Birmingham Airport's new Air Traffic Control Tower reaches for the sky!!

The new Air Traffic Control Tower at Birmingham Airport has
started to take shape and has been growing at a rate of up to
four metres a day over the last fortnight and already dominates
the existing facility that dates from 1939
.

On completion in 2013, the new £10m ATC tower will stand
33 metres above ground level and will be home to National Air
Traffic Services - NATS - the Airport’s air traffic control provider
.
Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport commented: "This iconic
tower will be furnished with state of the art radar and navigation
equipment and will give the controllers a better view of the airfield,
above buildings that have been developed over the last few years.
It will also allow them to see the end of the extended runway, a
development that will be complete in 2014 and will allow airlines
to fly to more long haul destinations worldwide"
.

Once fully commissioned, the tower will take over from the current

79ft control tower, which is situated at the old Elmdon Airport site
and has been in use since 1939 when the original terminal opened

.
The project is being delivered by UK construction, infrastructure
and design business, Morgan Sindall. Dave Smith, Regional Managing
Director at Morgan Sindall, says: "This is the fifth major project
Morgan Sindall has undertaken for Birmingham Airport – a
testament to the expertise we’ve developed in the aviation
sector and our ability to deliver"
.
The new ATC Tower has already changed
the skyline at Birmingham Airport -

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Monday 25 July 2011
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Wednesday 27 July 2011
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Wednesday 3 August 2011
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The main tower structure is now complete and work has
started on the construction of the control area that will be
at the top of the tower. Morgan Sindall’s construction works
will be completed by March 2012, following that an extensive
fit out of Avionics equipment takes place with the tower
expected to be operational during the early part of 2013
.

The ATC Tower with the new Travelodge Hotel behind it
.

An artist's impression of what the new Birmingham Airport
ATC Tower will look like when when completed in 2013
.

Thursday 4 August 2011

Wednesday 3 August 2011 - Emirates Boeing 777 A6-EGD makes first visit to BHX

Emirates Boeing 777-31HER A6-EGD operated their
evening service from Dubai - its first visit to BHX
.

Farnair Europe ATR 72-201F HB-AFS was an early morning
arrival operating another freight charter from Marseilles
- it departed to Cardiff in the early evening Photo: Mike Hollick
.

London Executive Citation Excel G-WINA was an afternoon
visitor to the Elmdon apron Photo: Mike Hollick
.

Super King Air F-HEAL which had arrived on Tuesday
was an evening departure

Holidays 4 U ceases trading

Holidays 4 U, an independent tour operator specialising in
Turkey, has ceased trading today, Wednesday 3 August 2011,
and has gone into administration

Holiday 4 U are the tour operator that is responsible for most
of the Onur Air flights to the UK and indeed 4 of the 5 weekly
flights to Birmingham

As a result all their future holidays have now been cancelled
and the CAA will be repatriating their holidaymakers currently
abroad - tomorrow/Thursday's Onur Air flight to BHX should
operate normally but will depart empty

At this time the CAA have not advised their plans for the rest
of the week but it is likely Onur Air will operate the flights
on the same basis but as they move into the second week of
the recovery operation flights will start to be consolidated
.
Wednesday 3 August 2011

Monday 1 August 2011 - Air Finland Boeing 757 OH-AFL off to Zakynthos for Sky Wings

Air Finland Boeing 757-204 OH-AFL was a morning arrival from
Lyon after a weekend flying for Air Mediterranee - it then operated
the delayed Sky Wings flight to Zakynthos
.

Mahan Air Airbus A310-304 F-OJHH remains parked on Stand 81
having been detained at Birmingham Airport by a Court order
obtained by leasing company GECAS when it arrived from Tehran
on Thursday 30 June 2011 Photo: Mike Hollick
.

Aer Lingus Airbus A320-214 EI-DVM which is in a "retro" colour
scheme operated their afternoon service to Dublin Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Citation Bravo G-JBLZ was a morning arrival....
.

.... while Dauphin 2 EI-GJL was another Elmdon apron visitor
Photos: Mike Hollick

Nouvelair flying for Thomas Cook‏ Holidays

Thomas Cook Holidays are adding an additional weekly peak
season flight to Enfidha, the new Tunisian airport that is
replacing Monastir as the gateway to their main resort area

.

