Gerrits Tagebuch Vol. 28: Fragerunde, Unfall & Mysterium

Welcome to a new episode of Gerrit's Diary.
It's an eventful time, because during the summer holidays the airport is
in effect 14 hours a day.
We asked you in our blog to submit your questions to us.
We will answer those today.
What got on your nerves the most during the construction of the airport?
That was probably myself because
I wanted to accomplish too much but there was no time.
So the biggest stress factor was a) lack of time
and b) how long will it take to open the airport?
I heard this question repeatedly,
and the calculation of that stressed me the most.
The fact that many things didn't work and that we had to rebuild them
was minor compared to the time factor.
Why don't you use synthetic material to lift the airplanes?
That's probably in the Top 3 of the most asked questions about the airport.
The answer is simple:
One of our airplanes can weigh up to 2 Kilos and moves 1m per second
and has to be able to come to a stop in about 15m for safety reasons.
It shouldn't fly off the rods and they shouldn't break.
We need a flexible material that never breaks apart.
And that's only possible with our steel rods.
We haven't found a material that's see-through and also meets these criteria.
What has impressed the visitors most and how has it influenced you?
During construction, the visitors were very important for feedback.
It helped a lot to listen to them and to know what our goal is.
And now that the layout is complete, it seems we have accomplished our goal.
The reactions are even more positive than we imagined.
For example, we were worried the space shuttle is too cliché.
Everytime the shuttle lands, the reactions are so great,
somewhere between laughter and joy, sometimes a shaking head with a smile.
It shows us that the space shuttle was the right idea.
Also, occasionally, we have defects.
Not for very long, but we have to enter the layout
and we expect to see many glum faces.
But instead, people applaud when the next take-off comes.
It's hard to stay with both feet on the ground with all these positive reactions.
It motivates us to become even better,
perhaps even to realize some ideas we initially had because
when you get so much feedback for your work and can share so much joy
then you really are highly motivated on this job each and every day.
Which aircrafts are still in the works
and why was the UPS seen in the main terminal?
The answer is a bit more complicated.
We want to build 45 planes. 33 are finished, so there are 12 remaining.
Since last week, we have a CRJ-700 running as the next smaller generation.
It's not perfect yet but it shows us
that we are able to start the smaller generation.
Besides the CRJ-700, we will also build the BAe 146 and DASH 8
amongst others, we are still deciding on the airline.
The Concorde of British Airways is allowed to fly in its current design.
Then we have a 747, probably a United or Qantas.
This 747 will be a Jade.
Also complete: A330-200, 340-300 and A300 Freight.
The design isn't decided yet.
We may also build one or two 757-200 or 300
or maybe one or two 767-200 or 300. We'll see.
Complete and being painted is a TUIfly 737-800 Winglets in an ICE-Design.
So that is next.
After 45 it gets crowded because I only have 36 parking positions.
And now the reason why the UPS was seen at the main terminal.
There isn't room for 45 airplanes.
We have four freight positions, the UPS was the fifth to go out.
It's also already scheduled on the flight plan.
Now I have two options: Either take the lift down and stand in line,
then it can't be seen for three hours on the airport.
That's why it may seek a parking position at the main terminal
and stand there. Perhaps it's only there to refuel or something similar.
It's a small compromise.
How is it going with the ship navigation?
That's also one of the most asked questions and there's only one answer:
Good!
You'll take that one and I'll take the other one?
To sum it up: Ship navigation is still a problem.
It kind of works out this way.
I guess we'll never be able to drive them as well with the computer.
The project isn't shelved but it just isn't time yet.
We still need to relax a little before we can get to it.
We also want to build the second floor and change some technical components.
We'll proceed with the ship navigation some day and we will
keep you up to date in another episode of Gerrit's Diary.
But we will come to the topic of ship navigation
but it will need some time.
Which sections are next and which highlights are planned?
Here we are on the second floor,
where the new restaurant, the new entrance and shop will be.
For us, that's the largest construction site at the moment.
But things are also progressing on the layout.
The ring opposite of Switzerland, beginning with Italy,
then France and, after that, Great Britain.
That is certain now.
The details are still in the planning stage but we'll reveal more in the future.
What was the worst accident at the airport?
We only had small accidents in the past two and a half months.
But we had one big accident a few days ago and
because it was so peculiar, we'll show you shots of the day after it happened.
It's not running straight anymore.
Is there something wrong with the nosewheel?
Could have something to do with the rods?
I don't know.
Let's use that as entry to an issue that caused us some headache.
But we found the solution.
We had a bad accident yesterday.
This airplane was heavily damaged inside the cover or somewhere else.
It happend yesterday at 07:14 pm.
We came here for a first analysis.
We tried to do some repairs during the night, the rods are totally bent.
But the biggest problem was: We didn't know what had happened.
We only knew that the aircraft was smashed inside the cover
and that the computer only noticed it after it was to roll off the runway.
That's unusual because we have several safety precautions.
The airplane drives from the lift to the landing position
where it should be picked up by the rods. Then the slide searches for the plane.
The slide found the plane, so it must have been standing correctly.
Then it is picked up by both rods and it is checked if
electricity flows through the rods and if it's really on the rods.
That's checked from a height of 3cm - no sign of anything wrong.
Then it's landed through the window, the synchronicity to the rod is
verified 20 times per second. If it fails: Emergency stop.
If the computer isn't responding to the drives or the other way around: Emergency stop.
We were very afraid that this might happen again, that's why we stood here.
Wouldn't be good if it happened again.
To find a solution makes it all the more rewarding.
We went through all our ideas until we found the correct one.
We'll have to ask the programmer later on why this happened.
The poles went up beside the plane and didn't pick it up.
Then the plane was pulled forward by them.
This spot is very robust.
The front rod held the plane in place.
It already had a left twist, and then turned here,
that explains the scratch at the nosewheel,
turns, rolls over and the first wing breaks.
The winglet, the weakest part, broke apart.
The wing didn't break from a hit from above,
but by hitting the street.
The airplane rolls over and the rod stays under the plane and pulls it
but it drags the plane along and causes this dent.
Using a microscope, we proved that the scratches were caused by the rods.
The plane is stuck here, the second rod slides past it,
it is lifted because the rods bend and push it upwards.
But it's enough to cause a second scratch by the rear rod.
Then the plane falls down and the second wing breaks apart.
We are 98% sure about this.
Now we can fly safely and carefree again.
What does the programmer have to say about this accident?
Mustache - wait!
- We're ready! - Rolling? Okay!
I'm afraid and wish to remain anonymous.
Well, the plane has to be on the rods and...
Gerrit for Matze!
Not available right now.
The plane has to be on the rods, I verify that.
But I didn't check what happens when there is no plane.
The circuit board tells us if there's a plane.
But if it's broken, as it is now, then it always assumes there is a plane.
I'll change that and I'm very sorry but there wasn't any time left and
we had an opening date and... I'm sorry.
Gerrit!
No!
Let me explain in clear terms what the Knuffingen aviation authority found out:
We're 99,9% sure that the plane wasn't on the rods when it was lifted up.
The board that usually reports this was broken.
I didn't check that because I never had the idea to do so.
The plane landed and was crushed between the rods and the cover.
It took a long time to figure that out.
I hope this is the last big accident. If not, you'll find out
in one of the next episodes.
I'm looking forward to the next episodes, not the accidents.
Until then: Bye!