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...........

I took some time to read most of his PDF report. Some of the stuff is pretty amazing. There's also a claim that FedEx or the Airport tried to kill him...two days in a row via sabotage.

The evidence is pretty compelling though.

Thread of the Year material here. Don't ruin it with facts and logic, Cliffy.

I love the wheel falling off assassination attempt. If they wanted you gone, why not just have some homies pop a cap in you while you were taking a look at your wheel on the interstate? It's happened before.

Game on Cliffy. I have yet to have anyone successfully refute my documentation, specifically FedEx Express or the Airport Authority. Remember that the data is all coming from Express and the Airport Authority. I did not write the studies, structural drawings, or create the $45 million dollar revolving line of credit the Airport used just in case their FAA entitlement loans didn't come in on time. If my mom was using my shipping account for five years why would Express terminate me two weeks before the new runway opened unless they knew that I would keep asking them to look at the data. All I can say Cliffy is I'm from Missouri so if you want to call me a joke then you're going to have to Show Me that tunnel : )

Axe meet grinder!

Maybe you should send it to George Noory at Coast To Coast Radio. He will get the word out.

Here, let me help:

http://www.cynical-c.com/archives/bloggraphics/pop.gif

Naw, Jeff Rense would be better!:rolleyes:

USA Today is always looking for an excuse to publish Sky Is Falling material, especially when it involves airplanes. They don't even care if the facts are wrong or disputed so this would be perfect win-win for them. If it's true, they get a scoop, if wrong then they sold a few extra copies and once again nonetheless scared the S__ out of all the flying public.

Have they turned down the story?

The NTSB report states that "Witnesses reported that the rear fuselage of the airplane scraped the runway for about 3,000 to 4,000 feet". If the entire runway is just under 9000 feet and you've landed, pitched, bounced and landed again and then begin with a tailstrike for 3000 to 4000 feet then you will have had to have passed over the tunnel which is just east of the center. Keep in mind that I interviewed and recorded Tom Clarke, the Airport Authority's Chief Planner who was the person who told me about the damage in the tunnels in addition to what I saw and reported to Express. Express Operations and the MIAC have the most to lose here. I'm in no way trying to scare anyone, I just think that a lot of parties other than the pilots have been attempting to make decisions for them and this is an opportunity for them to decide for themselves. I'm making my living as a painter so can't say I'm feeling disgruntled.

I have never contacted USA Today but you are correct in that I did see their IP address contected to the site today but no feedback.

FTW Cliffy!

Is this is the same "guy" (pun intended)? A colorful individual.

ModelMayhem.com - Guy Cobb - Photographer - Memphis, US

SUPERLAB.US

Yes, that is me. The Tennessee SuperLab Show is an online kid's show I started last year. Picked up 16,000 fans on Facebook in four weeks. I was also a Bud Light Daredevil for ten years performing an acrobatic slam dunk show. There are some YouTube videos on my website as well. You may have seen me on the Super Dave Osborne Show. I think there's some vid in there with Charlie Sheen as well. Guy Cobb

Yep, I wonder if he knows Hero Matt?

Okay I have to give it to you, Cliffy, that is awesome.

Mom Note:

Let me take this opportunity to urge all readers to form your own opinion about Mr. Cobb and his theories. If you believe that his postings are wrong or unsupported, post your arguments and supporting data.

I would also like to ask everyone (including you, Mr. Cobb) to refrain from posting links to personal websites, websites that contain offensive material, or websites that have nothing to do with aviation. If you are enterprising enough to have non-aviation websites, I congratulate you, but please do not promote them here.

Remember that this is a forum for pilots and a place for intelligent discourse on aviation and matters related to it. APC is not for self-promotion, spam or commercial sales.

Thank you all for your cooperation.

