The Active is a photograph by Alex Esguerra which was uploaded on January 2nd, 2015.
The Active
At peak activity, an airport's runway in use, especially one paved for an international airport, can be a busy and exciting place. Airliners... more
Title
The Active
Artist
Alex Esguerra
Medium
Photograph - Color
Description
At peak activity, an airport's runway in use, especially one paved for an international airport, can be a busy and exciting place. Airliners typically use upwards to nearly two miles of asphalt to build up the necessary speed to get their hundreds of tons of weight to break the surly bonds of Earth. Likewise, the same surface is needed for landing aircraft to touch down and brake before they can exit and head to their parking space. It's a place of incredible noise, fast-rushing machines, and the majestic sights of rising and descending metal that turns the heads of children and adults alike.
Tower controllers will advise pilots of planes crossing those lengthy strips of asphalt to hold short of an active runway, using the official designation. But occasionally, they'll just refer to it as "the active".
And active this setting referred to as Runway 28 Right is at San Francisco Intl Airport! A Japan-bound 747 creates condensation as it lifts off SFO's longest runway. A couple of miles out, a domestic A320 arrival is in the groove for the same runway that the mighty heavy has departed from. All the while, the crew of a 767 freighter patiently hold position, waiting their turn to use the active.
Uploaded
January 2nd, 2015