Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Ray Finkle]

It really does make a difference. You can make out where the road is being dug down to allow for the future bridge over it but I can't work out whether the footpath/bridleway will be dropped alongside the road or whether it will be on top. If it is dropped alongside the road there will be little or no views of the runway.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Another update from flugsnug.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cAmu3cvBHQ&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Aviador]

Things are progressing nicely. It must be one of the largest construction sites in Europe at the moment with the poor economic conditions.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Quite possibly. Concrete is now going down on the A45 diversion and after the snow interuptions we've had things now seem to be getting back on track.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Work has now started on removing the earth from the section of the closed long stay car park. It is to be moved to the area between taxiways echo and charlie ready for levelling when the runway is resurfaced. During weekday daylight hours taxiway echo will be closed between E1 and E2. Runway 33 departures during these times will be from taxiway charlie with backtracking as required, wide bodies will have work suspended to allow them to continue to use taxiway echo.

Full report and some pictures in the link below.

http://bhxflightguide.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... 02-21.html

 

[Ray Finkle]

From the VolkaFitzpatrick Colas Facebook site.

A runway trial area has now been constructed where we will be testing the materials planned for the runway extension. We need to ensure that the material we are placing performs as we are expecting it to. To do this we placed the material in layers and compacted it with a set number of passes of a roller. We will then complete compaction and moisture tests to ensure that it can take the required loading.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Runway Extension - Works on the A45 Road diversion have been impacted by adverse weather
conditions, to the extent that the project is currently running around six weeks behind schedule.
However, contingency plans are in place and it is hoped that some of the lost time can be made
up with the A45 diversion route becoming operational by May, allowing work on the runway
extension to begin in earnest.

It seems as if the contractors are working some weekends now to try and get back on track.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Another excellent update from Flugsnug.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q1VIoxscXAI[/video]

 

[Ray Finkle]

Digging out for the new taxiway is progressing well.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The spoil is being dropped onto the grass to be used for runway profiling during resurfacing later this year. the sweeper is clearing taxiway echo ready for EK40 to depart.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I've only transited BHX twice and enjoyed the experience.

I read today that the BHX MD believes the UK has too many airports - there is merit in that argument though his other point that Britain needs no more than eight is more controversial.

BHX is well positioned and physically capable of complementing LHR in the future should that airport's expansion really be constrained by government, as of course is Manchester.

BHX would be an ideal major intercontinental hub for those living in South West England, as well as in South and Mid Wales, not to mention its core catchment nearer home.

I found getting to BHX from the south side (ie far side from BHX) of Bristol painless and a bit quicker than reaching LHR.

You may have read that the Wales First Minister and others have some grand ideas for turning CWL into an important inter-continental hub, with another idea being a Severnside airport on the Welsh side of the estuary (this comes up regularly over the years) to replace BRS and CWL.

They believe a Western Gateway would be of huge benefit in the event of LHR being constrained in its development.

I believe it's fanciful and that BHX is much better positioned and suited for such a role.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Is that article online LocalYokel, if so would you be able to provide a link? I'd be interested to read it.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Is that article online LocalYokel, if so would you be able to provide a link? I'd be interested to read it.

I think this may have been an article in a major newspaper - possibly The Times - see first link but that only gives a summary. You have to pay a subscription for the full story. I'm not a subscriber.

The other two links are regional newspaper reactions to it covering areas of the country he specifically suggested have airports that aren't worth the bother.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/ ... 727912.ece

http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/airport_bos ... _1_1998272

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/l ... long_term/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Much appreciated, thank you :hatsoff:

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've only transited BHX twice and enjoyed the experience.

I read today that the BHX MD believes the UK has too many airports - there is merit in that argument though his other point that Britain needs no more than eight is more controversial.

BHX is well positioned and physically capable of complementing LHR in the future should that airport's expansion really be constrained by government, as of course is Manchester.

BHX would be an ideal major intercontinental hub for those living in South West England, as well as in South and Mid Wales, not to mention its core catchment nearer home.

I found getting to BHX from the south side (ie far side from BHX) of Bristol painless and a bit quicker than reaching LHR.

You may have read that the Wales First Minister and others have some grand ideas for turning CWL into an important inter-continental hub, with another idea being a Severnside airport on the Welsh side of the estuary (this comes up regularly over the years) to replace BRS and CWL.

They believe a Western Gateway would be of huge benefit in the event of LHR being constrained in its development.

I believe it's fanciful and that BHX is much better positioned and suited for such a role.

I'm probably biased as I only live just over a mile away but yes BHX is mostly a good experience, much better than other airports I've used.

