Southend airport – Firms foresee return to airport’s golden age
27.6.2008 (Echo)
BUSINESSES are looking forward to a second golden age of the once-buzzing Southend
Airport.
A bold blueprint to expand has been announced by Rochford and Southend councils
and it is hoped the proposed train terminal and longer runway will help create
3,000 jobs. (See below).
and it is hoped the proposed train terminal and longer runway will help create
3,000 jobs. (See below).
Keith Hudson, deputy leader of Rochford District Council, said: “For many years
our airport has languished and now we will see a renaissance.”
our airport has languished and now we will see a renaissance.”
His views are shared by firms based at the site and the proposed expansion has
been welcomed by companies eager to see passenger numbers return to that of the
1960s, when figures reached 700,000 passenger flights in a year. [error – this should say 700,000 passengers per year]
been welcomed by companies eager to see passenger numbers return to that of the
1960s, when figures reached 700,000 passenger flights in a year. [error – this should say 700,000 passengers per year]
This has tailed off to around 30,000, but with the planned expansion it is hoped
numbers could reach up to two million a year.
numbers could reach up to two million a year.
Firms at the airport are welcoming expansion and hope to improve on the 1,000
jobs directly connected to the airport.
jobs directly connected to the airport.
The maths is simple. More planes would lead to a greater demand for skilled
engineers. And Southend is full of potential, according to engineering firm ATC
Lasham.
engineers. And Southend is full of potential, according to engineering firm ATC
Lasham.
Manager Ian Dorling said the firm is in the third year of taking on engineering
apprentices from Prospects College.
apprentices from Prospects College.
A handful of bright youngsters work with the firm and over a few years they develop
into engineers, complete with City and Guilds certificates.
into engineers, complete with City and Guilds certificates.
Mr Dorling said: “There is a wealth of good, young talent here in Southend and
I think those people who are likely to benefit from expansion are the young people
here.”
I think those people who are likely to benefit from expansion are the young people
here.”
He added skilled engineers and other workers often leave the airport to go to
bigger sites such as Stansted and Luton, but this could be turned around by success
at Southend.
bigger sites such as Stansted and Luton, but this could be turned around by success
at Southend.
Expansion at the airport would go hand-in-hand with expanding training for young
aeronautical engineers.
aeronautical engineers.
ATC Lasham is in talks with Prospects College and hopes one day potential engineers
can get a specialised qualification, which means they are authorised to inspect
work carried out on planes.
can get a specialised qualification, which means they are authorised to inspect
work carried out on planes.
At the moment apprentices learn about how to mend and fix metal at the college
and their training is completed with skilled workers at the firm to get a City
and Guilds in aeronautical engineering.
and their training is completed with skilled workers at the firm to get a City
and Guilds in aeronautical engineering.
But the firm, like many others, is not concentrating on what may just be pie
in the sky. There is a note of realism which is keeping their feet on the ground.
in the sky. There is a note of realism which is keeping their feet on the ground.
Mr Dorling explained: “I don’t think the benefits of expansion will be immediate.”
Bob Peck, the managing director of Inflite, an aviation maintenance and engineering
company, is confident the development at the airport will not only bring increased
business for firms already based there, but could see a growth in smaller companies
moving into the area.
company, is confident the development at the airport will not only bring increased
business for firms already based there, but could see a growth in smaller companies
moving into the area.
“The introduction of a new airline operator, using the airport for regular scheduled
flights, will automatically increase the traffic loads and so give the opportunity
of new business to existing maintenance firms at the airport,” he said.
flights, will automatically increase the traffic loads and so give the opportunity
of new business to existing maintenance firms at the airport,” he said.
“The planned airport growth with its new infrastructure, will also mean larger
passenger aircraft will be able to operate in and out of the airport comfortably.
passenger aircraft will be able to operate in and out of the airport comfortably.
“I think any major airline operator based here, or utilising the airport, would
encourage smaller operators to consider basing their own operations here. Southend
Airport has, this last year, been investing in improving terminal and airport
facilities and this has been a confidence booster for firms at the airport.”
encourage smaller operators to consider basing their own operations here. Southend
Airport has, this last year, been investing in improving terminal and airport
facilities and this has been a confidence booster for firms at the airport.”
Despite the current credit crunch, Mr Peck is confident the economic situation
won’t put off a potential new buyer for the airport.
won’t put off a potential new buyer for the airport.
He said: “I think expansion here will still go ahead.
“From a developer’s point of view they will face the same situation wherever
they go.
they go.
