Apple Maps flaw results in drivers crossing airport runway


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An Alaskan airport has closed an aircraft access route because of a flaw with Apple's Maps app.

Fairbanks International Airport told a local newspaper that in the past three weeks two motorists had driven along the taxiway and across one of its runways.

Apple's app directs users along the taxiway but does not specifically tell them to drive on to the runway.

A spokesman for Apple was unable to provide comment.

The airport said it had complained to the phone-maker through the local attorney general's office.

"We asked them to disable the map for Fairbanks until they could correct it, thinking it would be better to have nothing show up than to take the chance that one more person would do this," Melissa Osborn, chief of operations at the airport, told the Alaska Dispatch newspaper.

She added that barricades had since been erected to block access to the final stretch of the taxiway and that they would not be removed until Apple had updated its directions.

Google Maps

The Google Maps app sends drivers on a different route

The airport said it had been told the problem would be fixed by Wednesday.

However the BBC still experienced the issue when it tested the app, asking for directions to the site from a property to the east of the airport.

By contrast the Google Maps app provided a different, longer route which takes drivers to the property's car park.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24246646

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Are there not signs saying entering Airspace runway, most usually have a fence or entrance way from the road with signs or a gate. Some blame has to also be put on the airport as well as the drivers that don't use common sense 

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They really should start giving out some sort of dumbassery test when you get a drivers license.. comon, flaw or not, I can't think of one real reason when driving across an airport runway (that doesn't involve pretending to be in a fictional chase scene) that would be considered even remotely a good idea. Focus less on the little screen and pay attention to what you're doing, sheesh. Somewhat the airports fault, maybe, but that's pretty sad when you have to point out "duh, you may get smushed by a commercial airliner."

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I'm thinking this is not a very big airport with fenced in runways and security checks to get anywhere. 

 

I just google mapped the airport, and their are multiple roads that lead directly to the runway. I'm surprised other people haven't done it (although I bet there have been.) It's only a big deal now because they were using a GPS in these instances.

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How stupid can an airport be to allow access to the runways/taxiways from the civilian roads?

The fail is on Apple Maps and the airport (and the drivers too).

"Man, this road is smooth!"

 

:p

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This reminds me of someone who posted on another site I go on, blaming Apple Maps because he drove down a narrow passageway and scratched both of his wing mirrors on the buildings at both sides of the alleyway. Yeah because you, the driver, had absolutely no choice in the matter, you just had to go where the device told you!! 

 

It worries me that these morons are on the roads. 

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Are there not signs saying entering Airspace runway, most usually have a fence or entrance way from the road with signs or a gate. Some blame has to also be put on the airport as well as the drivers that don't use common sense 

 

You can bet that there are now, thanks to these wingnuts. 

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Are there not signs saying entering Airspace runway, most usually have a fence or entrance way from the road with signs or a gate. Some blame has to also be put on the airport as well as the drivers that don't use common sense 

 

"They must have been persistent," the airport's assistant manager Angie Spear told the BBC.

 

"They had to enter the airport property via a motion-activated gate, and afterwards there are many signs, lights and painted markings, first warning that aircraft may share the road and then that drivers should not be there at all.

"They needed to drive over a mile with all this before reaching the runway. But the drivers disregarded all that because they were following the directions given on their iPhones."

 

 

Dumb drivers and not enough security at the airport.  Probably should keep the barricades permanent.

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