BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - BFS (Aldergrove)
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
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Heard nothing myself while ive been in BHD about any sort of charges yet, although it wouldn't surprise me...
They will have to start enforcing traffic laws round BFS, as already said the amount of cars lined along the main roads to the airports is silly at the minute, its ok when people are on the hard shoulder, but some idiots stop on the main road, or pull in at the entrances to checkpoint 1 (soon moved on...) and budget returns......
They will have to start enforcing traffic laws round BFS, as already said the amount of cars lined along the main roads to the airports is silly at the minute, its ok when people are on the hard shoulder, but some idiots stop on the main road, or pull in at the entrances to checkpoint 1 (soon moved on...) and budget returns......
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
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£1 charge at Belfast International Airport criticised
BBC News - £1 charge at Belfast International Airport criticised
Very true, as tigger2k8 stated, the traffic law enforcement must now be stepped up, even for an intrim period to ensure bad practice and habits don't form, leading to longterm chaos.
Like most aspects of air travel today, businesses seem to follow the lowest denominator. If this measure is not completely unsuccessful, I could see other airports including BHD follow suit, as airlines, airports and associated business try and squeeze every last penny from the passenger.
BBC News - £1 charge at Belfast International Airport criticised
If passengers are to pay a £1 fee to use the drop off/pick up zone, many will drop off on the surrounding roads to avoid the charge. This is turn will lead to more congestion outside the airport and further safety concerns as the numbers of passengers with luggage walking to and from the terminal will increase.
Like most aspects of air travel today, businesses seem to follow the lowest denominator. If this measure is not completely unsuccessful, I could see other airports including BHD follow suit, as airlines, airports and associated business try and squeeze every last penny from the passenger.
I wonder on the legality of the proposed one pound charge unless the road is actually owned by the airport which I assume it is and if it is, why is there PSNI on duty to ensure that people keep moving, do they get paid from the airport.
Whatever the legality of it I can't see it being a good move and it's not for the value of the pound but more to do with the traffic congestion on the roads to the airport and those eldery/disabled passengers as has already been mentioned.
If this is applied and catches on where will it stop, schools charging to let you drop the kids off, pubs, supermarkets charging to allow wife/taxi to stop outside!!!!
I use the airport on a monthly basis and it's awkward enough coordinating the taxi with my exit time from the airport at the moment. I usually just phone the taxi which is normally waiting up the road a bit and then walk towards the roundabout while he drives through.
The romance of air travel is jaded enough without this.
Whatever the legality of it I can't see it being a good move and it's not for the value of the pound but more to do with the traffic congestion on the roads to the airport and those eldery/disabled passengers as has already been mentioned.
If this is applied and catches on where will it stop, schools charging to let you drop the kids off, pubs, supermarkets charging to allow wife/taxi to stop outside!!!!
I use the airport on a monthly basis and it's awkward enough coordinating the taxi with my exit time from the airport at the moment. I usually just phone the taxi which is normally waiting up the road a bit and then walk towards the roundabout while he drives through.
The romance of air travel is jaded enough without this.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belfast
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New Airline
I agree that we need a new connection to Canada and Belfast needs more connections with more airlines. What i think would be great to see and would solve these problems is starting an airline from Northern Ireland ... which could start of domestic routes and then as it gets larger international routes could be introduced. This is very unlikley to happen as you need a lot of money to start off , but England have many airlines, Scotland have a few, Wales is starting flyforbeans and even Isle of Man have their own airline... we are the only U.K country that doesn't.
Last edited by Aaron9890; 3rd Jul 2010 at 12:49. Reason: spelling
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Belfast City's New Route
New Holiday route from Belfast City! Thomas cook Belgium have announced scheduled flights to Reus. Thoughts??????
and i just found this.... did this ever happen or is it still in progress
fly thomas cook | Thomas Cook launches direct flights from Belfast Airport to Las Vegas
and i just found this.... did this ever happen or is it still in progress
fly thomas cook | Thomas Cook launches direct flights from Belfast Airport to Las Vegas
but I noticed on the arrival and departures board on the BFS website an airline with a code beginning with Q S . What is this airline? Thanks
do you know if midland are doing charters this season on behalf of falcon etc?
