Runway Lengths in the UK!!
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Runway Lengths in the UK!!
As i am a keen aircraft spotter one thing that upsets me is the fact the runway length at some of U.K's regional airports is restricting growth. For example at my local airport is Liverpool and the thing that is stopping the airport from growing is the runway length. With roughly 2250 metres of available runway for takeoff's and landings the airports limited really to a fully loaded 757 or just possibly a 767. With LPL constantly being linked with east atlantic links with airlines such as continental and american i think that we are not seeing any developments due to the length of runway. Even Ryanair's 738's are running some restricted flights closing off the back few rows of some flights.
Whats everyone else's views on the matter at their local airports?
Regards Lee@LPL
Whats everyone else's views on the matter at their local airports?
Regards Lee@LPL
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My local airport is Coventry, hence my username, and, from a flyer's point of view, to be honest I am happy that there are only the smaller aircraft using it. These smaller aircraft mean that turn around times are that much quicker: less passengers = less time for embarking and disembarking, and less time to load and unload the bags.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see more 757s use the airport, which they have done several times when fully loaded (moreover I would love to be in a 757 from Coventry), however, I think that in such circumstances, the airlines need to be practical about their resources.
Don't get me wrong, I would love to see more 757s use the airport, which they have done several times when fully loaded (moreover I would love to be in a 757 from Coventry), however, I think that in such circumstances, the airlines need to be practical about their resources.
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Local airport BHX, am almost afraid to mention our runway as feelings run high around the locals on this topic 
Basically it's too short and severley restricts long haul growth, even FCA moved their long haul charter up to NEMA for that reason. 
Basically it's too short and severley restricts long haul growth, even FCA moved their long haul charter up to NEMA for that reason.
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Lee@LPL,
It's symptom of our small island - land is scarce unlike the USA where most airports have 3 or 4 runways 3000+ metres.
I work at MAN and even our two at 3050 / 3200 metres are shorter than many on the continent. LPLs 2292 metres is not bad and you have to consider than on the main departure direction (27) you climb out over the Mersey with no obstacle problems. Take-off weight of an aircraft is highly influenced by the 'clearway' beyond the runway and LPL is well-situated in this respect. There should be nothing to stop 767s going East Coast USA from LPL, after all they do from LTN with just 2160 metres.
It's symptom of our small island - land is scarce unlike the USA where most airports have 3 or 4 runways 3000+ metres.
I work at MAN and even our two at 3050 / 3200 metres are shorter than many on the continent. LPLs 2292 metres is not bad and you have to consider than on the main departure direction (27) you climb out over the Mersey with no obstacle problems. Take-off weight of an aircraft is highly influenced by the 'clearway' beyond the runway and LPL is well-situated in this respect. There should be nothing to stop 767s going East Coast USA from LPL, after all they do from LTN with just 2160 metres.
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Runway 141414141414......
Birmingham does have some large movements in comparison with LPL. You have Emirates sending a 777-200 or A330-300 and air india sending a 777-200 and all the large tour operators are using 767's to places such as mexico and florida etc.
LPL longest summer flight is to the canaries and turkey so you guys at BHX should count yourselves lucky!!!
Regards Lee@LPL
Birmingham does have some large movements in comparison with LPL. You have Emirates sending a 777-200 or A330-300 and air india sending a 777-200 and all the large tour operators are using 767's to places such as mexico and florida etc.
LPL longest summer flight is to the canaries and turkey so you guys at BHX should count yourselves lucky!!!
Regards Lee@LPL
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My local airport PLH is buggered as the runway is way too short and if expanded it could become a succesful regonail airport.
Am I right to say that Plymouth is the biggest city in the UK wthout an international airport (well it is definatly one of them).
The Runway Length's at PLH are as follows:
06/24: 2,641 ft
13/31: 3,809 ft
Am I right to say that Plymouth is the biggest city in the UK wthout an international airport (well it is definatly one of them).
The Runway Length's at PLH are as follows:
06/24: 2,641 ft
13/31: 3,809 ft
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Originally Posted by WOWBOY
My local airport PLH is buggered as the runway is way too short and if expanded it could become a succesful regonail airport.
