Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[superking]

would they put electric hook-ups like they did with the last stands they put into operation.

 

[Kingshat]

As thenew stands are going to be remote stands what exactly does it entail to get them up and running.

Is it measuring and marking the road surface. Is that all or is there more.

The 3 new stands will be built this winter, fencing works commenced today to move the works area landside. They are entirely new, requiring significant levelling of the existing area before concrete is laid and then blended into taxiway G. At present there are planning restrictions relating to noise nuisance that will impose a requirement for aircraft not to taxi onto or push from the new stands with engines running.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

These stands apparently appear on the airport's video at this link

They are visible right at the beginning of the video at the top then top right of the picture as it swings around but only for a few seconds.

As was said yesterday in another BRS thread on this forum, they presumably cannot be used for passenger carrying if the aircraft have to be towed on and off stand (or can they?). It was suggested that they might be useful for aircraft that have gone tech or perhaps those with a long turn around time.

How awkward is this situation operationally?

 

[kraktoa]

The revamped arrivals baggage hall and customs exit has opened and it looks very good indeed. The baggage carousels remain in the same place for now. But the customs exit channel (which were by belt 3) has moved to the end of the hall. The exit path snakes through at the far end utilising all the space created by the western extension build (upstairs is the revamped new security search). After customs check area is a new duty free shop. Then the exit snakes into the landside arrivals hall. Very good looking indeed. Shame there is no youtube video released.

 

[Jerry]

As was said yesterday in another BRS thread on this forum, they presumably cannot be used for passenger carrying if the aircraft have to be towed on and off stand (or can they?). It was suggested that they might be useful for aircraft that have gone tech or perhaps those with a long turn around time.

Could they be for Easyjet standby aircraft? Also could passengers be bused to the plane? Looks an impressive video and a very nice looking airport! Haven't been to BRS since the late 80's!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Could they be for Easyjet standby aircraft? Also could passengers be bused to the plane? Looks an impressive video and a very nice looking airport! Haven't been to BRS since the late 80's!

I don't think they have too many easyJet aircraft non operational in the summer - the winter sees some parked up for part of some days.

BRS is not yet as fully developed as the video depicts but it is getting there and bears no resemblance to the 1980s.
I asked about passengers using aircraft on these stands as they have to be towed on and off in a post here yesterday. I was hoping for someone with operational experience to give an answer but so far no-one has.

 

[tpm]

Just watched the video again and wondered about those air bridges depicted in the not-yet-existing eastern walkway - aren't they positioned at a really odd location straight off the eastern walkway? I mean, typically passengers would expect to wait at the gate and then walk straight through the airbridge to board the plane. But the way the eastern walkway is built it looks like there's not really much space for any waiting area next to the bridge. On the western walkway the waiting areas are at ground level, but surely they wouldn't have people wait at ground level, then walk up a flight of stairs onto the air bridge? That would be rather silly, wouldn't it? so something doesn't add quite up there, or I'm missing something. Were the bridges where they are because that's one of the designated future 787 stands?

 

[Jerry]

Just watched the video again and wondered about those air bridges depicted in the not-yet-existing eastern walkway - aren't they positioned at a really odd location straight off the eastern walkway?

Yes they do seem odd looking! But i also noticed that one of the aircraft on one of the airbridge stands was a United Airlines 757. BRS hinting or hoping?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Over three years ago the airport successfully applied to the local authority for this non material amendment to its outline planning consents, which was approved.

The Central Gate Lounge includes airbridge access to the aircraft on stand 5. Design of the airbridge and the link bridge has now been developed in conjunction with the proposed supplier of the equipment. This work has identified that the node between the airbridge and the fixed link bridge to the gate lounge needs to be moved south in order to ensure that the gradient inside the airbridge does not exceed the maximum allowab1e. The link between the gate lounge and the airbridge has therefore been reconfigured to suit and is now shown as a corridor along the face of the first floor of the building teading to a bridge link to the airbridge node.

I think the other airbridges shown in the video are artistic licence and meant to be for illustrative purposes only.

Other non material amendments at the time included reference to B 787 aircraft. It has long been assumed that an airbridge will be introduced when wide-bodied aircraft are regular visitors but that might really apply to scheduled services rather than charters.

 

[Ornsack]

the customs exit channel (which were by belt 3) has moved to the end of the hall. The exit path snakes through at the far end utilising all the space created by the western extension build

More walking?! Haha! I quite like the long walks at BRS after many hours of being sat down, but I imagine it will drive some people nuts.

 

[kraktoa]

More walking?! Haha! I quite like the long walks at BRS after many hours of being sat down, but I imagine it will drive some people nuts.

Bristol passengers quite like to carry more bags than they have hands for. Perhaps the demographics are such that the majority of passengers are usually leisure travellers with not a lot of experience travelling without their kitchen sinks. Not that i am sterotyping much. London airport users usually are more suave about these things.

So yes there will be grumbles when Nana and Nanny have to drag their overladed bags another 300 metres.

Best bit is the doors that lead out from the customs channels. It resembles a wall when doors are shut. Lots of confusion with pax not knowing if they should take a step closer to the immovable wall.

 

[kraktoa]

Sadly with all these improvements/changes the lulsgate airport does not look like a regional shed masquerading as an airport anymore. I for one will be saddened by the pace of change. I liked a quiet airport to work in. Thats the reason i left the big london one. Newquay airport here i come.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

More walking?! Haha! I quite like the long walks at BRS after many hours of being sat down, but I imagine it will drive some people nuts.

I like a good walk before or after a long sitting in an aircraft I'm certainly not in the first flush of youth.

