Heathrow Expansion - News and Debates

[TheLocalYokel]

It looks increasingly likely that this subject has been placed in the 'too hard to do' basket until the next general election. The Coalition has played the classic stalling move of governments when they don't know what to do in the interests of (their) political expediency: they've appointed a commission.

Whilst the major hubs of the UK's main competitor countries' airports grow, ours are being stifled.

 

[Aviador]

One good way of looking at it is it should be good for regional airports washing to expand there connections with hub airports in Europe and Asia.

 

[News Guru]

Boris Johnson to challenge David Cameron on 'nonsensical' airport delays

David Cameron must speed up his decision on a new airport for London as current delays are "unnecessary" and "nonsensical", Boris Johnson will say this week.

The London Mayor, a major rival to the Prime Minister, is disappointed at the Coalition's failure to support his plans for an airport on an island in east London and fears a u-turn over a third runway at Heathrow.

In a speech to business leaders on Thursday, he is expected to criticise the Government for calling an inquiry into airport capacity that will take three years to reach a conclusion.

Full Story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9579939 ... elays.html

 

[TheLocalYokel]

With the West Coast rail fiasco in the news today it tends to confirm many people's opinion (including me) that the government hasn't got a clue when it comes to transport matters.

No wonder so many aviation professionals are at their wits' end tearing out their hair (those who have hair) re muddled/lack of aviation policy.

 

[News Guru]

FTSE 100 chairmen cheer third runway for Heathrow Airport

POLITICIANS might remain divided over the thorny problem of expanding Heathrow, but a survey of FTSE 100 chairmen suggests that big businesses would welcome a third runway.

Full Story: http://www.cityam.com/latest-news/ftse- ... ow-airport

 

[Aviador]

Heathrow expansion is only 'affordable' option, says Virgin Atlantic chief

Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway has moved against relocating to a new airport in the Thames Estuary, warning that Heathrow expansion is the only “affordable” option to improve Britain’s links to key markets abroad.

Steve Ridgeway said transport links and other infrastructure would be the real stumbling block for the 'Boris Island' airport.

The aviation veteran also attacked government “inconsistency” for the way ministers support aircraft manufacturers but heavily tax and regulate airlines, even though they support thousands of jobs and generate billions of pounds in overseas sales.

Full Story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/news ... chief.html

Support seems to be building for the idea of a third runway. So far as noise and environmentally, it's hardly an ideal location by any means but it the best and most sustainable option on the table.

 

[News Guru]

Poll finds majority backing for third Heathrow runway

Building a third runway at Heathrow is the most popular option for solving the country’s airport capacity, a poll has found.

A survey by organisers of the World Travel Market, a summit of tourism chiefs which begins in London on Monday, saw an expanded Heathrow winning more support than the construction of a new airport on the Thames Estuary - as favoured by Boris Johnson, London’s mayor.

Full Story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviatio ... unway.html

 

[flashgordon1952]

i do get little tired myself hereing about the third runway "will they or wont they build it" syndrome ! The trurth in the matter was that BAA had to change the name of heathrow from BAA heathrow because of the bad publicity they was getting over the forced selling of gatwick and several other airports . There is no doubt that BAA thinks by renameing heathrow to Heathrow will in fact get them tobe able to biuld the thrird runway ,which in my view is not or will ever needed ,because the other airports around london includeing luton,stanstead ,london city and finally gatwick will be aloud a substantial increase in capacity..
Then we have the "alledged" public furore over noise levels (which in fact has dropped quite substantially since the bad old days of the 70s when we had really horid aircraft).
The public needs to use the airport to fly and as such the airport does generate a lot of noise (and has done since the 60s) If the public did not fly then we would not have such a huge airport like heathrow and heathrow and the BAA is the biggest employer in the area by a huge margin (something like over 100,000 people relie on there livelyhoods there).
This is something those who live nearby who complain seem to forget..
Sorry to say i dont have any time for such people who want it everyhting ! I say to thosewho complain "move away" and get another job or stay and bite the bullet.
I do remember that those liveing near heathrow did have double glazeing given to them by the localcouncil for free ,because of the noise the airport and that there are stringent rules about noise after 10pm.. and before 5am :diablo:

 

[News Guru]

London ‘won’t get boost from airport expansion’

An independent report into airports expansion today accused groups in favour of boosting capacity of “distorting” the economic arguments.

The study by Dutch consultants CE Delft claims the pro-expansion lobby is guilty of “miscalculating” and “exaggerating” the case for change.

It also criticised the Department for Transport for failing to take into account social and environmental costs compared with the economic benefits. And it said London’s economy would not necessarily get a boost from expanding or building new airports as it already had good air connections.

Full Story: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... 82674.html

 

[TheLocalYokel]

This independent report was commissioned by the Heathrow anti-expansionists so no surprise as to its outcome.

Whenever I hear the result of a survey or an 'independent' report into a subject my first question is always to ask who commissioned it.

You can be sure that if the pro-smoking lobby arranged a survey/study/report into smoking the result would favour them and if the anti-smoking lobby did so the report would favour them.

