Features
Airport's chance to fly into a brave new future
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| The future of Southend Airport hangs in the balance |
THE suspense at London Southend Airport is tighter than anything in the film Snakes on a Plane. The future hangs on two separate transactions, both imminent.
One is the result of the airport joint action plan, now under consideration by Rochford and Southend councils. The other is the impending sale of the airport's commercial operation by current owners and managers Regional Airways. The freehold remains the property of Southend Council.
At a time like this, a state approaching limbo, even frozen terror, might be expected.
In reality, the place is already a hive of development. Under its director Alistair Welch, Southend Airport is undergoing an overhaul involving £500,000 of investment.
It is also home to a thriving community of about 1,000 people, working for the airport or for companies that in some cases are world leaders in their field. Aircraft seat manufacturer Ipeco and runway light supplier Iavna are just two such firms.
Most people, even residents who live on the periphery of the airport's new upgraded security fence, see little of this inward facing, self-contained world. Despite the current economic climate, the airport thrives as a dependable source of revenue and employment for south east Essex.
"It is an efficient example of something called an engineering cluster," says Mr Welch.
Businesses interact with each other, providing one another with business. A plane being serviced by ATC Lasham may also get a respray from Air Livery and instrumentation work by Avionicare.
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| Airport boss Alistair Welch |
"Businesses within the aviation community feed off one another in a way that works," says Mr Welch. "It also Affects the decision of clients to use Southend airport. The more work they can get done in one place, the lower their costs."
He sees the airport management's role in this pattern as one of facilitator. "Ideally a new company coming into this pattern should complement the others.
"Twenty organisations all doing the same thing are going to be 20 organisations all going bust."
Southend Airport's engineering cluster has proved robustly recession-proof in the past, and continues to ride buoyant in the face of the present credit crunch and oil price rises.
While British airlines go bust or start the process of mothballing their fleets, demand is building in the Middle East.
"The oil price rise means, of course, that they have even more money to spend," says Mr Welch.
Rochford and Southend councillors face a range of proposals in their joint assessment of the action plan, starting with do nothing, simply retain this thriving status quo. Given that choice, the airport could survive in its present state.
"But this option, crudely, means stagnation," says Mr Welch. "Many of these companies are anxious to expand, and other towns, Basildon for instance, would welcome them with open arms."
He hopes councillors will select another option, at the opposite end of the range of choices: This involves two major shafts of expansion - the development of the rugby club and an adjoining field to the north of Aviation Way for further business use, and the long fought-over runway extension.
Two hundred extra metres of runway would transform the airport's future as a passenger facility.
Mr Welch puts the consequences in perspective. "Two hundred extra metres of runway would increase the range of aircraft from 600 miles to 1100 miles, effectively doubling the reach.
"That means opening up the southern and eastern Mediterranean, the places, like Malaga, where people actually want to go. Southend will become an airport that is actually useful to local people."
Using Southampton Airport as a case study, Mr Welch believes Southend could serve two million passengers a year "without significant extra noise or disruption to the local community".
The move would entail the diversion of Eastwoodbury Lane - expensive, but relatively uncontroversial from the environmental viewpoint.
The focal point of opposition in the past has been the historic St Laurence Church.
Working with the Civil Aviation Authority, the airport team has devised a working solution that will do away with the need to move the church from its 1,000-year-old location.
By shifting the entire runway so that the church is aligned with the tip of the runway, the building ceases to be a hazard for pilots rectifying their approach.
These, and other developments, including the £12million railway station, are largely dependent on the sale of the airport.
Around £35million capitalisation is required. "We are talking scary figures. It does involve a leap of faith," Mr Welch says.
While the suspense builds, the current management has made its own gesture of faith by refurbishing the existing terminal. Along with a spruce-up, there is a new pilots' room, the departure desks have been brought to the front of the building, and the coffee lounge and reception area tripled in size.
It looks like a place that means business, poised for big things to happen. Now there is everything to play for.
"We hope." says Mr Welch, "that this is just the start, rather than a case of this is as far as we go'."
1:50am Wednesday 25th June 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ivanna Goodhump on 8:33am Wed 25 Jun 08
[italic]Using Southampton Airport as a case study, Mr Welch believes Southend could serve two million passengers a year "without significant extra noise or disruption to the local community".[/italic]
That statement has to be the biggest load of old tosh I have heard for years.