Understood. I welcome any comments for discussion either here or offline. I realize my documentation contains a lot of information that most of you may not have the time to completely read. If I were to have to give an "elevator pitch" I would have to say that all of us as non-pilot FedEx employees have always had the highest regard for our pilots. A manager once told me that immediately after Katrina he had Express pilots lined up outside his door letting him know that if he could get them a just a patch of field or a strip of gravel road they'd fly in to help. As someone noted earlier, purple would take the risk even if there is a problem with the runway and tunnel. I believe that as well. The issue here is that because Express Operations has had so much influence over the Airport Authority for so many years, decisions that should be made by the Airport Authority are no longer being made by them and because of this, the decisions are not only affecting Express and other cargo Pilots, but passenger carriers as well. All I ask is that if the issue is important to you, read all of the information on my documentation webpage and in the Hurricane Creek Master Doc. Thank you.

Mom,

I'm glad that you see the contradiction between those two. :rolleyes:

Hey, not to take this thread off the tracks...BUT, I saw hero Matt in Memphis the other day. He's an interesting character, of which there are many wandering the campus. I was kind of in awe, not the good kind. :D

WM

I had "Hero Matt" on a jumpseat recently ... you guys will be pleased to know that he wasn't nearly as big a dork in person as he comes off in his "I-love-me" website :eek:

Hero Matt... Is this the same guy that has pics of all the Russian hookers "girlfriends" on his website??

Cliffy, I did go back and check my notes specific to some of your bullet points and have found many errors in the information you received from FedEx Express Engineering. I have listed them below. Also, if you would send me your email so we can take this offline if you would prefer. [email protected]. I entered my notes below in caps.

The FedEX and MIAC engineering departments have all reviewed Mr. Cobb's reports and have concluded that there is no threat to RWY 09/27

operations nor is there a threat to commercial or private aircraft.

I HAVE BEEN ASKING THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY FOR ANY KIND OF DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT THE TUNNEL AND RUNWAY ARE SAFE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2009.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE HAS STATED THAT THEY HAVE REVIEWED MY DOCUMENTATION AND MADE A CONCLUSION. COULD I GET A COPY OF THEIR REPORT?

- The bounced landing, go-around, and subsequent tailstrike was on Rwy 09. According to pilot testimony, the aircraft was airborne again just

past the extended centerline of Rwy 18L/36R. The aircraft touched down approx. 1100 feet east of the approach end of Rwy 09; the minuscule

slope of the runway was not even in the touchdown zone let alone become a contributing factor in causing the aircraft to "pitch up"

RUNWAY 9/27 HAD A "PROFILE DEFICIENCY" (QUOTE FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND AJAX PAVING, THE CONTRACTOR FOR THE NEW RUNWAY) THAT REQUIRED

THE NEW RUNWAY TO BE RAISED MORE THAN SEVEN FEET TO CORRECT. THEY STATED IN THE NEWSPAPER THAT IS WAS THREE FEET BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE

ACTUAL STRUCTURAL DIAGRAMS AND THE ALTITUDE OF THE TOP SURFACE OF THE NEW RUNWAY IS IS ACTUALLY SEVEN FEET.

MOST FEDEX PILOTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH "THE HUMP" THAT WAS THE LOCATION DIRECTLY ABOVE THE TUNNEL. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE SO FAR WHO KNEW

IMMEDIATELY WHERE THE HUMP WAS LOCATED. YOU DID NOT MENTION THAT THE MD-11 LANDED 30 FEET OFF CENTER WHICH WOULD HAVE PLACED THE JET OFF THE

KEEL BEAMS. YOU CAN DECIDE FROM THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE RUNWAY TAKEN IN FEBRUARY 2004 WHETHER OR NOT THE RUNWAY WAS IN POOR CONDITION. I

BELIEVE ONCE THE AIRCRAFT WAS OFF THE BEAMS IT PASSED OVER A SECTION OF THE ASPHALT RUNWAY THAT CAUSED IT TO PITCH UPWARD PRIOR TO THE

BOUNCE. THE NTSB REPORT STATES THAT THE TAILSTRIKE WAS FROM 3000 TO 4000 FEET WHICH I STILL BELIEVE WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT ACROSS THE TUNNEL.

READ THE REPORT AND LOOK AT THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND DECIDE. IF ANYONE KNOWS THESE TWO PILOTS INVOLVED WITH THIS ACCIDENT I WELCOME THEIR

FEEDBACK.

