Birmingham: Airport Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[KJAY 786]

Birmingham International Airport BHX I hope invest in building a new terminal at Birmingham making Brum into the best we now know that every airline that comes to Birmingham is successful now we need a new terminal built as well please love Birmingham and amongst all my best wishes of success at BHX - I love BHX and the Forum x x x

 

[Kevin Farnell]

BHX I hope invest in building a new terminal at Birmingham

I'm not sure where it could be built and the current facilities would need to remain operational, until any new terminal was opened. It's far more likely to see further development of the current terminals. Personally, I'd like to see a new pier built to serve the 80's stands. Something big enough to have large lounges, so that once checked in, passengers using these stands would proceed to that pier, freeing up space in the main terminal. This would however require a bridge or a tunnel.

 

[Bhx_fifteen]

Reference	PL/2023/01450/DIS
Alternative Reference	PP-12266764
Application Received	Tue 04 Jul 2023
Application Validated	Tue 04 Jul 2023
Address	Birmingham International Airport Airport Way Birmingham Airport Solihull B26 3QJ
Proposal	Discharge condition No. 3 (materials) following planning approval PL/2022/01445/PPFL.

Is the current construction for the new security area only? Or also a terminal extension?
Does anyone know if this project has resumed post-COVID? https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...ment/development-projects/terminal-extension/

 

[Deleted member 8277]

With the security/airside issues, probably what would be easier is to park the aircraft overnight over at the Elmdon site, then tow them over to the terminal once the earliest of the first wave of flights have departed.

Taking today as an example, the first Jet2 departure was at 06:00 and then the last of the first wave departs at 08:10. Equally for TUI the times are 06:00 and 08:00. Also the nightstopping KLM, Lufthansa and Air France all depart by 07:00.

By 07:00 there's already been about 20 departures, so plenty of stand will have been freed up.

Where are we at with the reconfiguration of the T2 stands? That would provide a few more stands where previously they could only accommodate turboprop sized aircraft.

Not that simple mi amigo.
It depends whether the handling agent actually has a tower on shift or available to perform the tows (pissport).
A/C under tow have to wait to cross the runway if aircraft are landing or taking off, so they wait until the runway is clear to cross which is not quick if a few aircraft around for takeoff or landing.
You need an engineer to ride the brakes who will need to either drive over to Elmdon leave his/her van then get another to drive them back over to pick it up after the tow, pass through hangar road security back That takes 2 engineers away from other turnaround/duties for maybe an hour or more per tow (especially if hangar road security is busy) to which I'm sure passengers would love if it delayed their flight. Some MRO's only have 1 engineer on dayshifts so that will never work.
So basically it's never going to happen, sorry to burst you're bubble.

 

[Timberwolf]

I'm not sure where it could be built and the current facilities would need to remain operational, until any new terminal was opened. It's far more likely to see further development of the current terminals. Personally, I'd like to see a new pier built to serve the 80's stands. Something big enough to have large lounges, so that once checked in, passengers using these stands would proceed to that pier, freeing up space in the main terminal. This would however require a bridge or a tunnel.

Not going to happen.The airport binned the last masterplan with new piers and a terminal extension.
Now just a refit of thr current terminal space and a fairly small lounge extension.

 

[Coathanger16]

Not that simple mi amigo.
It depends whether the handling agent actually has a tower on shift or available to perform the tows (pissport).
A/C under tow have to wait to cross the runway if aircraft are landing or taking off, so they wait until the runway is clear to cross which is not quick if a few aircraft around for takeoff or landing.
You need an engineer to ride the brakes who will need to either drive over to Elmdon leave his/her van then get another to drive them back over to pick it up after the tow, pass through hangar road security back That takes 2 engineers away from other turnaround/duties for maybe an hour or more per tow (especially if hangar road security is busy) to which I'm sure passengers would love if it delayed their flight. Some MRO's only have 1 engineer on dayshifts so that will never work.
So basically it's never going to happen, sorry to burst you're bubble.

All your points are true, but then again it is completely realistic because it happens at Gatwick every day.

There's a maintenance hangar the other side of the runway to the terminals to which aircraft are routinely towed to and from - and Gatwick's runway is far busier than Birmingham's.

