"Transmontagne au Ski Dome Dubai"
Phil Taylor
www.transmontagne.com

An abstract form the publication:
 "The Cable Car over the Strait"
Engineer Alessandro D'Armini , June edition, 2005

"The idea of crossing the Strait of Messina by cable car is certainly one of a kind in the entire world."

A large cable car facility over the Strait would create a spectacular and even fascinating connection between Sicily and the mainland and represents a challenging and courageous proposal which would, on one side, favour the development of tourism and on the other side favour the economic level of the people of the regions of Sicily and Calabria and of all southern Italy. This would be an infrastructure project of great relevance and importance for the future development of cable car transportation technology in Italy and the entire world.
Cable cars were created above all to overcome heights in mountainous areas and their development up to now has focused on resolving the problems inherent in reaching the highest peaks in those terrains. Now, however, cable car facilities can serve in resolving the particular problems

of crossing rivers, canals and, in urban settings, openings and squares. Today, cable cars can also be utilized to resolve crossing problems such as that of the Strait of Messina creating a horizontal connection between Sicily and the Continent, similar to that already created in Barcelona, with a general view of the harbour.
The example of Barcelona and the project draft of the Cable Car over the Strait confirm that the development of cable car technology has not been exhausted and certainly the realization of a cable car facility by this entity would constitute a great step forward in the use of cable cars in the transportation sector world-wide.
(From an idea of Prof. Engineer Pietro D'ARMINI)

THE PRINCIPLE TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT
The zone in which the facility would be built is decidedly adapt for tourism due to the proximity of Messina, Reggio Calabria and Taormina which have always seen high volumes of tourist traffic.  Moreover, an aerial facility such as the cable car would have an elevated spectacle value in this area due to the beauty of the scenery to be admired and the ample panoramic character of the journey by cable car.
During the journey, in fact, it would be possible to admire the marvels of the Calabrian coast from Scylla to Cannitello, from Villa San Giovanni to Reggio Calabria, as well as the majesty of Aspermont and, on the Sicilian side, the coast from Cape Peloro to Ganzirri, from St. Agata to Messina and even further south beyond the mountain complex of the Peloritani. The trajectory would cross the strait to the north of Villa San Giovanni near Cannitello, along the Calabrian coast, and to the east of Ganzirri along the Sicilian coast, constituted by a large central crossing span of approximately 3,400 meters in length. Such a length does not pose a problem in being crossed by the span of a cable car, given that examples of equal length exist both at the Matterhorn (cable car from Plan Maison to Furggen) and at Mont Blanc (cable car of the glaciers Punta Helbronner - Aiguille du Midi), both of which are in difficult environmental conditions due to the altitude of over 3,000 meters, especially that at Mont Blanc which is almost entirely above that level spanning a nearly horizontal stretch.
The cable facility necessary would have to be a double supports with suspended traction at the supports. The maximum velocity of such a facility is 10-12 m/sec with a cabin capacity of 150-170 persons. The duration of the journey would be around 7 minutes and, including the station stops, one could make nine voyages per hour and therefore transport up to 1500 passengers per hour and in each direction. The cabins would have to have a particular panoramic disposition to allow all the occupants a view, providing not only standing room but also a certain number of seats.
From the economic point of view, the financial outlay would not be excessive in relation to the importance of the project, given that, in keeping with its size, approximately 47 million Euros would suffice for its construction and less than 1.2 million Euros per year for its running (2005 prices).
The project described here is extremely fascinating and, if realized, would not only be one of the most interesting tourist facilities in the world but would also represent a work of brilliant engineering among the most famous in the world.

Without enthusiasm nothing of greatness was ever accomplished. (R. W Emerson)