Infrastructure, Construction & Developments

[Ray Finkle]

The parallel taxiway is taking shape now, this picture shows just how far down the excavation had to go.



Concrete going down at the far end of the runway.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Practical Completion of Monarch Aircraft Engineering's New State-of-the-Art Maintenance Facility

Monarch Aircraft Engineering (MAEL), the award-winning independent aircraft maintenance provider and division of The Monarch Group, is delighted to announce the hangar build programme remains on track for Practical Completion on the 7th October 2013 at its new 110,000 sq. ft state-of-the-art maintenance facility at Birmingham Airport.

Read more: http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta ... track.aspx[/textarea]

 

[Ray Finkle]

Runway Extension Works. Community Notification.
October 2013

The construction work on our runway extension is progressing well. We are now carrying out works around the South end of the runway and undertaking the final resurfacing of the full length of the runway.

You may notice in the next few months
A reduction of flights in the night due to runway closures
An increase in vehicles and equipment on the airfield at night
Small changes to the approach path of aircraft to the North of the airport



More details on these are below.

Closure of the runway during the night period

In order to allow for the final runway extension works and resurfacing of the whole runway, the runway will be closed to arriving and departing aircraft during the night period. The planned closures are from Tuesday 05th November 2013 to Saturday 05th April 2014, Monday to Friday, 23:00 hours to 06:00 hours.

These closures have been planned for many months and airlines have already organised their schedules to accommodate these closures.

An increase in vehicles and equipment on the airfield at night

The final construction works and runway resurfacing will involve plant and vehicles working on the airfield at night. Although some noise is inevitable from work of this nature, we will endeavour to keep disturbance to a minimum.

Potential changes to aircraft approaching from the North

Communities to our North may notice changes to the final approach path of some aircraft over the next couple of months.

This is due to the replacement works for the Runway 15 Instrument Landing System (ILS).

The Runway 33 ILS (for approaches from the South) will be unaffected by the works.

During this time many aircraft approaching Runway 15 will be using the alternative APV/Baro approach and will continue to approach along the usual centreline approach (see map below). However, some aircraft will be required to undertake alternative approach methods such as the Non-Directional Beacon approach. The NDB approach, although a safe and reliable procedure is less precise and therefore the position of aircraft on this approach will vary. The NDB is offset from the ILS approach by approximately 5 degrees and gives guidance to the pilot until such time as visual contact with the runway is established. The point at which this happens will depend upon the meteorological conditions at the time, particularly visibility.

This will lead to some aircraft on approach appearing in a different location to where residents may usually observe aircraft. In particular they may be positioned further to the West (to the left of the blue area on the map below).

We apologise for any disturbance this may cause.

Map showing indicative area of current centreline approach on Runway 15



© Crown copyright and database rights 2012 Ordnance Survey 100020110.

What is the Instrument Landing System?

The ILS is a radio system that transmits two beams, the localiser and the glide path. The localiser beam, operating on VHF, defines the centreline of the runway and extends along the approach path for twenty nautical miles. The glide path beam, operating on UHF, defines the angle or glide slope that the aircraft should fly while following the localiser course to approach the runway, safely clearing all obstacles.

Aircraft arriving at Birmingham descend at 3° (a descent of approximately 300 feet per nautical mile). The ILS is designed to provide a safe and manageable descent to the runway and the straight line beam directed out from the airport runway ensures that an aircraft’s final descent is controlled in an assured manner. Aircraft join the final approach path at heights consistent with use of the ILS at that distance from the Airport and they will descend according to the 3° glideslope described above.

What is a Non Directional Beacon Approach?

The Non Directional Beacon (NDB) approach is required in the event that the ILS is non-operational. This type of approach is also an essential part of a pilot’s training schedule so they may be requested from time to time, during times when the ILS is operational.

With the NDB approach, aircraft are positioned with approximately five degrees difference to the ILS localiser this is because the beacon used for this type of approach is offset from the centreline of the main runway.

How can I find out more?

If you have any questions then please get in touch:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0121 767 7433
We will also be providing updates, where available, on our twitter account
@bhx_community https://twitter.com/bhx_community

http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta ... ation.ashx

 

[Aviador]

I'm starting to get a real feel for the size of this project. It reminds me on the runway extension at Leeds back in the early 80's.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's definitely taking shape.

I think with a full load and freight doing so well Air Blue will definitely be one airline making the most of the extra tarmac. Prior to departure there were several exchanges between the flight deck and ATC on Saturday night regarding runway length available and the miserable weather.

