Airport in a bid for control of airspace (From Southend Standard)
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Airport in a bid for control of airspace
8:30am Friday 31st August 2012 in News By Emma Thomas
SOUTHEND Airport bosses hope to take control of airspace within 2.5 miles in an effort to cut delays and improve safety and security.
An application is being made to the Civil Aviation Authority forcing pilots of any planes over Southend Airport to seek permission from its air traffic control tower.
At the moment, aircraft are permitted to fly within 2.5 miles of the airport without having to contact the control centre.
This can lead to delays for scheduled flights arriving and departing.
The airport has not controlled the airspace since 1992 because, up until now, so few flights used Southend Airport.
A temporary zone was installed during the Olympics, which proved successful.
Alastair Welch , managing director, said having control of airspace over the airport would help with safety and security.
He said: “Controlled airspace safeguards aircraft when they are approaching and departing the airport.
“Temporary controlled airspace around the airport was operated very successfully during the London 2012 Games, and we are now seeking to have this reinstated as a permanent feature.”
It is also hoped added control over flights will improve the carbon footprint of the airport because delays can mean fumes pumping out of plane engines as they wait. Mr Welch added: “Improving our efficiency by getting aircraft in and out of the airport without last-minute alterations and delays will minimise the impact of the airport’s operations on the local community and is much better for the environment.”
The application is expected to be handed in to the authority in 2014 and will include a public consultation set to take place in late 2013.
Comments(19)
jayman
says...
10:59am Fri 31 Aug 12
this application to change the class of airspace is a bit cheeky and is a pus by the airport to see if they can get away with it.
stobart knew that the existing airspace around the airport had limited control when they brought it. It may be the case that they cannot squeeze enough aircraft through the soup of congested airspace above our heads. therefore carving a corridor through the soup would benefit there profit margin magnificently..
i cant see other airports not taking kindly to this as at the moment Southend airport can only control 2000ft of airspace. a re-classification of the airspace will probably increase this and disrupt there operations.
i await 'spotter walt mitty' aka max to find some issue with this.
i sinisterly hope that the authority refuse this application.
to coin a phrase 'they brought it how they saw it'
jayman
says...
10:59am Fri 31 Aug 12
this application to change the class of airspace is a bit cheeky and is a pus by the airport to see if they can get away with it.
stobart knew that the existing airspace around the airport had limited control when they brought it. It may be the case that they cannot squeeze enough aircraft through the soup of congested airspace above our heads. therefore carving a corridor through the soup would benefit there profit margin magnificently..
i cant see other airports not taking kindly to this as at the moment Southend airport can only control 2000ft of airspace. a re-classification of the airspace will probably increase this and disrupt there operations.
i await 'spotter walt mitty' aka max to find some issue with this.
i sinisterly hope that the authority refuse this application.
to coin a phrase 'they brought it how they saw it'
jayman
says...
11:03am Fri 31 Aug 12
Max Impact
says...
11:41am Fri 31 Aug 12
Should Southend be granted the control of this pocket of aerospace than it can be better controlled at the local level.
The aerospace in question was for decades controlled bt Southend and should revert to that operation.
By Southend taking control again less flights will pass overhead, surely that is best all round.
jayman
says...
12:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Ian P
says...
12:36pm Fri 31 Aug 12
jayman wrote:I assume that is the reason for spelling mistakes and lack of capital letters as well. You could always try SpecSavers.
sorry for the double post.. i really must not use my phone to make comments the tiny, tiny keyboard is tricky to use.
Max Impact
says...
1:12pm Fri 31 Aug 12
jayman wrote:Not all aircraft light aircraft carry transponders, not all radars do height. By giving control of that small bit of aerospace around and above the airport will give the tower much more control.
thats why southend airport has a radar and why aircraft have transponders dear boy..
jayman
says...
4:51pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:you really don't have a clue about aviation regulations do you max.. your just a troll.
jayman wrote:Not all aircraft light aircraft carry transponders, not all radars do height. By giving control of that small bit of aerospace around and above the airport will give the tower much more control.
thats why southend airport has a radar and why aircraft have transponders dear boy..
see
http://www.caa.co.uk
/docs/33/Mode_S_Fact
_Sheet.pdf
the only aircraft that are exempt from carrying a transponder are some vintage aircraft, and some models of older gliders.
and yes max, modern radar does do 'hight' relative to sea and ground level.
are you sure you have a pilots license?
firedog
says...
5:33pm Fri 31 Aug 12
are glareingly obvious,I hope you are not a pilot,your log book would be a mystery to all.
Max Impact
says...
5:43pm Fri 31 Aug 12
I said not all radar has hight and you CAN still find them in use in the UK.
At long last your have left your council office and actually checked on most of your facts its about time, you normally spout such diarrhea that it spills into the sea poluting out beaches....
So your the reason we lost the blue flags.
I am a pilot (with out a ride) but a spare Continental TSIO-520-BE aero engine. Now to fit it into the go cart!