Equally it's very common for an aircraft to land in the evening, then once the passengers and crew have disembarked for the aircraft to immediately be towed to a remote stand. Whilst these don't have to cross the runway, they do have to fit in between the constant stream of arrivals.

I'm not saying parking aircraft at the Elmdon site and towing them over would be an ideal situation or even a preferred option, but it is an option. Sure it would require additional investment, but an extra tug team and engineer will be far cheaper in the short term than building entirely new stands (and yes I know the handling company would pay for the former whilst the airport would pay for the latter).

It's not likely to happen as the airport has a plan to reconfigure stands and eventually build new ones by the fire station, so the Elmdon site likely won't even be needed in the near future. The current site however is largely hemmed in on all sides, and once fully utilised will either mean expanding beyond the current airport perimeter or developing the Elmdon site.

 

[mullion]

It all depends on where the crossing point is

 

[Timberwolf]

BHX have 2 more larger airliner stands now after the inner Eurohub stands were realigned last winter.

Two more B737/A321 planes can now be accommodated where only Dash/E145/ATR could fit before.

This is continued coming winter, where the other side of Eurohub, then the 20s remotes will see similar stands realigned.Another 2 737/321 stands that side by summer 2024. So 4 in total around Eurohub compared with summer 2022.

Then an extra 1 on the 20s remotes

So by summer 2025 BHX with have another 5 B737/A321 stands available .

The only down sides are that the only widebodied stand on Eurohub (8C) is downgraded from Code D (B777/787/330/350) down to code C (B737/A321s).

Similarly the end B767-300 stand on the 20s also goes, to fit in 2 A321/737s.

I am personally more worried about new widebodied stands.No plans for some years for any of them.

All your points are true, but then again it is completely realistic because it happens at Gatwick every day.

There's a maintenance hangar the other side of the runway to the terminals to which aircraft are routinely towed to and from - and Gatwick's runway is far busier than Birmingham's.

Equally it's very common for an aircraft to land in the evening, then once the passengers and crew have disembarked for the aircraft to immediately be towed to a remote stand. Whilst these don't have to cross the runway, they do have to fit in between the constant stream of arrivals.

I'm not saying parking aircraft at the Elmdon site and towing them over would be an ideal situation or even a preferred option, but it is an option. Sure it would require additional investment, but an extra tug team and engineer will be far cheaper in the short term than building entirely new stands (and yes I know the handling company would pay for the former whilst the airport would pay for the latter).

It's not likely to happen as the airport has a plan to reconfigure stands and eventually build new ones by the fire station, so the Elmdon site likely won't even be needed in the near future. The current site however is largely hemmed in on all sides, and once fully utilised will either mean expanding beyond the current airport perimeter or developing the Elmdon site.

BHX is not going to spend money that isn't essential.

When you think they have put a block on restarting the more needed lounge and baggage hall extension in main terminal.

 

[VC10]

This is my first post. As an Elmdon oldie will someone tell me what will happen to the hard standing where Hangar 3 used to be ? Is it too close to R 33 and the I L S to use as aircraft parking. Thank you

 

[Coathanger16]

When you think they have put a block on restarting the more needed lounge and baggage hall extension in main terminal.

Is it a complete block or are they just prioritising the security development as that needs to be done by June next year to meet government requirements?

If work on the lounge extension doesn't start again in W24/25 I'd be surprised. When it was announced it was advertised by the airport as being needed to allow the airport to hit 18mppa. With the airport looking like it will hit pre-covid levels next summer, the airport will be back to where it was when it announced the extension.

 

[Karl C]

Is it a complete block or are they just prioritising the security development as that needs to be done by June next year to meet government requirements?

This is what I thought too. Prioritising what lawfully has to be done. Who would want two sets of huge works going on at the same time in the same terminal?

Think this should be in the infrastructure thread 👍

 

[IanFarquharson]

I think you correct the budget seems to have gone to the more pressing project of the screening area which as you say is a mandatory change by S24.
It would make sense for the builders to stay on site and re-start the terminal extension but not likely to happen anytime soon as BHX is still about well down on 2017 still and unlikely to pass that level in
2024.
Plus they are T2 more effeciently and this will take the pressure off T1
I hope I am wrong.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

All your points are true, but then again it is completely realistic because it happens at Gatwick every day.

