ID :
44022
Tue, 02/03/2009 - 20:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/44022
The shortlink copeid
Experts divided over airstrip adjustment for skyscraper
SEOUL, Feb. 3 (Yonhap) -- Military and aviation experts remained heavily divided Tuesday on the government's recent decision to readjust a military airstrip to allow a business group to build a skyscraper within the airfield's operational vicinity.
South Korea decided last month to consider slightly readjusting the double-runway
airfield in Seongnam, south of Seoul, to allow the Lotte Group to build a
555-meter-tall tower. Lotte has sought since 1994 to build the tower that would
be annexed to its popular Lotte World theme park.
The decision to turn one of Seoul Airport's runways by three degrees to prevent
collisions came as President Lee Myung-bak has called for a "business-friendly"
government since taking office early last year.
At a public hearing held in the National Assembly, proponents of the decision
argued the plan -- which would require some facility upgrades -- does not raise
safety issues while opponents expressed concerns over risks of collision into the
tower.
"Military aircraft carry bombs and external fuel tanks," Kim Sung-jeon, a retired
Air Force
lieutenant colonel, said, pointing to the potential hazards that could occur in the
case of an accident. Kim also stressed that the operations of a forward-based
facility such as Seoul Airport should not be restricted by the interest of a single
business company.
Lee Jin-hak, former head of planning division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's
office, argued the mere sight of a staggering tower could distract pilots'
operations.
"The sight of the skyscraper could invoke fear in pilots who try to land their
aircraft during night time," Lee warned, adding that planes that accidentally
veer off the guided paths could would crash into the tower within 10 seconds.
Song Byung-heum, an aviation professor at the Korea Aerospace University,
however, brushed off the concerns, citing the intensive training of pilots and
the fact that the tower would be built 5km from the runway.
"The risks of confusion during flight operations are highly unlikely as pilots
receive high-level trainings using various gauges of all the surrounding
structures on the ground."
Kim Kwang-woo, an official at the defense ministry's military facilities planning
division, tried to reassure opponents that the ministry will require Lotte to
apply full safety standards.
"We will prepare a multi-layered safety scheme to completely secure the safety of
flights," said Kim.
The previous Roh Moo-hyun administration decided against Lotte's plan in 2007,
siding with the Air Force that complained of the potential dangers. Lee's
pro-business government mulled a reversal last year as Lotte said it would assume
the entire cost involved in readjusting the airstrip.
South Korea decided last month to consider slightly readjusting the double-runway
airfield in Seongnam, south of Seoul, to allow the Lotte Group to build a
555-meter-tall tower. Lotte has sought since 1994 to build the tower that would
be annexed to its popular Lotte World theme park.
The decision to turn one of Seoul Airport's runways by three degrees to prevent
collisions came as President Lee Myung-bak has called for a "business-friendly"
government since taking office early last year.
At a public hearing held in the National Assembly, proponents of the decision
argued the plan -- which would require some facility upgrades -- does not raise
safety issues while opponents expressed concerns over risks of collision into the
tower.
"Military aircraft carry bombs and external fuel tanks," Kim Sung-jeon, a retired
Air Force
lieutenant colonel, said, pointing to the potential hazards that could occur in the
case of an accident. Kim also stressed that the operations of a forward-based
facility such as Seoul Airport should not be restricted by the interest of a single
business company.
Lee Jin-hak, former head of planning division of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's
office, argued the mere sight of a staggering tower could distract pilots'
operations.
"The sight of the skyscraper could invoke fear in pilots who try to land their
aircraft during night time," Lee warned, adding that planes that accidentally
veer off the guided paths could would crash into the tower within 10 seconds.
Song Byung-heum, an aviation professor at the Korea Aerospace University,
however, brushed off the concerns, citing the intensive training of pilots and
the fact that the tower would be built 5km from the runway.
"The risks of confusion during flight operations are highly unlikely as pilots
receive high-level trainings using various gauges of all the surrounding
structures on the ground."
Kim Kwang-woo, an official at the defense ministry's military facilities planning
division, tried to reassure opponents that the ministry will require Lotte to
apply full safety standards.
"We will prepare a multi-layered safety scheme to completely secure the safety of
flights," said Kim.
The previous Roh Moo-hyun administration decided against Lotte's plan in 2007,
siding with the Air Force that complained of the potential dangers. Lee's
pro-business government mulled a reversal last year as Lotte said it would assume
the entire cost involved in readjusting the airstrip.