Nebs
says...
6:05pm Fri 31 Aug 12
If it is approved, can it subsequently be removed if, for example, an airport were to be built in the estuary?
Max Impact
says...
6:42pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Nebs wrote:It's safe now, no security issues if there were the CAA would have shut the airport.
If this application is, as described, an effort to cut delays and improve safety and security, yet will not get approved until 2014, does this mean that until 2014 there will be excessive delays and unacceptable safety and security, or is it just forward planning for when peak capacity is reached? If it is approved, can it subsequently be removed if, for example, an airport were to be built in the estuary?
There are very few delays, the main reason is to help keep the airport as one of the ebst preforming in the UK and give the airport its own dedicated control zone, which it had until closed when the number of flight declined.
Supprised the anti-airport lobby are so against a move that would force over flights higher or around Southend.
probably those that want Southend closed but are more than happy to use other airports for their holidays, there are a few on here like that.
Nebs
says...
7:04pm Fri 31 Aug 12
Max Impact wrote:I am sure it is safe now, with few delays and no security issues. But that begs the question of why these three factors are mentioned in the opening paragraph of the article as the reasons for the application.
Nebs wrote:It's safe now, no security issues if there were the CAA would have shut the airport.
If this application is, as described, an effort to cut delays and improve safety and security, yet will not get approved until 2014, does this mean that until 2014 there will be excessive delays and unacceptable safety and security, or is it just forward planning for when peak capacity is reached? If it is approved, can it subsequently be removed if, for example, an airport were to be built in the estuary?
There are very few delays, the main reason is to help keep the airport as one of the ebst preforming in the UK and give the airport its own dedicated control zone, which it had until closed when the number of flight declined.
Supprised the anti-airport lobby are so against a move that would force over flights higher or around Southend.
probably those that want Southend closed but are more than happy to use other airports for their holidays, there are a few on here like that.
I know very little about the air industry, but reading between the lines it seems to me that possible future delays, when the airport is at full capacity, is the real reason for the application. Nothing wrong with that, but why not just come out and say it.
Max Impact
says...
7:57pm Fri 31 Aug 12
emcee
says...
12:09am Sat 1 Sep 12
Nebs wrote:When, Stobart took on the airport they did so in the hope that it would become quite a busy airport. Without airspace control the airport could, and indeed does, function adeqautely. However, as it seems quite likely that the airport will meet, and possibly excede, all operational expectations within the next few years it is would be daft that the control for this airspace was not given back to the airport for efficient and safe operational puposes. The airport will operate quite safely and efficiently without airspace control for a while, but the busier it gets the need for this control will become increasingly sensible. So, based on that, 2014 seems reasonable.
If this application is, as described, an effort to cut delays and improve safety and security, yet will not get approved until 2014, does this mean that until 2014 there will be excessive delays and unacceptable safety and security, or is it just forward planning for when peak capacity is reached?
If it is approved, can it subsequently be removed if, for example, an airport were to be built in the estuary?
Control can be given and taken away by the CAA at anytime that they deem is necessary. It is not an "award" it is a ATC operational strategy. For example, what is the point of having an airport, with few movements, taking control of airspace. This is why control was removed from Southend in 1992. Likewise, when an airport gets busy, it is only wise and sensible that control is given to an airport for the reasons of safety and efficiency.
jacb
says...
3:41am Sat 1 Sep 12
...the future....jaybee
......this is why Southend Airport is trying to secure airspace
Nebs
says...
7:35pm Sat 1 Sep 12
emcee wrote:Seems sensible, thanks for a clear and concise explanation.
Nebs wrote:When, Stobart took on the airport they did so in the hope that it would become quite a busy airport. Without airspace control the airport could, and indeed does, function adeqautely. However, as it seems quite likely that the airport will meet, and possibly excede, all operational expectations within the next few years it is would be daft that the control for this airspace was not given back to the airport for efficient and safe operational puposes. The airport will operate quite safely and efficiently without airspace control for a while, but the busier it gets the need for this control will become increasingly sensible. So, based on that, 2014 seems reasonable.
If this application is, as described, an effort to cut delays and improve safety and security, yet will not get approved until 2014, does this mean that until 2014 there will be excessive delays and unacceptable safety and security, or is it just forward planning for when peak capacity is reached?
If it is approved, can it subsequently be removed if, for example, an airport were to be built in the estuary?
Control can be given and taken away by the CAA at anytime that they deem is necessary. It is not an "award" it is a ATC operational strategy. For example, what is the point of having an airport, with few movements, taking control of airspace. This is why control was removed from Southend in 1992. Likewise, when an airport gets busy, it is only wise and sensible that control is given to an airport for the reasons of safety and efficiency.
BASILBRUSH
says...
9:37pm Fri 21 Sep 12
Definition:-
In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion. The noun troll may refer to the provocative message itself, as in: "That was an excellent troll you posted.".
Jayman, you fit that perfectly..
Max Impact says...
10:30am Fri 31 Aug 12