Plans
The Airport recently published a Master Plan that sets out development proposals for the airport until 2016. In the near term, these include building a multi-storey car park to replace the current short-stay parking, a new 187-bedroom on-site hotel and the expansion of the freight facilities on the south side of the airport. Feasibility studies are being carried out to evaluate the longer-term proposals that include:
- extending the runway at its eastmost end;
- converting the junction with the A696 into a grade-separated junction to cater for the expected increase in traffic levels; and
- the building of a heavy rail link to connect the airport with the National Rail network.
In October 2007 a new Air Traffic Control Tower was completed at a cost of £8.2 million, situated on the north side of the airfield. The now christened ' Emirates Tower ' was designed by REID architects, and bears resemblance to the control tower they designed for Edinburgh Airport. In the process the Newcastle VHF omnidirectional range beacon was permanently withdrawn from service, since the new tower would have interfered with its operation.
It is expected that £70 million will be invested in the airport during the current Master Plan period, which runs from 2006 to 2016. The airport also recently finished extending its remote parking for aircraft, resulting in an extra 5 parking stands that can accommodate 5 medium-sized aircraft (Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 size), or 4 large aircraft (Boeing 767 or Airbus A330 size) plus 2 smaller aircraft (such as the BAe Jetstream 41).
Read more about this topic: Newcastle Airport
Famous quotes containing the word plans:
“When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d
with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me
that follow’d,
And else when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d,
still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health,
refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,”
—Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
“We for a certainty are not the first
Have sat in taverns while the tempest hurled
Their hopeful plans to emptiness, and cursed
Whatever brute and blackguard made the world.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)
“The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 16:9.