LGA Runway 44 ?

**Speedbird1** · 03-30-2008, 12:59 PM

I viewed the Spielberg film, "Catch Me If You Can" on ABC. JFK enthusiasts can't help recognizing the tunnel used in the TWA Terminal. It was re-activated during filming of the movie. Surprisingly, DiCaprio mentions that his aircraft will be landing at LGA on Rwy 44. The flight, returning from Europe coming to LGA as well as Rwy 44 are not possible. I don't believe that there are facilities for flights from Europe at LGA and there IS no Rwy 44 anywhere. Isn't Rwy 36 the highest number? Spielberg usually researches his films well so these faux pas are surprising.

**Matt Molnar** · 03-30-2008, 01:04 PM

I don't remember the scene exactly, but being that DiCaprio's character was just pretending to be a pilot and didn't actually know anything about flying, it was probably purposely written like that.

**Speedbird1** · 03-30-2008, 01:43 PM

I never thought of it in that way. Spielberg made sure to show a PanAm B707 rather than a more up-to-date jet so maybe it was written into the script on purpose. Except groups like ours, nobody would know about Rwy 44 and that LGA does not accept most European inbounds.

**cancidas** · 03-30-2008, 02:25 PM

360 is the max. and from what i remember of the movie not every piece of aeronautical information was necessarely true.

**nwafan20** · 03-30-2008, 03:28 PM

I know it was just a typo, but 360 isn't the max runway number, 36 is.

**stuart schechter** · 03-30-2008, 03:40 PM

The number of the runway corresponds to the runway heading. 220hdg=22, 360hdg=36.

BUT!, Chuck Norris is the only one to land on runway 37

**SengaB** · 03-30-2008, 04:27 PM

Aviation is one of the few things that the masses are largely ignorant about. No matter how established or well informed they are when it comes to aviaiton most people are clueless.

Senga

**Idlewild** · 03-30-2008, 05:16 PM

When did LGA stop with inbound and outbound flights to Europe? Obviously it was way before the PA imposed the 1400 + rule in '84. Right after '49?

**G-BOAD** · 03-30-2008, 06:13 PM

I think i remember that scene, as fallows: they were flying over LGA to JFK. typically, from Europe you would come in along Long Island, into JFK, but, they might have been circling around, and come in from the west (like by B6 flight from Oakland, great view from the left side of the plane, of LGA's runway 4). Also, instead of 44, they probably just meant 4.