Over 200 engineers and technicians are working night shifts for 22 weeks to complete the largest resurfacing project at London Stansted Airport in 15 years. The team is laying 65,000 tonnes of asphalt, replacing approximately 1,500 runway lights with more energy-efficient LED bulbs, and installing 62 miles of new cable.
The ambitious project required three years of planning to ensure the airport’s safety and efficiency upon completion. Director of airport asset development Neil Thomson stated, “With up to 50 aircraft movements per hour, the runway is a vital asset for the airport and must be maintained to the highest standard.”
The engineering firm Lagan will complete the project by June 6, 2021, having begun it on January 8, 2021. During the first 11 weeks of the project, the runway was completely closed, but during the second half of the project, when demand for flights is higher due to the Easter holiday, nighttime work hours are reduced. Joe Rollerson, an electrician who joined the team as an aeronautical ground lighting technician, remarked, “It’s a truly remarkable and fascinating project.”
The project manager at Lagan, Malachy Doyle, calculated that they have 440 hours to complete the task. He stated, “It’s quite an unusual sensation to have a plane land on top of you. Literally every second is crucial.”
The airport is preparing for its busiest Easter and summer season since before the pandemic, with up to 600 planes flying to 190 destinations every day. This will result in increased revenue for Manchester Airport Group, which will strengthen its plans to increase annual passenger numbers to 43 million.
London Stansted Airport is undergoing its largest resurfacing project to date after 15 years. Since January 8th, 2021, a team of more than 200 engineers and technicians have been working night shifts until June 6th, 2021. They will have worked a total of 440 hours over 22 weeks to lay 65,000 tonnes of asphalt, replace 1,500 runway lights with more energy-efficient LED bulbs, and install 62 miles of new cable.
Managing up to 50 aircraft movements per hour, the runway is a key asset for the airport and must be maintained to the highest standard, according to the airport’s asset development director. Joe Rollerson, an electrician who joined the team as an aeronautical ground lighting technician, described the project as “amazing” and “really interesting.”
The ambitious project required three years of planning, and the airport is preparing for its busiest Easter and summer season since before the pandemic. Up to 600 planes are expected to take off daily this summer, flying to 190 destinations, and the owner, Manchester Airport Group, will earn more money as a result of the increase in customers.
The resurfacing project at London Stansted Airport is a complex task that has required three years of planning and several hundred engineers and technicians working around the clock to complete. The team has worked 440 hours over 22 weeks and are on track to finish by June 6th, 2021.