For the first 4 weeks of operation this Wednesday evening
flight will be operated by a Nouvelair Tunisie Airbus A320
- please see below for timings

.

From September 2011 the flight will be operated, at
different timings, by a BHX based Thomas Cook Boeing 757

.

WEDNESDAY - 10-31 August 2011

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1745/1835 BJ8074/8075 320 from/to Enfidha

- additional weekly peak season IT flight

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Schedule subject to change!!
.

Monday 1 August 2011

Birmingham Airport reports improved profits in 2010/11 despite economic conditions

Birmingham Airport have released their financial results
for the year ended 31 March 2011

While turnover dropped 0.8%, the inevitable consequence
of the prolonged "volcanic ash" closure in April 2010
combined with the challenging economic conditions, the
Airport Company reported a strong recovery in profits as
the benefits of last years restructuring start to come
through to the accounts

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport's CEO, said, “While pre-tax
profits increased year-on-year, it continues to be a tough
period for the aviation industry. Extreme weather and
volcanic activity impacted operations and, although
revenue remained flat, good stewardship through
tight cost control saw profitability improve"

"Despite passenger numbers being down in 2010/11, we
have continued to invest heavily in infrastructure, including
our "One Terminal" facility and a host of new commercial
offerings. Work also continues on a new air traffic control
tower, which is under construction, and
the runway extension project"

“We expect the immediate future to be tough as the
industry continues to face difficult economic conditions.
However, the performance of a number of our airlines,
including the likes of Emirates and Lufthansa, indicate
growth is returning to some sectors. We are seeing a
return of the business passenger, but the discretionary
leisure market - which is now the bulk of our
traffic - remains weak"

Birmingham Airport Holding Limited
Financial highlights year ended 31 March 2011
£'000

Turnover 2010/11 - 103,275
Turnover 2009/10 - 104,127

Profit after tax 2010/11 - 5,276
Profit after tax - 2009/10 - 0,592

Passenger numbers 2010/11 - 8,524,876
Passenger numbers 2009/10 - 9,019,783
.
Cargo in tonnes 2010/11 - 21,215
Cargo in tonnes 2009/10 - 15,968
.

Friday 29 July 2011

Birmingham Airport movements report week commencing Monday 25 July 2011

AMC Airlines Boeing 737 SU-BPZ made two visits flying on behalf
of Astra Airlines of Greece - on Friday 29 July 2011 it operated a
sub charter for Fly Hellas from Heraklion while on Sunday 31 July
2011 it operated the Sky Wings flight from/to Rhodes

Jetairfly - TUI Belgium - Boeing 737 OO-JAX made its first
visit on Saturday 30 July 2011 when it positioned in from
Brussels to operate a return student charter flight to Rome

Alitalia Airbus A320 EI-DTK operated a student charter flight
from Rome on Thursday 28 July 2011 in place of the previously
planned Dubrovnik Airline MD 83

Farnair Europe ATR 72F HB-AFS was an early morning arrival
on Wednesday 27 July 2011 operating a freight charter from
Marseilles, its first visit to BHX

BA Cityflyer Embraer 190 G-LCYJ positioned in from Glasgow
on Saturday 29 July 2011 to operate the second of their peak
season IT flights to Palma

Other first visits included Pegasus Boeing 737 TC-ANP and
Ryanair Boeing 737 EI-ENP

MONDAY 25 JULY 2011

1030/1130 TK1967/1968 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPI
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320
1230/1325 PGT1481/1482 73H from/to Dalaman TC-ANP First Visit

- weekly IT - operates to October 2011 - Pegasus

TUESDAY 26 JULY 2011

0735/0920 TS164/165 333 from/to Toronto C-GTSO
- weekly service - operated by Airbus A330 - Air Transat

WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2011

0320/1900 FAT762/7822 AT7 from Marseilles/to Cardiff HB-AFS First Visit
- freight charter
1235/1320 AB3715/3714 73H from/to Hannover D-AHFA
- weekly flight - revised timings for summer

1305/1405 OHY3843/3844 321 from/to Dalaman + Ercan TC-OAL
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air

THURSDAY 28 JULY 2011

0845/0945 OHY1695/1696 320 from/to Dalaman TC-OBD

- weekly IT flight - operates to September 2011 - Onur Air

1030/1130 TK1967/1968 321 from/to Istanbul TC-JRH
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A321

1225/1345 AZ8560/8561 320 from/to Rome EI-DTK
- student exchange charter
1230/1430 W5 5020/5019 313 from/to Tehran - cancelled
- weekly flight
.

