Leeds Bradford: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Aviador]

As per the minutes of the last consultative committee, it is still intended to start enabling works for the terminal expansion at the end of the summer 2010 season.

Thanks White Heather, I was just pointing to the fact that nothing has been said publicly for sometime which is worrying.

 

[White Heather]

I agree Aviador - it is all very quiet, but we were assured the project was very much alive behind the scenes.

I think that one thing that will prove very difficult to sort out, and which the airport MD will need a great deal of discussion on, is the proposed phasing of works and the impact on the terminal. The architects will put forward phasing (along with contractors) but it is often the case that what is put forward will not work for some reason, and they are sent away to think of a different way of doing it. Even in smaller projects such as those I am involved with, it can be very complex, so for an airport terminal, it is a huge task to come up with something that allows the required rate of progress, keeps a lid on costs, avoids the risk of variations (which cost a fortune - contractors love them), and yet still allows the airport to function properly, particularly during summer 2011 which could be busy. Quite honestly, I am not surprised the airport are quiet as they probably still don't have a definite schedule of works to publicise, but their intent seemed quite clear.

 

[Aviador]

I have noticed recently, an outside electrical company have been in and around the airport, mostly working over night, called Nia-Con, who seem to be replacing a lot of lighting areas with newer more efficient bulbs etc. Was this a part of the expansion/update plans?

Nia-Con deal with things like air-conditioning. I think it's another contractor that is replacing lighting. I noticed some new lighting in international arrivals today. It's the low energy type that they're installing. To be honest, where the new lighting has been installed it looked a lot brighter. From what I was told, there are plans to renew lighting throughout much of the terminal building. The terminal will look much better with this new 'white' light.

 

[yorkshire]

if the terminal is to be extended shortly? why replace the lights in the terminal now why not wait till the extentstion is done and then replace the lights??

 

[Aviador]

if the terminal is to be extended shortly? why replace the lights in the terminal now why not wait till the extentstion is done and then replace the lights??

Why does it not make sense to replace lighting in parts of the old terminal building that is staying? The new lighting will save the airport money as well as being more environmentally friendly. Clearly areas of the present terminal building that are going to be effected by future work maybe better left until after the main works are complete.

 

[Aviador]

The company doing the lighting is called 'pirare' or similar. I spoke to them today and they said they are replacing the lighting in phases. They are currently on with the arrivals hall. The new lights are operated by PIR sensors so they will switch off after around 20 minutes when nobody is about.

 

[Bigman]

I was up there on Sunday, and the arrivals corrider was totally rammed from about 15:10 until 16:40. Certainly the busiest I have ever seen it. I don't know how nobody managed to pass out with the heat.

 

[Aviador]

I was up there on Sunday, and the arrivals corrider was totally rammed from about 15:10 until 16:40. Certainly the busiest I have ever seen it. I don't know how nobody managed to pass out with the heat.

Yes, not good. It took some passengers an hour after landing to collect their luggage. I don't know if this is normal for a Sunday afternoon but it doesn't leave a very good impression of the airport.

 

[backtrack]

I was up there on Sunday, and the arrivals corrider was totally rammed from about 15:10 until 16:40. Certainly the busiest I have ever seen it. I don't know how nobody managed to pass out with the heat.

Yes, not good. It took some passengers an hour after landing to collect their luggage. I don't know if this is normal for a Sunday afternoon but it doesn't leave a very good impression of the airport.

It is horrendous. Immigration cannot cope either. They have 4 passport control desks, is it 4 or 5? but anyway its not enough and they cannot cope with the throughput of pax at certain times of the day. Friday and Sunday afternoons are the busiest times for the airport. Numerous times have we had to hold pax on the coaches because the pax are queing from passport control all the way along that corridoor and down the stairs to the arrivals door even queing outside.


However, i cant see much being done abotu this because its only peak periods when it gets like this, normally what we do have is suffice. Also, i have noticed recently a lot of new faces for immigration/customs, i wonder whether they have had to employ more staff to cope over the summer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Why does this make me think of Bristol Airport at times?

I think the passport thing is the usual peaks and troughs of aviation timetabling with the Border Agency unwilling to provide extra staff for perhaps a two hour peak. They aren't concerned about passenger experience and with the massive public financial cutbacks in prospect I can't see the situation improving around the country.

 

[WYIA]

Sometimes when only 2 aircraft are inbound it takes 30 minutes to get your bags..

 

[backtrack]

Today, i see some of the aircraft stands were being re-painted. Not much i know, but it did need doing...

 

[Aviador]

Still the same format? What's the format they use on the new stands called again?

 

[The Pole]

A few out of the ordinary approaches tonight, good to see from horsforth! I saw at least 2 head towards/fly over LBA before approaching 32!

 

[Bigman]

You are not wrong mate. The other night a DH8 came straight over my house heading East.

 

[WYIA]

Goldtrail have just gone in to adminsistration. 1000's stranded in turkey and flights to be lost from leeds to turkey.

 

[pilot_737]

Who operated these flights for Goldtrail?

I guess Onur Air?

 

[Aviador]

Onur Air and Turkuaz Airlines were scheduled to operate Goldtrail flights from Leeds.

 

[masere]

[offtopic]Just thought I'd let you all know that there's an airshow in Sunderland next Sat/Sun 10am-6pm both days. Visitors include a B-52, the Red Arrows, a Eurofighter, F-16's and a Harrier. Both days are FREE ENTRY!!! I have family in Hartlepool so I'm going up for the weekend, armed with binocs, scanner, camera and camcorder. I've never been to an airshow before so I'm really looking forward to it. :yahoo:
http://www.sunderlandevents.co.uk/event-detail.asp?EventID=2973 That's the link.[/offtopic]

 

[oldendays]

More changes in ATC. Traffic being handed over to Tower from Radar is now instructed to make first contact with callsign only, as they do at Manchester from Radar to Director. I expect, that like the Delivery position (where has that got to ?), this is designed to reduce RT loading on an already very busy Tower frequency.