Belfast city airport - runway extension ''cleared''

[DavidThompson]

It was breaking news on the local radio station at 1pm, that Belfast city airport [BHD] is to get their runway extension cleared.
 
On the news:
Plans to extend the runway at Belfast City Airport are about to be given the green light, an SDLP MP has claimed.

South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell said the plans will be passed with the support of minister Edwin Poots.

Planning officials insisted a final decision has yet to be made, but Dr McDonnell predicted it will would go ahead without a public inquiry.
 
 
So is this good news or bad news ...... leave your opinions !!

[iCardboardRobot]

well since iam not a resident, its good to get more flights and better aircraft, if i was living under it, well....

[casper]

its good to get more flights and better aircraft

I can't see it getting more flights or better aircraft. I think it will lead to more destinations as the aircraft already in use will be able to fly with a full fuel load. Although in away this could then lead to other operators setting up shop here and offering destinations that the usual crowd don't offer.

[iCardboardRobot]

Fair point casper, i thought i remembered ryanair (?) saying the extension would allow a different type of aircraft to land/take-off so that a new route would be available, of course i might be wrong though !

[casper]

It would seem that the extension hasn't been approved yet and that he airport have asked for the removal of a seat sale restriction.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8400991.stm

[Dave]

Fair point casper, i thought i remembered ryanair (?) saying the extension would allow a different type of aircraft to land/take-off so that a new route would be available, of course i might be wrong though !

Ryanair only have one aircraft type which is the Boeing 737-800 which they already use in to BHD so the chances are it was another airline. BMI already use the Airbus A321 into BHD sometimes and that's a pretty big aircraft. I've heard it doesn't actually lift off until near the end of the runway.

The airport could really use the runway extension just for the extra bit of safety. Should the BMI A321 ever need to abort it's take off close to rotation point, theres probably no chance it could do so on the remaining runway, which leaves me amazed that the A321 is actually allowed to operate into BHD in it's current state.

The runway extension would be nice, certainly for us spotters and the travelling public, but is it really required when there is BFS? Is there any point creating the possibility of one or two routes into Europe? Belfast City Airport will never be able to have too many European destinations. The terminal is too small, there's not enough aircraft stands, and the airports closeness to Belfast is limiting it's growth.

[DavidThompson]

BMI already use the Airbus A321 into BHD sometimes and that's a pretty big aircraft. I've heard it doesn't actually lift off until near the end of the runway.

Yep Dave thats right, I have watched this aircraft tate off from tte Ikea car park and it would put your heart in your mouth watching it take off, it doesnt lift untill theres no runway left and as you said if there was ever an aborted takeoff theres no way it would stop in time.
 

The runway extension would be nice, certainly for us spotters and the travellin public, but is it really required when there is BFS?

The runway extension would be very, very nice, but with BFS only miles and 20-25 minutes up the road there would be no need becasue who ever FLYBE/BMI/RYANAIR who ever starts flights to Europe they are going to have to sell the ticket a good £30-40 below EASYJET/AER LINGUS/JET2 ticket price, as I do no some people would travel the extra miles to save money.
 

The terminal is too small, there's not enough aircraft stands

If memory serves me right there are only 10 stands? One of which has an airbridge for BMI and another one being built on the stand beside it ....... Are for more parking space they could knock down Shorts    And also make a taxi way to get to runway 22 instead of aircraft having to backtrack down 04??
 
 

[kingsavo]

a left hand loop holding point is part of the plans. would mean a left turn after the alpha 1 holding point. so it would allow a departing plane to make a quick taxi and hold while a plane is on final. within reason of course

[Angry Turnip]

I know the manager in charge of the building works at BHD-he is very cagey about what is actually being planned,until it`s offically given the go ahead,but the basic idea is to improve operational safety and potentially bring in more destinations.
The locals seem ignorant to the fact that a longer runway will in fact mean that aircraft will be at a higher altitude with a longer runway,which will go some way to reducing the noise.
I live 1.5 miles from the threshold of R25 at BFS and the noise doesn`t bother me or my wife-can you imagine the fuss if a VC-10 landed at BHD
It can be a bit noisey when 07 is in use and most aircraft turn almost immediatly above our yard,but I enjoy it.
Re aborted take-offs at BHD,I doubt there is much chance of that being possible.
I have seen the Fire service practise recovery from the swamp/water at the 04 end using a strange pontoon bridge.

[Dave]

The locals seem ignorant to the fact that a longer runway will in fact mean that aircraft will be at a higher altitude with a longer runway,which will go some way to reducing the noise.

I cringe whenever I hear people saying the it means noiser and lower aircraft flying over their houses. As you say, certainly not true as they'll mostly be higher, and at worst, they'll be the same height as they are now.
 
However I feel the Airport havn't really done enough to reduce the fears of the locals. Either that or the locals living under the runway are just too ignorant to listen and accept the fact that the noise will be no different with regards to height.

[kingsavo]

The residents that will be annoyed are the ones living on the 22 threshold side. The people living in the Kinnegar area have had the planes flying pretty low already! Now it will be worse for them.

[Angry Turnip]

Personally I don`t think the runway extension will make much difference to the noise levels,but it will greatly improve safety.
Other operators may take another look at using BHD,but also I think it unlikely it will draw in too many new customers.
The airport would need to look at it`s ramp facilities and I think space is tight enough now as it is.