FRIDAY 29 JULY 2011

0830/0930 OHY1693/1694 321 from/to Bodrum TC-OAE
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air
0925/1025 VKH130/131 320 from/to Heraklion - cancelled
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Fly Hellas
1315/1415 TK1969/1970 73H from/to Istanbul TC-JHB
- planned aircraft allocation - Boeing 737-800
2100/2200 AZI723/724 73H from/to Heraklion SU-BPZ
- sub charter for Fly Hellas - AMC flying for Astra Airlines

SATURDAY 30 JULY 2011

1030/1130 TK1967/1968 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPR
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320
1120/1205 AB3715/3714 73H from/to Hannover D-ABBZ
- weekly flight - revised timings for summer
1305/1355 JAF607P/9608 73H from Brussels/to Rome OO-JAX First Visit
- student exchange charter - Jetairfly
1455/1545 CJ102P/4523 E90 from Glasgow/to Palma G-LCYJ

- start of peak season BA Cityflyer IT flights

1810/1910 BGH5537/5538 320 from/to Bourgas LZ-BHD
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011
1925/2025 OHY7619/7620 321 from/to Dalaman TC-OAK
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air

SUNDAY 31 JULY 2011

0600/0900 W5 5020/5019 313 from/to Tehran - cancelled
- weekly flight

0725/0820 OHY7619/7620 321 from/to Dalaman TC-OBD

- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air
0740/0805 FR662/663 73H from/to Dublin EI-ENP First Visit
- planned aircraft allocation
0840/0940 AZI614/613 73H from/to Rhodes SU-BPZ
- sub charter for Sky Wings - AMC flying for Astra Airlines
1315/1415 TK1968/1970 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPY

- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320
1455/1540 AB2699/2698 73H from/to Paderborn D-ABBD
- weekly flight

.

This listing only covers interesting airliners movements
that have previously appeared in the weekly "Whats due
at BHX" summary together with notable first visits

Photographs of many of these visitors to BHX can be seen
on this photo blog while a comprehensive listing of visitors
to Birmingham Airport can be found at -

- http://bhxmovements.blogspot.com/

Alitalia Airbus A320-216 EI-DTK operated a student charter
to Rome on Thursday 28 July 2011
.

Sunday 31 July 2011

Sunday 31 July 2011 - AMC/Astra Boeing 737 SU-BPZ flying for Sky Wings

AMC Airlines Boeing 737-86N SU-BPZ which is currently flying
for Astra Airlines, of Greece, was a morning arrival operating
the delayed Sky Wings flight from Rhodes
.

Gulfstream G200 Galaxy PH-YMA which had positioned in
on Saturday night was a lunchtime departure to Amsterdam
- the aircraft had previously visited as N274JC

Friday 29 July 2011 - Citation OO-ACC flying for Dutch DJ Fedde le Grand

Air Service Liege Citation CJ2+ OO-ACC was an afternoon arrival
bringing in Fedde le Grand, a Dutch DJ, for the "Global Gathering"
festival being held this weekend at Long Marston airfield near
Stratford on Avon - his name appears on the billboard titles!
.

Lufthansa Airbus A321-231 D-AISG operated their
mid morning service to Frankfurt
.

Recently delivered flybe Dash8Q-402's G-FLBH (nearest camera)
and G-FLBJ are now parked on the 80's stands with Mahan Air
Airbus A310-304 F-OJHH

Thursday 28 July 2011 - RAF C17 ZZ177 marks 10 years of operations by 99 Squadron

RAF C17 ZZ177 made a brief morning visit to the Elmdon apron - it

wears an additional tail insignia to mark the 10th anniversary of C17
operations by 99 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton.... Photo: Mike Hollick
.

.... the Puma from the Squadron crest is jumping through the "10"
.

