^Glad to see we're seeing gains even with the Max issues. I can only assume things will look even better once that's sorted.
Looks like they're landing 29R tonight because of the weather. If you could see it, it should be pretty spectacular, but between the rain and the late hour . . .
Anyway, here's the FlightAware map of it.
![]()
Anyway, here's the FlightAware map of it.
^not weather related. Just 30R/12L shutdown related. They are landing on 29 about every day for the last couple weeks. I landed on 29 today way before the weather moved in. Should continue for awhile. I don't think it set to be done for a couple months. They were however using only runway 6 for takeoffs and landings due to weather for a bit.
I need to find some time to get over to the T1 cell lot to take pics.
I need to find some time to get over to the T1 cell lot to take pics.
- 221
jshank83 wrote: ^not weather related. Just 30R/12L shutdown related. They are landing on 29 about every day for the last couple weeks. I landed on 29 today way before the weather moved in. Should continue for awhile. I don't think it set to be done for a couple months. They were however using only runway 6 for takeoffs and landings due to weather for a bit.
I need to find some time to get over to the T1 cell lot to take pics.
Did you, by chance, get to listen to today's meeting?
- 6,123
^Doh! Of course. I even took a picture of that closed runway. The thought occurred to me that this might have had more to do with it a while after I posted it, but I was too lazy to go back and fix it. Though given all that, I'm surprised they chose to land 29 and depart 30L rather than vice versa. You'd think the reverse would save on taxiing. On the positive side, it does mean it could be good to go out and watch on west flow days. Should lead to some dramatic pictures. Maybe even a better way to get some better sunny side of everything photos. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!jshank83 wrote: ^not weather related. Just 30R/12L shutdown related. They are landing on 29 about every day for the last couple weeks. I landed on 29 today way before the weather moved in. Should continue for awhile. I don't think it set to be done for a couple months. They were however using only runway 6 for takeoffs and landings due to weather for a bit.
I need to find some time to get over to the T1 cell lot to take pics.
And yeah, when I first glanced in things looked dang weird. Lots of circling and substantial arrival and departure delays. They were probably in the middle of switching from 6 to 29 and 30. Would love to see an approach to 6. That should be spectacular!
I agree about the runways. I figured they would land on 30L and take off on 29. Only thing I can think of is this way all ground traffic is going the same direction west to east. Maybe that makes ground flow easier than having some going against each other. They do fit in landings on 30L when no one is waiting to take off.symphonicpoet wrote:
^Doh! Of course. I even took a picture of that closed runway. The thought occurred to me that this might have had more to do with it a while after I posted it, but I was too lazy to go back and fix it. Though given all that, I'm surprised they chose to land 29 and depart 30L rather than vice versa. You'd think the reverse would save on taxiing. On the positive side, it does mean it could be good to go out and watch on west flow days. Should lead to some dramatic pictures. Maybe even a better way to get some better sunny side of everything photos. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!
And yeah, when I first glanced in things looked dang weird. Lots of circling and substantial arrival and departure delays. They were probably in the middle of switching from 6 to 29 and 30. Would love to see an approach to 6. That should be spectacular!
I got a couple pics of landings on 6 last year. Was pretty cool to see.
- 221
Today's STL tweets (also on Fb) about their latest bond ratings, things are looking good.
STL Airport @flystl 1h1 hour ago
Ratings boost announced for #STLAirport with upgraded 'A' rating from @SPGlobal citing strong and improved financial risk profile. http://bit.ly/SPGlobalSTLAirport … @stlcomptroller @STLCityGov
STL Airport @flystl 42m42 minutes ago
A second rating agency weighs in on #STLAirport bonds and refunding. @MoodysInvSvc affirms 'A2' rating, stable outlook citing improved debt service coverage metrics and lower cost per enplanement (CPE). http://ow.ly/4mWs30oTFq2 @STLCityGov @stlcomptroller
STL Airport @flystl 1h1 hour ago
Ratings boost announced for #STLAirport with upgraded 'A' rating from @SPGlobal citing strong and improved financial risk profile. http://bit.ly/SPGlobalSTLAirport … @stlcomptroller @STLCityGov
STL Airport @flystl 42m42 minutes ago
A second rating agency weighs in on #STLAirport bonds and refunding. @MoodysInvSvc affirms 'A2' rating, stable outlook citing improved debt service coverage metrics and lower cost per enplanement (CPE). http://ow.ly/4mWs30oTFq2 @STLCityGov @stlcomptroller
- 6,123
^Excellent news! If they can bring the cost of debt service down then they should be able to bring the CPE down even further! 
Per an article in the St. Louis American regarding the bond rating change, a quote from Darlene Green:
This puts Lambert squarely in the pack in terms of CPE. Not as low as a CLT or ATL hub, but for an airport it's size with no upcoming major construction plans... it should remain stable or continue to decline.In the prior fiscal year, St. Louis Lambert International Airport lowered its cost per enplaned Passenger (CPE) to $8.87 (FY2018), down from a FY2013 CPE of $13.77.
I had a twitter convo with an ATC worker at Lambert and he said the reason they are landing on 29 and taking off from 30L is for ground traffic flow and everyone going the same direction. Less turning in front of each other.
