Luton-9
Join Date: Jan 2014
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There is no need to sneer. Not so long ago LTN was somewhere in Bedfordshire, now by some reports it's rather like Kabul on a bad day, and severely restricting corporate movements. STN is somewhere in Essex and now has it's own problems, Northolt will be out of action soon, so you and your esteemed customers may be grateful for a runway, parking and a 24hr FBO near to London. Who knows you may need to get to know SEN, 'somewhere in Essex!' But only an hour from London.
Last edited by Planespeaking; 26th May 2018 at 16:09.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Work has finally started on the DART with the aid of a single digger digging a series of shallow excavations where the new DART station will be located .
Work seems to be already 5 months behind schedule.
For those unfamiliar with the area the airport is at the top of that hill where the DART will head in the direction of the extreme left of that hill towards the terminal.
Work seems to be already 5 months behind schedule.
For those unfamiliar with the area the airport is at the top of that hill where the DART will head in the direction of the extreme left of that hill towards the terminal.
@Crispo - most pilots I know will wait for the 'latest' ATIS at xx20 or xx50 before getting weather/making their first call. The fact that ground/delivery opening doesn't coincide with this therefore means theres often 20-30 minutes where they won't expect a new ATIS with a different frequency and hence call on the wrong one. Perhaps moving opening 10 minutes would save a lot of hassle?
Join Date: Dec 2003
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@Crispo - most pilots I know will wait for the 'latest' ATIS at xx20 or xx50 before getting weather/making their first call. The fact that ground/delivery opening doesn't coincide with this therefore means theres often 20-30 minutes where they won't expect a new ATIS with a different frequency and hence call on the wrong one. Perhaps moving opening 10 minutes would save a lot of hassle?
The Times at Luton as Scrotchison said are normally, TWR 2300L till 0600L, GMC at 0600L, then Delivery at 0630L if workload requires it. Sometimes Delivery will be opened earlier or later, sometimes not at all. Yes people make mistakes or are hurried, understandable and sometimes a few erroneous calls are made. Today for example i had one call for clearance with the a/c type etc etc on Air at 0930L, delivery had been open since 0630L and on the ATIS.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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Seems reasonable to suggest that to double the size of the airport LLAL will need to find the land to double the total number of stands and to build another terminal to a similar size to the exiting one with its own road network and car parking.
I can’t see any prospect of the current CTA playing any part in those expansion plans as despite what the airport attempts with its redesigning of the drop off zones nothing fixes the problem of traffic congestion and Luton does not have the space or a blank canvas to start again. This would suggest that there is no point in expanding the main apron with another row of stands and a terminal on the hangar side would not give the airport enough new stands.
Options would be to look at the long term car park together with parts of Wigmore Park as the DART could be easily extended. For years now the airport has been raising the dropping ground by the fire training ground and this is where most of the DART soil is also going to be placed.
The other option is south of the runway and basically start again which is what Stansted did. Another DART would be required but the south has almost unlimited amounts of land. Hertfordshire would object but that would not stop the development as it would go to the government to decide.
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Seems reasonable to suggest that to double the size of the airport LLAL will need to find the land to double the total number of stands and to build another terminal to a similar size to the exiting one with its own road network and car parking.
I can’t see any prospect of the current CTA playing any part in those expansion plans as despite what the airport attempts with its redesigning of the drop off zones nothing fixes the problem of traffic congestion and Luton does not have the space or a blank canvas to start again. This would suggest that there is no point in expanding the main apron with another row of stands and a terminal on the hangar side would not give the airport enough new stands.
Options would be to look at the long term car park together with parts of Wigmore Park as the DART could be easily extended. For years now the airport has been raising the dropping ground by the fire training ground and this is where most of the DART soil is also going to be placed.
The other option is south of the runway and basically start again which is what Stansted did. Another DART would be required but the south has almost unlimited amounts of land. Hertfordshire would object but that would not stop the development as it would go to the government to decide.
Join Date: Jul 2002
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I see over the last few days that traffic chaos has returned with traffic queues all the way down to beyond the railway line. I think the latest drop off area was meant to open by now but will be a few weeks late. When open will it actually make a difference to the congestion or will it make it even worse?
In principle 5 lanes will always be better than one particularly as the pedestrian crossings will have been removed but the first lane involves a hairpin bend that makes the existing entrance seem like a gentle curve. Will motorists, who are now familiar with a single lane be persuaded to miss out the first lane and to use use lanes 2, 3, 4 and 5?
With 5 lanes to choose from over a large area what lane will passengers being picked up be waiting by, as it will be difficult to spot arriving cars if they go to a different lane?
Can't help but think it will all end in tears, hopefully I will be wrong.
In principle 5 lanes will always be better than one particularly as the pedestrian crossings will have been removed but the first lane involves a hairpin bend that makes the existing entrance seem like a gentle curve. Will motorists, who are now familiar with a single lane be persuaded to miss out the first lane and to use use lanes 2, 3, 4 and 5?
With 5 lanes to choose from over a large area what lane will passengers being picked up be waiting by, as it will be difficult to spot arriving cars if they go to a different lane?
Can't help but think it will all end in tears, hopefully I will be wrong.
