Airport Master Plan for next 30 Years - Consultation

[superking]

Well with the lowish consultation numbers,perhaps time to slip the runway extension into the frame.

 

[tpm]

Did they do an online version? As that might have got to a bigger audience.

Yes, they have a dedicated website: https://www.bristolairportfuture.com

 

[TheLocalYokel]

For BRS it's good PR as they are seen to be engaging with the public over there expansion plans. I suppose with these type of things it will only be the dedicated that turn up and i don't know what days they were held on but if they were weekdays it might have made it harder for some to go. Did they do an online version? As that might have got to a bigger audience.

The drop-ins were held around the Bristol and North Somerset area at various locations, spread across various days of the week and not all between the same hours. I think there was one on a Saturday. There was an online version of the questionnaire. There were also printed versions available at the drop-ins and at the airport information desk in the terminal, and possibly at other locations such as libraries although I can't be sure about the latter.

Following the consultation that ends today a draft master plan will be prepared later in the spring which will be the subject of further consultation. Finally, a new master plan will be published either at the end of this year or in early 2019 according to Simon Earles on local radio this morning. This timeline is broadly in line with the airport's original one.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Well with the lowish consultation numbers,perhaps time to slip the runway extension into the frame.

Funnily enough, on the Radio Bristol piece this morning that I mentioned earlier a reporter visited one of the drop-ins and spoke to various members of the public - opinions for and against expansion were about even but the BBC might have broadcast the interviews that they did for the sake of balance.

One woman who was interviewed said it was a pity they weren't considering a second runway. I'm not sure that she really meant there should be two separate strips of asphalt, but more that a new runway should be built that would be better than the current one. Doing that of course would be harder than extending the current one but it does show that people who aren't aviation aficionados (she didn't sound like one from the way she commented) are aware of the issue.

 

[superking]

I been watching the different train lines around the world.We talked on here about how diffacult it would be to put a train line into the airport. Well some of these railways have a gear in between the main rails and on the bottom of the train they have a gear that mesh in with the middle rail and like a roller coaster pulls and helps the train to go up steep inclines. I thought there is the answer to a train into the airport with no problems.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I been watching the different train lines around the world.We talked on here about how diffacult it would be to put a train line into the airport. Well some of these railways have a gear in between the main rails and on the bottom of the train they have a gear that mesh in with the middle rail and like a roller coaster pulls and helps the train to go up steep inclines. I thought there is the answer to a train into the airport with no problems.

Rack or cog railways - there are various systems. The line to the top of Mount Snowdon is a rack and pinion version.

They are usually to be seen on very steep mountain railways, often on gauges less than the standard gauge in this country. Trains usually have to stop or go very slowly to engage or disengage the rack/cog sections and they traverse these sections at a fairly low speed.

If there was ever a rail connection to BRS, it would most likely form a junction with the Bristol-Exeter line near Nailsea & Backwell station. The first couple of miles or so would be on fairly level ground before the climb from not much above sea level to BRS at over 600 feet. Civil engineering could be substantial possibly involving tunnelling unless a way could be found to share the road along Brockley Combe which is relatively gentle in profile except for a few short steeper sections.

Mayor Rees in Bristol is convinced he will have an underground system in the city within ten years (I'm not sure that too many other people share his confidence) and this will include a spur to the airport. That too would involve a steep climb.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

http://www.northsomersettimes.co.uk/news/bristol-airport-criticised-by-villagers-1-5353424

The opposition has started. The arguments are broadly the same as 13 years ago at the time of public consultation for the current master plan. 10 mppa would swamp the area with vehicles and the A38 would become gridlocked so the claims went then.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

What it says in an Airbus or Boeing manual can differ from what the airlines are prepared to accept as their minimums. It's quite common to see airline imposed restrictions, even down to specific airport restrictions. At LBA Tui used to impose a restriction on ILS CAT III ops even though the airport there was CAT III compliant.

Sometime ago I asked Airbus if the A350 could operate out of BRS and LBA and the reply was YES but with weight restrictions. Even if the aircraft can land and take-off it will be restricted to how far it can travel with a reduced payload.

