BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
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I don't know where you are in the UK, Legallooptheloop, but I wouldn't take the use of the term "Tool" too personally. It's often used in friendly banter in Northern Ireland and you would recognise it as such if someone was talking to you in a Belfast accent. It's all part of the "craic" as they say locally.
The administration considered Long Kesh (Maze) at the time. This location is right beside the main railway line south from Belfast, as well as the M1. It's 10 miles at the most from Great Victoria Street, and would have offered easy access by train, bus and car. Why they didn't choose it, I'll never know.
Last edited by NWSRG; 22nd Jul 2012 at 12:53.
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Middlesex (under the flightpath)
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Quote: "As far as the BHD v BFS argument is concerned, I still maintain BFS was the wrong location for the Nutts Corner replacement.
The administration considered Long Kesh (Maze) at the time. This location is right beside the main railway line south from Belfast, as well as the M1. It's 10 miles at the most from Great Victoria Street, and would have offered easy access by train, bus and car. Why they didn't choose it, I'll never know."
Maybe it's to do with recent history. On the other hand, in another part of the world it did not stop an airport being built at Changi.
BTW, why did Nutts Corner need replacing?
The administration considered Long Kesh (Maze) at the time. This location is right beside the main railway line south from Belfast, as well as the M1. It's 10 miles at the most from Great Victoria Street, and would have offered easy access by train, bus and car. Why they didn't choose it, I'll never know."
Maybe it's to do with recent history. On the other hand, in another part of the world it did not stop an airport being built at Changi.
BTW, why did Nutts Corner need replacing?
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: N. Ireland
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Nutts corner had a steep approach and there were two fatal crashes in the 1950s. At the time the right angled and longer runways at Aldergrove seemed a better option. In the 70s this was definitely the case with the Tridents. Noise was also a consideration - the Trident 3s with afterburners could be heard easily in Antrim.
Join Date: Apr 2012
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My initial criticism was entirely impersonal.
That you responded by calling me a Tool (capital T, no less) does, I think you'll agree, say it all.
Long may people not get smashed at 8am at Belfast City. If that means that the 'drunk by 9 crew' fly from Antrim then the place serves a brilliant purpose in addition to being there in the event of wind and snow.
Join Date: Nov 2011
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it may be useful if someone bought a large pram full of toys for everyone to chuck out. When we've ran out slagging airlines off it descends into personal stuff. Come on folks grow up.
Last edited by mart901; 22nd Jul 2012 at 19:51.
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Aldergrove Airport (now BIA) opened in 1963. It was an RAF base, and the existing runway may have been an attraction. It was also the diversion airport for aircraft unable to land at Nutts Corner because of strong crosswinds. Obviously, 1963 was long before the unfortunate "recent history" of which Long Kesh became an integral part. The first jet, a British United 1/11 didn't land until 1966. To be honest I think it was just a cost effective, easy option for the Stormont administration. Why bother with a mundane little thing like siting an airport close to efficient transport links, when you've much bigger fish to fry such as the creation of a new city named after Northern Ireland 's first Prime Minister. But hang on...this new city, Craigavon, was built right beside the railway line and motorway which pass Long Kesh. So a civil airport at Long Kesh would also have been very convenient for business travellers visiting the factories the administration hoped would be built in Craigavon. The concept of an integrated transport system was obviously slow to take off here.
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Nutts Corner/Aldergrove
Thanks for the info db7 and frequentflyer2.
Had thought that Aldergrove was more recent than 1963, hence the reference to "recent history".
Take it that Craigavon is named after James Craig?
Had thought that Aldergrove was more recent than 1963, hence the reference to "recent history".
Take it that Craigavon is named after James Craig?
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Will servisair handle all flights at BHD come end Oct i.e. Manx2 , Flybe , BA and EI or will EI bring Menzies down to create a new operating base for them ?
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Cheers Tigger,
Kept hearing Servisair Lite being mentioned but didn't sound like a proper name.
Aye, 200+ flights a week for Menzies is good but I'm sure they wouldn't mind a presence down the road either...
Kept hearing Servisair Lite being mentioned but didn't sound like a proper name.
Aye, 200+ flights a week for Menzies is good but I'm sure they wouldn't mind a presence down the road either...
Join Date: Aug 2002
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BA have never operated from BHD, regional ops by subsidiaries cobbled together then dumped are not a good comparison. Given the CEO of IAG wants this to work and has very publically said so, it would not be the first route to go. I suspect EI will blink before BA do.
As to landing fees, they inherited whatever bmi were payin, unless someone can confirm the deal has been renegotiated?
As to landing fees, they inherited whatever bmi were payin, unless someone can confirm the deal has been renegotiated?
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 23rd Jul 2012 at 19:48.