But that's exactly my point. With NO expansion in LHR's boundaries or increase in movements, T5 still took 5 years just to get through the inquiry / consultation process...and there were many objectors :confused:

So what time I wonder for a whole new runway, significantly outside the existing boundaries and a significant increase in traffic movements?

I wasn't arguing with you (I agree completely actually). I was making a more general point. Should have made my post clearer.

Well, it depends on the way the government decides that large, nationally important infrastructure projects should be handled in planning.

The one thing the T5 inquiry did was show that for for larger scale, important projects, the planning system was not fit for purpose. So the IPC was introduced, which was intended to only deal with nationally important infrastructure - and a number of those could be foreseen, from the nuclear power plants currently going through planning to (at the time) the third runway for LHR. This was intended to provide a much easier route through planning for projects which were of national importance, but which could be bogged down for years addressing local concerns, by taking (IIRC) much of the responsibility for deciding their fate from the local authorities onto the IPC itself.

However, the Coalition government has just scrapped the IPC system - which was still bedding in - and not provided too much guidance on what will replace it (NB, I haven't really followed this debate for a few years so I could be out of date here) - except to say the Planning Inspectorate will now be responsible. There's obviously a big hole, and lots of uncertainty for developers of large projects who now have no idea how their planning application will be reviewed.

Sorry. Which bit of CAP738 don't you understand?

There isn't room. Period.

What there is just fits the parameters.

well the idiotic PM today said in Jakarta 'Heathrow is one of the biggest and most succesful airport in the world but I wont allow a third runway'. He then promised the head of Garuda that he will look into a direct London Jakarta flight.

A complete air head

We really need him to be swallowed up by an earthquake and the closet pro aviation George Osborne to replace him

However I believe that Northolt is under review as a sort 'third runway lite' that they can claim is not a third runway but really is, and I believe second runways at Stansted and Gatwick are under review. I also think the PM is lining up for Heathwick and the prospect of Thames Hub

But he could mean London Luton or London Gatwick.. :D

or even better London Southend :D

London Birmingham once those train lines are built

Personally I am going for London Birmingham. Lots of staff close to the airport, unlike STN. Also plenty of would be engineers who would either be building Jags.

And maybe they can turn Birmingham into a Heathrow terminal

After all Birmingham Airport's management did brand the airport 'Heathrow's third runway' a couple of years back so lets make it literal :D

just build a 500 mph train line between T5 and the BHX (T6) and then people on Garuda flights can connect on to the wonderful range of destinations on offer at T5 in just 15-20 minutes, it would only cost £1000000000000 Million which may be a little more than a a third runway but will still be well worth it as all those poor people who through no fault of their own moved next to Heathrow wont be disturbed :D

I read that quite a few people use LH as well, then transfer in Germany.

My understanding is that they have asked the govt for a 3 runway in LHR as well.

yes the Star Alliance members including Lufthansa, Air Canada, SAS and United have formally supported a third runway.

In fact they are the only alliance that has shown support for a Thames Estuary Airport apparently Boris and Lord Foster had a meeting with members of Star Alliance over it.

But pretty much every operator at Heathrow and several Asian and Far Eastern Carriers desperate for Heathrow slots have been hammering the government over it including the head of Garuda who had a private word with Cameron in Jakarta about it

Now George Osborne and several Conservative piers and MPs are also applying pressure on the air head

It wont be long until he cracks and even if the Lib Dem Eco twits oppose it Im pretty confident most of Labour would vote in favour of it

Looking forward, during my remaining lifetime, to seeing the Govt getting a grip and making a bloody decision instead of just prevaricating and starting another review.

God, it reminds me of my days with the CAA … "We should form a Working Group to look at that"

PLEASE make a decision, you twonkers, and just get on with it. How many years has this dribbled on now? :mad:

Whilst I am often optimistic about most things in life. My bank manager can give you a reference about that if you like. :D

However I am worried about Zac Goldsmith. He is very outspoken about the 3 runway. Also about night flights which is up for review. This has become easier since Germany banned night flights, upsetting LH.

http://www.zacgoldsmith.com/default.asp?contentID=26

Whilst I would like more flights, I would also like more competition. However to get that we need more slots. Everyones figures show that flying will become more popular.

http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/?p=1631

Jaguar's Engineering centre is at Whitley, Coventry. Land Rover is much closer to the airport at Solihull. I toured LR's factory last week, quite interesting, and very different from Morgan Motors which I toured the day before.

Quite agree. I'm 31 but don't expect anything in my lifetime either. I live in the Caribbean but am originally from Scotland. If I want to get back to the homeland LHR is my only feasible option - and i will not fly at winter as i'm sick of the fog and snow delays at LHR so no crimbers with the family thanks to LHR. Out of interest, does anyone know how many actually arrive at LHR then disappear into the wilderness that is London and surrounding areas, and how many simply get on another flight out of there as I do (esp internal flights)? Usually I am in the latter so couldn't care less where the transfer airport (LHR) for me is. Give me realistic options all you airlines out there and i'll gladly desert LHR to give you more space!