Why are our gates numbered up to 55 (20-33 and 51-59) when we only have 18? A friend of mine asked me this and when I flew in tonight from Chicago (since when is Chicago a warmer destination??), it reminded me to ask.
It started back when the old municipal airport was still open and they were transitioning to the new one. The old airport had gates 1-19 already so they started numbering the new gates at 20. Bit confusing if you had two sets of gates numbered 1-19.
(anyone wanna lay bets on whether 1603 believes that line of bs I just made up?) [:P]
The Org. terminal with 1-19 was heavy damaged by fire and later razed.
Cause of the fire was confirmed to be set by bum's trying to stay warm during the winter of '57.
"Great Plaines I" was investigated but cleared of any wrong doing.
This City has a long history, jdb
quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
It started back when the old municipal airport was still open and they were transitioning to the new one. The old airport had gates 1-19 already so they started numbering the new gates at 20. Bit confusing if you had two sets of gates numbered 1-19.
(anyone wanna lay bets on whether 1603 believes that line of bs I just made up?) [:P]
Hahahaha, that actually sounded like a good explanation! I just want an answer because some of my big city friends think we're just trying to sound bigger than we really are! :) There has GOT to be a logical explanation for it.
The bigger question is - what are the international destinations?
I flew directly to Canada once, but that was almost 10 years ago.
Maybe the other gates are the private planes or hangers.
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Originally posted by ghostofdavaz
The bigger question is - what are the international destinations?
I believe that private chartered planes can fly to Mexico. There are customs offices on site...I don't know if they are ever used or not though.
I think that "International" is also used in airline lingo to describe runway lengths that can handle larger planes.
Just because Tulsa does not have a flight leaving every day for another country means they can't use the term "international".
I guess the World series between St. Louis and Detroit shouldn't be called "world".
quote:
Originally posted by ghostofdavaz
The bigger question is - what are the international destinations?
The passenger carriers serve domestic destinations only, but the cargo carriers are international.
I personally saw both the Space Shuttle (on top of a 747) and the British Airways' Concord land at TIA.
But, 'international' these days probably refers to the janitorial staff.
Oh wow, so if the space shuttle was there, can we say, Tulsa Intergalactic Airport? [:D] Soooo perhaps the first 19 gates are in orbit?
The International status is given to any airport that has Customs offices on-site, regardless of the daily destinations served.
Maybe it's like when you open a new checking account, and they ask you what number you want to start your checks with... Nobody ever says "1."
Will Rogers is a "World" airport regardless of the fact that it does not currently serve any other planets.
For one week a year, the World's busiest control tower is in Wisconsin.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:OSH2003_busiest_tower.jpg
P.S. Davaz, why come back just to discuss international flights?
quote:
Originally posted by Perspicuity85
The International status is given to any airport that has Customs offices on-site, regardless of the daily destinations served.
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From: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07009/752402-84.stm 1-09-2007
"Flight 37 from Zurich, Switzerland, to Dallas was diverted to Tulsa, Okla., where it sat for 10 hours. Pilots couldn't take off because they reached federal limits on duty time, American says.
Tulsa doesn't have a Customs and Immigration facility so no one could get off. By the time the plane reached Dallas, landing at 1:33 a.m., according to Federal Aviation Administration data, passengers had been on board more 22 hours."
The customs office is located by the cargo facilities at 2222 North Cargo Road (south side of the airport.)
quote:
Originally posted by Wrinkle
quote:
Originally posted by Perspicuity85
The International status is given to any airport that has Customs offices on-site, regardless of the daily destinations served.
------------
From: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07009/752402-84.stm 1-09-2007
"Flight 37 from Zurich, Switzerland, to Dallas was diverted to Tulsa, Okla., where it sat for 10 hours. Pilots couldn't take off because they reached federal limits on duty time, American says. Tulsa doesn't have a Customs and Immigration facility so no one could get off. By the time the plane reached Dallas, landing at 1:33 a.m., according to Federal Aviation Administration data, passengers had been on board more 22 hours."
Best plane ride ever?!
