No, the original quote by A300BOY was

So L-Band, if you read the LBA Masterplan again you will find a section explaining this. It talks about maximising the length available particularly on runway 14 for landings. It goes on to says that the ILS and lighting are to be modified to increase the available landing distance. It also mentions the upgrade of runway 14 to Cat II status.

A runway extension would be very expensive, although I think that it will be required in the medium to long-term, money has to be spent wisely and you have to ask the question, what comes first? At the moment, the apron is priority which is why the airport is building 4 new aircraft stands. Next on the list will be terminal development, where overcrowding in the departure area needs addressing. After that, short-term parking. A multi-storey carpark is being considered, then back to aircraft parking and so on.

Or we extend the runway today, get the A330's tomorrow and have no parking or terminal space!

Why so downbeat my friend? It may seem as though the masterplan statement sounds a little negative. OK a 300m extension would be of great benefit. But what about the other option it goes on to mention?

Hence to procurement of the land surrounding the runway ends for the "other" option. As I understand it, with a bit of landscape restructuring to assist in the the movement of ILS equipment and other landing aids to new locations, would mean the Thresholds in particular the one at Rwy 14 would move nearer the end. Thus giving LBA a little bit more grey stuff to play with. Of course on top of this the Glide slope angles would surely have to change so aircraft approaching on 14 dont get too close to the Chevin!

Now that does sound a little better:D

I have no idea when this could or indeed will happen. But sooner rather than later I'm sure you'll all agree.

Sorry Leodis

YOU BEAT ME TO IT!

scamptonboy

Don't forget that the 'Masterplan' is only the current owner's vision for the future.
If sold, new owners are likely to be far more aggressive and ambitious with their expansion plans. Add the infrastructure asap to enable the 'best possible scenario' for the airport.
Rest assured there are potential bidders forming their own Masterplans, either based on the official plan, or totally new.
Regards the SweFly route debate people were having - is it an informed debate to talk about the location of Indian populations in the UK in the same breath as flights from Pakistan, or are people making a geographical goof? Given the choice of direct flights to and from India from MAN, versus the hassle, distance and general time implications of indirect routing to / from LBA via Pakistan, I know which most people would plump for.

harrogate

I take the point :O

Moving the thresholds would be more viable than trying to fill in the valley on the approach to 14! They've run out of flat bits now so unless they look at a flyover to take 14 on over Horsforth they are a bit stuck.

I agree the infrastructure is the next bottleneck. The terminal is a nightmare at peak times i.e. during daylight hours.

robo283

Regards the runway extension, they'll just create more raised ground at the end of 32 and move the minor road if they're serious. This is feasible and likey and is hardly a major feat in engineering. The impact on the environment would be minimal, as essentially it's just a bit more of what's already there. This has been looked at and approved technically by a number of different bodies.

There's a very popular train of thought in the local corridors of power that suggests the official Masterplan purposely underplays the expansion potential, particularly with regards runway extensions. It shows the potential of the landscape well, but the questionable scribblings by the current administration on the drawings are designed, it's argued, to invoke a feeling of "but I'd do this" amongst those who have an interest.

It's almost like a threat to galvanise a response from people like Phillip Meeson to get involved and do the airport's selling work for them... "come and buy it, or we'll do THIS and really **** it up for you".

Remember that civil servants currently run the place, and they aren't going to break their balls over anything. After all, what's worth staying in the office for after 4:30pm?

harrogate

The Masterplan is a government demand so once it is in place I presume it is difficult to change (U turns being the Government's prerogative!). I would hope that anyone buying LBA would be doing so with a positive mindset. Bit of a waste of money otherwise.

What might have happened if the MoD had closed Church Fenton instead of Finningley? We might have lost LBA and had a Greater Yorkshire International Airport instead (not so good for those of us living on the West side of Leeds tho).

robo283

The government impose a demand just to get the cogs turning. It works well where civil servants are concerned, otherwise nothing would get done.

Something needs doing. I spent the afternoon around the place today. Landside, Jet2 terminal was queueing almost to the door with 2 check in staff (later increased to 8); cars being abandoned all over the place outside and the departure lounge stuffed full with no airconditioning as usual. Thomsonfly 757 gone tech so 220 pax at their wits end getting in the way of Jet2's thousand bomber raid to the costas. Oh joy.

oooooooops :\

Thomas Cook - POP???
 

Just been looking on flythomascook and seen that if I go on to LBA, theres an option to select POP (Dominican Republic). But if you try to book flights it doesnt allow me to.
Is this just a mistake it being on there or is it a new destination from LBA?

LBA is not listed under POP. I would be inclined to say this is a mistake but lets hope not

(FNC) Maderia-Funchal has now also appeared on the same flythomascook website listed under LBA. This could end up being shared flight with the current Astraeus Monday charters operated for Atlantic Holidays.

So I wonder if thommos are about to announce some new charter runs from LBA?

Again LBA is not available under Funchal but with two routes added it seems like too much of a co-incidence to be a mistake

Well LBA probably won't be under either FNC or POP would it, they might not be intending to sell FNC/POP-LBA tickets at this moment in time.

POP would be unbelieveable, lets hope!

All UK destinations presently served from POP and Funchal are listed under those destinations. Why would LBA be any different?

POP
 

Can Astraeus' long range 737-700 reach the Dominican Republic from Leeds?

No!

It can get direct to Funchal though.:)

..at least that's in the right direction I suppose :p