Lets hope a Public Enquiry will allow for these "facts" to be shown up as spin and PR.
The transport links to Southampton Airport are far far superior to those in Southend.
Whether you agree with expansion or not, one would hope that people such as Mr Welch would credit the local population with some intelligence and not make such ridiculous staements that are blatently untrue.
Using Southampton Airport as a case study, Mr Welch believes Southend could serve two million passengers a year "without significant extra noise or disruption to the local community".
That statement has to be the biggest load of old tosh I have heard for years.
Lets hope a Public Enquiry will allow for these "facts" to be shown up as spin and PR.
The transport links to Southampton Airport are far far superior to those in Southend.
Whether you agree with expansion or not, one would hope that people such as Mr Welch would credit the local population with some intelligence and not make such ridiculous staements that are blatently untrue.
Posted by: A Ratepayer on 8:37am Wed 25 Jun 08
Increase the runway, allow in bigger Jets (up to 40 movements a day) but "no significant increase in noise ".
Is Mr Welch's nose growing ?
Increase the runway, allow in bigger Jets (up to 40 movements a day) but "no significant increase in noise ".
Is Mr Welch's nose growing ?
Posted by: Dan, North Leigh on 9:39am Wed 25 Jun 08
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard.
Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go!
I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard.
Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go!
I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
Posted by: Jase Ried, Southend on 11:33am Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]Dan[/bold] wrote:
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex. [/quote] Agree 100% the airport was there long before the people who have posted negitive posts abpve why move near an airport then winge and wine about it, yes you might not have thought about it expanding but anyone with HALF a brain cell would have seen the fact that air travel was incresing and alway has been in the most part.
Dan wrote:
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
Agree 100% the airport was there long before the people who have posted negitive posts abpve why move near an airport then winge and wine about it, yes you might not have thought about it expanding but anyone with HALF a brain cell would have seen the fact that air travel was incresing and alway has been in the most part.
Posted by: southendreb, southend on 11:45am Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]Dan[/bold] wrote:
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex. [/quote] If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype.
I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.
Dan wrote:
Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype.
I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.
Posted by: Norfolk on 12:43pm Wed 25 Jun 08
I can well understand that many people have genuine fears concerning increased noise, and their views should be respected, but the real question here is whether Southend wants an airport which actually provides the local residents with what they want - a convenient, local airport offering a range of destinations that they want to fly to - not just a weekly summer only service to Jersey.
At the moment we have an airport which creates an amount of noise nuisance (although much less than in the 60s and 70s) without offering any real benefits to the local population. Without the runway extension I'm afraid that is the way it will stay - the disadvantages without any benefits other than some employment opportunities.
I worked for much of my life at the airport as a charter broker so I know what the airlines need and expect if they are to use it. At present the runway is so limiting as to make either scheduled or charter flights to Spain and Portugal, for example, impossible to operate economically. In these days of high oil prices no airline will accept either an en route fuel stop or a reduced passenger payload. The proposed runway extension will provide the capability the airlines need - Flybe for example having said that it is currently the runway length which prevents them opening new routes. It will also greatly enhance safety at both ends of the runway - something which should not be overlooked.
If you are happy to continue to have an airport which you cannot use and which will not contribute to the local economy, fine, object to the runway extention but don't forget that there is no way the airport will close under any of the options proposed and the maintenance flights are likely to increase anyway.
I would add that my elderly mother lives immediately off Southend Road and there is no way I would support a development which would cause her problems and I can put my hand on my heart and say that the modern aircraft which Southend will be able to attract really will not cause any great increase in noise levels. More frequent arrivals and departures - of course - but certainly not noisier aircraft.
I can well understand that many people have genuine fears concerning increased noise, and their views should be respected, but the real question here is whether Southend wants an airport which actually provides the local residents with what they want - a convenient, local airport offering a range of destinations that they want to fly to - not just a weekly summer only service to Jersey.
At the moment we have an airport which creates an amount of noise nuisance (although much less than in the 60s and 70s) without offering any real benefits to the local population. Without the runway extension I'm afraid that is the way it will stay - the disadvantages without any benefits other than some employment opportunities.
