Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[White Heather]

If there is not to be any physical extension to the runway, then the only alternative is to configure the existing concrete to provide an increased usable distance. At the 32 landing end that could be achieved by moving the threshold back to where it originally was and adjusting the glideslope accordingly. There would also need to be changes to the approach and runway lighting. Moving the threshold back would require a dispensation which would seem unlikely to be granted or re-profiling the land at the end of the runway to provide the required 'protection' (in case of undershoot) for the threshold. Approaches would be a bit lower which in itself will cause negative reaction from some neighbours.
I would not class any of these options as 'navigational' enhancements so am still intrigued as to what is meant.

With regard to height of approach, it would surely be possible to increase the approach angle to 3.5 degrees, the same as on runway 14, which would result in aircraft being higher on approach. The net result would probably be that they would be roundabout the same height as they are now on finals but able to land a couple of hundred metres closer to the end of the concrete. Returning the touch down point to where it used to be prior to the runway extension was often mentioned as an option by the previous airport owners, but Bridgepoint have always been quite negative about it. I am intrigued too therefore. One thing is certain - something needs to be done.

 

[rangieowner]

How would you expect that the ILS could be modified?

As White Heather said above, Increase angle to 3.5 degrees, thus keeping the altitude over the built up areas but allowing a threshold/touchdown point nearer the end of the runway.

 

[oldendays]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if the glideslope angle were to be increased to 3.5 degrees then we'd lose the CAT 3 status. As far as I know, 3.2 degrees is the maximum permitted angle for CAT 3.
We need a Tels or ATC bod to say for certain.

 

[Aviador]

My previous discussions with both Tels and ATC indicate they don't have the answer to that question. A specialist company or organisation would need to carry out investigatory work to establish whether or not it is possible. The topography of the airfield and the surrounding areas makes it a far from straight forward question to answer.

 

[rangieowner]

What is the current angle of the ILS on 32?

 

[Aviador]

What is the current angle of the ILS on 32?

3 degree

 

[rangieowner]

So still 0.2 degrees to play with.......not a right lot is it? I wonder how much movement on the T/D point a 0.2 degree increase would give......? (This kind of thing was never my strong point)

 

[rangieowner]

From Wikipedia........

• Instrument guidance system (IGS) (Localizer type directional aid (LDA) in the United States) - a modified ILS to accommodate a non-straight approach; the most famous example was for the approach to runway 13 at Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong.[4][5]

..............Just a thought.

 

[Aviador]

Whatever system the airport uses it needs to be unrestricted and should allow low visibility approaches to Cat 3 standard.

 

[rangieowner]

Whatever system the airport uses it needs to be unrestricted and should allow low visibility approaches to Cat 3 standard.

I agree.

 

[jason1-11]

Astonishing growth over the hill in April. I wonder how much of this growth is fuelled by lack of services from both Leeds and Liverpool.

The LBA Management always harp on about how Manchester is their biggest opportunity to grow, bit it all appears pretty one way at the moment.

 

[a300boy]

Could not agree more !
Even though our passenger figures are increasing we are loosing the battle for stopping the exodus to Manchester.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Cant find April figures on the CAA site, were are your figures obtained from.
Leeds did better in both additional flight % terms and passenger % growth in March compare to manchester year on year, accept just one month, what are the April figures for flight % growth and passenger % increases?

 

[jason1-11]

Cant find April figures on the CAA site, were are your figures obtained from.
Leeds did better in both additional flight % terms and passenger % growth in March compare to manchester year on year, accept just one month, what are the April figures for flight % growth and passenger % increases?

Widely reported on the Manchester Thread Tarn Spotter.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Widely reported on the Manchester Thread Tarn Spotter.

Thanks, have now read the thread.
Its showing passengers numbers up 17% in april as Easter later this year.
LBA for March without this years Easter up 12%, manchester only 9.9%. (lba better by 18%)
Manchester flights up in April by 10%, LBA in March up 11.4%
Think we should wait until LBA figures out before we review, its certainly possible based on March, LBA could be up around 17%, lets wait and see.
Certainly in March LBA performed better then Manchester, in increased flight numbers and passenger increase numbers

 

[a300boy]

One percent of Manchester passenger figures is an awful lot more than one percent of ours !
However we have to be happy with increases of double figures.

 

[Finger66]

Here here. As I keep saying any sort of positive is a good thing and I think we have more to shout about than we give ourselves credit for. Wait until I start adding to pax numbers too!

 

[lbaspotter]

Here here. As I keep saying any sort of positive is a good thing and I think we have more to shout about than we give ourselves credit for. Wait until I start adding to pax numbers too!

That sounds promising "Finger66". Been a good week?

 

[lbaspotter]

I see Huddersfield Town FC have won there Championship playoff game against Sheffield Wednesday tonight and are now heading to Wembley to play against Reading FC in the play-off final for a place in the Premier League next season.

Hopefully British Airways will might see an even further increase in bookings on the Leeds - Heathrow route over the Bank Holiday weekend and put on a larger aircraft, Airbus A320 springs to mind. Plus maybe the possibility a Charter flight as well to take the team down as they are supported by Leeds/Bradford Airport and have a Travel partnership with Multiflight.

 

[Bigman]

As it will be a 'dream' day out for them, how about putting on a Dreamliner instead. It would be great publicity for both BA and LBA.