Listen in at any high profile criminal court case and both prosecution and defence will bring 'experts' to give evidence on their respective behalfs that will arrive at fundamentally different conclusions.

 

[Aviador]

Indeed, it's also worth noting that the 'independent' report was by the Dutch consultants CE Delft. Surely they would favour any move that would help the aviation needs of Amsterdam rather than London.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

I recently read a report some 4 to 5 weeks ago on internet from an ex-BA or Concorde pilot Jock , that instead of building another runway at Heathrow, but to extend both exsisting runways, from 3,500 to 7,000, effectivley doubling both current lengths of runway but realiment of the M25. I then looked into this theory, and thought that instead of moving the M25 over, but to build a tunnel for both lanes of M25 to go under, but also to move both lakes too,this would then say the tens of billions it would costs too, then you would not need to spend money on a boris island thames estuary airport that would cost up to 50 billion to construct and take up to 20 0r 30 years to build, simply expand all other airports like Birmingham is doing by extending its runway, this would then mean that Heathrows passenger figures in 20 or 30 years time would double to 140 million....

 

[Aviador]

Hi Andrew.

How did the pilot say having two long runways would help? I can't see how it would make any difference because I would have thought you could still only land or take-off one aircraft at a time on each runway?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

It was in the Guardian newspaper on 10/03/2013, EX-BA Captain William 'Jock' Lowe is proposing that the £7.5 billion plan to lengthen each runway would accomodate aircraft landing and take off at he same time, doubling the airports passenger capacity frm 70 million to 140 million and increasing the number of flights from 480,000 per year to almost 1 million. Mr Lowe also stated that there have been several other competing ideas to sole the capacity crunch in the south east of england, which means for a new hub in the Thames Estuary and further expansion of Gatwick Airport. This form of airport operation is known as "mixed mode " and is highly contenious, this would increase flights and noise, but mixed mode would do away with Heathrows current system of using only one runway at a time for jet taking off and landing. The former EX-BA chief pilot has also submitted his proposal plans to the Davies Commission. Mr Lowe also said " When we started hearing about all these various ideas, i thought this is just getting really silly, said Mr Lowe, " Heathrow is in the ideal spot....for UK Ltd, why would you dream of putting it somewhere else. Mr Lowe is working with Mr Mark Bustock, a former director at the engineers ARUP, who has developed a plan for a new railway station at Heathrow that could also serve as an airport terminal. The former pilot claimed his £7.5 billion proposal presented the cheapest option to solving the capacity crunch in the south east. It does compare to the £10 billion proposal by Mr Tim Leunig an economist, to turn Heathrow Airport into a four runway airport by shifting the airports centre of gravity further west, which would require the M25 to be tunnelled underneath....Yours Andyc.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks Andrew.

It's an interesting idea having a runway long enough to enable aircraft to take-off and land at the same time whether it would work in practice is another thing. Does anybody know of anywhere where this is already done?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

i dont know aviador, if anyone else knows then throw it open into the ring to anyone else, but i will check and let you know what i find out.....thanks aviador....

 

[News Guru]

Former Transport Secretary to speak out against Heathrow expansion

Justine Greening, the former Transport Secretary, is planning to speak out against a third runway at Heathrow for the first time since she was moved from her job in charge of airports.

David Cameron took away Miss Greening's job as Transport Secretary last year, not long after she made clear it would be "difficult" for her to remain in post if Heathrow expansion went ahead.
Her move to Development Secretary cleared the path for a potential u-turn on expanding Heathrow, which is officially opposed by the Government but privately backed by a number of senior Tory ministers.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... nsion.html

 

[News Guru]

Heathrow third runway 'totally nuts', says Boris Johnson

Mayor of London Boris Johnson today urged the Government to resist the "great Moloch of aviation capacity" and rule out a third runway at Heathrow before the next election.

Attending a rally against expansion of the transport hub, Mr Johnson said it would be "totally nuts" for the Conservatives to go to the polls without having buried the idea.

Full story: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transpor ... 90977.html

 

[News Guru]

Councillor vows to 'fight like hell' against Heathrow night flights

A LEADING councillor has vowed to 'fight like hell' for a ban on night flights.

The Royal Borough's response to a Department for Transport consultation on night flights at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted was presented to the cabinet on Thursday last week.

The report reinforced the borough's commitment to fighting for a total ban on aircraft taking off or landing at Heathrow between 11.30pm-6am - a stance backed by Windsor MP Adam Afriyie.

Councillor Phillip Bicknell, cabinet deputy chairman and a former chairman of the Royal Borough's aviation forum, wholeheartedly backed the report. He said: "We should fight like hell to close the airport from 11.30pm till 6am. I think that's fair and equitable and we should state that case."

Full story: http://www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/w ... t-flights/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

If the Conservatives are in power after the next general election in some shape or form it will be huge entertainment to watch the reaction if the Davies Commission comes down firmly on substantially expanding LHR, both in infrastructure and in hours of operation.

Or have the members been hand picked to ensure no embarrassment to some of the Tory heavyweights?

As some of them are so firmly against expanding that airport I suppose it's safe to assume they never use it. After all, politicians would never be hypocrites, would they?