I worked for much of my life at the airport as a charter broker so I know what the airlines need and expect if they are to use it. At present the runway is so limiting as to make either scheduled or charter flights to Spain and Portugal, for example, impossible to operate economically. In these days of high oil prices no airline will accept either an en route fuel stop or a reduced passenger payload. The proposed runway extension will provide the capability the airlines need - Flybe for example having said that it is currently the runway length which prevents them opening new routes. It will also greatly enhance safety at both ends of the runway - something which should not be overlooked.
If you are happy to continue to have an airport which you cannot use and which will not contribute to the local economy, fine, object to the runway extention but don't forget that there is no way the airport will close under any of the options proposed and the maintenance flights are likely to increase anyway.
I would add that my elderly mother lives immediately off Southend Road and there is no way I would support a development which would cause her problems and I can put my hand on my heart and say that the modern aircraft which Southend will be able to attract really will not cause any great increase in noise levels. More frequent arrivals and departures - of course - but certainly not noisier aircraft.
Posted by: A Ratepayer on 1:12pm Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]southendreb[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Dan[/bold] wrote: Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today\'s standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it\'ll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex. [/quote] If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype. I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.[/quote] Typical Dan.
Now he has joined the big world of work (albeit for a Council, so he can't really claim he contributes to society) he really must get into the habit of reading everything correctly before responding.
As for his comments re Southampton - how many holiday makers actually go to an airport by train. The road netwotk into Southampton is far superior.
Finally the self righteous Dan also fails to disclose that he lives and works in Leeds .....not North Leigh !
southendreb wrote:
Dan wrote: Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today\'s standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it\'ll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype. I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.
Typical Dan.
Now he has joined the big world of work (albeit for a Council, so he can't really claim he contributes to society) he really must get into the habit of reading everything correctly before responding.
As for his comments re Southampton - how many holiday makers actually go to an airport by train. The road netwotk into Southampton is far superior.
Finally the self righteous Dan also fails to disclose that he lives and works in Leeds .....not North Leigh !
Posted by: A Ratepayer on 1:12pm Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]southendreb[/bold] wrote:
[quote][bold]Dan[/bold] wrote: Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today\\\'s standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it\\\'ll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex. [/quote] If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype. I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.[/quote] Typical Dan.
Now he has joined the big world of work (albeit for a Council, so he can't really claim he contributes to society) he really must get into the habit of reading everything correctly before responding.
As for his comments re Southampton - how many holiday makers actually go to an airport by train. The road netwotk into Southampton is far superior.
Finally the self righteous Dan also fails to disclose that he lives and works in Leeds .....not North Leigh !
southendreb wrote:
Dan wrote: Glad to see Mr Welch sees the bigger picture, unlike the narrow-minded comments above. The airport has been there longer than half of the town and used to be MUCH busier with far noisier aeroplanes than today's standard. Ivanna, have you ever taken a train to southampton? South West trains are JUST as bad as the Great Eastern line, but with a longer distance to go! I hope the expansion plans go ahead as it'll be a huge boost to the economy of southend and south-east essex.
If you actually read the letters properly they dont say that they are against the Airport . It is that once again again we are being fed Bullsh*t and Hype. I do remember a very successful airport and many of my friends worked there, I would like it to be successful again. As for the Bigger picture Dan tell me what state the WORLD aircraft industry will be in in 3 years due to the fuel crisis. Once again you seem to have the misguided idea that expansion will make it automatically successful. It down to the people that run it.
Typical Dan.
Now he has joined the big world of work (albeit for a Council, so he can't really claim he contributes to society) he really must get into the habit of reading everything correctly before responding.
As for his comments re Southampton - how many holiday makers actually go to an airport by train. The road netwotk into Southampton is far superior.
Finally the self righteous Dan also fails to disclose that he lives and works in Leeds .....not North Leigh !
Posted by: Marshwalker, Shoeburyness on 2:39pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Question! With the exspantion of the Airport & Runway, will I then be able to get a flight direct to any of the following. Tenerife / Costa del Sol (Malga) / Florida / Las Vegas / South africa. I think not, just anther pipe dream for the rich boys to rip-off the best bits and then dump a loss making airport back on the Council tax payers!
