MAN Taxiways etc
Leaving aside the hot topic of power cuts if I may, and getting back to the earlier debate about MAN's airfield facilites. I can assure 'flyinthesky' and others that there are people within MAG who fully recognise the limitations of the airfield infrastructure and are lobbying hard to steer policy and investment towards tackling the issues, and not just putting in more shops. It can't have escaped everyone's notice that a huge amount of money is currently being spent on re-building the northern taxiway network, with considerable disruption as a result. This project has been going on for nearly 2 years and is a major departure from the piecemeal repair works of the past. The new pavements going down are 50% thicker and thereby 50% stronger than those they replace, and have been designed to the wheeltracks of the largest aircraft - A380, A340-600, B777-300. Alignment, markings and lighting have all been improved as we go. The works currently in progress at crossing link Delta are adding a fillet which enables large aircraft to make the turn onto it from Kilo - eliminating one of many frustrating constraints which are a legacy of a taxiway network designed around the old three runway layout of the 1940s-1960s.
Looking ahead, there are proposals under the Airfield Master Plan to re-construct and realign Taxiway Alpha as part of a new dual-parallel taxiway route running to the north of 05L-23R. Dual parallel routes will also feature on the 'caravan route' into T2, although several options are under consideration at this time. Numerous other small improvements will be made to remove constraints and smooth the flow of ground traffic. With this will come a complete re-designation of all taxiways to provide a simpler, more logical system where designations 'A/B/C etc' will be applied in a grid fashion and hence there will be no more 'long and winding roads' a la Taxiway Alpha and Delta. There are people in MAG who care about these things and listen to what pilots and ATC say. Make sure you have a representative at the Flight Operations Safety Commitee (FLOPSC) etc, and have your say direct to those who can make a difference!