A modest extension to the runway would enable aircraft to depart with more fuel, enabling destinations a little further afield. Fewer long haul flights would be diverted for a fuel-stop. It would also offer improved landing and take off distances for all aircraft.

If the A350 could take off from BRS, I could imagine a empty 747 could too. While BRS is not 747 capable and it may not be safe, I’d assume it would be possible as BA 747’s at CWL depart with very very little runway.

 

[Aviador]

Has a Boeing 747 never visited BRS?

What is the runway PCN at Bristol?

 

[Severn]

Bristol is currently approved for Code E aircraft operations. The approval is limited to B787-8, B787-9, and A330-300 meaning for the time being this is what BRS will be able to handle.

 

[alphagolf]

The No More Bristol Airport Expansion twitter profile has been at it again with silly childish comments about a fear of flying course and the master plan consultation.

I have included the link to the page.

https://twitter.com/grifter7345/status/973946773852114944?s=21

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The No More Bristol Airport Expansion twitter profile has been at it again with silly childish comments about a fear of flying course and the master plan consultation.

I have included the link to the page.

https://twitter.com/grifter7345/status/973946773852114944?s=21

Sounds very much like a relatively new poster to PRuNe who seems to have an obsessional fear about BRS's continuing success. I can't make up by mind whether he is a WUM or not the full shilling.

 

[kraktoa]

One of the easiest options for the steep rise to the airport when considering a railway construction is 2 engines, one at the front and one at the back. No structural issues to factor in. Just an additional engine. Many countries use this simple solution.

 

[Aviador]

The No More Bristol Airport Expansion twitter profile has been at it again with silly childish comments about a fear of flying course and the master plan consultation.

I have included the link to the page.

https://twitter.com/grifter7345/status/973946773852114944?s=21

As you rightly pointed out, people who have such vociferous objections usually have an ulterior motive.

 

[Jerry]

Considering the account is essentially pro CWL what they don't realise is that Bristol Airports expansion won't really effect Cardiff more than the airport is now. It's not going to mean Flybe, TUI, Vueling, Qatar or Thomas Cook transferring the flights over to Bristol or stop expanding at Cardiff or other airlines that maybe interested in Cardiff choosing Bristol. It really is a waste of time by whoever it is that runs the account.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Considering the account is essentially pro CWL what they don't realise is that Bristol Airports expansion won't really effect Cardiff more than the airport is now. It's not going to mean Flybe, TUI, Vueling, Qatar or Thomas Cook transferring the flights over to Bristol or stop expanding at Cardiff or other airlines that maybe interested in Cardiff choosing Bristol. It really is a waste of time by whoever it is that runs the account.

It's a bit like the football fan syndrome when some so-called supporters of one club like nothing better than to continually denigrate what they see as a rival club. You read it all the time in the comment sections of the Bristol paper with some Bristol City fans taking every opportunity to gloat over any misfortune that befalls Bristol Rovers and vice versa. I always find it even odder when it occurs with 'supporters' of airports. Now I'm aware that this poster is not really the StopExpansion group it's easy to put his posts into context.

 

[Jerry]

It's a bit like the football fan syndrome when some so-called supporters of one club like nothing better than to continually denigrate what they see as a rival club.

Yes i have noticed for some people it's like that, I'm sure some will accuse me of being like that a bit but this person does sound like an Ultra who'll go out of his way to troll the opposition.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Yes i have noticed for some people it's like that, I'm sure some will accuse me of being like that a bit but this person does sound like an Ultra who'll go out of his way to troll the opposition.

I don't think anyone could accuse you of being like that, Jerry. You are a great supporter of CWL, which is your local airport, and there is nothing wrong with that as you do so from the perspective of wanting as good a facility as possible for the capital city and the country. I've seen no evidence whatsoever of your wanting to 'do down' other airports. In fact, your comments are always measured and possessed of good sense, and you always come across as an enthusiast for the industry as a whole.

 

[Jerry]

I don't think anyone could accuse you of being like that, Jerry.

