Twp aviation questions

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First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've seen or
heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be able to handle
worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.

Second, on many, if not most or all airliners, what is the small round opening
in the very tail that almost looks like an exhaust?

Thanks.

[Alan Erskine[_4_]]

On 22/11/2011 9:52 AM, wrote:
> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've seen or
> heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be able to handle
> worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.
>
> Second, on many, if not most or all airliners, what is the small round opening
> in the very tail that almost looks like an exhaust?
>
> Thanks.

The latter is usually an vent or an exhaust for the APU (Auxiliary Power
Unit) - not on all aircraft, but quite obvious on the 737.

[Bob Moore]

> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've
> seen or heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be
> able to handle worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.

The availibility of "Customs and Immigration" services. It could be as
simple as a small grass strip on the boarder if there is a federal agent
on call to handle those chores.

Bob Moore

[Savageduck[_3_]]

On 2011-11-21 14:52:42 -0800, said:

> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've seen or
> heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be able to handle
> worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.

In the USA there are several different considerations, one of which is
the specific purpose of the facility. They might be a purely
International Air Cargo terminal.

For the FAA to grant authorization to operate as an "International"
airport purpose and proposed traffic has to be considered.
For example there is the "Fresno Yosemite International Airport" This
commuter airport originally gained authority as an "International"
airport through the city's application to operate an international air
cargo terminal to be operated by UPS, there in 2006. This established a
US Customs presence.

Fresno is located in the San Joaquin Valley and as such has a large
migrant labor population and a well established ICE office. So, in
April of 2011 it was easy to open a branch of Fresno ICE at the airport
to handle new Aeromexico and Voltaris international daily flight routes
between Mexico City, Guadalajara and Fresno.

So there might be many smaller airports which have 3 or 4 daily flights
from Canada or Mexico. They might also have limited hours for
international operation because they don't have permanent ICE staff.
This is what happened with the recent onboard stranding of
international passengers when their flights from Europe were diverted
to "International" airports which had no ICE staff present.

>
> Second, on many, if not most or all airliners, what is the small round opening
> in the very tail that almost looks like an exhaust?
>
> Thanks.


--
Regards,

Savageduck

[D. St-Sanvain]

Hello,

a écrit dans
> :
> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've seen or
> heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be able to handle
> worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.
I belive that it is more a self-given qualification to get funds than a
a label given by an independent commission ;)

> Second, on many, if not most or all airliners, what is the small round
> opening in the very tail that almost looks like an exhaust?
Well, it is an... exhaust :)
Of what is usually called an APU, Auxillary Power Unit. It's a turbine
engine, mostly electically started, which then uses fuel to run, and
drive an alternator. Thus, it will provide electical power for
preflight checks, without the help of a ground power unit.

> Thanks.
Bye,

--
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[Richard[_8_]]

On 11/21/2011 6:03 PM, Bob Moore wrote:
>> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've
>> seen or heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be
>> able to handle worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.
>
> The availibility of "Customs and Immigration" services. It could be as
> simple as a small grass strip on the boarder if there is a federal agent
> on call to handle those chores.
>
> Bob Moore


And, legend says, if the sign on the fence says "international", even in
jest, those services must be present.


I don't know about interplanetary airports...

[Savageduck[_3_]]

On 2011-11-21 21:33:49 -0800, Richard > said:

> On 11/21/2011 6:03 PM, Bob Moore wrote:
>>> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've
>>> seen or heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be
>>> able to handle worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.
>>
>> The availibility of "Customs and Immigration" services. It could be as
>> simple as a small grass strip on the boarder if there is a federal agent
>> on call to handle those chores.
>>
>> Bob Moore
>
>
> And, legend says, if the sign on the fence says "international", even
> in jest, those services must be present.

Some legend! They only need to have the ICE services available for
scheduled flights. Throw in unexpected delays and added traffic due to
diversions and you have another bunch of problems.

Tell that to the 1,000 passengers held for 7 hours on the American
Airlines flight from Paris and the Canadian Airlines flights diverted
to Bradley International Airport, Hartford, Conn, who were told they
couldn't leave the AC because Customs and Immigration had left for the
day. That was on top of those trapped on three JetBlue planes because
the planes at the jetway couldn't be pushed back to make room for
getting the stranded passengers off because the scheduled departures
had not been cleared for departure to JFK and La Guardia..


--
Regards,

Savageduck

[®i©ardo]

On 22/11/2011 06:00, Savageduck wrote:
> On 2011-11-21 21:33:49 -0800, Richard > said:
>
>> On 11/21/2011 6:03 PM, Bob Moore wrote:
>>>> First, what qualifies an airport as an "international" airport? I've
>>>> seen or heard of some "international" airports that don't seem to be
>>>> able to handle worldwide flights. Maybe I'm wrong.
>>>
>>> The availibility of "Customs and Immigration" services. It could be as
>>> simple as a small grass strip on the boarder if there is a federal agent
>>> on call to handle those chores.
>>>
>>> Bob Moore
>>
>>
>> And, legend says, if the sign on the fence says "international", even
>> in jest, those services must be present.
>
> Some legend! They only need to have the ICE services available for
> scheduled flights. Throw in unexpected delays and added traffic due to
> diversions and you have another bunch of problems.
>
> Tell that to the 1,000 passengers held for 7 hours on the American
> Airlines flight from Paris and the Canadian Airlines flights diverted to
> Bradley International Airport, Hartford, Conn, who were told they
> couldn't leave the AC because Customs and Immigration had left for the
> day. That was on top of those trapped on three JetBlue planes because
> the planes at the jetway couldn't be pushed back to make room for
> getting the stranded passengers off because the scheduled departures had
> not been cleared for departure to JFK and La Guardia..
>
>

That apart they had a very successful day, from the airport's point of
view, particularly with the landing fees!

;-)

--
Moving things in still pictures