MOL likes the sound of his own voice. I would not believe anything he said. He complains about Stansted yet introduces new routes from their almost weekly.

Depends on what you define as 'GA'. If it's light aircraft i.e. Cherokees, Cessna 152s, etc., well Luton sees virtually none apart from the handful occasionally operated by the Britannia Airways' Flying Club and by Eagle Flight Training.

The former is understood to be under close scrutiny by the new management at TUI (not just the LTN-based Club but also its operations at Redhill, Wellesbourne and Liverpool) on the basis that it's being subsidised by the parent airlines.

The latter may soon be subjected to some severe operating restrictions on its training flights which having a lower priority than 'normal' flights, are likely to be the subject of a blanket ban at certain times during each day, because of other traffic.

As for 'GA' in the guise of corporate aircraft, this is a real moneyspinner for LTN's operator (as opposed to LTN's owner Luton Borough Council which - unlike for scheduled and charter passengers - receives nothing for each Corporate passenger).

So it's highly unlikely that corporate movements will be discouraged although at some point in the not-too-distant future, these flights will probably be 'co-ordinated' for runway slots as is practice at Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted (currently, they are not co-ordinated at LTN).

It's rumoured that the Department for Transport has withdrawn its funding proposals for this road improvement and if true, unless Abertis is allowed to build it and then run it as a toll road (cf. the M6 Toll) I doubt that this grand plan will ever come to fruition as the local Borough and County councils are not exactly the most dynamic or proactive when it comes to local road improvements.

As for the airspace, seeing how long it took for Terminal 5 to get through public scrutiny and then receive approval, and judging by the CAA's track record, seems probable that you're actually being optimistic!

:hmm:

Where did you hear about the funding being removed? As far as I'm aware the plans are pressing ahead to expand the motorway to 4 lanes each at Junction 10 and press ahead with the dual carriageway to the airport. This is a must for the airport and there would be an outcry if it wasn't going ahead.

A football club is also hoping the road improvements go ahead as its vital for their existence that a new stadium is built at junction 10, so any removal or reduction in funding would be fiercely opposed.

The last I heard about the motorway link was a month ago. It seemed that the goverment had tried to pull the funding but after fierce representations from various factions, it seems to be back on. April 2006 is the expected start date with work taking 18 months to complete.

Of course all of the above could still change, so we shall have to wait and see what happens.

The dual carriageway to the airport is only the first phase of a much bigger project. The road will eventually carry on from the Ibis and will pass between the existing tunnel and the fire station via a new tunnel which will clear the airport boundary close to the junction of taxiway alpha and taxiway delta. This will allow land to be developed next to Wigmore Park just inside the Bedfordshire border which already has planning permission but no vehicular access. The road will continue across open countryside to the A505 close to Lilly.

WOT?

Sorry, I think that last post comes firmly under the heading "Rumours".

CAP670 you wrote: Despite undeniably impressive new terminal facilities (accepting that several finishing touches are still required). This did make Buster chuckle a bit!

I was really expecting an improvement when the Buster's passed through. Sadly, what we saw and experienced was undeniably a shock! The only difference in the sub standard facilities on offer in Essex is a train, not a hike to the gate.

I am trying to think of something within the new terminal development that I liked..........Well I did have a laugh with the guy working at Travelex. He was about to keel over with heat exhaustion. You see on the day we passed through, the first floor of the terminal was a little warm, well it was horribly hot. This was probably done on purpose in order to dry out all the plaster and paint! It was just too hot for a bear in a fur coat!

Anyway, the Buster's are going to be passing through a few times over the next few months, so I eagerly await all the improvements.

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LGS6753 doubts the bigger picture but:

It’s a fact that a large piece of land bordering the airport, north of runway 26 has had outline planning permission for warehousing/ light industrial use / hotel /retail for around 10 years and is owned by a property company.

It’s a fact that the property company was refused planning permission to serve the site from local roads and that access has to be via the airport.

It’s a fact that the government produced a map last year that shows for the first time a new road running from the Ibis to the A505 at Lilly via the airport.

It’s a fact that the roundabout that will be built opposite the Ibis next year will be the size of the M1 Junction 10A roundabout to allow the new road to be built without the roundabout needing future enlarging.

KP

What you refer to as 'outline planning permission' is, I believe, just zoning on Bedfordshire's Structure Plan.

I think you'll find the map was published by LLAOL not Government. They also published a map of a terminal area extending to Harpenden....

I hope...