Photo: Laurence Jones
.

Alitalia Airbus A320-216 EI-DTK operated a student charter to Rome
in place of the previously planned Dubrovnik Airline MD 83
.

Turkish Airbus A321-231 TC-JRH operated their flight to Istanbul
.

Air Contractors ATR 72-201 EI-REJ which operates the nightly FedEx
service to Paris CDG spent the day parked up Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Pilatus PC-12 D-FFHZ was a morning arrival parking up
to night stop at BHX Photo: Mike Hollick
.

Ecureuil II G-BYZA made a brief afternoon visit Photo: Ron Kosys

Wednesday 27 July 2011 - Farnair ATR 72F HB-AFS makes first visit on freight charter

Farnair Europe ATR 72-201F HB-AFS was an early morning arrival
operating a freight charter from Marseilles - its first visit to BHX
After spending the day parked up it departed to Cardiff Photo: Mike Hollick
.

Citation Encore G-KDMA was an evening visitor
.

Cessna T303 Crusader G-INDC was an afternoon visitor
to the Elmdon apron Photo: Mike Hollick

Tuesday 26 July 2011 - Netjets Falcon CS-DNR visits the Elmdon apron

Netjets Falcon 2000 CS-DNR was a lunchtime visitor
to the Elmdon apron Photo: Ron Kosys

Monday 25 July 2011 - Let's Fly Metro EC-GEN operates charter to Zaragoza

Let's Fly Metro III EC-GEN positioned in from Barcelona
to operate a freight charter to Zaragoza Photo: Ron Kosys
.

Pegasus Boeing 737-82R TC-ANP operated their weekly
IT flight to Dalaman - its first visit to BHX

Birmingham Airport movements report week commencing Monday 18 July 2011

Trawel Fly Boeing 737 EI-DMR made its first visit on Tuesday
19 July 2011 when it operated a Mistral Air student charter flight
from Rome in place of the previously planned Jetran MD 82

.
Blu Express Boeing 737 EI-DXB first visited on the same day
operating a Blue Panorama student charter from Rome while
their Boeing 767 EI-CXO operated their flight on Saturday
23 July 2011 - also a first visit
.
Meridian Aviation Antonov 12 UR-DWF arrived from Ostrava
in the early hours of Wednesday 20 July 2011, its first visit
to BHX, and remained parked on the Elmdon apron until it
positioned to Luxembourg on Saturday 23 July 2011
.
BA Cityflyer Embraer 190 G-LCYM positioned in from Glasgow
on Saturday 23 July 2011 to operate the first of a short series
of peak season IT flights to Palma while Onur Air increased
their flights to 5 times weekly for the start of the school holidays
.
Swiftair MD 83 EC-LEY on its first visit operated the Privilege Style
student exchange charter from Malaga on Sunday 24 July 2011
.
flybe Dash 8's G-FLBH and G-FLBJ both entered service on
Saturday 23 July 2011 while G-JECN operated their final
Frankfurt rotation on Sunday 24 July 2011
.

Other first visits included Air Berlin Boeing 737 D-ABKS,
Air Transat Airbus A330 C-GTSD, Eurowings Canadair
CRJ900 D-ACNX and Pegasus Boeing 737 TC-AAY

.
.
MONDAY 18 JULY 2011

0645/0755 LH3442/3443 CR9 from/to Dusseldorf D-ACNX First Visit
- planned aircraft allocation

1030/1130 TK1967/1968 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPM
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320
1230/1325 PGT1481/1482 73H from/to Dalaman TC-AAY First Visit

- weekly IT - operates to October 2011 - Pegasus

TUESDAY 19 JULY 2011

0735/0920 TS164/165 333 from/to Toronto C-GTSD First Visit
- weekly service - revised timings - operated by Airbus A330

1225/1310 7M1835/1836 734 from/to Rome EI-DMR First Visit
- student exchange charter - Trawel Fly for Mistral Air
1240/1330 BV800/801 733 from/to Rome EI-DXB First Visit
- student exchange charter - Blu Express
.

