Northolt 2017 base closure

[Le Addeur noir]

Next year, the runway is due to be closed for 9 months (most probably read a lot longer than this timeframe) to allow for the complete re-building of the runway.

If the same contractors are involved in this as the ones currently "working" on the runway at RAF Waddington, the base may never re-open to fixed-wing movements.

With some luck, the base will be fully operational come Farnborough week 2018.

[Alpha Kilo One]

That's what they call "cynicism out of experience" .....

[Le Addeur noir]

Finally 2 years later than expected,

https://www.navy-net.co.uk/community/th ... ay.170985/

So the base will be closed for most of 2019.

The previous nominated contractors, Carilion went bankrupt.


Better luck with the next contractors...…………..

[Le Addeur noir]

Latest on this is from the weekend of April 13/14. Last day of civil acceptance is provisionally April 12.

Based fixed-wing aircraft depart to Benson on the 11th.

Helicopter movements are expected to continue here.

[Le Addeur noir]

From an official statement the contractors will formally take possession of the runway on April 15 until late October.

Another post has Northolt closing a week before this until around 11 November.

Helicopter movements will be unaffected, so there should be some military activity to report from here during the closure period.

[Le Addeur noir]

A revised closure date has been issued for the runway here, which is from 16:00Z on Friday 05 April. A re-opening date is quoted as 11 November. Which year was not specified.

Given that it took 2 years for the Waddington runway to be rebuilt, it is probably optimistic to expect further fixed-wing movements here this year.

The last time there was a runway closure here in 1977 the time taken overran by nearly 30%, although there was 'industrial action' i.e. a strike by the "workforce" during that timeframe.

[Le Addeur noir]

Effective 16:00Z (17:00 LT)on April 5 the runway was closed for rebuilding.

Progress (or lack thereof) will be reported on this thread.

[Le Addeur noir]

NOTAM covering runway closure,

U1503/19 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5133N00025W005
A) EGWU B) 1904150001 C) 1910312359 (15th April to 31st October)
E) AERODROME CLOSED TO ALL FIXED WING AIRCRAFT. OPEN TO MILITARY
ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT VIA PPR ONLY. ATS CATEGORY A AND B EXEMPT.
RUNWAY 07/25 UNDER CONSTRUCTION. ILS AND PAR UNAVAILABLE. ROTARY
WING AIRCRAFT ARE NOT TO FLY OVER WORKING AREAS BELOW 60FT ABOVE
GROUND LEVEL. CREWS ARE TO REFER TO AIC.

So no fixed-wing movements here from the 15th April to the 01st November- subject to revision.

[Le Addeur noir]

Re-construction work here is apparently on schedule, with the runway expected to re-open in early November. The first day of commercial movement acceptance is quoted as being the 11th November.

[Le Addeur noir]

On the 10th September the runway centre lines and piano keys were being re-painted, so the re-construction work is virtually complete.

Not to long before movements here re-commence.

[Le Addeur noir]

The NOTAM for the runway closure now expires on 15 October.

However there will be no approach lighting on runway 25 until 04 November.

So it is possible there may be some limited fixed-wing activity here from the 16th October.

[Le Addeur noir]

The latest NOTAM in the status of the runway,

U4459/19 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5133N00025W005
A) EGWU B) 1910071133 C) 1910312359
E) AD ONLY AVAILABLE TO MIL ROTARY AND FIXED WING TRAFFIC WITH
PRE-APPROVAL FROM STATION OPS. AD LIGHTING HAS NOT BEEN FLIGHT
CHECKED. ILS AND PAR NOT AVAILABLE

As can be seen, the runway has been declared open as of 12:33 LT on the 07th October.

There has not exactly been a rush of movements since then.

[Le Addeur noir]

Base re-opening is now expected on Thursday 31st October.