HEATHROW

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "Definitely no 3rd runway at LHR according to Vince Cable this morning on the Andrew Marr programme.

The commission's job is too look at alternatives only."

He would say that, he's a Libdem, and he has to save face. What he should have said to clarify the Libdem position: "no new rwys in the southeast - ever".

Quote: "Why would Ferrovial, a massive construction company, not be in favour of building a new airport? Even if they only built one runway and one terminal, it would net them many millions.

Why would BAA not leap at the chance of managing a four-runway airport near London? It could be the outcome of negotiations to close LHR.

I'd have thought both shareholder and airport operator would want a new airport."

Because its more profitable to build on on what they already have. Also, could BAA persuade the airlines to leave LHR to pay even higher airport charges elsewhere?

If so, then all their current investment in LHR would be wasted. For BAA to close LHR would require one hell of a bribe from the govt. - they don't have that kind of money spare. It's not going happen.


Quote: "A new airport to the West would be a sensible long term plan, after the third runway has solved our immediate crisis. The economics should really shine through and common sense should prevail...(?)"

Once a third rwy has solved the immediate crisis, there'll be an application for a fourth and that will be it. All talk of a new hub will cease as it will not be necessary, and is too fraught with difficulty anyway.

By the time the 4th rwy is built technological advances will ensure that aircraft are so quiet and clean (it's an-going process) that it will not be an issue.

Quote: "How about 2 parallel perpendicular(ish) runways over the reservoirs on the far side of the M25?
As long as crosswinds permit you'd lose the approach noise problem. Not sure how you'd coordinate take-offs on the westerlies with go-around traffic - but I'm not an airport designer.... "

If expansion accross the M25 is being considered then someone has to pay the cost of diverting/tunnelising the M25 and the A4. Does it remain cost-effective with the added expenditure?

If so, and it is practicable, we might as well have the 2 rwys referred to as parallel with the existing ones rather than perpendicular. This will allow all four to be used simultaneously and the retention of segregated mode and alternation.



Quote: "That's what I don't get, yes we need a big new hub airport ideally just west of London in the long term, with room for further expansion but that won't be built until well into the next decades, or if they use the same workers as they do on the roads then the 2050's!!! To stay competitive until then Heathrow needs Runway 3, then it can be closed when a new hub is opened."

Won't happen for the same reasons as the estuary airport. The "big new hub airport ideally just west of London" is an expanded LHR.

LHR will get its extra rwy(s) and its required expansion, the only question is - when? Let's hope is not so late that it isn't needed because the country has become a backwater.