Lessons from Memphis

Memphis Airport USED to have a procedure where Aircraft A landed on a non intersecting runway underneath the flightpath of Aircraft B. One day, Aircraft A, due to an unsafe gear indication, decided that attempting to land may not be in its best interest and requested to go-around. Aircraft A was advised to "keep it low" as there was traffic (Aircraft B) lined up and cleared for the crossing runway. The FAA vowed to never let such a situation happen again. Welcome to Newark Liberty International, land of the surreal.

As part of an FAA-driven capacity issue, planes are cleared for an approach to Runway 29 while aircraft land and depart the parallel runways of 4L and 4R. The problem is that there isn't an approach to Runway 29. The Runway 29 traffic comes in from the west of Newark Airport and crosses over the Runway 4R final at 1500 feet as it circles around the Statue of Liberty. It's all fine and dandy until, as was the case in Memphis, somebody decides that they need to go around. Even if you believe the FAA lies that this is 99.9% safe, would you rather be on Aircraft #999 or Aircraft #1000? The 99.9% number has no basis in fact as being safe and I do have to protect myself from any charge of spreading false information. But I think you get the idea.

You are not just another piece of meat, delivered via QVC to NYC, awaiting your final date with the propane-fueled fires of hell. You do deserve adequate RADAR separation long before you are subjected to the last ditch effort that is visual separation. It may already be too late.