. Suppose you figure out a way to reconfigure DET to make it long enough. You would still have to deal with two issues: 1. come up with 100's of millions of dollars to rebuild it; and 2. Noise complaints from the people who live around it. These would include not only Detroit & Grosse Pointe Citizens but most likely southern Macomb County as well.

There are reasons why both DTW and YIP are out in cornfields surrounded by factories and warehouses.

[313WX]

Use DET for 777? Come on dude. Willow Run would be most logical. It has long runways and lots of unused factory space. Suppose you figure out a way to reconfigure DET to make it long enough. You would still have to deal with two issues: 1. come up with 100's of millions of dollars to rebuild it; and 2. Noise complaints from the people who live around it. These would include not only Detroit & Grosse Pointe Citizens but most likely southern Macomb County as well.

There are reasons why both DTW and YIP are out in cornfields surrounded by factories and warehouses.

Chicago Midway [[MDW) seems to be working out just fine in its current location with these aircrafts.

[michimoby]

Chicago Midway [[MDW) seems to be working out just fine in its current location with these aircrafts.

By "these aircrafts", you're describing commuter planes and 737s, which are considerably smaller. At most, it can handle a 757.

[Wesley Mouch]

By "these aircrafts", you're describing commuter planes and 737s, which are considerably smaller. At most, it can handle a 757.

I used to fly commercial into/out of Midway weekly. Mostly Southwest 737s.

Some of those landings were really exciting. When landing at MDW the planes auto-brakes are often pretty high, and you feel like you're going to get pulled out of your seat as it stops. Then when the plane turns, you realize that after that dramatic stop, there was no runway left. You stare at the traffic light at the busy road intersection just a few feet away.

This was years ago, and they poured a lot of money into MDW. So maybe they found a way to add a few hundred yards to one of their runways. Even if so, MDW remains a very short runway. Their longest is 6,522. Metro's longest is 12,003 -- nearly twice as long.