Is it possible to drive into Gibraltar Airport's runway?
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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 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
19
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 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
6
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
yesterday
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
23 hours ago
1
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
up vote
19
down vote
favorite
up vote
19
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 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
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 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
edited 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
edited 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
edited 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
edited 12 hours ago
psmears
25314
25314
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
asked yesterday
anshabhi
5,6561153121
5,6561153121
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
6
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
yesterday
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
23 hours ago
1
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
6
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
yesterday
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
23 hours ago
1
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
6
6
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
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
23 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
23 hours ago
1
1
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 hours ago
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
1 Answer
1
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oldest
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up vote
21
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 yesterday
Ambo100
372311
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protected by Jamiec♦ 9 hours ago
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
oldest
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active
oldest
votes
up vote
21
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 yesterday
Ambo100
372311
add a comment |
up vote
21
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 yesterday
Ambo100
372311
add a comment |
up vote
21
down vote
accepted
up vote
21
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 yesterday
Ambo100
372311
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 yesterday
Ambo100
372311
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Ambo100
372311
answered yesterday
Ambo100
372311
answered yesterday
Ambo100
372311
372311
add a comment |
add a comment |
protected by Jamiec♦ 9 hours ago
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
6
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
yesterday
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
23 hours ago
1
@Jimmy thanks for pointing out! I feel that the accepted answer has roughly everything that I wanted to know, and thus maybe an edit is not required.
– anshabhi
9 hours ago