“Would need a quarry full of aggregate to build up a plateau at that end.”

Why?

I suggest you look at Madeira ariport for an innovative solution to a runway extension.

A runway extension at LBA is in the Government’s long term strategy for UK airports and the winning bidder will be more than aware of this.

While in Chicago a couple of years ago we noticed traffic taking an age to take off. We timed an Iberia (IIRC) aircraft and it was queuing for well over an hour.

There was a programme on BBC4 last night about ‘Suckling Airways’ (remember them?), now Scotairways and quite a few Air UK aircraft could be seen in the background. Stansted in 1991 was more like a local airfield with a very long runway. Suckling were based at the now executive/business aircraft part of the airport now opposite the main terminal. It had a small brick control tower and a few outbuildings.

Can anyone shed any light on why in the middle of this, this managed to get in where others couldn’t?

WOW484 BRISTOL 1350 LANDED 13:57

I once visited the airport for a behind the scenes tour and we received a talk from the senior controller. Someone asked about problems with fog at LBA and we were informed that LBA has full CAT III facilities, so blind landings are possible. The decision to divert is more often down to airlines procedures, the ability of the pilot flying and the systems fitted to the aircraft. Some airlines won’t land if visibility is less than 100m, some 200m etc. Yesterday’s pilot of the above flight must have been flying within his abilities and within company procedure. Some pilots do circuits waiting for a possible break in cloud before diverting – he may have been lucky and the fog cleared enough to allow an approach.

If LCY has sold for around the £750m mark it makes the £40m value for LBA seem trivial.

Of course they have to review their options. If they were expecting delivery of aircraft by a certain date they will have been making plans for these being delivered – routes, useage of other aircraft, disposal of aircraft, acquisition of aircraft etc etc. These plans have been put back by at least a year so they have to review their options as the project plan has shifted 12 months! Option reviews takes place all the time where major projects are concerned.

Good news, especially as TOM have dropped this destination from DSA. I really enjoyed a weekend in Valencia last October. Smaller and less crowded than Barcelona and truly Spanish – great beach too.