I have been excused of being a 'fanboy' on another site a social media page but i find it funny when people say that. I just don't see the point of trying to criticise or getting massively jealous of other airports because it's a waste of time.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol Airport issued a press release today with the results of a survey it commissioned with YouGov into the travelling attitudes and habits of Millennials compared with other generations. It's obviously geared to helping the airport decide on the likely travelling habits of people in the years ahead and, as such, I've posted in the Master Plan Consulatation thread as it's the sort of thing the new master plan will take on board as it it's fine tuned.

There are lots of stats and figures but one thing that caught my eye is that Millennials are more likely to fly, especially for leisure, more often than the over 55s. The older Baby Boomer generation is generally reckoned to be the most well-off generation with the time and means to fly and travel for leisure generally so perhaps the results of this survey are a little surprising.

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/ab...-and-media-centre/2018/3/millennials-research

Millennials Take to the Skies Despite Money and Brexit Concerns
Created: 29th Mar 2018

Research by YouGov for one of the UK’s busiest regional airports shows a clear generational divide in attitudes to travel, with millennials* much more likely to travel outside the UK than they were two years ago.

More than a third (37%) of 18-24 year-olds and 28% of 25-34 year-olds surveyed for Bristol Airport say they are more likely to fly now than they were two years ago. This is compared to just 17% of those 55 and over. While changes in personal finances appear to be the biggest factor for those reducing their travel (34%), Brexit is cited as another reason for reducing their travel by 14% of 18-24 year-olds when compared to just 5% of 55 and overs.

More 25-34 year-olds are flying regularly for work than any other age group, with over one in five (21%) flying on business at least once a year from UK airports. Millennials also take more leisure trips, with more than half (56%) having flown in the last 12 months. Young adults are getting away most frequently, with 22% of 18-24 year olds enjoying a leisure break three or more times last year. This figure falls to 15% for those 55 and over.

Of the 40% of those polled with close family living outside the UK, those aged 45-54 are least likely visit their overseas relatives, with nearly half 48% saying they never visit. Once again, millennials travel more than older age-groups, with 29% of 18-24 year-olds and 26% of 25-34 year-olds visiting family outside the UK once or more a year, compared to just 18 per cent of those 55 and over.

This international outlook is reflected in the way millennials think of themselves – 11% of 18-24 year olds identify themselves as European, compared to an average of 7% across all age groups. Conversely, just over one third (35%) of 18-24 year-olds identify themselves as English, compared to more than half (56%) of those 55 and over.

Perhaps because they fly more frequently, cost is of greater importance to millennials when choosing which airport to fly from (67% of 18-24 year-olds and 68% of 25-34 year olds) but younger travellers (18-24 year olds) seem prepared to sacrifice convenient flight times (35%) and speed and efficiency at the airport (17%). This is reflected in the lower importance put on direct flights (46%), indicating a willingness to catch a connecting flight if it results in cost savings.

Younger travellers are also more likely to worry about the cost when selecting a destination – with 41% of 18-24 year olds saying low cost influenced their last choice of holiday destination, compared to just 18% of older travellers (those 55 and over). Travellers aged between 35 and 44 are the least likely to seek out cultural experiences on holiday (23%), while climate becomes more important for older age groups (23% for 18-24 compared to 34% for 55 plus)

Nigel Scott, Business Development Director at Bristol Airport, said:
“Millennials could make up as much as half of our passengers in 20 years’ time, so understanding what drives their travel decisions is important. Their international outlook suggests they will continue to want to travel in future, so airports need to ensure we are providing the choice and value millennials are looking for.”

Comparing regions across the UK, people in London, the South East and South West fly more frequently than those in the Midlands and the North. Scots place the least importance on speed and efficiency when at the airport, while Brexit has had the biggest negative impact on travel plans in London and the East Midlands.

Currently the ninth busiest airport in the UK, and the fifth largest outside London, Bristol saw passenger numbers grow by eight per cent to 8.1 million in 2017. The Airport is currently preparing a Master Plan considering potential development to handle around 20 million passengers a year by the mid-2040s.