LUTON -8
Join Date: Oct 2016
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I'm sorry but how large is the construction team for this expansion project?
What is it? 10 people doing it all?
Where's the co-ordination in this construction? Why can they only build one section at a time and not multiple sections at once? Why not start building the rail link now?
It seems to me that Luton Airport has again gone for price over quality and efficiency. You can easily build several areas all at once and then connect them during the final stages. Instead, it seems the complete opposite!
What is it? 10 people doing it all?
Where's the co-ordination in this construction? Why can they only build one section at a time and not multiple sections at once? Why not start building the rail link now?
It seems to me that Luton Airport has again gone for price over quality and efficiency. You can easily build several areas all at once and then connect them during the final stages. Instead, it seems the complete opposite!
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
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I am not too sure if Luton have full Mode S for ground movements yet, but the days of validation of Mode C when airborne are possibly long gone? The only way to maximise R/T time when busy is to minimise the use of VHF. In 10 years time with datalink, VHF will be only used sparingly and as a back up. Massive leaps in ATC technology are happening. The theory is more automation makes handling more planes much easier.
Join Date: Aug 1999
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A320ECAM, the vast majority of third world airports worldwide are significantly better than LTN and indeed as an experience put it to shame but the reason why myself and so many other millions use LTN frequently is because for one reason or another it is more convenient than other London airports. All the airport management is interested in is making money rather than making a pleasant travel experience.
Ironically if the LTN airport environment was slightly nicer than I and many others would be more tempted to spend more than the absolute minimum amount of time at the airport and thus be a captive audience for longer that is more likely to spend money there. As it is I want the minimum exposure to LTN possible as it more often than not is the low part of any travel.
Ironically if the LTN airport environment was slightly nicer than I and many others would be more tempted to spend more than the absolute minimum amount of time at the airport and thus be a captive audience for longer that is more likely to spend money there. As it is I want the minimum exposure to LTN possible as it more often than not is the low part of any travel.
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Join Date: Jul 2002
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I'm sorry but how large is the construction team for this expansion project?
What is it? 10 people doing it all?
Where's the co-ordination in this construction? Why can they only build one section at a time and not multiple sections at once? Why not start building the rail link now?
It seems to me that Luton Airport has again gone for price over quality and efficiency. You can easily build several areas all at once and then connect them during the final stages. Instead, it seems the complete opposite!
What is it? 10 people doing it all?
Where's the co-ordination in this construction? Why can they only build one section at a time and not multiple sections at once? Why not start building the rail link now?
It seems to me that Luton Airport has again gone for price over quality and efficiency. You can easily build several areas all at once and then connect them during the final stages. Instead, it seems the complete opposite!
The total work was divided into 4 main contracts with 4 different principle contractors although the contractor for the rail link hasn't been announced yet so will no doubt be split further. I think the route and stations are to be parts of different contracts so that will make at least 5.
I would say only the contract for the new road layout was under staffed although in the early days the workers working on the terminal did seem somewhat on the light side.
The rail link wasn't thought of until after the rest work was under way so will add to the total cost by having to move around completed work.
As for the terminal, work is taking place all around the existing buildings but some projects can't start until the main terminal extension is opened. An example of this is that all the retail and food outlets will move into the new build. When that happens work can start on expanding the security hall which will occupy the old retail and food outlet areas.
I agree that the building materials are cut price. The completed protect would have looked so much better with a material upgrade but the airport is only really focused on the low cost airlines that want low fees.
Last edited by LTNman; 12th Sep 2017 at 04:50.
Join Date: May 2005
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Buster - thanks- thought correct squawk was the issue. Agree about datalink but will this be used for approach sequencing? Would be great to have RNAV stars, with time at final approach fix and minimal controller intervention.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Luton
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Interesting Heathrow video:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Om7kdR_Pg
Put the link here as there are obvious parallels with how Luton has developed in recent years (I'm talking passenger numbers here).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_Om7kdR_Pg
Put the link here as there are obvious parallels with how Luton has developed in recent years (I'm talking passenger numbers here).