Whether it is zoning or outline planning permission the land is reserved for non-housing and it will be accessed via the airport which is the reason why so far it hasn’t been developed due to the cost of the access road. As for the road to Lilly I can’t remember where I saw the map but I think it was on a glossy publication about the East Luton Corridor although I could be wrong. I am sure it was a government publication though and that I have a copy of it somewhere. I do remember it caused a bit of a stink at the time as this was the first time a new road to Lilly had been proposed. (Just found my East Luton Corridor publication and it isn't on there)

King Pong: You are right about the airship, this though was a model, but about 5 metres long and 2 - 3 metres in diameter! Caused quite a stir as it was heading for the London TMA and was very difficult to see on radar. We chased it for a while before it started to decend and landed in a field just North of St Albans. Landed near to the beast and disabled it :D

I believe the owner is expecting a huge bill :\

Thanks for the update

Unsubstantiated rumour from a good source...and this really made me laugh:

The terminal re-development is many £millions OVER budget.

Must have been caused by eliminating the air conditioning and sticking plaster board up everywhere!

Seriously, if this is the case, goodness only knows what will happen next at Luton?

I have always been 100% behind Luton airport, but sadly I have seen enough as a fare paying passenger to realise that spending £millions does not alway equate to improved facilities.

I wont even venture to mention being double charged by NCP having paid in advance and then been charged a larger amount to leave the car park that I had paid in advance for and then having to justify a refund! And yes, I did use the same credit card!

Or the fact that on our way from NCP to the terminal when the OAT was +27, the bus driver could not get out of the car park due to a knackered barrier, nor could he turn the heater off on his bus! I would not have minded so much, but NCP charged me for 3 nights parking almost as much as Ryanair flying return to Shannon for the three of us!

Maybe NCP are charging me for a sauna en-route!

Hopefully, by the time I next fly the plaster board will have some paint on it, the air conditioning will work and the fire doors en-route to the gates will be easier to open with a push chair and not require force and the guys building the facilities will be more careful just where they leave thier equipment!

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I can well believe that the project is over budget but is it the airport or the builders that are picking up the tab? The project was started on September 6th 2004 and was meant to take 9 months and not the now projected 12months. The stripping out and removal of the original link building caused big delays which the builders never recovered from.

Buster, this is not a criticism but just an observation. You used to criticise me for my occasional negative LTN postings amongst my many positive postings. Funny how the worm has turned as you have now become the airports biggest critic since you became a passenger.:hmm: Lets hope that the arrivals area and baggage reclaim meets with your approval when they are finished.

Anyone know when the new meeters & greeters arrival area is due to open ? Also, what is happening in the long walkway to gate 26(with views over the apron) as it seems to be used as a large storage area for the various retail/food outlets.

How is the Swefly ops to Lahore performing ?. Are they using the RJ or 767 like Leeds.

I have been told that swefly have been using this aircraft http://doug3658.fotopic.net/p17602651.html photographed at LTN this month. Don't know if the story is true though.

East Luton Corridor Improvement Scheme
 

This is the reply I got from the town hall regarding the new road into the airport.

Can you answer the following questions regarding the East Luton Corridor Improvement Scheme.

1/ What was the outcome of the public enquiry?
2/ Has a start date been pencilled in yet?
3/ Is there still government funding available for the project.
4/ Seeing that it now looks like the M1 widening scheme could well be finished before this project is started will any improvements be made to Junction 10A as part of this project?
5/ Why has this project dragged on for years?

In response to your email please see answers below:-

1) We have not yet heard the result of the Public Inquiry, this is due about August/ September. However, there were only 7 objections left going into the PI (1 statutory + 6 non-statutory), 3 of the non-statutory objectors appeared at the PI and as such the PI was concluded in 3 days.
2) Yes, we anticipate a start date on site in May/June 2006, this is assuming approval of the Orders and Funding is granted.
3) The Department for Transport (DfT) & the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) have indicated that they will fund the scheme from the Community Infrastructure Fund (£5m) & the Growth Area Fund (£17m) for the £22m project. However, we are just in the process of submitting final bids for these funds and expect to get a decision on the full funding approval in the Autumn.
4) The M1 widening scheme Junction 6a-10 is due to commence in January 2006 and due for completion mid 2008. The East Luton Corridor Scheme is due to start in May/June 2006 and complete March 2008, as such the ELC will be complete before the M1 scheme. Due to the scheme conflicts over the proposed improvements to Junction 10a no works to this junction will be carried out as part of the ELC scheme. This will have to be brought forward as a separate project.
5) The scheme first received provisional funding support in December 2002 and it has taken approximately 3 years to develop the scheme to the stage that it is ready to implement on site. It is not unusual for a scheme of this type to take a number of years to get on to site, the ELC has taken time to develop a workable scheme and to secure the necessary planning permissions & statutory orders. We have also encountered problems with funding which has caused difficulties.

Page two of the link is a map of what will happen

http://www.luton.gov.uk/Media%20Libr...nformation.pdf (2 meg pdf file)

A sad day!

Merv the Rover 1 (Marshaller) died suddenly today.

Rest In Peace Merv.

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Bloody hell, that's terrible news. :( What a tradegy for his family.

Please let me have funeral details when known.