That's quite an extension LBA had back then, that angle really shows the scale. It's a shame a parallel taxiway couldn't have been built at the same time.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Can any one tell us the latest on Runway extension at birmingham thanks....Andyc

 

[Aviador]

Can any one tell us the latest on Runway extension at birmingham thanks....Andyc

Hi Andrew

The post be Ray Finkle a couple of posts back is the October update in case you mist it?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I noticed last week that it looks like the new ILS localiser gantry has started to be assembled.

 

[Seasider]

Ray
Can we assume you will post a picture of the new runway, when available?
Thanks

 

[Ray Finkle]

I will do.

I've been meaning to get down to the new bridal way and take a few pictures of construction but when the weather has been fine I've been busy and when I'm free the weather has been poor, hopefully in the next couple of weeks.

 

[BHXsupporter]

Thanks, I'd be really interested to see progress on removal of the old A45, works on ground levelling and progress on runway and taxiways. It's been very disappointing to see how little has been posted by VolkerFitzpatrick Colas over the past 2 months when there must have been enormous changes arising from their works.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Can some please let me know, why has the runway closed now at 23:00pm till next April 2013 for complete resurfursing of the whole runway, when they are now due to complete the extension of the runway till mid december next month, are they not telling us something and they have already finished the extension and now completely resurfering it already without telling anyone as usuall....thanks Andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

There is a large section of the extension already near completed, the next phase is the link up which is happening now. There is also the route of the parallel taxiway to dig down which is just over 20ft, the spoil from this will be used to build up the land where the old A45 dipped and profile the existing runway to lessen some of the undulations. There is also lighting to replace, new nav aids to be fitted and some taxiway widening to be done. I'd imagine there are safety implications about machinery working so close to an active runway. I guess as it's being done over the winter they are also taking the weather in to account and trying to get a head start, I'm sure there will be nights where only limited work can be carried out.

This photo was from mid October

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Thanks ray, for your help, this something that never gets mentioned, plus also why has the contractor thats unertaking this project of runway extension and a45 realigment been very slow to update all those interested people that care about our local airport birmingham, another question that's never been fully answered is, why after planning approval was given in december 2009, why has it taken the airport bosses upto june & november 2012 before any kind of work was started, when keogh stated that this would all be ready for the 2012 london olympics.....thanks ray...andy c

 

[Ray Finkle]

...plus also why has the contractor thats unertaking this project of runway extension and a45 realigment been very slow to update all those interested people that care about our local airport birmingham,

Just had a look at the VolkerFitzpatrickColas Facebok page and the last update was the opening of the A45 so as you say nothing for a few weeks. In fairness to them what's happening at the moment is pretty boring stuff, a huge slab over 20ft high needs to be dug down and the earth moved towards the runway, lots of fencing still going up and the Centro access road and airport perimeter road are being finished. Hopefully when the link up is complete and the parallel taxiway starts to take shape then there will be more updates. I'm not a Facebook member but if you are then you could always message them for an update.

...another question that's never been fully answered is, why after planning approval was given in december 2009, why has it taken the airport bosses upto june & november 2012 before any kind of work was started, when keogh stated that this would all be ready for the 2012 London olympics.....

I'm not sure I can answer that fully. I remember there were issues with what was then Advantage West Midlands part funding the A45 diversion which held things up for quite a while, then there was the change of plans for the A45 going from a tunnel to the cheaper curve around the end. Maybe someone out there can add more info?

 

[Aviador]

I guess there's also planning hurdles to cross with it's design and build. Various highway rules and regulations, environmental impact studies by the environmental agency eg. surface water run-off and so-forth. Not to forget consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS about potential departure and arrival route alterations.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Another excellent update of the runway from flugsnug. No more concrete appears to have been laid since the last picture but there's a huge pile of earth to be moved around and the dip where the A45 was has to be built up quite a considerable amount. The new ILS is clearly visible now.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jrkdpuOfMg[/video]

 

[Hassaan]

Does look like they're slow on the concrete portion - they'll be hoping there's no snow this year!

It should pick up in the coming months though.

 

[Aviador]

Does look like they're slow on the concrete portion - they'll be hoping there's no snow this year!

It should pick up in the coming months though.

Isn't the BHX runway surface made of tarmac or asphalt as opposed to concrete?

 

[Hassaan]

I did assume it was concrete, but I'm not fully sure.