Join Date: Nov 2001
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For every action there is a consequence which Wizz has found out to its cost.
With Swissport losing their contract with Wizz the flight dispatchers are starting to leave resulting in long delays this morning as there was not enough of them to handle the first wave.
With Swissport losing their contract with Wizz the flight dispatchers are starting to leave resulting in long delays this morning as there was not enough of them to handle the first wave.
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Years earlier than planned a planning application has gone in for a second multistory car park to be located in the short term car park. This new car park will be much bigger than the existing multistory being taller, longer and wider and will have parking spaces for 2040 cars which is around 300 more then the existing multistory. The ground floor will contain the drop off zone for 120 cars. The car park will have 5 full levels plus half a level on the 6th floor.
The drop off zone will have 5 one way lanes with 2 lanes entering it from the ring road. The exit barriers will be contained within the multistory.
Pedestrian access to the terminal will be via an underpass, a raised roadway and over bridge.
Plans for a multistory in the mid term have now been dropped.
Work will start in 2018 and will be completed in 2019 so I am guessing the temporary drop off zone has also been abandoned which will mean the existing drop off zone will be with us for another year. If a temporary drop off zone was put in for next year then there would be no short term car park. I am also guessing that until this multistory opens work on the new station won't begin.
What is interesting is that the car hire centre now appears to be moving from opposite the cargo terminal and back into the CTA and will be located between the second multistory and taxiway Delta. There was speculation here that his area would eventually become a new apron.
Ground floor undercover drop off zone and pay barriers. Over bridge and underpass is shown on the left hand side. Those pay barriers seem to be very close to the drop off lanes. Any queuing will back up into the drop off area.
The drop off zone will have 5 one way lanes with 2 lanes entering it from the ring road. The exit barriers will be contained within the multistory.
Pedestrian access to the terminal will be via an underpass, a raised roadway and over bridge.
Plans for a multistory in the mid term have now been dropped.
Work will start in 2018 and will be completed in 2019 so I am guessing the temporary drop off zone has also been abandoned which will mean the existing drop off zone will be with us for another year. If a temporary drop off zone was put in for next year then there would be no short term car park. I am also guessing that until this multistory opens work on the new station won't begin.
What is interesting is that the car hire centre now appears to be moving from opposite the cargo terminal and back into the CTA and will be located between the second multistory and taxiway Delta. There was speculation here that his area would eventually become a new apron.
Ground floor undercover drop off zone and pay barriers. Over bridge and underpass is shown on the left hand side. Those pay barriers seem to be very close to the drop off lanes. Any queuing will back up into the drop off area.
Last edited by LTNman; 13th Sep 2017 at 17:05.
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All these planning changes are starting to look like blind panic on the operators behalf.
I wonder if the hire car section is only because the road to Century Park will go through the existing site and this will be a temporary measure until a new site is found over there somewhere.
Then the hire car section of the CTA could be re allocated to being a apron in the future.
Possibly they could start the DART from the Parkway site first and that would give them at least a year to get the second MSCP built before construction moves to inside the CTA.
I noticed today that the council planning website has the construction of the perimeter road as pending.Bit late as the diggers are out in force in your photos.
Talk about let's start and then get the planning!!!
I wonder if the hire car section is only because the road to Century Park will go through the existing site and this will be a temporary measure until a new site is found over there somewhere.
Then the hire car section of the CTA could be re allocated to being a apron in the future.
Possibly they could start the DART from the Parkway site first and that would give them at least a year to get the second MSCP built before construction moves to inside the CTA.
I noticed today that the council planning website has the construction of the perimeter road as pending.Bit late as the diggers are out in force in your photos.
Talk about let's start and then get the planning!!!
