Massive Airport expansion announced
 

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

In message , Aidan Stanger
writes
A lot of people would argue that holidays are essential for the successful
operation of our society. However, according to Newsnight, the main growth
area is now in the middle-to-high income bracket travellers.

Even if you assume overseas holidays are essential, there's no need to
build more runways at the main airports. England has HUNDREDS of
disused and underused runways, many of which are suitable for
conversion to airports.

Personally, I'd like to see the re-introduction of Wisley airfield,
which while very handy for the M3/M25, would also increase the Nimby
factor.
My reasoning is that the more people that are affected by aircraft
movements then the more they'll empathise with the other poor buggers
living underneath them, and so vote for a moratorium.

--
Martin @ Strawberry Hill

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

Usenet wrote:
writes:
Even if you assume overseas holidays are essential, there's no need to
build more runways at the main airports. England has HUNDREDS of
disused and underused runways, many of which are suitable for
conversion to airports.

Personally, I'd like to see the re-introduction of Wisley airfield,
which while very handy for the M3/M25, would also increase the Nimby
factor.
My reasoning is that the more people that are affected by aircraft
movements then the more they'll empathise with the other poor buggers
living underneath them, and so vote for a moratorium.

NIMBYs generally don't mind things being built elsewhere. There are a
few BANANAs, but I don't think that tactic would make them any more
active than they already are. Furthermore a moratorium would be bad for
the economy, as it would reduce London's relative connectivity (although
the number of destinations reachable direct from Heathrow is actually
unimportant, the number of destinations on flights from London airports
does matter).

SERAS stage 0 identified the following list of airfields that were
suitable for conversion to airports:
Abingdon (Oxon), Alconbury (Cambs), Boreham (Essex), Boscombe Down
(Wilts), Cranfield (Beds), Fairford (Gloucs), Hullavington (Wilts),
Lyneham (Wilts), North Weald (Essex), Oakley (Bucks), Odiham (Hants),
Thurleigh (Beds), Waterbeach (Cambs), Wormingford (Essex).
[For some unknown reason, Bournemouth and Manston were also on the list,
despite already being airports.]

Of these, I consider the best to be Lyneham [because developing it into
an airport would minimize the economic disruption from the RAF's
abandonment of the place], Alconbury [it already has good road links,
and has the potential for very good rail links], North Weald [because
the tube can easily be extended there], and Thurleigh [because it has a
long runway, and because together with Alconbury it provides a
compelling reason to construct a railway between St.Ives (Cambs) and
Bedford, completing a strategic East - West link].

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas, there
is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting into an
airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is near railways
and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close enough to
Birmingham to serve some of its demand.

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

Aidan Stanger wrote:

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas,
there is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting
into an airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is
near railways and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close
enough to Birmingham to serve some of its demand.

Isn't Upper Heyford still operational?

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

"Stimpy" wrote in message
...
Aidan Stanger wrote:

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas,
there is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting
into an airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is
near railways and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close
enough to Birmingham to serve some of its demand.

Isn't Upper Heyford still operational?



It's largely used a car storage and police riot training area, (not on the
same bit obviously). The runway is no longer viable and it is on top of a
hill that regularly restricted military flying. Lots of well to do senior
civil servants and government ministers live nearby as well so no chance of
there being an airport there.

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

"Aidan Stanger" wrote in message
...
Usenet wrote:
writes:
Of these, I consider the best to be Lyneham [because developing it into
an airport would minimize the economic disruption from the RAF's
abandonment of the place], Alconbury [it already has good road links,
and has the potential for very good rail links], North Weald [because
the tube can easily be extended there], and Thurleigh [because it has a
long runway, and because together with Alconbury it provides a
compelling reason to construct a railway between St.Ives (Cambs) and
Bedford, completing a strategic East - West link].



Lyneham rejected early on because of runway length and local weather
situation, also would require massive investment in local roads, a major
factor in it's closure.

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

In message , Aidan Stanger
writes

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas, there
is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting into an
airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is near railways
and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close enough to
Birmingham to serve some of its demand.
How about Filton, it has both road and rail links, a very long runway
and the latest avionics around?
--
clive Coleman.

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

"clive Coleman." wrote in message
...
In message , Aidan Stanger
writes

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas, there
is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting into an
airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is near railways
and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close enough to
Birmingham to serve some of its demand.
How about Filton, it has both road and rail links, a very long runway
and the latest avionics around?
--
clive Coleman.

Development around Filton has in effect halved the size of the airfield.
More such work is on he way. There is actually a daily service from there at
the moment to Toulouse. (Airbus contract) because of the proximity of
housing/schools etc. BAe146 or Dash 8 aircraft have to be used as the noise
footprint is low. Chartered in from British European.

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

clive Coleman. wrote:

In message , Aidan Stanger
writes

Having checked all the options in the England Photographic Atlas, there
is one more airfield that I think might be worth converting into an
airport: Upper Heyford (Oxon). This has a long runway, is near railways
and a motorway, is in a high growth area, and is close enough to
Birmingham to serve some of its demand.
How about Filton, it has both road and rail links, a very long runway
and the latest avionics around?

Unfortunately there are now a lot of houses under the Filton flightpath,
so Filton is generally considered to now be unsuitable for the purpose
(although they might get away with developing it as a business airport.

A few minutes' drive away at Pilning is the only greenfield site where
it would be worth building an airport - it's got almost no houses under
the flightpath (so it would be suitable for 24 hour operation) and it
has railways and motorways to half of England (and quite a lot of Wales)
but the government have just decided to rule it out!

Massive Airport expansion announced
 

G Crozier wrote:
wrote:
Personally, I'd like to see the re-introduction of Wisley airfield,
which while very handy for the M3/M25, would also increase the Nimby
factor.
To hell with more airports in the southeast we only have one decent
airport here in the northwest and that's Manchester and the time is
long overdue for us to have another the same size or larger .

Why? Do any other airports in the NW operate anywhere near their
capacity?