Elmdonheath,
Re runway closures and runway extension opening, sadly the opening date has been put back yet again until at least the 1st June
Latest NOTAMS below;
TWY SIERRA CLSD. RWY 33 DEPARTURES WILL BE AS PUBLISHED FROM TWY ECHO WITH NO BACKTRACK. 09 MAY 12:14 2014 UNTIL 31 MAY 23:59 2014. CREATED: 09 MAY 12:16 2014
RWY 15 DECLARED DISTANCES REDUCED AS FOLLOWS: ALPHA: TORA 2569M TODA 2672M ASDA 2569M LDA 2279M BRAVO: TORA 2014M TODA 2117M ASDA 2014M LIMA: TORA 1006M TODA 1109M ASDA 1006M GOLF TORA 786M TODA 889M ASDA 786M ALL AIRCRAFT MUST VACATE RWY 15 VIA TWY ECHO. 09 MAY 12:01 2014 UNTIL 31 MAY 23:59 2014. CREATED: 09 MAY 12:04 2014
C2411/14
Luckily theres no airline that needs the extension at present, as long as its open by mid July for the first China Southern charters.
Am also hearing from one of the handling companies that they have been advised the runway resurfacing that restarts in November, is now expected to extend into January 2015 and CAT 3 will not be available during that time.
However I cannot find anything in writing verifying this so treat as rumour at this stage.
Nigel