Doncaster/Finningley (Merged)
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Doncaster/Finningley
I haven't seen many posts on here recently about DSA; any rumours about actual opening date and additional new services? I am aware of the new Thomsonfly services, based Britannia B757 and 2 x TCX w-flights?. What about other charters/locos?
niknak
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I think opening day is set for the 13 or 14th March 2005.
Rumour, (and only rumour control) has it that they have been in intensive talks with Cathay about moving their freight operation from Manchester, and also have been talking to other large freight operators.
Don't know anything about scheduled services though.
Rumour, (and only rumour control) has it that they have been in intensive talks with Cathay about moving their freight operation from Manchester, and also have been talking to other large freight operators.
Don't know anything about scheduled services though.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Some time ago, I mentioned a work colleague had been told by the local development agency that Dragonair was opening some kind of operation at Finningley.
The only reply I saw was that KA were merely opening a receiving depot, I didnt bother to answer that at the time. However KA doesn't have a receiving depot anywhere else including at Manchester, so that was unlikely.
Maybe though they are trying to attract the Cargo operators ffrom Manchester to Finningley, if I was Manchester this would have been my fear more than pax flights.
So it could be CX or KA or maybe even both.
The only reply I saw was that KA were merely opening a receiving depot, I didnt bother to answer that at the time. However KA doesn't have a receiving depot anywhere else including at Manchester, so that was unlikely.
Maybe though they are trying to attract the Cargo operators ffrom Manchester to Finningley, if I was Manchester this would have been my fear more than pax flights.
So it could be CX or KA or maybe even both.
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Robin Hood Airport will open on the 16th March 2005.
Currently, the TUI group comprising Britannia Airways and the low cost Thomsonfly.com will have a total of 5 based aircraft between them.
THe airport is, I beleive in discussions with a number of airlines and it's my guess that there will be more scheduled services announced later this year, the TUI announcement was very early, usually airlines announce around 2-3 months in advance, so end of the year, early next seems logical to me.
Dragonair have a receiving depot at Doncaster. Contrary to the earlier post, they have such facilities all over the county, otherwise you would end up with thousands of little ford transit vans descending on manchester airport and Stansted every day to feed the flights. Freight is collected at various locations throughout the UK and trunked into the aircraft departure airport. This is not uncommon, contrary to our friends earlier comment.
Early indications for sales from the airport are very positive and this will line the aiport up well for the future. It is not going to happen overnight, and my guess, for what it;s worth would be that 2006 will see a major step change from 2005, with 2005 being the year the airport opens, gets itself settled down and bedded in for growth.
DSA is an exciting opportunity for aviation in this country, and a rare opportunity at that, lets hope all the cynics out there welcome it and we can, for at least once on this site, be spared the incessent bashing that good news usually receives.
Currently, the TUI group comprising Britannia Airways and the low cost Thomsonfly.com will have a total of 5 based aircraft between them.
THe airport is, I beleive in discussions with a number of airlines and it's my guess that there will be more scheduled services announced later this year, the TUI announcement was very early, usually airlines announce around 2-3 months in advance, so end of the year, early next seems logical to me.
Dragonair have a receiving depot at Doncaster. Contrary to the earlier post, they have such facilities all over the county, otherwise you would end up with thousands of little ford transit vans descending on manchester airport and Stansted every day to feed the flights. Freight is collected at various locations throughout the UK and trunked into the aircraft departure airport. This is not uncommon, contrary to our friends earlier comment.
Early indications for sales from the airport are very positive and this will line the aiport up well for the future. It is not going to happen overnight, and my guess, for what it;s worth would be that 2006 will see a major step change from 2005, with 2005 being the year the airport opens, gets itself settled down and bedded in for growth.
DSA is an exciting opportunity for aviation in this country, and a rare opportunity at that, lets hope all the cynics out there welcome it and we can, for at least once on this site, be spared the incessent bashing that good news usually receives.
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I worded my comments about receiving depots badly.
Being in the Cargo side myself I am well aware of the logistics of moving freight to the airport of departure from nationwide receiving points.
What I should have said is that Dragonair do not operate their own receiving shed's at Manchester or Stansted but use a handling agents, as do most airlines. They do not have their own transit shed.
If what my colleague was told and they were opening something themselves, this would be a departure from their current policy and an indication of future intentions maybe.
Being in the Cargo side myself I am well aware of the logistics of moving freight to the airport of departure from nationwide receiving points.
What I should have said is that Dragonair do not operate their own receiving shed's at Manchester or Stansted but use a handling agents, as do most airlines. They do not have their own transit shed.
If what my colleague was told and they were opening something themselves, this would be a departure from their current policy and an indication of future intentions maybe.
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There has been a lot of talk about the so-called long runway at Finningley.However, I am not sure that 2791metres is long enough for unrestricted 747 cargo flights to Hong Kong for example. Does anyone know if what I am sying is correct?
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The 747F wouldn't necessarilly be fully loaded on departure. CX and KA stop in mainland Europe i.e. AMS, BRU and PAR so maybe 60 tonne of freight on departure from the UK.
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There's room to put in an extra 1000ft if required within the current airfield boundary.10,000ft would be enough as they operate from MAN with that length of runway.With all the other work going on at DSA at the moment I guess they think the runway is long enough for Peels requirements at the moment.