There's a maintenance hangar the other side of the runway to the terminals to which aircraft are routinely towed to and from - and Gatwick's runway is far busier than Birmingham's.

Equally it's very common for an aircraft to land in the evening, then once the passengers and crew have disembarked for the aircraft to immediately be towed to a remote stand. Whilst these don't have to cross the runway, they do have to fit in between the constant stream of arrivals.

I'm not saying parking aircraft at the Elmdon site and towing them over would be an ideal situation or even a preferred option, but it is an option. Sure it would require additional investment, but an extra tug team and engineer will be far cheaper in the short term than building entirely new stands (and yes I know the handling company would pay for the former whilst the airport would pay for the latter).

It's not likely to happen as the airport has a plan to reconfigure stands and eventually build new ones by the fire station, so the Elmdon site likely won't even be needed in the near future. The current site however is largely hemmed in on all sides, and once fully utilised will either mean expanding beyond the current airport perimeter or developing the Elmdon site.

Any aircraft that comes over from elmdon side to the terminal side needs a full security search because elmdon is not airside (CP zone). This alone towing several aircraft in a short space of time makes it unrealistic.

 

[tompo]

Could you please explain why the Elmdon apron is not regarded as a CP zone yet it is regarded as airside for Customs purposes, ie approved for the arrival and departure of International flights and cargo. I thought that all aircraft had to be protected within the CP zone and to me this is contradictory.

 

[JENNYJET]

There are effectively two airports on one site, the current one and the old one. Elmdon was good enough for domestic and short haul with the added DC10's of Wardair and 707's of Air India, all before the new terminal and NEC was created. Elmdon was basically laid waste and private operators moved in with Monarch Engineering providing added spice. It appears to me that there was no one with enough forward thinking running the show and we now have numerous problems with few solutions. And there was talk of a second runway, REALLY?

 

[Deleted member 8277]

My bad, the cargo side is indeed airside. I am no security expert but the critical part (CP) main terminal area airside including passenger areas,ramp,taxiways,runway requires passengers/staff and bags/baggage screening to look for explosives eg shoe bomber, laptops, weapons, liquids etc etc post 9-11 stuff.
Cargo security is different. Hence towing aircraft from the cargo side to the main terminal side require screening/full security search. Tows from the monarch hanger when it was monarch and presumably STS had to have aircraft searches by its own security staff prior to tow over to the main terminal.

 

[tompo]

We are talking about the Elmdon ramps currently used by international passenger and cargo aircraft and the area adjacent to the hangers: not the STS Facility (outside Customs control). Both entities; security and Customs have influence on this active part of the field and therefore there is no requirement for additional security measures under current legislation.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Security on the elmdon site (apron/hangars) is not a critical part area so does not require screening of passengers or staff, bags etc to access the ramp/airside area, neither does the road from ramp road to the fire station and buildings in that area but they still need security clearance ie airport id/pass to access.The main terminal side airside is a CP area that does require screening for passengers/bags etc and for staff/visitors require an id/pass with CP clearance to access.
For instance hangar road security gives you access to the main terminal area and the elmdon ramp, hangars. To access the elmdon ramp you pass through 1 side of security who check your pass and if valid let you through NO screening. If you want to access the main terminal ramp area (via the perry track)you pass through the other side of the security where you are screened exactly the same way as passengers are, also vehicles and contents are screened. Same as ramp road security.
You can move an aircraft to the elmdon side with no extra security requirements but to bring them back you will need them (a search).
When passengers depart from XLR on the elmdon side they are subject to the same screening as the main terminal and a temporary CP area is used when moving the pax between XLR terminal and the aircraft they are boarding this allows them to operate outside of the main CP area.

If you want to move freely between elmdon and the main terminal without passing security/screening then the airport will have to make the elmdon side a CP area.

I suggest that you search the CAA website for airport security regulations that you may want more understanding.

 

[tompo]

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[Coathanger16]

Birmingham airport to install 12,800 solar panels – Business Traveller

The photovoltaic panels will provide at least 20 per cent of the airport’s on-site electrical power by May 2024…

www.businesstraveller.com