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
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Runway 25/07 closed between 0830-1630 on the 05.07.10 to 09.07.10. What limits are there for aircraft on 35/17? 757 and 330 ok to take off, more than likely a stupid question as the airport wouldn't close the runway if flights couldn't operate...
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Actually quite major performance differences due to being a lot shorter and obstacles. Charter 320/1 wont get to turkey off 17 and probably not the canaries either. I'm sure 07/25 will be available given sufficient notice.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Carry on camping!!
Here do you remember Carry on camping and the farmer " That will be a pound please !"
Its getting like that more and more
Expecting to see Jack Douglas and Windsor Davis every time I visit
Anyway been away for a bit so not on the e mails and things
Just wondering about the late night arrivals over the city going to BFS
Are thet routed in that way just for badness or is it procedure
I know the plates show the DME arc out over Holywood but they are coming in right over the East of the city
Its getting like that more and more
Expecting to see Jack Douglas and Windsor Davis every time I visit
Anyway been away for a bit so not on the e mails and things
Just wondering about the late night arrivals over the city going to BFS
Are thet routed in that way just for badness or is it procedure
I know the plates show the DME arc out over Holywood but they are coming in right over the East of the city
Join Date: Jun 2002
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You always try to vector them the shortest route and when the City closes in the evening Aldergrove can give better routings and earlier descents. You would only use a DME Arc procedure if the radar was off or a pilot requested it for training.
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Ah thanks for that!
We get them over the house at 3 am waking us up! and they put in the local papers that all Aldergrove flights are routed away from populated areas!!
Bet its nice and sunny out there
We have trees bent in half with the wind down here!!
We get them over the house at 3 am waking us up! and they put in the local papers that all Aldergrove flights are routed away from populated areas!!
Bet its nice and sunny out there
We have trees bent in half with the wind down here!!
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Don't know how they get over east Belfast at that time of the morning, there is a noise abatement procedure in place from 2200 local until 0700 local that keeps well clear of that area. May be radar vectored onto 07 but not below 6000 ft.
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Torque, if you believe that then thats fine but you may find the reality is somewhat different and unless its changed in the past 3 years 3000ft over East Belfast is a daily and nightly event.
Hi EastCon, yes 42 degrees and hot as hell on the golf course but somebody has to do it!
Hi EastCon, yes 42 degrees and hot as hell on the golf course but somebody has to do it!
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I live in conlig and its a nightly event around this time of the year for inbound traffic for bfs to be about 1000ft lower when passing overhead my district, it seems to be the norm when bhd is closed, Torque2 , surely youd be operating some of these aircraft on occasion in the early hours returning from bucket & spade sorties
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Hi Tower, I dont believe it, I know it. Its published as the procedure and I use it every departure and arrival between the published times. It was on trial for the last 12 months and has been included as standard, CDA from 20nm BEL with given start altitude and radar vectors.
A Continuous Descent approach for those unaware requires a rate of descent equating to around 300 feet per nautical mile thus when added to the final approach fix altitude would give 6000 ft at Bangor to start the descent. If you are still unbelieving try reading the AIP (freely available but extracted here for you):
UK AIP
BELFAST ALDERGROVE AD 2-EGAA-1 - 9
EGAA AD 2.21 — NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES
1. General a. Pilots must comply with the procedure detailed below and in particular with reference to speed control. b. The Continuous Descent Arrival procedure provides pilots with the ATC assistance necessary for them to achieve a continuous descent during
intermediate and final approach, at speeds which require minimum use of flap. The procedure is designed to minimise noise disturbance and fuel consumption during the approach phase.