- The superhub facility is also situated over the tunnel. The weight of the structure and supporting sort equipment, vehicles, and freight

pallets are much higher than the footprint of a landing aircraft. The floors show no cracking or buckling, yet the thickness of the concrete

floors are rated at a lighter load limit.

KEEP IN MIND THAT THE ORIGINAL REASON FOR DRIVING THROUGH THE HURRICANE CREEK TUNNEL IN 2006 WAS TO EVALUATE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE TUNNEL

DURING A NEW MADRID EARTHQUAKE. LATER BLAIR COX WITH EXPRESS ENGINEERING WORKED WITH ME TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE SHOULD INSTALL COLUMN TILT

SENSORS THROUGHOUT THE SUPERHUB FACILITY. WE WERE GOING TO INSTALL THESE SENSORS SO THAT IF WE EXPERIENCED A MID-LEVEL EARTHQUAKE WE WOULD

BE ABLE TO MORE QUICKLY ASSESS WHAT AREAS OF THE BUILDING WERE DAMAGED. THE TILT SENSORS WERE TO BE NETWORKED AND WOULD PROVIDE AN INSTANT

VIEW OF ANY COLUMNS THAT WERE NO LONGER STANDING STRAIGHT. I WAS DEMONSTRATING THESE SENSORS TO CHAIRMAN SMITH AND THE BOARD IN THE

PHOTOGRAPH ON MY DOC PAGE.

THE FACTS ARE THAT THE TUNNEL DOES NOT PASS BENEATH THE SUPERHUB BUILDING. BLAIR IDENTIFIED THAT IT PASSES BENEATH A CORNER OF THE OUTSIDE

CONVEYOR LINE ON THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE MAIN BUILDING. THE TUNNEL'S EXIT TO NONCONNAH CREEK BEGINS AT SPRANKLE ROAD AND PASSES BENEATH

THE PAVED AREA BETWEEN THE SUPERHUB. YOU CAN VERIFY THIS BY LOOKING AT THE SEWER GRATES IN THE CENTER OF THE ROADWAY WHICH ARE THE SAME ONES

WE PHOTOGRAPHED IN 2006 FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TUNNEL.

SO FOR THIS REASON YOU ARE CORRECT IN THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO DAMAGED OR FRACTURED FLOORS INSIDE THE SUPERHUB FACILITY.

- The taxiway "Victor" and "300-series gate taxiways" show no signs of damage above the tunnel, while their use is much higher than the

runway.

IN SATELLITE PHOTOS YOU CAN SEE WHERE MANY OF THE ORIGINAL "TILES" OF TAXIWAY VICTOR WERE REPLACED ABOVE THE TUNNEL. TOM CLARKE STATED THAT

THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TAXIWAYS BECAUSE THERE WAS LESS COVER BETWEEN THE TUNNEL CEILING AND THE TAXIWAY. THE STATEMENT BELOW IS FROM THE

AIRPORT AUTHORITIES 2009 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT. AFTER RUNWAY 9/27'S COMPLETION, THE TAXIWAYS WERE TO BE COMPLETED 18 MONTHS LATER.

The Authority has obtained a $45,000,000 revolving line of credit with a bank. The purpose for this line of credit is to provide temporary

funding for the reconstruction of runway 9/27 and improvements to taxiways alpha and victor. At June 30, 2009, the Authority had not drawn on

this line of credit. Future draw downs, if any, will be repaid with Federal grant reimbursements received by the Authority.

Sensors to more quickly assess earthquake damage? So who cares if they get installed? You can inspect for damage after an earthquake before reopening the runway.

Why do you have to see everyone else's report? Are you the only engineer of high enough caliber to form a proper opinion?

Sounds like you don't know how organizations operate. You don't get to see everything the boss sees. Most of us accept that.

Guy, I have been in the neighborhood for over three years and never knew you had a online kids TV show. Good God Man...and our kids hang out together...Now guess who I am!

