Warning Memphis Runway 9/27
 

This is a warning to all FedEx pilots who land at Memphis International on Runway 9/27. My name is Guy Cobb and I am a former FedEx Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery coordinator. In 2006 I discovered a defect with Runway 9/27 and presented it to FedEx Express Management. Immediately following the meeting I was told not to let this information get out into the public and to shred my documentation which I did but kept my original files. In November of 2008 I re-submitted my findings to Randy DiGirolamo of FedEx Express. Three weeks later the Memphis Airport Authority announced that the 65 year old runway would be completely replaced. Most of you may not realize that Runway 9/27 has a massive tunnel running directly beneath it. The defect is specific to this tunnel and it’s ability to support the runway above it. Because Express fast tracked the new runway to start in March of 2010 and had to be completed by December they made no provisions to reinforce the Hurricane Creek tunnel. I have asked the Memphis Airport Authority to allow for a public inspection of the tunnel for the past four months but they have refused. ALPA, Express, the Memphis Airport Authority and the FAA all know about the defect. All I am asking is that all of you read my Hurricane Creek Master Document on my documentation website and decide for yourselves. My documentation includes all structural diagrams, engineering studies and photographs of the tunnel and runway. The site address is here:
www.guycobb.com/coverup.htm
Thank you and be safe.

Well that explains why there was always a dip in the landing zone of 27. So we can expect it to sink again?

thanks for the info, Gary. Hope your efforts don't go unheeded.

WOW!!!! Looks like a big time cover up! Not good. I'm not completely surprised though. The bottom line is always the bottom line. You've got some big cajaones for taking on Fedex and the MAA. I hope this matter gets the attention that is required and hopefully resolved as well. Good job Guy, and Good Luck!

The original structural studies by the AFRAM corporation commissioned by the Memphis Airport Authority to determine if the airport's runways, taxiways and overpasses could handle FedEx's A380's (on order at the time) stated that the rebar in the support walls should be #8 at six inches. The actual size is #4 at 12 inches. The photographs on my documentation page taken only ten days after the new runway reopened show a circular pattern directly over the tunnel. My concern is that this is being caused by the runway beginning to sink. The problem is no one will let me or anyone else inspect the tunnel and runway.

The other issue I'm concerned with is the NTSB's findings related to the FedEx MD-11 accident on Runway 9/27 in 2004. I do not believe it was pilot error but no one with ALPA will connect me to the pilots who were involved. The NTSB keeps saying it was a "bounced landing" but I believe the condition of the runway at the time caused the aircraft to suddenly pitch upward first after what was perceived by the pilots as a normal landing, and then the bounce took place, followed by the tailstrike. This tailstrike would have dragged directly across the tunnel crossing and I believe was the likely cause for the damage to the tunnel's ceiling that the Airport Authority has been trying to hide for so long.

Have you brought this to the media?

Might also want to post this in the majors. I don't work for Fedex but I go into MEM weekly and I don't think I'll be accepting 27.

Get it to Andy Wise or Mike Matthews. I don't know which stations they work for. And then if it goes to national media something will change. I can see purple accepting the risk but the pax carriers could never accept it if the media gets hold of it.

I hope you are watching your back very carefully Guy.

All of my emails are being intercepted by the Feds. All of the local media has been shut down. What has happened is the local press will want to do a story and as soon as I call them back they all suddenly "have other priorities". This includes Andy Wise who my daughter used to play basketball with his daughter. The tire on my Jeep came off twice in 24 hours, the first immediately after leaving the Airfield Maintenance Parking lot following the inspection of the two outer tunnels and then the next morning after replacing everything broken. I have some good photos on the doc page. www.guycobb.com/coverup.htm

Runway 9/27 is obviously one of the most heavily used runways in the world because of FedEx's inbound and outbound but to your point there are other carriers using the runway including passenger airlines which is my primary concern that I have made to the Memphis Airport Authority.

I KNEW there was a reason I couldn't grease it in on runway 9/27.............and 18/36 L,R and Center. You had me at hello...........