I also went along to this today - I thought the people running it were a bunch of amateurs who didn't have a clue what they were doing.
For a start, if you're going to expand an airport, surely you should know the length of your existing runway? One bloke said 2,800m.
One girl said most of the issues were outside her expertise. Why is she involved then? Surely the developer/council would bring in aviation specialists to deal with this sort of thing?
When questioned several times, they had no idea how much the project was going to cost. Although, relatively, I don't think the project would cost that much but that's not the point - if you're trying to convince the public, at least be prepared and organised!
There were also no specific plans apart from less check in desks (ie. security section).
And when asked who's going to pay for it - the answer was the next operator. Now, how many operators or private investors, in the current economic climate can afford £100 million(s) to pay for this - especially as there are only 14 year terms?
Without doubt this project needs to happen - but the people hoping to deliver it have filled me with no confidence.
Just one thing (I'm not a pilot) that I'd like some clarification on: The runway at 2,160m will obviously restrict the types of aircraft and its load. Would I be right in thinking the B767s and B777s that El Al have used, according to their takeoff run at MTOW are too big for the runway (obviously you don't need a full fuel tank to Tel Aviv). I realise you see in places like PJIA you have B747s taking off; but surely there is a safety risk? Are there special regulations?