Earth Hour 2013: The bright lights of Berlin's (future) airport

They have not yet found the light switch at Berlin's new airport.

Remember the time when advanced technology was the pride of Germany? 

Well, nothing lasts forever:

At the problem-plagued construction site that will eventually become the Berlin International Airport, the terminal lights burn around the clock. And the reason is not to prevent workers there from succumbing to the winter blues. Rather, technical difficulties at the ultra-modern airport -- which will ultimately cost close to €4.3 billion -- mean that the lights can't be switched off.

"It has to do with the fact that we haven't progressed far enough with our lighting system that we can control it," Horst Amann, airport technical director, said on Wednesday during a rare public appearance.

That isn't the only technical hang-up at the airport, of course. Originally scheduled to begin operations in October 2011, its opening was unexpectedly delayed due to concerns about safety equipment -- before being delayed again last May. Since then, however, myriad problems, construction shortcomings, design errors and technical glitches have been found. Not to mention concerns that the building might be too small.

PS

Nothing so bad, as not to be good for something. At least the missing light switch will make it somewhat more difficult for the future airport to participate in the upcoming annual stupidity called The Earth Hour, on March 23 (unless they decide to follow the example set by Mauritius last year).  

(image by wikipedia)

Should Berlin's failed airport be renamed?

In Germany the foundation entrusted with the task of preserving the legacy of former chancellor Willy Brandt is not happy about the scandal-ridden new Berlin airport's name:

Berlin's new airport is named after former Chancellor Willy Brandt, but its construction faults have brought it such infamy that the foundation managing Brandt's political legacy is worried about having the Nobel laureate associated with the project.

For now, Berlin's new airport is officially called Willy Brandt Airport after the former Germ chancellor and Nobel Peace Prize winner widely acknowledged to have been one of post-war Germany's greatest leaders.

However, it is still not too late to rename the failure. The most suitable name for the new airport - if it ever will be operational - would of course be "Gerhard Schröder Airport"  (perhaps sponsored by Gazprom and the former chancellor's friend, the "flawless democrat" Vladimir Putin?).

"Vorsprung durch Technik": Germans seem unable to build an airport

"Vorsprung durch Technik" ("Advancement through technology") is the familiar slogan of a well known German car manufacturer, also symbolizing the technical and industrial prowess of the eurozone paymaster in general. 

However, judging by what is going on in the capital Berlin, the German leadership role may have to be reconsidered:

The saga of Berlin's hapless efforts to build a new airport has taken another embarrassing twist with reports that its opening will be delayed for a fourth time because of continued problems with the fire safety system.

The opening of Berlin's new airport BER, set for Oct. 27, has been delayed for the fourth time and will not go ahead this year in a further blow to the city's reputation. Although not yet confirmed by official sources, the news has triggered calls on Mayor Klaus Wowereit to resign and spells at least another year of congestion at the city's two small, increasingly overstretched eastern and western airports.

Newspapers reported on Monday that the airport's management company had informed contractors in December that an opening before 2014 was unfeasible due to construction errors. The main problem, which also led to previous delays, is the fire safety system. --

Bild added that construction experts checking the building had found hundreds of other faults including cracks in the floor tiles, and more seriously, problems with the airport's local area network that steers everything from the check-in system to the runway lights.

Experts have also warned that the airport doesn't have enough check-in counters and baggage claim conveyor belts to cope with passenger numbers at peak times.

The new airport is, or was to have been, a major prestige project for the German capital, replacing the two ageing and outdated western and eastern airports, Tegel and Schönefeld, which are due to close once it opens.

Construction started in September 2006, and the airport was originally due to open on Oct. 31, 2011. It was then delayed to June 3, 2012, then to spring 2013, and finally to October 2013.

And in addition to the Berlin airport, there are several other construction scandals in Germany.