Good luck with everything

A major earthquake would have obvious damage. What we were interested in is an earthquake that was in the mid range. Something that would cause an evacuation of the SuperHub but where no visible damage could be seen. The sensors were to show within seconds the positions of all the columns which would allow for a faster structural assessment. Mr. Smith "loved" the idea.

If you want this researched and sent out to the airline world just get it to ALPA

A good reference is [email protected]

ALPA responses to Runway 9/27 warnings
 

Moose,

I have placed all of ALPA's email responses concerning Hurricane Creek and Runway 9/27 in a pdf at this link below. They have known since December of last year. I believe ALPA's Legal area was trying to determine liability associated with telling you all.

http://www.guycobb.com/wreg/ALPAemails.pdf

Guy

Gunter, I sent a response back concerning the earthquake sensors. I believe it is somewhere else in this thread. As far as wanting to see everyone else's reports, the reason is it's the only way validate what methodology Express and MIAC Engineers are using to make their conclusions.

Cliffy's post yesterday answered more questions in one day than I have seen in four years. The disturbing part is that his post validated that Express and MIAC Engineers are working together to cover up their errors. The proof is in the statements:

"The FedEX and MIAC engineering departments have all reviewed Mr. Cobb's reports and have concluded that there is no threat to RWY 09/27 operations nor is there a threat to commercial or private aircraft."

This statement means that FedEx Express and MIAC engineers are making your FAA safety decisions at Memphis International Airport. Even if you don't want to believe any of my findings, that statement alone should make you stop and think.

Basically they are saying we think Guy's hundreds of pages of documentation he's worked on since 2007 are wrong because we looked at the floors of the SuperHub and we did not see any cracks. Look at my documentation...the tunnel does not pass beneath the SuperHub. Blair Cox of Express Engineering and I confirmed the exact path of the tunnel years ago.

So where does the FAA stand on the issue? They've had my documentation since December of 2009. I am very much alleging that the FAA hasn't said a word because they can't explain how Runway 9/27 passed inspection in the condition shown in all of the public satellite photos available online in particular the Google Earth image from February of 2004 (see large vertical fractures above Hurricane Creek tunnel the Airport Authority stated were from when the runway was "open cut" in 1985. The runway would have remained in this condition if not for the FedEx MD-11 accident in September of that same year which forced them to repave).

The reality is, I believe, there were no runway inspections because they trusted Express and the MIAC to do it themselves. It's the same criteria Memphis Water Pollution employs with Express for water that runs through the Hurricane Creek tunnel. They let Express test it themselves. Maybe we will hear something from the FAA soon.

If I were you all and I had to land on that runway, I would ask for a walking tour through the Hurricane Creek tunnel to see for myself what all the fuss is about.

Because that would involve a homicide investigation. And if the intent was simply intimidation and not an attempt on his life then the loose wheeel theory is pretty good.

I'll be the first to say I don't think anyone was trying to knock me off. Like you say I would imagine some far more creative means would have been utilized. I think someone was just messing me with. The irony is I never associated the two incidents with the tunnel because I didn't discover the defects until much later. It was more like Steve Martin in the movie The Jerk being shot at and yelling "Wow, someone must really hate these cans!"

What was interesting is that after I found the satellite images of the fractures and began asking for permission to go back to the tunnel so that I could pinpoint the exact location of where the runway crossed the tunnel's ceiling, no one would approve it. So as it stands, no one other than the MIAC and Express Engineers has been in the two center tunnels (including the FAA). I know Cliffy thought the bulldozer sounded out there but you have admit when you look at the photographs of the bulldozer parked inside the tunnel, wouldn't common sense tell you to at least park it outside enough so that the diesel fumes don't blow back into the tunnel when you fire it up again? The dude driving it was pretty nervous looking as well.

I do appreciate you guys still talking about this and the moderators of the forum for leaving it open for discussion. I would like to see Cliffy back in the conversation so that I can walk him through more of the facts. My guess is he may have made a call and received some smear and went with it so I don't slight him at all for that. I can only imagine what's being said all over town about me right now. Regardless I'm not passing the buck.