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Airports that are wanting to welcome the A380 are doing renovations to handle the aeroplane. The USA is generally lagging behind in its readiness, but accommodating the A380 is in many airports interests. Currently the A380 is flying to various destinations, so airports can check that are capable of handling the aeroplane, as well a general marketing tour. Just last week the A380 made visit to JFK. A few links on airport readiness:

  - http://www.airliners.net/discussions/general_aviat ion/read.main/1493607/
  - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05333/614282.stm
  - http://www.airport-technology.com/features/feature 653/
  - http://www.atwonline.com/channels/aircraftEquipmen t/article.html?articleID=1187
  - http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CWU/is _2002_March_6/ai_83557785

The extra problem that the aeroplane poses, on top of the plane itself, is dealing with the number of people arriving in the airport at any one time. Think gate waiting lounges and customs clearance.

Just a guess, but when landing, you are pointing the plane at a target (Instrument Landing System). The aircraft can compute how to stay on the glide path. When taking off, there is no such system, and consequently, no way to know if you are on the right track.

Of course, this is just a guess. I am not a pilot. P.S. Anybody know any good flight sim programs for linux? With helicopters?

Japan has a thing about megastructures and land reclamation. I was there in January and we drove across Tokyo Bay on the new Aqualine. A combination of a bridge (4.5 km long) and tunnel (9.5 km). The two meet at a huge artificial island in the middle of the bay.

Incredibly the whole thing was deserted when we were there. Very eerie, driving mile after mile and not seeing another vehicle.

It's even more surreal when you've just arrived from broken down old Blighty and you find a country full of magnificent roads that are almost empty.

Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/kansai/