Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Jerry]

It'll be interesting to see which type it is as in the brochure the regional model can only be used up to a 737, the Continental model for A320 up to 757 and the international model for A320 up to A380. If they do have the International model then they may have got it for the TOM 787 services as it would be cheaper than installing a JetBridge just for 2 to 3 flights a week.

 

[kraktoa]

How can the walkway be mechanised in the aviramp. When you reach the aircraft door there is always a wait to step into the plane as there is a jam of people waiting to get access to their seats. A moving walkway cannot function in a jam of this sort.

 

[Jerry]

A moving walkway cannot function in a jam of this sort.

Sorry no the walkway isn't moving. I meant the whole rig is mechanised so it can be moved.

 

[Barry Man]

Cardiff has 2 aviramps one on 7 and the other one on 13

 

[Severn]

Bristol Airport has a Aviramp Continental in use but it is currently only available for use on stands 1 and 5.
Stand 1 can accommodate aircraft up to and including A321/B737-800 and Stand 5 can accommodate A320/B737-800.

 

[Marko1]

I was wondering what the plans for development left to do within the existing plans. The pinch points at immigration and security have been done ( the queues are largely border controls responsibility). I wonder whether there are short term plans regarding increasing terminal space and new aircraft parking etc ?

 

[Jerry]

Does the current site have enough room for a bigger terminal and more stands for aircraft parking? Especially if they are staying on the north side only?

 

[andrewgreen]

I think the next stage of things was to demolish the old terminal building and build more aircraft stands there so there is room for more. I'm not sure if that's next or the public transport / multi-storey car park

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The first phase of the multi-storey car park on the northside will commence later this year providing 1,000 spaces over three levels with an anticipated opening date of May/June 2018, according to the most recent airport consultative committee minutes to be published on the airport website - the minutes for the meeting on 26 July are yet to be published.

Planning consent is in place to build a new admin block on the northside to replace the old terminal which in turn will free up land for more aircraft parking stands. The plan is to link these stands by a covered walkway/corridor along the lines of the walkway to the far stands at the western end.

The timescale is not clear although I would not be at all surprised if it was sooner rather than later. It will have to be if the airport is to continue to grow at its present rate as there won't be anywhere to park all the aircraft.

I would have thought that the public transport interchange might be less of a priority.

 

[Marko1]

Yes I think they are going have to sort out the apron space pretty soon although is there any significant expansion coming brs way ? We may have no15 from easyJet but is there anything significant in the offing ? On social media complaints have largely moved from immigration and security to baggage reclaim and food/ drink ( bizarrely water fountains tops the comments !) so I would say that may have to be addressed too .

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I thought they had water fountains.

As for significant expansion in the near future rumours still abound. If there is anything in them for next summer we might know within the next few weeks.

 

[Marko1]

I thought they had water fountains.

As for significant expansion in the near future rumours still abound. If there is anything in them for next summer we might know within the next few weeks.

They do have water fountains just people can't find them apparently. Be interesting to know if something is planned

 

[kraktoa]

I do know that staff based in the old terminal building who had retained parking spaces outside the bldg have been told that they will also be moved to the silver zone parkng. No time scales given.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I do know that staff based in the old terminal building who had retained parking spaces outside the bldg have been told that they will also be moved to the silver zone parkng. No time scales given.

One would think that before the old terminal building can be demolished the new admin block would have to be built first.

Although not directly related to the infrastructure itself, the following does have relevance as it again demonstrates the uneven spread of aircraft movements that impacts on the infrastructure and its staffing levels, as well as the passenger experience.

Looking at today's movements there are 26 passenger aircraft arrivals scheduled between 1100 and 1320 with five supposedly due to land at 1205 according to the scheduling. There is then a gap between 1320 and 1430 when the next arrival is scheduled.

After that another half hour passes before an arrival is scheduled - at 1500. Then between 1500 and 1655 there are 19 arrivals scheduled. Between 1720 and 1930 there are 15 arrivals scheduled then another gap until 2015, after which there is a steady stream of arrivals until midnight and into the early hours.

Given that most of BRS's traffic is composed of based aircraft it seems that not too much can be done about the uneven spread as they all fly out, fly back, fly out etc. Having more aircraft that are not BRS-based would help, in theory at least, with inbound aircraft perhaps more likely to use the gaps when the BRS-based aircraft are away.

I know that aircraft are sometimes late and that in itself alters the actual spread on any day as opposed to the scheduled spread to a degree, and other aircraft such as bizjets and flying school might also take advantage of some of the gaps. With that said there still seem plenty of opportunities for commercial aircraft to land outside the peak times.

 

[kraktoa]

I do know that staff based in the old terminal building who had retained parking spaces outside the bldg have been told that they will also be moved to the silver zone parkng. No time scales given.

Old terminal bldg most probably will be torn down by Aug 2018. One more year before the iconic bldg ceases to exist.

Then work begins for new stands in winter 2018 to be completed by summer 2019.

 

[superking]

Its a shame the old terminal flattened for aircraft stands. When you think the amount of money spent on it in the last few years in use they could work round it. But things move on in one way or another,and its called progress.When its finally ready for aircraft do we know how many stands there will be, and I'm thinking it will be the likes of BMIR type stands that will use them.

 

[kraktoa]

I think for expediency they will all be coaching stands to start off. That is an urgent need. The walkways will follow soon after.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Its a shame the old terminal flattened for aircraft stands. When you think the amount of money spent on it in the last few years in use they could work round it. But things move on in one way or another,and its called progress.When its finally ready for aircraft do we know how many stands there will be, and I'm thinking it will be the likes of BMIR type stands that will use them.

I think for expediency they will all be coaching stands to start off. That is an urgent need. The walkways will follow soon after.

This was the original plan. So far as I know it has not been greatly altered. It can be seen that the area where the old terminal currently sits will contain aircraft stands not limited to small Ejets. The eastern walkway, broadly similar to the existing western walkway at least from the outside, links the terminal to these stands.

I heard a whisper recently about the old terminal being demolished within the next year or so, but I'd heard nothing about how the admin departments would be accommodated in the absence of a new admin block that has long been in the plans.

 

[kraktoa]

This was the original plan. So far as I know it has not been greatly altered. It can be seen that the area where the old terminal currently sits will contain aircraft stands not limited to small Ejets. The eastern walkway, broadly similar to the existing western walkway at least from the outside, links the terminal to these stands.

I heard a whisper recently about the old terminal being demolished within the next year or so, but I'd heard nothing about how the admin departments would be accommodated in the absence of a new admin block that has long been in the plans.

Cue the big new building in the silver zone car park. Some departments will be moved there. The Northside house adjacent to the OTB (next to the animal quarantine) will remain.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Will this mean a new admin building will not now be required or is this a temporary arrangement?