This is a satellite picture of runway 31C where the Southwest 737 overran the runway. Easy to see why the trajedy happened. There is no way to stop the plane in the event of an emergency such as the one this week. The proximity of the end of the runway is so close to traffic and houses.




I'll stay with Ohare when I go to Chicago.

 

The threshold of the runway is actually in line with the word 2005 teleatlas all the concrete at the end is taxiways. Not really relevant for landing from the other direction as all my fellow aviators will no doubt agree but still needs to be pointed out.

 

Sorry to be technical, but you are only partially correct. The white line perpendicular to the runway does indeed mark the beginning of the landing portion for runway 13 center, a displaced threshold. The area before that is also part of the runway (note the white markings, not yellow), and is available for takeoff on 13 center, or landing rollout in the opposite direction.

Short runway, less than good braking action. My guess is the key will be how far down the runway the aircraft touched down.

Edit: For the technically oriented, runway 31 center is 6522 feet long. Useable length beyond the threshold is 5826 feet, and beyond the glideslope is 4925 feet.
Runway 31C ILS minimums require 3/4 mile visibility (rvr 4000). Southwest may have special airline specific minimums. News reports are that visibility was in the 1/4 to 1/2 mile range.

 

Reports today indicate the thrust reversers didn't function soon enough.

 

That will certainly cause a problem.

 

but I was trying to keep it simple and do not have the approach plates for the US at home. As I am involved with the Air France incident here in Toronto the whole incident caught my attention.

 

This is from the approximate time of the incident. This would be a tailwind to compound everything else.

MDW METAR 090137Z 16005KT 1/4SM +SN FZFG VV002 M02/M05 A3005 RMK A02 R31C/3000FT

Maggiemae, what are you doing relative to the Air France YYZ incident?