Waterford Airport.

curmudgeonly · 08-12-2023 3:30pm

AFAIK the deal with the Council has Milestones and a timeline built into it, i.e. it will not be possible for anyone to just sit on the property and do nothing, develop or lose it.

Again FYI

Markcheese · 13-12-2023 3:13pm

How many houses - how much land is being CPO 'd

curmudgeonly · 13-12-2023 4:42pm

2 houses are all that are affected, both at the end of the runway. all land acquisitions happened some years ago

13-12-2023 10:05pm

I'd be more worried about Bolster announcing all this funding and that the business plan has yet to be sent to government?

That is surely not going to be submitted, looked at until well after Christmas at this stage.

Surely part of the announcement should have been that they submitted the business plan.

Deiseen · 14-12-2023 7:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121492552#Comment_121492552

I thought it was on the ministers desk for ages anyway before this announcement?

14-12-2023 8:36am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121493293#Comment_121493293

At the recent announcement it was said that they hope to submit the business plan in the coming weeks

chasing_ghosts · 14-12-2023 11:22am

From what I've heard, hopefully the business case will be approved by the start of spring. And soil turned by late summer.

You'd forget how big a project it is, runway extension, new taxiways/apron, terminal extension. I would guess that we don't see flights until the end of 2025. But I do have faith.

chasing_ghosts · 14-12-2023 11:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121490993#Comment_121490993

The owners of two houses would've also known when they were built that eventually they'd have to be levelled.

14-12-2023 8:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121493771#Comment_121493771

Really? It has not been submitted to government yet? We know the governments track records when business cases are submitted, that seems like a very quick and probably unrealistic turnaround.

Given that and the fact this time of year the government won't be back sitting till mid January early spring seems very unrealistic.

I hope I am wrong by the way.

14-12-2023 8:47pm

Really? It has not been submitted to government yet? We know the governments track records when business cases are submitted, that seems like a very quick and probably unrealistic turnaround.

Given that and the fact this time of year the government won't be back sitting till mid January early spring seems very unrealistic.

I hope I am wrong by the way.

Markcheese · 14-12-2023 9:52pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121493793#Comment_121493793

Seems a bit odd , the extension might never have been built ,and if the coast guard had decided to leave ,the airport might not have continued at all ,

Admittedly being bought out is probably their best option

Deiseen · 14-12-2023 10:34pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121493329#Comment_121493329

I know that but there were earlier announcements saying it was on the ministers desk or am I mistaken?

Fox Uniform · 15-12-2023 1:44pm

I would assume this is an updated plan.

They definitely got a business plan before the approved the original 5 million extension funding

15-12-2023 2:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121496715#Comment_121496715

I'm not sure, it wasn't long ago that Leo was on WLR saying they are awaiting the business plan.

I'm not sure a business plan was even submitted a number of years back when the initial amount requested was 5 million, I think it was more of a you get the money we'll go halves providing a business plan is provided and makes financial sense, I'd imagine a new one needs to be submitted based on the new cost?

Maybe someone in the know had an idea but as far as I have seen the government are still awaiting a business plan from the airport.

Dum_Dum_2 · 16-12-2023 1:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121493771#Comment_121493771

It's not a big project.

It's a moderate upgrade to a regional airport.

If there was an Overton Window equivalent for ambition, then the Waterford one has shrunk to well below mediocrity.

azimuth17 · 16-12-2023 4:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121502694#Comment_121502694

So you're back!

16-12-2023 9:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121502694#Comment_121502694

It is a big project but can be completed relatively easily.

The wiring for the lighting was already relocated to allow for widening of the runway.

As there are no schedule services there is little impact, yes impact on private flights, aero club and training school.

Coast guard can use the current taxiway for take off and landing if the runway is closed.

All in all it could be completed relatively quickly due to not having schedule services.

Asdfgh2020 · 17-12-2023 4:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121504229#Comment_121504229

Despite your optimism has a contract for the proposed works even been advertised yet….? I don’t think so……therefore I would suggest that the end of 2025 at the earliest would be when Ryan air type flights might return…?

17-12-2023 2:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121505004#Comment_121505004

I am not overly optimistic, the fact a business plan has yet to be sent to government has me concerned.

It's not the frist time Bolster has said that "the money is there" so until I business plan is sent I don't feel the project is happening.

If €11 million private funding is there, then just start the bloody project, that is how to put pressure on government to see this through

curmudgeonly · 17-12-2023 4:37pm

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2023/1217/1422489-dublin-airport/

This may help make up Eamons mind!

road_high · 17-12-2023 9:58pm

Unfortunately the political climate is completely against this project- air travel is portrayed as the devil incarnate. Until we junk the “Green” party I’m afraid this and numerous vital road projects around the country are doomed. All they’ll do is delay and waffle on about “sustainable” transport etc

Valhalla90 · 18-12-2023 3:56am

Greens will be gone next election no doubt about that!

Silverado · 19-12-2023 12:45pm

I have just been looking at the new extended runway plan and realised that it is rather close to the roadways at both the northern and southern ends. In approximate terms the new runway would be about 200m from the R708 road at the northern end and about 100m from the R685 Dunmore-Tramore road at the southern end. Is this not a bit too close?

Checking online there doesn’t seem to be a minimum clearance distance for an airport runway to a public road. There are numerous examples of island runways and public roads. In Gibraltar for instance the road actually goes across the runway and has traffic lights.

However, an aircraft heavily laden might need the entire runway to get off the ground. We are told that these aircraft can take off in 1800m and we have 2287m available. Then it should be okay, or is it?

Given that the prevailing wind is south westerly this will mean that aircraft will usually be taking off going south. It could be a little scary for a driver on the Dunmore-Tramore road going underneath. An Airbus 320 or Boeing 737 is very large up close.

Should the Dunmore-Tramore road be diverted south to give more clearance? Maybe the Gibraltar method of traffic lights might be a lot cheaper.

Valhalla90 · 19-12-2023 1:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121513631#Comment_121513631

Let’s get the planes landing and taking off first then worry about this!

19-12-2023 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121513631#Comment_121513631

I wouldn't worry about it, that's 200 meters from the road and probably another 200/300 meters between that and the touch down pads and take off area, any plane would be well clear of the road in take off and landing

fricatus · 21-12-2023 12:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121513631#Comment_121513631

The length of a runway has to allow a plane to accelerate to decision speed (after which the pilot cannot abort takeoff) and then brake safely to a stop, with some margin over, so in practice, when they take off, there is plenty of tarmac still underneath them and they're high above the end of the runway, even when fully loaded.

By the time a plane crosses the airport perimiter, it's overhead rather than coming right at you, so for the majority of drivers and takeoffs, it's just not going to be an issue. That said, you never know who's going to be startled, and what I have seen is warning lights on the road, a bit like at an unattended level crossing - these are linked either to ATC takeoff clearance or else some sort of sensor by the runway I would assume. I'm sure if there's a case for these, they'll install them - on a project like this, there will be plenty of regulatory requirements that will need to be adhered to.

thomil · 21-12-2023 12:29pm

It actually doesn't look too close from what I can see. It reminds me of Runway 25 here at Cork, my own "home base". The R600 to Kinsale crosses under the approach path a mere 246 meters away from the runway threshold, but the touchdown zone markings are a further 240 meters in, over 500 meters away from the road. I took the picture below a few years back, while returning from Bristol on an Aer Lingus Regional ATR. As you can see, even accounting for the terrain and the fact that this pic was taken just before overflying the R600, there's still more than enough clearance.