In order to achieve a more safer airport runway experience, clearance light fixtures are mounted on really tall poles such that they appear directly in pilots' line of sight. When the light shines green and the plane moves, the pole will get mown over, Shirley, and have to be stood back upright.
Thus enters the Airplane Runway Clearance Light Pole Restander Upper from the attendant 3-by-4-foot shack. He/She hustles out and levers the pole back upright, bringing the light back in line for safety's sake, so the entire thing can then be toppled over again.
Applicants will have a lifetime employment option.-- whatrock, Jan 27 2021 Inspired by... Takeoff_20Clearance_20light [whatrock, Jan 27 2021] Thunderbird 2 take-off sequence https://youtu.be/qdTBZhNVxco?t=95Keep an eye on the trees! [DrBob, Jan 30 2021] Rumblebirds RumblebirdsBe afraid. Be VERY afraid ... [8th of 7, Jan 30 2021] Given the current trend of manufacturing civil aircraft from a sort of glorified cardboard soaked in glue, and the fragile nature of the resultant "composite", having anything other than averagely thick air impact the leading edge is probably going to be a Bad Thing.
Plus that leading edge is often tricked out with all sorts of gadgetry like de-ice boots, high lift devices like slats and droops, and other delicious confections found on high-end* equipment, said gadgetry being similarly very prone to damage resulting in a swingeing repair bill.
*More than just a single-engine puddle-jumper.-- 8th of 7, Jan 27 2021 Obviously there is a shack on the opposite side of the runway where the Airport Runway Clearance Light Knocker Downer sits. She/he runs out and cnocks the pole down before the aeroplane reaches it, and then retires before being run down by said aeroplane.-- pocmloc, Jan 27 2021 if we could expand this idea for all poles that need to be stood up over and over again, I will give a croissant because my town needs to have this! There is a Bizzarre 3 1/2 way intersection where The sign posts get knocked over Just about once a week from big trucks who cannot make the turn. They have tried putting them in buckets of cement, stacks of rubber tires, bright orange paint, but if the truck doesn’t have enough room, it just gets knocked over.-- xandram, Jan 27 2021 That problem would be better addressed by suspending lights and signage from overhead cables or gantries.
Have you proposed a "weeble" design of pole to the traffic authority ?-- 8th of 7, Jan 27 2021 //proposed a "weeble" design of pole to the traffic authority ?//
The weeble with an inflatable upper portion should do the job... Maybe it could even be a Whacky waving-arm inflatable tube man weeble, for extra personality.-- bs0u0155, Jan 27 2021 Combined with lighting from a flush-mounted colour-changing uplighter luminaire, there might be a lot of potential in that idea - pretty much immune to impact damage, easily replaced.-- 8th of 7, Jan 27 2021 Also an ideal application for a small turbine...-- bs0u0155, Jan 27 2021 [8th] I have actually thought of a weeble type idea but unfortunately the town officials are actually weebles themselves! haha
Giant springs or foam post would be able to go down and pop back up!-- xandram, Jan 28 2021 // the town officials are actually weebles themselves //
We suspect the veracity of that assertion ... observational evidence strongly indicates that the vast majority of "town officials" do not have sufficient innate ability to return themselves to the upright position unaided, once they have fallen over - usually caused by trying to walk and breathe simultaneously.-- 8th of 7, Jan 28 2021 ^Everyone needs a push, at certain points in a lifetime.
<buys a pair of heavy duty earmuffs 1> <reads first search page on closest distance to ground of aircraft under take off angle 2> <Dismisses thoughts about trainees in prop aircraft 3></3 2 1>,
Fear does help memory, right?-- wjt, Jan 29 2021 Right. We offer the following definition:
"PILOT: A person who does from a checklist the things they do every day, and from memory the things they do once every six years".
The "Engine out" procedure is a notable example, though it has to compete for mental space with fervent prayers.-- 8th of 7, Jan 30 2021 Thunderbirds Runway Fake Trees Restander Upper (linky)-- DrBob, Jan 30 2021 All very well, but how would halfbakers handle the problem ... ?
<link>-- 8th of 7, Jan 30 2021 random, halfbakery