Future Infrastructure Developments

[radar]

AIUI, the taxiway and runway requirements for handling an A380, that previously required other airports to widen taxiways etc, have been reduced to the extent that LBA now technically meets them.

Strengthening probably not an issue, it's all about how the weight is distributed over the ground. A large aircraft isn't a problem as long as it has enough wheels with a big enough footprint to distribute the weight. Conversely, something much smaller like a RAF Tornado can be a problem because its weight is very highly concentrated on two small main wheels.

 

[White Heather]

All that aside, if a 777 300 cannot use LBA because it cannot turn round at the 32 end (in the absence of a loop), then an A380 couldn't either.

 

[lbaspotter]

The problem with B773, B744 & A380 or any other aircraft type with a triple axle boggiy would cause damage to the runway surface over time. As the would scrape and possibly tare up the concrete on turn around at the 14/32 Horsforth end.

 

[Aviador]

The problem with B773, B744 & A380 or any other aircraft type with a triple axle boggiy would cause damage to the runway surface over time. As the would scrape and possibly tare up the concrete on turn around at the 14/32 Horsforth end.

I'm no civil engineer so I don't want to question the triple axle theory but all the Canadian airports are concrete and there's no apparent issue there.

 

[lbaspotter]

I'm no civil engineer so I don't want to question the triple axle theory but all the Canadian airports are concrete and there's no apparent issue there.

Do all them Canadian airports handle wide bodied triple axle boggiy aircraft which require a runway back track and 180 turn around?

 

[a300boy]

The previous Management stated that B777 operations would be possible when PIA were going to use them for Islamabad operations to LBA. I dont remember any turning issues at that time. Luton has had many B777 and B744 operations and both ends of the runway require a 180 degree turn before departure.

 

[lbaspotter]

The previous Management stated that B777 operations would be possible when PIA were going to use them for Islamabad operations to LBA. I dont remember any turning issues at that time. Luton has had many B777 and B744 operations and both ends of the runway require a 180 degree turn before departure.

Agreed PIA, B772 wouldnt have had a problem operating from LBA apart for the possible weight restrictions in certain conditions, Hell They even went as far as publicly announcing the upgrade from A310 to B772 operations.
Dose Luton have a tarmac runway or is it cocrete?

 

[oldendays]

IIRC Luton Airport has a concrete runway. I'm sure I once heard a Luton ATCO saying that the concrete slabs (big ones) were made in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

[Aviador]

Usually the concrete slabs are poured onsite.

 

[oldendays]

Could well be the case now Aviador. I heard this about thirty years ago.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

I have to say all the large concrete areas I have been involved in starting with Elvington in the mid 50's have all be laid on site. I used to run the full length of Elvington runway as a daily training exercise, love to be able even to walk its length today.

 

[scottrhino]

Having recently passed through LBA for our annual holidays around the 5am-7am time I found the whole experience very easy and the newly modernised parts of the terminal look very neat and tidy with the odd queue as you would expect at that time of day.

I read with interest the discussions that take place on the form re LBA and the timing of the work been carried out on the terminal but believe me a 1hr 10 min wait for passport control at Faro in 38c, chaotic scenes in the main terminal and on the return journey hardly any toilets, eateries and seating it made LBA look amazing in comparison. I know they have to do work too and a large investment has gone into Faro this year but in peak season it was utter chaos and surely they could alter their works accordingly

 

[White Heather]

Having recently passed through LBA for our annual holidays around the 5am-7am time I found the whole experience very easy and the newly modernised parts of the terminal look very neat and tidy with the odd queue as you would expect at that time of day.

I read with interest the discussions that take place on the form re LBA and the timing of the work been carried out on the terminal but believe me a 1hr 10 min wait for passport control at Faro in 38c, chaotic scenes in the main terminal and on the return journey hardly any toilets, eateries and seating it made LBA look amazing in comparison. I know they have to do work too and a large investment has gone into Faro this year but in peak season it was utter chaos and surely they could alter their works accordingly

Faro has been chaotic every time I have flown from there, although it is true to say that it has much improved from when I first ventured there. In fact in 1987 I had the worst ever experience at any airport at Faro. We were flying back to LBA on the final Air 2000 flight of the summer season, not long after the UK was hit by 'that' Hurricane. The weather in the Algarve wasn't much better. We arrived at Faro early and found the check in desk showing our flight number and 'Leeds'. We were first in the queue. After a long wait with nothing happening and only a few other people joining the queue we enquired when the check in would open, only to be told that the flight had moved to another check in desk - but they hadn't announced it yet. So we went to the new check in desk to find a queue of over 200 people that was so long it went outside through 'folding doors' into the area outside the terminal. We had to queue out there in pouring rain for 20 minutes before getting back inside and sat out the entire 3 hour trip back to Leeds in wet clothing. After that experience, nothing about the LBA experience bothers me too much! Compared to some it has an awful lot going for it.

 

[airforced]

I thought the arrivals experience we had at Faro last year where we queued from the first floor level right the way down and through passport control must have been unusual and that we has caught them on a bad day. It took 1½ hours of pushing and shoving in a massive throng that barely moved throughout to get through. It seems. from scottrhino's post that this sort of thing is par for the course though. No more Portugal for us after that thank you.

Whatever we say or moan about at LBA I have to admit that it is a paragon of virtue compared with many European airports. (I might still have a moan and a groan at times though).

 

[imagineif]

I think us Brits are very quick to moan, especially when it comes to service and experience at places such as airports. A big part of it is expectations really, we don't 'expect' to have that experience in a country of the 'developed' world - but the reality is - in comparison to the 1000's of other airports in some corners of the world - the UK airport experience is by far not bad at all. I've certainly traveled through some hell holes.

Ok UK airports can be very overcrowded, especially in the summer but organisation wise and facility wise they are generally very good and improving all the time. Everybody complains about LHR but millions seemingly continue to use it and airlines continue to fly to it - look at the price of slots!

I've waited for 2 hours at BKK to get through immigration, CUN nearly 3 hours to get bags and then pass a customs check. I think when our expectations are high we are easily let down and quick to moan - that's not always a bad thing because if people didn't moan we would have very complacent airport operators. Having said that, I think some peoples perception of what is truly bad can be a little off.

 

[radar]

The painted-over window into the works area which had a little bit of the paint rubbed off has now sadly been boarded over, so it's not possible to see in now, unfortunately.

 

[Seasider]

I'll try and get a couple of pics as I pass through in a couple of weeks.

 

[Seasider]

As promised, here is the only photo I took on my latest passage through the Airport.

View attachment 5907

This was at 5.30am as they were setting up for the day around Gate 4.
The area that was used for assisted passengers, by Gate 6 (I think), has been moved to near the Camden food outlet. Gate 6 is now a dedicated seating area for embarkation therefore you have lost the only view from the Terminal across the apron to Multiflight.
The passage through the airport, outbound and inbound, was relaxed, efficient and, dare I say, enjoyable.

 

[White Heather]

When the new seating area opens, that will, as I understand it, have extensive views across the apron and airfield, so any loss of view will be short-lived.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

When we went through the last time their was two areas for wheel chairs, the old area and now a consolidation area by the old gate 1.
On our last visit we were left as usual at the old position with others, I went to the toilet as 90 minutes to go and my OH heared our name being called at the new position, it seems others before us that day, had complained about the cold in the new location, so they had started to with us, leave in the warmth of the old position. Unfortunatley no one had told the loading staff at the new gate.
It will be impossible to wait in the new gate5 position in winter with wheel chairs if no heating. Were back at 4am in a few weeks will be interesting to see if any progress.