New Airport development (merged)

[Aircam]

The leading article in today's 'Times'by Simon Jenkins sums up the lunatic thinking behind the latest report on airport options for the future. Vast swathes of concrete and sprawl over green belt land in the South East, ATC handling triple the amount of flights than at present, more ozone depletion. Surely even the most devoted commercial aviation enthusiast can see that this future is unsustainable? If there is such a demand for runway capacity why was, for instance, Hatfield airfield ripped up recently? This would have made an ideal bizjet/GA centre. the list goes on and on; Woodbridge. Greenham Common. I'll bet Dunsfold is built over before long.Where is the logic?
To destroy 3000 acres and 60 listed buildings, just for the Stansted expansion, is just not on. It's just like housebuilding though; easier (more profit) to take green belt land rather than reclaim sea areas for new airports.

[outofsynch]

Typical for in ill-informed reporter........

One of the best things about Stansted is its distance from the sea, and the associated bird problems etc. Not to mention sea fogs and the like.

Wherever you add more runway capacity, even at some of the disused aerodromes, you are still going to 'eat' heaps of green fields for the supporting real estate like parking, freight handlers etc. It wont be any less of a sacrifice, wherever its done!

[Notso Fantastic]

Yes, let's go back to Maypole dancing and not flying away from the UK on holiday or business because it will be such a pretty 'museum' country that nobody will want to leave! Are you advocating no further development? Is this Reporting Points- where is the 'news'? Why didn't you put this in Questions if you want a discussion? Now some poor Moderator with better things to do will have to spend time shifting it. If you are new, please read the descriptive on what each forum is.

[Buster Hymen]

Oh dear,what a bunch of frustrated amatuers we have here.Methinks that you "new starts" need to grow up and learn something of the real world.Your attempts at being real,4 engined pilots are somewhat [email protected] grow up and don't coming don't even think about trying to enter a real pilot's website.You distract.Goodbye.

[jumpseater]

That'll be the Hatfield that was opened up as a executive/GA centre that nobody used will it?, you know the one thats being re-developed with business units, housing and more uni buildings so's not to eat into the green belt!, not the most extensive of research done then?. Not to mention that EGTH traffic had to be co-ordinated through LTN airspace and as for northerly departures, particularly with the growth of LTN's traffic!
Woodbridge, in Suffolk? Hmm so who's going to pay for the infrastructure then?,and erm, its in Suffolk!. Greenham Common sorry in the wrong place, getting the Newbury bypass approved/built was turgid enough, let alone an airport!

[Captain Slack-Bladder]

Wots wrong with Upper Heyford then?

It’s mid way between London and Birmingham, right next to the M40 and a main London to Birmingham rail link. If any Greens are interested they can even get there by the canal which also runs round the boundary.

The airfield has one of the longest runways in the UK and occupies enough real-estate to re-build Milton Keynes on it. The locals have had to put up with day and night F111 operations, so a few whisper-jets should hardly be a problem.

Yeah, yeah – I know, despite being in the right place and with 90% of the infra-structure already in place, the wealthy NIMBYs rule.

[canberra]

woodbridge airfield is still there as is bentwaters. woodbridge is the home of an army engineer regiment, bentwaters has been earmarked as a freight airport. i wonder if there actually is a need for a new airport in the south east. my own grand plan would be to build the 3 new runways at stansted and close heathrow.

[Gin Slinger]

Hitler Hastings has changed his tune recently, must be the new job.

Couldn't of imagined a few years ago he'd end up writing a whiney greeny essay for the pinko Observer :eek:

[AOG-YYZ]

Gin Slinger

And you've been slinging a few Gordons to-day. Right?