“Inflite is already developing and expanding its own facility by building new
workshops that will allow a 33% increase in capacity at the site.
workshops that will allow a 33% increase in capacity at the site.
“We are also installing new enlarged, electrically-operated hangar doors that
will allow us to cope with larger passenger aircraft.
will allow us to cope with larger passenger aircraft.
“Employing local engineering staff and bringing on apprentice engineers is key
to our developing future.”
to our developing future.”
For now, firms are left waiting for a new operator to take over the airport and
stump up the millions needed for the ambitious plans before things really take
off.
stump up the millions needed for the ambitious plans before things really take
off.
Comments:
Posted by: Richard Elmer on Today
Posted by: southendreb, southend on Today
Posted by: dave turner on Today
Could some kind person please inform me where the alleged 30,000 passengers
a year fly depart for and how many flights are involved.
I was under the impression that the runway is too short for most modern planes
to take off fully laden.
If flights are operating 50 weeks a year, this means 600 per week.
Maybe the “Echo” has not yet got a proof reader for the articles they print.
a year fly depart for and how many flights are involved.
I was under the impression that the runway is too short for most modern planes
to take off fully laden.
If flights are operating 50 weeks a year, this means 600 per week.
Maybe the “Echo” has not yet got a proof reader for the articles they print.
Posted by: Norfolk on Today
Dave,
The bulk of those passengers are Ford employees on the company shuttle to and
from Cologne. These flights operate twice daily Tuesday to Thursdays and once
daily on Mondays and Fridays. They use their own BAe146 aircraft.
The bulk of those passengers are Ford employees on the company shuttle to and
from Cologne. These flights operate twice daily Tuesday to Thursdays and once
daily on Mondays and Fridays. They use their own BAe146 aircraft.
Posted by: southendreb, southend on Today
It seems the optimistic figures of extra 3,000. jobs and 2 million passengers
are dreamed up by southend and Rochford councils , Better discount those figures.
are dreamed up by southend and Rochford councils , Better discount those figures.
The feedback received from this document will play an important role in the development We recognise that not everyone has access to the internet and that it is important
in the functioning of the airport using its current infrastructure. Growth in activity at the airport has been limited in the recent past and very much focused towards expansion of the MRO functioning of the airport. Aircraft movements are currently in the order of 39,000 movements per annum and would be anticipated to increase to around 50,000 movements per annum (last seen in 2000). Southend Airport & Environs Joint Area Action Plan Issues & Options Report 37 facilities and limited MRO opportunities as they come forward. Within this constraint the result would be limited growth in passenger numbers from a current level of 30,000 passengers per annum*, but this would be constrained by the fact that limited operators would find the airport an attractive commercial proposition given its facilities and catchment. In terms of economic benefits, new employment would towards being a regional airport based on using its current runway (length 1,610 metres). The key to this option is the provision of new passenger infrastructure in the form of a new railway station for the airport and investment in new passenger terminal facilities. The importance of the railway is fundamental to increasing the attractiveness of the airport to potential airline operators as it increases the size of the passenger catchment to include core markets within London (by reducing the travel time to the airport). to increase passenger movements at the airport to around 1 million passengers by 2012 and up to 2 million passengers by 2030. highlight that while they are theoretically achievable, they are highly optimistic given the airport would remain constrained to airlines who operate smaller aircraft. In this regard there is a high level of risk associated with this option. The economic reality is that passenger operators are operating larger and more efficient aircraft and will view the airport as a constraint to commercial operation. to proceed. In terms of economic benefits, growth of the airport would underpin the wider aspirations of the area but are relatively high risk in respect of potential deliverability given the reality of the situation. the addition of increasing the length of the runway (up to 1,799 metres). airport and its resultant attractiveness to airline operators. Currently the runway is an identified constraint on the operation of the airport. By lengthening the runway [to the south-west] across Eastwoodbury Lane into the current RESA (= Runway End Safety Area) area it would mean that larger aircraft (such as Boeing 737s) would be able to be operated fully laden out of the airport for business and passenger uses, making the airport a more attractive fixed base for a wider range of operators. [2 million passengers per annum] because given the new runway and railway station it would attract two or three fixed base operators to the airport in a relatively short period of time. markets by attracting new fleets and making the airport a more efficient base for these purposes. Given the growth on the airport is dependent on its ability to attract operators (through offering an enhanced asset) the risks of this option are greatly reduced. the potential for investment in the other assets of the railway station, passenger terminal, and supporting facilities. In economic benefit terms the airport under this option would clearly act as a driver for the local economy, providing direct employment as well as enhanced opportunities for wider aviation-related and business employment. |