WEDNESDAY 20 JULY 2011

0200/ N/S MEM4091 An12 from Ostrava UR-DWF First Visit
- cargo charter
1235/1320 AB3715/3714 73H from/to Hannover D-AHFS
- weekly flight - revised timings for summer

1305/1405 OHY3843/3844 321 from/to Dalaman + Ercan TC-OAL
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air

THURSDAY 21 JULY 2011

0900/1000 OHY3618/1696 320 from Glasgow/to Dalaman TC-OBP

- start of peak season IT flight - Onur Air

1030/1130 TK1967/1968 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPL
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320

1230/1430 W5 5020/5019 313 from/to Tehran - cancelled
- weekly flight

FRIDAY 22 JULY 2011

0830/0930 OHY1693/1694 321 from/to Bodrum TC-OBF
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air
0925/1025 VKH130/131 320 from/to Heraklion SX-SMT
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Fly Hellas
1315/1415 TK1969/1970 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPK
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320

SATURDAY 23 JULY 2011

N/S /0710 BE841 DH4 to Edinburgh G-FLBJ
- first revenue service for flybe DH4 G-FLBJ
0940/1040 BV800/801 763 from/to Rome EI-CXO First Visit
- student exchange charter - Blue Panorama
1030/1130 TK1967/1968 320 from/to Istanbul TC-JPT
- planned aircraft allocation - Airbus A320
N/S /1145 BE523 DH4 to Guernsey G-FLBH
- first revenue service for flybe DH4 G-FLBH
1120/1205 AB3715/3714 73H from/to Hannover D-ABBF
- weekly flight - revised timings for summer
1455/1545 CJ102P/4523 E90 from Glasgow/to Palma G-LCYM

- start of peak season BA Cityflyer IT flights

N/S /1600 MEM4020 An 12 to Luvembourg UR-DWF
- positioning flight
1810/1910 BGH5537/5538 320 from/to Bourgas LZ-BHC
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011
1925/2025 OHY7619/7620 321 from/to Dalaman TC-OAK
- weekly IT flight - operates to October 2011 - Onur Air

SUNDAY 24 JULY 2011

0600/0900 W5 5020/5019 313 from/to Tehran - cancelled
- weekly flight

0730/0820 OHY7619/7620 320 from Edinburgh/to Dalaman TC-OBI

- start of peak season IT flight - Onur Air

0850/0950 PVG7711/7712 M83 from/to Malaga EC-LEY First Visit

- student exchange charter - Swiftair for Privilege Style

1315/1415 TK1968/1970 73H from/to Istanbul TC-JFJ
- planned aircraft allocation - Boeing 737-800
1455/1540 AB2699/2698 73H from/to Paderborn D-ABKS First Visit
- weekly flight
2030/ N/S BE 7080 DH4 from Frankfurt G-JECN
- final flybe service from Frankfurt
.

This listing only covers interesting airliners movements
that have previously appeared in the weekly "Whats due
at BHX" summary together with notable first visits

Photographs of many of these visitors to BHX can be seen
on this photo blog while a comprehensive listing of visitors
to Birmingham Airport can be found at -

- http://bhxmovements.blogspot.com/

Blue Panorama Boeing 767-3G5ER EI-CXO operated their

student charter flight from Rome on Saturday 23 July 2011
.
Sunday 24 July 2011

Sunday 24 July 2011 - CityJet Avro RJ85 EI-RJH in new Air France colour scheme

CityJet Avro RJ85 EI-RJH is now wearing the new style
Air France colour scheme
.

Air Berlin Boeing 737-86J D-ABKS operated their weekly flight
from Paderborn - its first visit to BHX
.

Swift Air MD 83 EC-LEY operated the Privilege Style student
exchange charter flight to Malaga
.

flybe Dash8Q-402 G-FLBJ which had entered service on Saturday
23 July 2011 spent the day parked up on Stand 20

flybe say farewell to BHX - Frankfurt service

flybe (BE) operated their final Birmingham - Frankfurt service
on Sunday 24 July 2011 a route inherited from BA Connect in
2007 and recently served twice daily using Dash 8Q-400's
.
The route which is also served four times daily by Lufthansa
has been dropped following a network review by flybe
.
The last flights - BE 7079/7080 - Birmingham - Frankfurt
- Birmingham were operated by Dash 8Q-402 G-JECN
.

Sunday 24 July 2011