Stanstedeye

Yes, sometime later this year, now VH-XBA

fji
 

fj1

Good news that it will fly again. Any info on how much work to be undertaken
on VH-XBA at Southend.

Looks like Qantas have bought it, as its now registered to QANTAS FOUNDATION MEMORIAL LTD.

There is also a thread on this a/c on aircraft history seeking more infomation as to the project datews on this 707. I suggested that it be displayed on the August Bank Holiday when the Vulcan does a couple of run ups, There is a lot of interest on this a/c within the UK and let us hope there will be oppertunity to see it before it goes to the USA?

SOUTHEND REPAINTS
 

Latest repaint is 737-300 for ARIKAIR. Wings of Nigeria.
Name on nose is EDDINGTON. At present it carries number N36IUA.

Is this to celebrate Rod Eddington?

Two days ago RAL lodged a planning application for an extension of the EXISTING terminal.

This will involve a 1473 square metre extension to the existing terminal to provide "modern check-in facilities" plus a new arrivals waiting area etc.. The plans also call for 500 new car parking spaces and revision of the landside road network. Sounds as if they are going to extend the terminal landside onto the existing car park.

This would tie in with the suggestion that the new terminal target opening date seems to have slipped by several years and that target airlines such as FlyBe were not prepared to inaugurate new routes using the existing terminal with its, to say the least, limited facilities and space.

Quite where this leaves plans for the new terminal is anyone's guess, but at least it might result in an early improvement in facilities.

Rochford District Council are anticipating making a decision on the application in August so work could begin in the autumn hopefully, making the new facilities available for summer 2007 (my conjecture only, not confirmed by RAL).

Expressflight

Should bring it back to it's old size back in the '60s!! What goes around comes around!! ;)

You're exactly right Tilewood.

Those were the days.......

Airport terminal expansion
 

So, where does this leave the plans for the grand integrated terminal and station on the eartern perimeter?

Is this an interim measure whilst RAL sorts out the green belt/local residents objections to the proposed commuter's car park or will the proposed plan now simply fade away?

Surprisingly, or not maybe, no one from the airport was available to comment on the article reporting the expansion plans when it appeared in the local press.

However, expansion of the existing terminal must mean the management are expecting an upturn in business as I'm sure this development is not purely for the benefit of Ford's employees.

As long as they re-instate the newsagent/magazine/bookshop of years gone bye in the re-vamped terminal I'll be happy.

Cheers

Southender

Papers are on sale in the cafe as we speak. I think this is dissapointing and once again the future hangs in the balance. Unless they intend to spend lots which I doubt a botch up may not be enough to attract anyone? Surely there is an issue with the lack of stand facilities, fuel provision, equipment, safety equipment, restricted / controlled zone and general security. Much of this can only be overcome by a new terminal and even an improvment on the present cannot match SOU or Manston I feel, which is no more than operaters expect as standard fare. Lets hope I am proved wrong as usual?

I don't quite follow HZ123s comments regarding "lack of stand facilities, fuel provision, equipment, safety equipment, restricted/controlled zone and general security." as being major problems. Perhaps he can elaborate.

Included in the planning application is provision for a new airside security fence and surely there is no problem with stand capacity nor refuelling (OK, not hydrant, but that hardly matters surely?). SEN's geographical position has also always been held as advantageous with regard to Airway access and standard arrival and departure procedures are already in place aren't they?

I certainly cannot understand why RAL failed to issue a Press Release or to answer the Evening Echo's enquiries (the paper having reported the planning application as a very positive move). Perhaps RAL didn't realise the news would come out so quickly, which was pretty naive of them if so.

As far as the extension being "a botch up", I doubt that the application would be approved if that were so and I can see no reason why the resulting modified terminal should not be user-friendly and perfectly acceptable to potential airline customers. I shiny new terminal doesn't ensure lots of business anyway - been to Caen recently? Nice terminal -shame about the almost total lack of traffic. What's important to potential airlines is the large catchment area that SEN possesses, as well as having the caché of being 'London Southend', and providing the terminal ensures efficient, pleasant processing of the pax to ensure rapid turnrounds I cannot see an airline complaining that the terminal isn't a marble-halled palace.

The loss of the railway station (if the new terminal has been put on ice) is a drawback but perhaps the bus shuttle to Rochford station could be reinstated.

As Southender suggests, it certainly looks as if there has been sufficient airline interest to warrant this move so let's hope it leads to some route announcements in the next few months.

Rumours of a certain UK airline starting scheduled operations from Southend seem to have a lot of substance.....Watch this space!

Go on Buster.......Gis a clue???!!!!!!

Fed up of paying parking at the larger airports in the area. Especially when I can park for free at my relatives.......I'm not tight though!!!! :} :} :}

Well, which airline has been rumoured?

Why develop an existing passenger facility so rapidly?

Is it to be the long talked about expansion from Flybe from their existing summer Saturday JER flight?

Well, why would you expand a facility for passengers?

The existing terminal was a temporary construction in 1960, thus I cannot see any development of that building being much more than a botched up make over. RAL as said seems to have missed tha boat again?

HZ123, the passengers will need somewhere to pass through next year.

At an average of about 40 pax a day it will not need to be larger than the average front room?