Mon Mar 22, 1999 8:45 am
To me, United's service out of Meigs is the greatest mystery in commercial aviation today. I see them fly overhead every day, but where do they go? They aren't listed in the UAL flight guide, nor is CGX listed as a destination on their website. I've never taken the time to visit the commercial terminal to look at the Meigs flights' destinations.
The largest jet I've ever seen at CGX is a Lear.
No airline has ever operated a jet to Meigs. The runway is way too short for regular ops. A lightly commercial jet's V1 speed would probably limit it from using Meigs legally. Landing would be incredible. They are just barely able to land at Midway sometimes, and MDW's runways are over 2,000 feet longer. Several times when we've landed at Midway I've watched the runway distance markers count down 3... 2... 1... and we're still really moving when we pass the 1. If wind gusts delay touchdown, look for some MASSIVE reverse thrust. The r/t that you hear on a normal landing is NOTHING compared to what they use at Midway sometimes.
The largest plane ever to operate from Meigs was a 727-100. United donated an old 727 to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago a few years ago. They landed it at CGX (I've heard a recording of the ATC for the flight), then rolled the 727 for five miles down the highway to the museum, where they knocked down a wall to get the plane into the bulding. It's on display there in a well-done aviation exhibit for kids.