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The central station had a 59 week build schedule and was due to start July next year. On completion the DART equipment was meant to be going in which was meant to take 48 weeks. After that there was 25 weeks of testing and commissioning which took the completion date to April 2021. We will have to see if they can make up the time but without a complete station which contains the maintenance area just beyond it might mean the project is set for a delay.
Join Date: Jul 2016
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To raise the road for a pedestrian underpass the road will have to be diverted first. It can't be moved towards the existing drop off area so it will have to be moved onto the site of the second multistory. Once the road has been put back then work can start on the multistory but also remembering the road is going to have to be shifted for the cut and cover tunnel for the DART. Seems like a bit of a nightmare to me.
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Wonder who is paying for this multistory? The first one was paid for my the airport operator but I have a suspicion this one will be paid for by the council.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Curious that the top floor of MSCP2 only covers about half the area. Is this due to proximity to the runway meaning a max height for the southern edge?
The drop off zone layout also looks pretty complicated. Just looking at the ground floor plan the traffic direction in each DOZ lane is not obvious to me. Particularly for cars going in via the second entrance.
The drop off zone layout also looks pretty complicated. Just looking at the ground floor plan the traffic direction in each DOZ lane is not obvious to me. Particularly for cars going in via the second entrance.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Yes, good point, view from the tower would be rather important!
Searching around the planning website I've also just found another application, this one is to move a few of the buildings and related things around the fire station area to clear the MPT route.
https://planning.luton.gov.uk/online...=OTRDPUKG00U00
Searching around the planning website I've also just found another application, this one is to move a few of the buildings and related things around the fire station area to clear the MPT route.
https://planning.luton.gov.uk/online...=OTRDPUKG00U00
Join Date: Jul 2015
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I just want to say that I used the airport last week for the first time in a few years, I was prepared for an horrific experience. My uncle who is a regular user told tales of traffic lines up the hill even holding up buses, check in queues out the door and so on.
I took a train from St Albans to avoid the prophesied drop off gong show. Nice new Thameslink train. Got the shuttle bus from Parkway, there were three of us on it in total. Took 2 mins less than the advertised 6 mins. No traffic jams. Quite a few people bustling around, but no lines of cars, or people or buses to be seen. No line at all at the easy counter, printed my bag tags, straight to the counter for bag drop, not even a one person wait. Straight through security, no queues there either. Found a seat, a wooden snake shape bench kind of thing among climbing children near the gate exit by Pret with a nice view over the stand and could see all the runway action. Got lots of photos. Not particularly comfy but was a seat. Called to the gate, quick and efficient little line, straight out to the aircraft. Left 5 mins early.
Basic and functional, but have to say I was expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised. Well done LTN. I should say this was at 430pm when the bus left Parkway.
I took a train from St Albans to avoid the prophesied drop off gong show. Nice new Thameslink train. Got the shuttle bus from Parkway, there were three of us on it in total. Took 2 mins less than the advertised 6 mins. No traffic jams. Quite a few people bustling around, but no lines of cars, or people or buses to be seen. No line at all at the easy counter, printed my bag tags, straight to the counter for bag drop, not even a one person wait. Straight through security, no queues there either. Found a seat, a wooden snake shape bench kind of thing among climbing children near the gate exit by Pret with a nice view over the stand and could see all the runway action. Got lots of photos. Not particularly comfy but was a seat. Called to the gate, quick and efficient little line, straight out to the aircraft. Left 5 mins early.
Basic and functional, but have to say I was expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised. Well done LTN. I should say this was at 430pm when the bus left Parkway.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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You sure this wasn't some sort of a dream YVRLTN...my last flight from LTN was garbage. Parked at parkway...got the bus to the terminal..absolutely rammed full and some people left behind...security was undermanned and took 30-45 mins to get through...nowhere to sit in departures...called to gate and made to stand for 45 minutes on the stairs in very hot conditions. I live 20 mins from LTN but my next flight is from LGW. I'm not paying to be treated like sh*t from my local airport as it's run by a bunch of money-grabbing idiots with no thought for the passenger at all.