Here's a thought for you. On another forum the subject of airfields closing has also come up, and I sat down with a useful little book published in 2000 (this one: ) to carry out an exercise.

Including those that are at significant risk of closure in the next two or three years, I estimate that in the first twenty years of the 21st century the UK will lose about ten percent of its licensed airfields, both civil and military. It's an average of more than one a year, but the pace has accelerated in the second decade.

Leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.

Maintaining Manston in the "National interest"? Or as an electoral bribe to a narrow section of the South East of the country which is already well supplied with airports? Even worse if that bribe is to be paid from an enforced levy on airports elsewhere! Manston is a disastrous place to try to get to for 97% of the UK population. The UK desperately needs more airport capacity but Manston is not the answer.

Shot one
 

While I agree with you that the UK needs more airport capacity in the north this does not take away the need for one very underused runway in the south, after all the blocking of a runway at Gatwick disrupts air traffic in the whole of the UK as diverted aircraft cause further congestion at other airports.

If you think keeping Manston open is a political bribe I would sugest it is a poor one and the bribe money would be better spent on other projects, as a diversion airport for the major London airports it is good for preventing disruption from Manchester southwards......... The only problem is that people don't see the disruption that has not happened due to this sort of investment so politically it is a poor investment.

The cost of keeping Manston open should be the responsibility of LHR, LGW & STN, after all it is these airports that send most of the disruption oop North when they have a problem.

Ah yes, I remember the days when the RAF had 12 Master Diversion Aerodromes. These days the RAF would be pushed to name 12 operational airfields, much less those open 24/7. I think it's called progress.......

Government review process grinding into action.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/m...airport-review

I wonder who might end up on the Governments 'short list' of credible consultancies ?

1.3VStall,

Whilst I agree with your underlying sentiment the facts are that when we had 12 Master Divs we needed them a lot more than they are needed now. I am thinking of the number of aircraft flying, the threat and the technology of both the aircraft and ATC kit/Navaids at the time.

ACW

Guess it will depend on what they look for in the tender. Doesn't look like they did publish one yesterday.

Consultant Appointed ...

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/c...view-announced

An interesting choice and remit ...

this is a duplicate of the post in the Airlines, Airports & Routes thread - it doesn't belong here

Fair point HH (even though this Thread has been running for over a year on the Mil Forum) ... I'm relaxed if the MOD's what to move/amalgamate it :)

This is going to be interesting ...

I wonder if anyone has bothered to get an OS Map out and understand the difficulties of getting lorries to Manston let alone down to Folkestone/Dover when a 'Stack' call is lifted :ugh:

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The current owners most definitely don't want to re-open the airfield, they want to re-develop.

There is some opposition, and a rival investor, promoting compulsory purchase of the land and re-instating the airport.

The owners have already 'made some income' from selling the radar, ILS ground equipment etc. I think it's called asset stripping...
mmitch.