I think the first priority must be to stem the leakage of local pax to other airports. Talking to people in the know the main complaints seem to be lack of choice from BHX and what is available can be very expensive, there are lots of stories of pax lost to LTN, EMA etc ( I myself know of people who regularly travel to Bristol to fly to Madrid which is unserved from BHX). Monarch have expanded since the loss of Bmibaby but overall capacity is still down (and still no takers on Prague and Lisbon), Ryanair have stagnated at four based and Flybe just do what they do. Of course the airport will tell you of the numerous connections with SN, LH, LX, AF etc but these are often more expensive than the extra costs of getting to the likes of LTN and EMA and with the connections there can often be little difference time wise. It is definitely better than it used to be, especially with bmi regional arriving soon but I remain convinced that Easyjet are the missing link. I guess it all comes down to the old chestnut that is BHX fees and charges

I have to agree that parts of the South West and South Wales should be well within BHX's target long haul market but it is often considerably cheaper to fly from London, as I believe you have experienced personally. There is also the issue of letting people know what BHX has to offer, even now I meet people who have lived in Birmingham all their lives that are travelling down to Heathrow to fly with Emirates, they are usually amazed to hear they also fly from their local airport :reallyshocked:

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I have to agree that parts of the South West and South Wales should be well within BHX's target long haul market but it is often considerably cheaper to fly from London, as I believe you have experienced personally. There is also the issue of letting people know what BHX has to offer, even now I meet people who have lived in Birmingham all their lives that are travelling down to Heathrow to fly with Emirates, they are usually amazed to hear they also fly from their local airport :reallyshocked:

I think it's a fairly common occurrence that people don't realise where they can fly from their local airport.

Because nearly all members of Forums4Airports and other aviation websites are automatically interested in the subject of aviation, and usually have a good deal of knowledge at least about their own local airport, it's easy to forget that the majority of people in the wider world share no such interest and airports and aircraft are simply a means of getting from A to B.

When our daughter and family (they now in in Australia) resided in Cheshire they used MAN regularly and were very satisfied with what it provided because, apart from anything else, it meant they could invariably avoid the London airports. They actually emigrated to Oz from MAN four years ago using Lufthansa and partners. None of them is interested in aviation for its own sake but they appreciate good, convenient local service, as of course do we all.

Yes, we've used Gatwick for long haul for the past couple of years because the specialist travel agent we use had its best deals in those two years from LGW (the previous year the best deal was from BHX so we used that). For us it isn't that dreadful either to get to LGW or when you're there - in fact, it's not a bad airport at all in our experience.

Nevertheless, if London's growth, especially LHR, is to be constrained by government decree decent long haul hubs at MAN and BHX would be of national and local (to the areas concerned plus their extended catchments) benefit in my opinion.

Hopefully we shall fly to Oz again later this year and if the deals at BHX and LGW are broadly similar this time we shall use BHX. It's a bit nearer and you avoid the M25 and although as I said LGW is fine we prefer BHX as an airport.

Incidentally, we have looked at flying from our local airport at BRS to Oz via AMS or CDG with KLM/AF and partners but it means at least two aircraft changes, journey time is longer and the fares are considerably higher than using Emirates with the deals we've found. Couldn't get any deals with our travel agent from BRS.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Nevertheless, if London's growth, especially LHR, is to be constrained by government decree decent long haul hubs at MAN and BHX would be of national and local (to the areas concerned plus their extended catchments) benefit in my opinion.

Totally agree.

To go back to a previous post are the powers that be in Bristol at all concerned by the purchase of Cardiff? I've read one or two recent articles and the main issue seems to be the potential devolution of APD to the Welsh government creating an unfair advantage.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

To go back to a previous post are the powers that be in Bristol at all concerned by the purchase of Cardiff? I've read one or two recent articles and the main issue seems to be the potential devolution of APD to the Welsh government creating an unfair advantage.

I think devolution of APD to Wales is the main worry as it would mean that the airport owner was in the incredibly advantageous position of setting its own APD rates.

There is also a concern that public money might be used to secure new airlines and routes beyond that which a private owner could prudently do - in other words, pay them to fly without the worry of having your company go out of business because politicians (of all parties) invariably regard the public purse as a bottomless money pit when it suits them. If proved, such actions might contravene EU regulations but getting proof might be difficult.

There is no evidence that the Wales Government intends to apply unlawful subsidies and the First Minister, unsurprisingly, is adamant that they won't. So unless, and until the contrary is shown, his word as an honourable man must be accepted.

If APD was devolved to Wales and was significantly reduced perhaps to a nil band other airports besides Bristol might feel the pinch, incl BHX (trying hard to keep this within topic), especially in regard to long haul charters.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Further to recent posts in this thread, it seems that Paul Kehoe is concerned about CWL in public ownership skewing the market.

http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingha ... -33114006/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks for the link.

If they start to fund airlines to come in, that is going to create an uneven playing field, and that is a worry.

Says it all really.