The airport are also in the process of tendering for the following;
"Design and Construction of an airport landside bulk fuel facility for Jet A1 fuel storage. The facility will handle a throughput of circa 200 000 000 litres per annum and will be required to be compliant with all relevant standards and will include airside fuel bowser loading facilities, circa 2 500 m² of pavement/hardstanding for refuelling bowsers and office facilities for both airside and landside fuel operations. The works will include provision of all mains services and utilities including drainage, potable water, fire control and HV/LV power supplies. It will also include environmental control and fire control".
This is a 10 month contract with an estimated £3.8m value. Assuming a relocation of the fire station can happen easily, then some valuable space for terminal or apron will be available at the western end early next year. The terminal contract is estimated at 24 months in duration and given much of the first few months of this will be taken up with design and planning, it does seem to fit nicely with the relocation of the fuel depot.
In terms of the runway, I have no specific details other than the masterplan had an explicit aim of improving the available distances from the existing 2250m and talked about reprofiling the runway ends and undershoots as being part of the solution. Something along these lines is, I'm told, a high priority for the new owners and management. At a guess, the following recruitment drive which was running in Jan, but which talked about generic rather than specific roles, is probably the start of the process.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
In order to prepare for the future, we are also keen to talk to people with skills and qualifications in the following areas:
Air Traffic Engineering (ref: ATE 001)
Air Traffic Control (ref: ATC 002)
Airfield Ground Lighting (ref: AGL 003)
Fire & Rescue (ref: RFFS 004)
Airside Safety & Airside Operations (ref: AS 005)