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> A number of people spend significant time working for Google as 'visiting experts' (think professors on sabbatical) and that effort is hindered by the challenges of finding a nice place to stay, except there is housing for a few thousand people already at the airfield (formerly 'base housing') which could be repurposed for that.

I lived in that housing for about 5 years as a kid. I have lots of memories of the base (Hangar one, the movie theater, Baskin-Robbins, the community pool, McDonald's, the pea patches behind the housing), particularly since, as a Navy brat, that was one of the few places I lived for more than a year or two in my entire childhood. I like the idea of going on a trip to Google for some reason and being put up in the same townhouse I lived in then, or one of my friends' houses.

The same McDonald's that was used as a home base for the ISEE-3 crew this year?

Remember the insane planes they flew on the early nineties? I have done crazy almost sci-fi memories from my childhood, admittedly some probably exaggerated by imagination of that age.

PPR just means you have to get permission. Lots of airfields are PPR, and it's just a matter of making a phone call. In the UK practically ALL airfields are PPR.

It's just a question of whether or not the owner is likely to give permission. I can understand NASA not wanting everyone to land there, but if Google is the owner then it would seem to be unfair if they just kept the airport for use by their own jets and their buddies.

There is also a question of NASA expenses for providing services and being reimbursed. If landing a private jet at Moffett without existing agreement (eg. Space Act Agreement) NASA would legally have to be reimbursed for costs incurred. Google may no longer be under those constraints.

NASA was also reluctant to grant "permission" because certain aircraft generate noise complaints.

>So it continues to operate as a 'private' airfield and you can only land with permission of the owner

corporate perks at Google have just become perkier - ability to commute by your private jet and land right near the campus. Protesters can block Google Bus - let them try doing that to Google Jet.

Or the Google helicopter or the Google zeppelin :-) I believe that Lockheed continues to have access as well. But if you read closely you would see that Google just took over operations, not authority. My guess (I've no way to see the actual agreement) is that NASA still has the authority to grant or deny landing rights.

Visiting experts are not prisoners they're free men.

Not if there's a giant Google Ball chasing them down!

You are in the google village number 6.

Who is number one?