Am I right to say that Plymouth is the biggest city in the UK wthout an international airport (well it is definatly one of them).
The Runway Length's at PLH are as follows:
06/24: 2,641 ft
13/31: 3,809 ft
Am I right to say that Plymouth is the biggest city in the UK wthout an international airport (well it is definatly one of them).
The Runway Length's at PLH are as follows:
06/24: 2,641 ft
13/31: 3,809 ft
Also, the relationship between NEMA and Derby and Leicester is vague.
Otherwise, is Swansea bigger than Plymouth?
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Otherwise, is Swansea bigger than Plymouth?
so does that mean that plymouth would struggle to accomadate a 737?
what is the largest plane currently operating out of Plymouth?
Regards Lee@LPL
what is the largest plane currently operating out of Plymouth?
Regards Lee@LPL
The largest that I know of is the Bae 146-300, which was ocasionally used by BA, although it can not operate out of PLH with full loads etc.
The actual runway lenths in metre's are:
Rwy Dim(m)
06/24 817x26
13/31 1161x30
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Thats shocking 1160 metre long runway!!! suprised you can fit ATP's and 146's on it!! Its a shame really because Plymouth does not really have any close rivals to compete with like LPL has MAN & BLK so if they provided the facilities i rekon the airlines would have something to think about!!!!
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Thats shocking 1160 metre long runway!!! suprised you can fit ATP's and 146's on it!! Its a shame really because Plymouth does not really have any close rivals to compete with like LPL has MAN & BLK so if they provided the facilities i rekon the airlines would have something to think about!!!!
If they expanded the runway and enlarged the facilities it would attract airlines and would be popular but that is very unlikly.
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Not trying to rain on your parade, but lengthening the runway may not be the only change that's required. There's also the strength of the existing runway, and the strength and width of the existing taxiways, and the apron strength and size to consider. Spending eight figure sums of money tend to give regional airport operators heart failure.
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Lee@LPL
I wasn't aware I said they couldn't, I am just stating what Southend
has had, and gets, on it's rather short runway.
It's runway is quite adequate for 146's, Airbus 318/319s, Dash8-400s,
and ATRs. It is also being number crunched for the Embraer 195.
I wasn't aware I said they couldn't, I am just stating what Southend
has had, and gets, on it's rather short runway.
It's runway is quite adequate for 146's, Airbus 318/319s, Dash8-400s,
and ATRs. It is also being number crunched for the Embraer 195.
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reply to- Wonkavater vbmenu_register("postmenu_2408560", true);
i can see where your coming from with the money side of things but LPL is hardly just a mere regional airport i think its making the transition from a good regional airport to a small international airport and by spending money on the runway and taxi ways etc we will attract the big airlines to start operating those lucrative routes
Regards Lee@LPL
i can see where your coming from with the money side of things but LPL is hardly just a mere regional airport i think its making the transition from a good regional airport to a small international airport and by spending money on the runway and taxi ways etc we will attract the big airlines to start operating those lucrative routes
Regards Lee@LPL
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Lee@LPL sorry to rain slightly on your parade but Manchester Airport is the big player in your area and I doubt very much that will change. They have two runways and the infrastructure already in place. We are only a small country there is only so much room for growth.
Plymouth also doesn't have the population density to grow either, not when Exeter is not that far away and Plymouth are also very good at turning airlines away by treating them poorly compared to Air Southwest.
I work at an airport which I would love to see grow, however realism tells me that to make it grow the investment would have to be so vast that it will never happen to the extent I would like it to.
We don't have to travel that far to get to the larger airports and there is only so much growth available within the airways structures to cope with increased traffic.
Plymouth also doesn't have the population density to grow either, not when Exeter is not that far away and Plymouth are also very good at turning airlines away by treating them poorly compared to Air Southwest.
I work at an airport which I would love to see grow, however realism tells me that to make it grow the investment would have to be so vast that it will never happen to the extent I would like it to.
We don't have to travel that far to get to the larger airports and there is only so much growth available within the airways structures to cope with increased traffic.
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Plymouth also doesn't have the population density to grow either, not when Exeter is not that far away and Plymouth are also very good at turning airlines away by treating them poorly compared to Air Southwest.
