Live data from Hacker News

Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

istderberschonfertig.de

11–20 of 48 posts

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#11
post #9

I thought Berlin has many airports (I remember Tegel and the other one). So this is another new one ? If yes, why is there a need for a new one :) For example Frankfurt has only one and it's capable much more than Berlin, because it's also a Hub for Lufthansa.

What new one may I ask?

Tegel - "New" West Berlin one - not big enough

Tempelhof - "Old" West Berlin (Airlift airport) - closed

Schonefeld - Soviet built crap. BER is being built next to it

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#12

Ha! That's nothing. In Sweden we've been building a tunnel since 1992 and managed to create a poison scandal in the process. Current estimates is that it will be completed this year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallands%C3%A5s_Tunnel

We might've got you beat there... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Avenue_Subway

"The Second Avenue Subway has been a plan, and occasional construction project, since 1929. The reasons for the line's many false starts and delays are numerous and complex. The line is sometimes referred to as 'The Line That Time Forgot'."

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#13
post #9

I thought Berlin has many airports (I remember Tegel and the other one). So this is another new one ? If yes, why is there a need for a new one :) For example Frankfurt has only one and it's capable much more than Berlin, because it's also a Hub for Lufthansa.

The two operating airports are tiny, Cold-War-era relics that aren't sized appropriately for a large city. FRA is probably 20 times the size of TXL in terms of footprint.

They also lack many modern conveniences that travelers expect. TXL has a Burger King, a convenience store, and maybe one working power outlet.

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#15

For those that are not aware, the delays regarding the Berlin Airport are a running joke by now. And to add insult to injury, there are estimations that the new airport may already be too small to handle the projected number of flights to and from Berlin. Just like the Therac-25[1] is used a a case study for proper software engineering, I'm positive the BER will be taught in engineering schools as a cautionary tale o…

Was it an engineering problem? Why would you teach this in engineering school? Looks like the project was hopelessly mismanagement, so likely above the heads of the engineers.

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#16
post #9

I thought Berlin has many airports (I remember Tegel and the other one). So this is another new one ? If yes, why is there a need for a new one :) For example Frankfurt has only one and it's capable much more than Berlin, because it's also a Hub for Lufthansa.

What new one may I ask? Tegel - "New" West Berlin one - not big enough Tempelhof - "Old" West Berlin (Airlift airport) - closed Schonefeld - Soviet built crap. BER is being built next to it

>> Schonefeld

I was there recently and it was fine. It wasn't one of the best airports I've been to but no particular issues and decent transport links to the city.

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#17
post #3

Fun page. The whole BER project and its delays is such an astonishing example of management that it is hard to believe it happened. I first thought it could only happen in some 3rd world country, but in fact, it couldn't happen in a 3rd world country. In a 3rd world country, the political leadership would simply jail bureaucrats until someone signs off the safety papers and says, go ahead and open the airport, never…

3rd world or government driven contract, there is not much difference in the stereotypical outcome but I tend to think the 3rd world is much more upfront about expectations.

What qualifies however? Would California's dream of high speed rail qualify? It will easily cost more than expected and take way longer. The Big Dig qualified but does metro transit authorities spending 100 to 200 million per new mile of light rail on forever delayed programs count?

how many billions have to be wasted before we come to realize there are better options.

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#18
post #3

Fun page. The whole BER project and its delays is such an astonishing example of management that it is hard to believe it happened. I first thought it could only happen in some 3rd world country, but in fact, it couldn't happen in a 3rd world country. In a 3rd world country, the political leadership would simply jail bureaucrats until someone signs off the safety papers and says, go ahead and open the airport, never…

Your racism is showing, and it's ugly. Please tuck it back in.

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#19
post #12

Ha! That's nothing. In Sweden we've been building a tunnel since 1992 and managed to create a poison scandal in the process. Current estimates is that it will be completed this year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallands%C3%A5s_Tunnel

We might've got you beat there... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Avenue_Subway "The Second Avenue Subway has been a plan, and occasional construction project, since 1929. The reasons for the line's many false starts and delays are numerous and complex. The line is sometimes referred to as 'The Line That Time Forgot'."

In better news, Switzerland just announced the date for the opening of its biggest infrastructure project ever :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotthard_Base_Tunnel

edit: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9659697

Re: Is the Berlin Airport ready yet?

#20
post #3

Fun page. The whole BER project and its delays is such an astonishing example of management that it is hard to believe it happened. I first thought it could only happen in some 3rd world country, but in fact, it couldn't happen in a 3rd world country. In a 3rd world country, the political leadership would simply jail bureaucrats until someone signs off the safety papers and says, go ahead and open the airport, never…

In a 3rd world country, the political leadership would simply jail bureaucrats You have a sweet understanding of third world countries. In a third world country (at least the one I live in) all projects have the same fate. That's the default path a project takes. And that's not due to mismanagement but corruption. Edit: Spelling mistake.

I had "parse error", but with faith I suppose you mean fate?

Well, I was painting with a broad brush, of course. Sorry about that. There are many very different 3rd world countries. Botswana is different from Zimbabwe even if it is not that far away, but generally, in the 3rd world, you can expect delays and that things are mañana or insha'allah. And many countries have autocratic leaders who wouldn't put up with fire regulations delaying an important project. Yes, it might be acceptable that the project is delayed because the material for runway pavement was used to build the road to El Presidente's summer house so he can get there when he wants to avoid Scorchio. But it wouldn't be acceptable that he doesn't get to cut the tape in an opening ceremony because some stupid says the smoke eviction ducts in the terminal are built wrong.

Post reply on HN