Question! With the exspantion of the Airport & Runway, will I then be able to get a flight direct to any of the following. Tenerife / Costa del Sol (Malga) / Florida / Las Vegas / South africa. I think not, just anther pipe dream for the rich boys to rip-off the best bits and then dump a loss making airport back on the Council tax payers!
Posted by: APR, Benfleet on 3:33pm Wed 25 Jun 08
With the increase in runway length, planes such as the Airbus and 757 will be able to get to most European holiday destinations.
An empty 757 only needs half of the runway to get airbourne as it is, and can fly direct to Canada.
With the increase in runway length, planes such as the Airbus and 757 will be able to get to most European holiday destinations.
An empty 757 only needs half of the runway to get airbourne as it is, and can fly direct to Canada.
Posted by: Southend Observer on 4:36pm Wed 25 Jun 08
[quote][bold]A Ratepayer[/bold] wrote:
Increase the runway, allow in bigger Jets (up to 40 movements a day) but \\\"no significant increase in noise \\\". Is Mr Welch\\\'s nose growing ? [/quote] Aircraft of a size simukar to what is een on a regular size for matinence will only make up a relatively snall number of movements. At Southapton there is only one regular operator of jet aircraft of [bold]many[/bold] carriers. I feel that an increase in turboprop operations will have no significant increase in noise levels.
A Ratepayer wrote:
Increase the runway, allow in bigger Jets (up to 40 movements a day) but \\\"no significant increase in noise \\\". Is Mr Welch's nose growing ?
Aircraft of a size simukar to what is een on a regular size for matinence will only make up a relatively snall number of movements. At Southapton there is only one regular operator of jet aircraft of
many carriers. I feel that an increase in turboprop operations will have no significant increase in noise levels.
Posted by: Norfolk on 5:06pm Wed 25 Jun 08
To answer Marshwalker's question:
Yes, you will be able to fly direct to Tenerife and the Costa del Sol and no, you won't be able to fly to the USA or South Africa.
But that is just the point. This would be a runway extension of less than 15% of its current length so it would not allow large jets with their increased noise levels to operate, but 15% is enough to allow the types of aircraft that come in empty for maintenance at the moment to opetate passenger flights as well.
I would be very much against any expansion that turned Southend into another Stansted or Gatwick that that is definitely not the case.
To answer Marshwalker's question:
Yes, you will be able to fly direct to Tenerife and the Costa del Sol and no, you won't be able to fly to the USA or South Africa.
But that is just the point. This would be a runway extension of less than 15% of its current length so it would not allow large jets with their increased noise levels to operate, but 15% is enough to allow the types of aircraft that come in empty for maintenance at the moment to opetate passenger flights as well.
I would be very much against any expansion that turned Southend into another Stansted or Gatwick that that is definitely not the case.
Posted by: george, southend on 6:24pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Oh how naive. Expand the airport . Expand the business already there without the new owners bringing in their own.No more noise just more flights. Just how much room do you think there is there. Does the flying club think it can fit in all its flights easily when competing with the larger aircraft. I think not. Rising fuel prices - if it all goes ahead and is done before the olympics (not likely) I predict there will not be enough profit there and the new owners will be selling it on yet again.....be very wary what you wish for. All for a convenient start to a holiday .Just look at all the other southend council schemes! Suggest you think again.
Oh how naive. Expand the airport . Expand the business already there without the new owners bringing in their own.No more noise just more flights. Just how much room do you think there is there. Does the flying club think it can fit in all its flights easily when competing with the larger aircraft. I think not. Rising fuel prices - if it all goes ahead and is done before the olympics (not likely) I predict there will not be enough profit there and the new owners will be selling it on yet again.....be very wary what you wish for. All for a convenient start to a holiday .Just look at all the other southend council schemes! Suggest you think again.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward, Unsure on 8:15pm Thu 26 Jun 08
Hey, if you are near the airport and you don't like the airport, then move away from the airport!
I'm sure a worker at the airport would gladly buy your house because its so near to the airport.
Airports surely reduce the need for locals to travel to further airports - airports are here to stay.
Hey, if you are near the airport and you don't like the airport, then move away from the airport!
I'm sure a worker at the airport would gladly buy your house because its so near to the airport.
Airports surely reduce the need for locals to travel to further airports - airports are here to stay.
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