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Public meeting held in Harpenden about Luton Airport expansion | St Albans and Harpenden News - Herts Advertiser
Supportive?
Supportive?
“We heard a variety of opinions, some of which were supportive and others which were not.
Join Date: Aug 2013
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Holding
LTN has had many delays today and yesterday. Does anyone know the reason for aircraft taxing out to the engine run up bay and stands 20-22 to wait to take off. Long amounts of waiting and making more delays for every aircraft leaving LTN.
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If they go tech on the taxi out we sometimes park them like that for them to take a few minutes to fix it if they can.
Don't see how its making more delays for every a/c leaving Luton.
We do not intentionally delay a/c, take into consideration the airlines and their handling against, push crews, fuelers, steps, passengers, slots, weather, airspace capacity, route separation and it all adds up to many many reasons why a/c depart as they do.
Flightplans when a/c are on stand are the responsibility of the a/c / airline ops, tolerance +- 15mins, a/c are very often ready with a flight plan out of tolerance, the operator has to update this before they can push or start. This can take them anywhere between 1-30mins depending on who it is.
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I see delays and cancellations at Luton, Gatwick and Stansted again today, presumably due to the inclement weather. The crewing departments must be tearing there hair out. Just goes to show how very little slack there is in the system and it will only get worse I am afraid.
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Luton is apparently already 20% down on biz jet movements compared to last year and that is before the 4 month summer curfew cuts in.
The long term future for Signature and Harrods is not rosy at Luton with the airport always looking to expand its passenger operations over biz jet movements. Issues over parking, slots and now limited hours are all taking their toll.
The long term future for Signature and Harrods is not rosy at Luton with the airport always looking to expand its passenger operations over biz jet movements. Issues over parking, slots and now limited hours are all taking their toll.
The spotters web site does show a handful of splash & dashes in the early hours, if SEN does not pick them up then perhaps it was just fuel so London location not so important so hope for Brum or East Midlands who are full 24/7, both also a Signature FBO.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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See investigation work starts today on the old landfill site for Century Park development, comprises 250 bore holes and pits being dug.
Work should finish by the end of July.
Interestingly this quote was on the council site.
" This work is important to safely understand more about how the former landfill site has been filled , and will also be useful information for the London Luton Airport vision for sustainable Growth 2020-2050 which we launched in December."
Ok let's read between the lines a little����
Work should finish by the end of July.
Interestingly this quote was on the council site.
" This work is important to safely understand more about how the former landfill site has been filled , and will also be useful information for the London Luton Airport vision for sustainable Growth 2020-2050 which we launched in December."
Ok let's read between the lines a little����
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LBS
I apologise,
Sadly I am not one of those in the know, I obviously haven't seen the plans for the Airport expansion to the East, only the plans for Century Park which shows no Airport planned development , only a business Park. I thought that most was pure speculation as to wether the Airport would expand to the North , South or East.
This was the first time I had actually read that they were boring into the Long Stay Car Park and the fact it was linked to their vision for growth.
I shall now retreat into my little shell
I apologise,
Sadly I am not one of those in the know, I obviously haven't seen the plans for the Airport expansion to the East, only the plans for Century Park which shows no Airport planned development , only a business Park. I thought that most was pure speculation as to wether the Airport would expand to the North , South or East.
This was the first time I had actually read that they were boring into the Long Stay Car Park and the fact it was linked to their vision for growth.
I shall now retreat into my little shell
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The consultation will include a proposal south of the runway and several proposals north of the runway which is what you are calling the east of the airport. Are you claiming the consultation is a farce?
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East South
LTNman, I cannot foresee the South of the airfield being used for terminal passenger usage. Private jets and maintenance yes. Hence why I believe you are wrong. In your own words the official plans have not been disclosed yet, well certainly not into the public domain. You appear to know more than anyone else and I still remember you putting me down when I said LTN will be and remain the UK’s 5th airport. You scoffed at me. Well looks like I was right all those years ago! Maybe I might be right with regards to the eastern side of the airfield being it’s future after all many of you in here state Hertfordshire will not allow their land to be used in the airports growth.
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I haven't said anything about a preference. LLAL will go through the motions of holding a public consultation but with the DART track nicely lined up with land to the north of the runway and a dual carriageway planning application already submitted it doesn't take much effort to see the favourite location. The fly in the ointment is the council tip that while buildings can be built using pilings aprons would be more of a challenge as the council have already claimed the land would be too unstable. Usable land within the existing boundary to the north of the runway is being increased by the day with soil dumping building up low level land.
If the airport did pick a location south of the runway the application would go to the government anyway just like an application to the north so Herts would have their nose pushed out either way.
If the airport did pick a location south of the runway the application would go to the government anyway just like an application to the north so Herts would have their nose pushed out either way.
Join Date: Jul 2014
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There appears to be a bit of misinformation about dealing with the old tip. From days before I was at work I can remember using the old tip. From memory it was uncontrolled waste including dust carts. When the filling ended the area was capped with a clay material. Now it would be described as contaminated fill of poor structural strength. It can be dealt with for any type of construction. As you said piling can be used to support buildings. Piling can also be used to support slabs, (aprons and taxiways). A membrane would be needed to prevent any rainwater getting into the ground. A system to control and extract methane would be needed. The area can be built on, in my opinion.