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OK, a few points, Dragonair are indeed using a handling agent at DSA. It is the transit shed operator (which is standard practice) the agent is CHC - a new transit shed operator in the UK.
The runway at DSA is 2891 metres, not 2741 as previously states. This puts DSA on a par with EMA.
Brgds
The runway at DSA is 2891 metres, not 2741 as previously states. This puts DSA on a par with EMA.
Brgds
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New lighting or maybe improved drainage? They also have 2 trenches dug accross the runway one on the north end concrete and one halfway down. New approach lighting is going in at the north end too. Does anyone know if it will have ILS on both ends? Also how many stands will there be?
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I believe there will be about 6 stands at the terminal(734 size) and STACKS of remote space. One slight downer on the op is that the locals think that the airport will use 20 to land on and 02 to depart on.(subject to wind) A big operational restriction if the traffic offered is more than one at a time.
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why are they digging the runway up??,i know both thresholds need work doing to them but the rest is fine,it doesn't make any sense.if i remember rightly i think they was planning on makin the runway to 10,000ft ,anyone got any idea's coz you can't find any info anywhere on the net,peel don't seem to want to give imformation out for some reason.
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Flypast at Finningley
I watched a VC10 and a Meteor (G-LOSM I think) do a number of flypasts around lunchtime on September 15th. I know this was BoB day, but I struggled to find any other more specific connection. I think Meteors were based there at one time, but VC-10s? Was it a squadron thing (saying goodbye to Finningley one last time?). Who was there to see it?
It was interesting to see the two aircraft fly what looked like a typical down-wind leg prior to an overflight of the runway, as they passed right over my house. It'll be nice to see some traffic again.
Ian
It was interesting to see the two aircraft fly what looked like a typical down-wind leg prior to an overflight of the runway, as they passed right over my house. It'll be nice to see some traffic again.
Ian
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yeah i think one of the airman lived in doncaster and served at RAF Finningley
everyone iswelcome to join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/donnyairport/
everyone iswelcome to join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/donnyairport/
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Hi all,
To answer some of the points above.
The trench is for new AGL lighting, as the old RAF was not to commercial standard, and needed replacing anyway.
Approach lighting is been added at both ends of the runway, and the runway will be painted with commercial runway markings, thresholds, TDZ's etc etc. Threshold at 02 end will be displaced due to rising ground to the west of the field (as I understand?!)
Trenches accross the runway are to provide services around the airfield such as water, electicity, and drainage.
ILS will operate on runway 20 only initially, but this will change as the operational needs of the airport become more apparant following the airport opening, all future proofs are included for this expansion(!) Runway 20 is preferred landing runway (and will be used even with a slight tailwind), with 02 the preferred departure runway. This is noise related.
The airport will have 8 terminal contact stands 4 x 767 and 4 x 737 (4 x code D, 4 x code C). 747's can park accross 2 stands.
At least 3 stands will be served by gate bridges (not air bridges) but for those who have visited liverpool, the gate bridges which drop you at the head of stand will be used. Again, if an airbridge requirment is realised, they can be added as necessary.
Remote parking is in abundance, and it is likely any frieghter aircraft will park remote to the terminal, as the transit shed will be in what was originally hangar 1.
Information is scarce at the moment in fairness, however a new website will be launched by the end of the year in preparation for the airport opening in March 05.
Any more for any more? Hope the above is of some use, and the above is correct, I can assure you I know!
Brgds
GJK22
To answer some of the points above.
The trench is for new AGL lighting, as the old RAF was not to commercial standard, and needed replacing anyway.
Approach lighting is been added at both ends of the runway, and the runway will be painted with commercial runway markings, thresholds, TDZ's etc etc. Threshold at 02 end will be displaced due to rising ground to the west of the field (as I understand?!)
Trenches accross the runway are to provide services around the airfield such as water, electicity, and drainage.
ILS will operate on runway 20 only initially, but this will change as the operational needs of the airport become more apparant following the airport opening, all future proofs are included for this expansion(!) Runway 20 is preferred landing runway (and will be used even with a slight tailwind), with 02 the preferred departure runway. This is noise related.
The airport will have 8 terminal contact stands 4 x 767 and 4 x 737 (4 x code D, 4 x code C). 747's can park accross 2 stands.
At least 3 stands will be served by gate bridges (not air bridges) but for those who have visited liverpool, the gate bridges which drop you at the head of stand will be used. Again, if an airbridge requirment is realised, they can be added as necessary.
Remote parking is in abundance, and it is likely any frieghter aircraft will park remote to the terminal, as the transit shed will be in what was originally hangar 1.
Information is scarce at the moment in fairness, however a new website will be launched by the end of the year in preparation for the airport opening in March 05.
Any more for any more? Hope the above is of some use, and the above is correct, I can assure you I know!
Brgds
GJK22
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thank you gareth for the info 
when you say "Threshold at 02 end will be displaced due to rising ground to the west of the field (as I understand?!)
displaced in which way,not using it??
when you say "Threshold at 02 end will be displaced due to rising ground to the west of the field (as I understand?!)displaced in which way,not using it??