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 In the process the Newcastle VHF omnidirectional range beacon was permanently withdrawn from service, since the new tower would have interfered with its operation.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:
“The human mind plans the way, but the LORD directs the steps.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Proverbs 16:9.
“Man you ought to see his plans for allsteel buildins. Hes got an idea the skyscraper of the futurell be built of steel and glass. Weve been experimenting with vitrous tile recently... crist-amighty some of his plans would knock you out... Hes got a great sayin about some Roman emperor who found Rome of brick and left it of marble. Well he says hes found New York of brick an that hes goin to leave it of steel... steel an glass.”
—John Dos Passos (18961970)
“Architect. One who drafts a plan of your house, and plans a draft of your money.”
—Ambrose Bierce (18421914)