OT View From Working On Top Of The Burj Khalifa  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 02:18:58 pm
content: Could you do this? I could not.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 03:01:24 pm
content: I might ..... MIGHT ...... be able to cope with being inside the 'crows nest' - but over the side?NOT ON YOUR NELLIE!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 03:06:25 pm
content: No..............Only been one time I really wanted to have a parachute and use it. Was offered the chance to do base jumping, but decided against it.Do you hear trhe regular buzzing on the audio, either there is an active cellular tower up these, or one really powerful approach radar.Jamiel has got balls of steel, along with that Pommie rigger Mick Flaherty.Watched the rest of them yet Homer?

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 03:22:31 pm
content: I couldn't do that, but the missus and I did take the private helicopter transfer about four years ago from DXB to the Burj Al Arab, standing on top of the helicopter platform was enough for me thank you.http://youtu.be/e3w73SVl0Es

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pm
content: Personally I prefer the video below.Don't skip through it: watch it in sequence, full-screen so there are no distractions.Just as you think it can't get any worse, it does. Repeatedly.

author: Mechanical Menace
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 05:30:41 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pmNormally I'm the sort of person who's attracted to high places. I'm generally the guy who stands at the edge of the cliff or sits on window ledges to have a cig*, but just watching that has warranted a change of underwear*I know,it's a bad habit.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 06:40:18 pm
content: Quote from: Mechanical Menace on December 26, 2015, 05:30:41 pmIn which case you might enjoy doing this (yes, it is legal, but it wouldn't be if the aircraft had an engine):Or:Or "departing from controlled flight", as demonstrated by 14yo adults before they go solo:Or anythign by "balleka", e.g.

author: Homer J Simpson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 08:33:02 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pmThat is insane.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 09:17:09 pm
content: When I was a kid I grew up in the countryside and climbing the tallest trees in the woods and falling out of them was a rite of passage. Yeah I got a few injuries, cuts and bruises and stuff but I wouldn't trade the tests of my boundaries with all the molly coddled kids in the world.I later moved to the city and my desire to explore my urban environment was amplified. This led to our "gang" of 12/13 year olds to find all the best towering hotels in our bit of London and "break-in" then use the passenger lifts and then find the service lifts to get to the very top floor, then use service ladders to get on the tower roofs.It was amazing and sickening at the same time to see the London Underground like comic little choo-choo trains ... and the roof had no barriers, so we could only crawl to the edge to peer over. Nobody had the balls (or insanity) to actually stand on those ledges. There was some horrible urge to just jump! I can't describe it.Those hotel rooves also then had communication towers on top, we never did climb those despite coming up with plans of how to do it...Oh lord if my mum knew what we used to get up to...

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 09:42:36 pm
content: This video is excellent, especially in large screen HD. I can still scarcely believe a building can be that tall.http://youtu.be/iD4qsWnjsNU

author: g.lewarne
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2015, 10:40:29 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pmno no no no No No No NO NO NOPEThat made me feel sick and some kinda weird vertigo. Thanks!(I don't like heights, small ladders are bad enough for me)

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 07:31:54 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pmI don't even need to watch this one anymore - simply seeing the still frame makes my knees weak because I know what it is.Those guys have big ones. Made of brass. Not sure how they can climb the towers with them clunking and banging together. Not for me. No thank you, no way no how!!-Pat

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 09:40:18 am
content: I worked in a sixty floor elevator shaft once, that was not too bad because perspective meant that I couldn't see the bottom of the shaft. Two safety harnesses and two engineers looking out for each other meant that the work environment was reasonably safe. That tower climbing video though makes my blood run cold.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 10:41:23 am
content: Quote from: Homer J Simpson on December 26, 2015, 02:18:58 pmI got sweaty handpalms looking at it, would never choose to do it. But still I think if you MUST you can do it. Been in the (mandatory) service (army) and though i had fear of heights I had to glide down from a 250m installation during practice. Alternative was a weekend in prison , refusing an order of a superior. I did it, was shook up for half an hour but still if there is no alternative, or there is a life threatening situation a human being can do much more than he thinks he can do.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 10:53:45 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on December 26, 2015, 04:51:12 pmDidn't watch all of it but climbing without safety makes me go

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 11:31:47 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on December 27, 2015, 10:53:45 amIf you didn't watch all of it then your reaction might be limitedActually, they do have at least safeties of some sort, and probably as much as is possible at the top.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 12:43:23 pm
content: AwesomeI was surprised at the lack of wind.I've been up microwave repeater towers, and those things really sway in the wind, it's very disconcerting even if you love heights.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 02:23:56 pm
content: They did remark it was a very calm day. There could be a 30kph wind at ground level, but 860m up in the air it can be dead calm. They did remark on the tower swaying, so likely there is a wind lower down applying pressure on the sail of the tower causing it to oscillate slightly.

author: KM4FER
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 03:05:39 pm
content: Some time ago as I was watching a crow perched on the top of a very tall fir tree swaying in the wind I realized that birds have no fear of falling.Interesting to think what that might be like.earl

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 03:32:42 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on December 27, 2015, 12:43:23 pmNow you make me recall something I wish I could forget: As a kid I climbed to the top of a tree where the stem was only a few centimeter in diameter. I think I was about 30 meters above ground. Then the wind came and the top of the tree started swinging rather far. It scared the crap out me! I held on tight and climbed down ASAP when the tree stopped swinging.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 04:48:27 pm
content: I watched the Stairway to heaven tower climb. I'm surprised that in this day and age there isn't a safety "track" or "slit" designed into the tower (clip yourself in and climb). You would have 2 clips/sliders so when you need to transition to the next track/slit you clip into the new one and release the old. The clips would allow slow movement but in the event of a large weight it would engage a break system.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 06:40:42 pm
content: The thing is if those ladders and tower struts were 5 ft above the ground you could climb up them easily and securely with no fear of falling at all. It's no worse than a playground climbing frame, and I bet you never fell off one of those unless you were playing silly buggers and larking around.So being hundreds of feet above the ground really makes no difference to the risk. The problem is entirely psychological and irrational. And irrational fears can be overcome. It just takes willpower and practice.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 07:51:49 pm
content: Quote from: blueskull on December 27, 2015, 06:52:15 pmBut if the actual chance of falling is close to zero, then the consequence is not something that needs worrying about..

author: MT
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2015, 08:43:18 pm
content: Well people do die from collapsing radio masts!Crane collapse in AU!Big blue crane was also a death story!

author: elgonzo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 28, 2015, 08:47:00 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on December 27, 2015, 07:51:49 pmExcept, the chance of falling is anything but close to zero with quite some fatal consequences to worry about. Which led toOSHA writing an open letter to communication tower industry employers in 2014...

author: gore
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2015, 08:54:59 pm
content: I know I wouldn't do it. I got that impression after climbing a telephone tower. Didn't make it to the top, but it was enough to deter me from doing it again. Maybe it's possible train yourself to cope with the fear of heights, but I know some people were never afraid in the first place, so let them do it!

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 29, 2015, 05:34:38 am
content: That giant sized "safety" hook the tower climber was using is a joke. Up at the top those rungs weren't much more than big bolts. That hook could easily fail to catch on the end. I had no idea there were jobs that required that kind of mentality.