2. Arrivals a. Unless there are valid reasons, the Continuous Descent Arrival procedure is to be employed for all approaches by IFR aircraft to all runways
between 2200-0700 (local). b. Headings and Flight Levels/Altitudes to leave the holding facility will be passed by ATC. When holding is not necessary, radar vectors may be given prior to the aircraft reaching the holding pattern and descent clearance will include an estimate of track distance to touchdown. c. Further distance information will be given between initial descent clearance and intercept headings to the ILS. On reciept of descent clearance the pilot will descend at the rate he judges will be best suited to the achievement of continuous descent, the object being to join the glidepath at the appropriate height for the distance without recourse to level flight.
d. Pilots should typically expect the following speed restrictions to be enforced: i. 220 kt from the holding facility (or if holding is not required, 220 kt by 20 nm from touchdown) during intermediate approach phase; ii. 180 kt on base leg/closing heading to the ILS; iii. Between 180 kt and 160 kt when first established on the ILS, and thereafter 160 kt to 4 DME.
e. These speeds are applied for ATC separation purposes and are mandatory. In the event of a new (non-speed related) ATC clearance being issued (eg: an instruction to descend on ILS), pilots are not absolved from a requirement to maintain a previously allocated speed. All speed restrictions are to be flown as accurately as possible. Aircraft unable to conform to these speeds should inform ATC and state what speeds will be used. In the interests of accurate spacing, pilots are requested to comply with speed adjustments as promptly as feasable within their own operational constraints, advising ATC if circumstances necessitate a change of speed for aircraft performance reasons.
f. The term ‘No ATC Speed Restriction’ does not absolve a pilot from flying in accordance with the speeds stated in paragraph d.
3. Departures a. During the hours of 2200-0700 (local), all departures with a MTOW greater than 5700 kg, will climb on the runway track to 2000 ft ALT before
commencing any turn, thereafter as per ATC clearance..
11 Mar 10
And for the sake of completeness, for the uninitiated wishing to know more see here
A Continuous Descent approach for those unaware requires a rate of descent equating to around 300 feet per nautical mile thus when added to the final approach fix altitude would give 6000 ft at Bangor to start the descent. If you are still unbelieving try reading the AIP (freely available but extracted here for you):
UK AIP
BELFAST ALDERGROVE AD 2-EGAA-1 - 9
EGAA AD 2.21 — NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURES
1. General a. Pilots must comply with the procedure detailed below and in particular with reference to speed control. b. The Continuous Descent Arrival procedure provides pilots with the ATC assistance necessary for them to achieve a continuous descent during
intermediate and final approach, at speeds which require minimum use of flap. The procedure is designed to minimise noise disturbance and fuel consumption during the approach phase.
2. Arrivals a. Unless there are valid reasons, the Continuous Descent Arrival procedure is to be employed for all approaches by IFR aircraft to all runways
between 2200-0700 (local). b. Headings and Flight Levels/Altitudes to leave the holding facility will be passed by ATC. When holding is not necessary, radar vectors may be given prior to the aircraft reaching the holding pattern and descent clearance will include an estimate of track distance to touchdown. c. Further distance information will be given between initial descent clearance and intercept headings to the ILS. On reciept of descent clearance the pilot will descend at the rate he judges will be best suited to the achievement of continuous descent, the object being to join the glidepath at the appropriate height for the distance without recourse to level flight.
d. Pilots should typically expect the following speed restrictions to be enforced: i. 220 kt from the holding facility (or if holding is not required, 220 kt by 20 nm from touchdown) during intermediate approach phase; ii. 180 kt on base leg/closing heading to the ILS; iii. Between 180 kt and 160 kt when first established on the ILS, and thereafter 160 kt to 4 DME.
e. These speeds are applied for ATC separation purposes and are mandatory. In the event of a new (non-speed related) ATC clearance being issued (eg: an instruction to descend on ILS), pilots are not absolved from a requirement to maintain a previously allocated speed. All speed restrictions are to be flown as accurately as possible. Aircraft unable to conform to these speeds should inform ATC and state what speeds will be used. In the interests of accurate spacing, pilots are requested to comply with speed adjustments as promptly as feasable within their own operational constraints, advising ATC if circumstances necessitate a change of speed for aircraft performance reasons.
f. The term ‘No ATC Speed Restriction’ does not absolve a pilot from flying in accordance with the speeds stated in paragraph d.
3. Departures a. During the hours of 2200-0700 (local), all departures with a MTOW greater than 5700 kg, will climb on the runway track to 2000 ft ALT before
commencing any turn, thereafter as per ATC clearance..
11 Mar 10
And for the sake of completeness, for the uninitiated wishing to know more see here
Last edited by Torque2; 5th Jul 2010 at 08:47.