Sadly with all these improvements/changes the lulsgate airport does not look like a regional shed masquerading as an airport anymore. I for one will be saddened by the pace of change. I liked a quiet airport to work in. Thats the reason i left the big london one. Newquay airport here i come.

BRS in the 70s and into the 80s when nearly everyone called it Lulsgate Airport was a very pleasant place to visit and have a doze whilst waiting for the afternoon aircraft (as in single, or perhaps two or even three on a very busy afternoon) to arrive: no long security queues; no getting rid of that bottle before passing through security because it contained the dregs of Tizer; no having to pay for drop-off - you could drop off and wait to pick up right in front of the terminal; you could shout and wave to friends from the outside balcony as they walked across the apron to their aircraft; no having to pay for luggage trolleys or plastic bags for small amounts of liquids to pass through security; no need for fast track security as the leisurely pace still didn't lead to queues; no having to arrive hours before the flight; once on board you might if lucky be invited onto the flight deck.

The only snag was that you couldn't fly to many places and those that you could usually attracted high fares.

I must confess I do enjoy passing through the quieter airports. One of my favourites in recent years is Inverness.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The 3 new stands will be built this winter, fencing works commenced today to move the works area landside. They are entirely new, requiring significant levelling of the existing area before concrete is laid and then blended into taxiway G. At present there are planning restrictions relating to noise nuisance that will impose a requirement for aircraft not to taxi onto or push from the new stands with engines running.

I walked along Cooks Bridle Path today and saw the digger the other side of the fence. As you said, there is a lot of levelling to be carried out. The ground rises several feet in places.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol airport unveils £2.3 million immigration hall upgrade plans
Created: 13th Oct 2016

Latest improvements will enhance arrivals experience for passengers.

Following a major overhaul of the security search area for departing passengers, Bristol Airport has unveiled plans to address congestion in arrivals.

The £2.3 million project will take the number of passport control points from the current ten to a total of 17 when it opens in spring next year, including ten of the latest ePassport gates which provide a safe, secure and speedy alternative to the conventional border control process.

As well as introducing new equipment, the work will enlarge the immigration hall which will be redesigned to create a more welcoming environment and streamline the border process for passengers.

These improvements build on upgrades to other arrivals areas delivered as part of the current £24 million west terminal extension, including enlarged meet and greet and baggage reclaim zones, and a new World Duty Free store for arriving passengers.

The new generation ePassport gates are faster, and can be used by passengers aged 12 years and over - currently the ePassport gates at Bristol Airport are limited to over-18s. In the meantime, arriving passengers can help keep time spent at the border to a minimum by having passports open to the photograph page and removing hats and sunglasses in advance of inspection, with families encouraged to go through the border together.

A further £2.3 million will be invested in a new reception centre and other improvements to the popular Silver Zone car park, often the first experience of the Airport for many passengers.

Robert Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer at Bristol Airport, said:
“Completion of the west terminal extension will enable us to turn our attention to the immigration area, where passengers can sometimes wait longer than we would like at the busiest times. By enlarging and reconfiguring this area and introducing the latest Border Force technology we aim to make arriving at Bristol Airport as fast and efficient as possible.”

Airport press release at http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/abo...media-centre/2016/10/immigration-hall-upgrade

This should see some improvement to the waiting time of incoming passengers at busy times. Having 17 passport control points with ten of them being ePassport gates ought to go some way to addressing a lack of Border Agency staff. The snag is that many people are unfamiliar with e-gates and it can take longer than going through a control point that is manned (or womaned).

The BRS owners don't stint on infrastructure improvements. Must be over £100 million expended in the past six or seven years, with many more millions before that including the new terminal itself, new control tower, diversion of A38 and such other things as taking much of landside into airside.

It's a bit more than 'an airstrip on a foggy hill' that some local people still call it in letters to the local press.

I wonder how much BRS would fetch if it was sold. EDI went for £807 million in 2012 so BRS must be north of £500 million.

 

[kraktoa]

The new generation epassport gates are a 1 step process unlike the older ones which was a confusing 2 step process. Plus every Brit will have a chipped passport by Dec this year. The non chipped psssport are all expiring in 2 months. Yes egates will be a big bonus for an airport that transports mainly Welsh people.....lol

 

[Aviador]

All looks very impressive. BRS has come such a long way since the terminal opened.

I wonder how much BRS would fetch if it was sold. EDI went for £807 million in 2012 so BRS must be north of £500 million.

I was once told it's the number of airlines flying from an airport that adds to the airports value most of all. Apparently an airport with say just two operators in total is regarded as risky by investors.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was once told it's the number of airlines flying from an airport that adds to the airports value most of all. Apparently an airport with say just two operators in total is regarded as risky by investors.

When Macquarie sold its 50% stake in the airport to Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan two years ago (who as a result now own it outright) the press estimated the cost was £250 million, ergo at that time it could be said the airport had a valuation in the region of £500 million.

Macquarie used to own it through various Macquarie funds along along with the Spanish services and infrastructure group, Ferrovial (through a subsidiary called Cintra). When Ferrovial became the main component of the group that owns LHR it divested itself of its BRS interest, citing possible competition issues.

In 2014/2015 BRS made a pre-tax profit of £29.4 million from a turnover of £70 million.

 

[kraktoa]

The arrivals area footprint is going to almost double or triple in size. The completed customs arrivals area is now huge. Looks like Gatwick or Manchester in size. Soon the immigration area is going to be increased in size. Already the place looks like a building site. Pasengers will have to walk through narrow boarded corridors for the next few months. Completion date is said to be april 2017.

 

[Jono577]

Youtube vid of the Hampton Hotel at BRS