[B)]
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Why are our gates numbered up to 55 (20-33 and 51-59) when we only have 18? A friend of mine asked me this and when I flew in tonight from Chicago (since when is Chicago a warmer destination??), it reminded me to ask.
When the terminal was designed in the early 60's there was a third concourse allowed for to the west of the terminal. Then too, when the terminal was built they were still using a lot of ground access aircraft that serviced numerous small towns in the area. Thus, there was ground level gate lobbies included in the original concept.
quote:
Originally posted by citizen72
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Why are our gates numbered up to 55 (20-33 and 51-59) when we only have 18? A friend of mine asked me this and when I flew in tonight from Chicago (since when is Chicago a warmer destination??), it reminded me to ask.
When the terminal was designed in the early 60's there was a third concourse allowed for to the west of the terminal. Then too, when the terminal was built they were still using a lot of ground access aircraft that services numerous small towns in the area. Thus, there was ground level gate lobbies included in the original concept.
Right. I remember when the "new" airport opened. The first time I ever flew was around 1965 from Tulsa to Dallas via Braniff International. I remember the airport had "red" and "yellow" concourses, and just as many ground level gates (probably more) as upper level gates. On that first flight of mine (just a kid of about 8), it was out of a ground level gate; you walked outside on the tarmac and up the stairs to the plane. Me and my brother in our "Sunday best" sport coats and neckties. That was back when flying was still considered a luxury and people dressed accordingly.
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by citizen72
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Why are our gates numbered up to 55 (20-33 and 51-59) when we only have 18? A friend of mine asked me this and when I flew in tonight from Chicago (since when is Chicago a warmer destination??), it reminded me to ask.
When the terminal was designed in the early 60's there was a third concourse allowed for to the west of the terminal. Then too, when the terminal was built they were still using a lot of ground access aircraft that services numerous small towns in the area. Thus, there was ground level gate lobbies included in the original concept.
Right. I remember when the "new" airport opened. The first time I ever flew was around 1965 from Tulsa to Dallas via Braniff International. I remember the airport had "red" and "yellow" concourses, and just as many ground level gates (probably more) as upper level gates. On that first flight of mine (just a kid of about 8), it was out of a ground level gate; you walked outside on the tarmac and up the stairs to the plane. Me and my brother in our "Sunday best" sport coats and neckties. That was back when flying was still considered a luxury and people dressed accordingly.
I knew there had to be a logical explanation!
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
quote:
Originally posted by Steve
quote:
Originally posted by citizen72
quote:
Originally posted by tulsa1603
Why are our gates numbered up to 55 (20-33 and 51-59) when we only have 18? A friend of mine asked me this and when I flew in tonight from Chicago (since when is Chicago a warmer destination??), it reminded me to ask.
When the terminal was designed in the early 60's there was a third concourse allowed for to the west of the terminal. Then too, when the terminal was built they were still using a lot of ground access aircraft that services numerous small towns in the area. Thus, there was ground level gate lobbies included in the original concept.
Right. I remember when the "new" airport opened. The first time I ever flew was around 1965 from Tulsa to Dallas via Braniff International. I remember the airport had "red" and "yellow" concourses, and just as many ground level gates (probably more) as upper level gates. On that first flight of mine (just a kid of about 8), it was out of a ground level gate; you walked outside on the tarmac and up the stairs to the plane. Me and my brother in our "Sunday best" sport coats and neckties. That was back when flying was still considered a luxury and people dressed accordingly.
I knew there had to be a logical explanation!
Yep! The current TIA gate numbering convention is undoubtably a holdover from the old days when they had many more ground level gates in operation and excluded numbers from the old municipal airport (I have vague memories of that one too.)
Back in the early-mid 1960s, my family would make an evening at the airport as entertainment. We would go to the old Sky Chef restaurant in the new (current) airport for dinner and then sit out on one of the observation decks to watch the "new" jet airliners come in and take off. Passenger jet service had been in the US since around 1958, but was a new thing in Tulsa in 1963-1965. Didn't take much to fascinate us children back then!