- 6,123
I spent a little time thinking about it after you said it, and it does make sense. And it allows them to keep operations mostly to taxiway D. It surprised me initially, but . . . that's why I'm a musician and not an ATC operator, I suppose.jshank83 wrote: I had a twitter convo with an ATC worker at Lambert and he said the reason they are landing on 29 and taking off from 30L is for ground traffic flow and everyone going the same direction. Less turning in front of each other.
Watched the airport commission meeting from last week.
Lots of construction updates.
Lactation stations being installed at A9/C9/E33.
More benches have been installed between E34-40 to help with seating issues in that area.
A Dunkin Donuts express/cart is getting installed at E40.
Another set of new seats/outlets sounds like it will be installed at C9.
The ground transportation center is being renovated. May include concession space. Images look nice. This is used to transition from metro bus to the terminal shuttle. Sounds like Greyhound may let off there also.
New signage, big STL letters at the entrance to the airport are going in.
Sounds like the renovations to C29/30 are done. C30 is waiting on a jetbridge.
There was a long conversation about congestion fixes at T2. They are putting in another place for cars to park just east of T2. Most of the conversation centered around arguments on who should get to use it. It sounds like at the moment it will be ride sharing (pick ups and drop offs) but one of the board members who seemed to work for enterprise wasn't thrilled about them getting to use it and not busses. Marlene Davis also wasn't a fan but also forgot she had already seen the plans.
New parking garage entrances are going in for T2. One off the main airline drive (opens fall) and one after the turn in to T2 (opens spring). The road after the turn in will be one way. No more turning left off off Air Cargo Road. There will be 2 lanes going down to arrival and 2 going to drop offs. No more going thru arrivals to get to the parking garage.
If you feel like watching.
https://www.fly314.com/6-5-19-airport-c ... n-meeting/
Lots of construction updates.
Lactation stations being installed at A9/C9/E33.
More benches have been installed between E34-40 to help with seating issues in that area.
A Dunkin Donuts express/cart is getting installed at E40.
Another set of new seats/outlets sounds like it will be installed at C9.
The ground transportation center is being renovated. May include concession space. Images look nice. This is used to transition from metro bus to the terminal shuttle. Sounds like Greyhound may let off there also.
New signage, big STL letters at the entrance to the airport are going in.
Sounds like the renovations to C29/30 are done. C30 is waiting on a jetbridge.
There was a long conversation about congestion fixes at T2. They are putting in another place for cars to park just east of T2. Most of the conversation centered around arguments on who should get to use it. It sounds like at the moment it will be ride sharing (pick ups and drop offs) but one of the board members who seemed to work for enterprise wasn't thrilled about them getting to use it and not busses. Marlene Davis also wasn't a fan but also forgot she had already seen the plans.
New parking garage entrances are going in for T2. One off the main airline drive (opens fall) and one after the turn in to T2 (opens spring). The road after the turn in will be one way. No more turning left off off Air Cargo Road. There will be 2 lanes going down to arrival and 2 going to drop offs. No more going thru arrivals to get to the parking garage.
If you feel like watching.
https://www.fly314.com/6-5-19-airport-c ... n-meeting/
- 221
^^^Thanks for posting. ^^^^
I listened to the meeting and, in my opinion, it sounds like WN is deeply involved in all of the T2 renovations/upgrades/expansion decisions -- and I mean EVERYTHING that goes on in/around T2.
I also found the discussion about the congestion fixes at T2 quite revealing. The gentleman representing Enterprise/National was not too thrilled with the project as it now stands, as he perceived a distinct preference to nonprofessional drivers. I expect a lot of lobbying from Enterprise in the coming weeks. Look for an evolving project here. Also, I thought it was pretty funny with the woman Commissioner who sat two seats to the left of Rhonda raised several questions about this project and, at times, backed the guy from Enterprise. She sounded as if the entire project was news to her and Rhonda said this was nothing new and this is only Phase 1 of a project was introduced last November. The Commissioner then said something close to, "I must not have been at that meeting."
I'll also add a tidbit to JShank's notes, which occurred near the end of the meeting, regarding Ameren's solar farm on Mo. Bottom Rd. This project is entirely funded by Ameren, on land they're leasing from STL. Rhonda stated the farm is on land the airport had otherwise no use for and it was a good deal to collect revenue with no associated maintenance costs. The farm should be complete in the "next couple of months" and STL will hold a joint press conference with Ameren near the completion date. The airport said the project is a pilot program and will be a 1 megawatt farm that will power approximately 200 residences.
I listened to the meeting and, in my opinion, it sounds like WN is deeply involved in all of the T2 renovations/upgrades/expansion decisions -- and I mean EVERYTHING that goes on in/around T2.
I also found the discussion about the congestion fixes at T2 quite revealing. The gentleman representing Enterprise/National was not too thrilled with the project as it now stands, as he perceived a distinct preference to nonprofessional drivers. I expect a lot of lobbying from Enterprise in the coming weeks. Look for an evolving project here. Also, I thought it was pretty funny with the woman Commissioner who sat two seats to the left of Rhonda raised several questions about this project and, at times, backed the guy from Enterprise. She sounded as if the entire project was news to her and Rhonda said this was nothing new and this is only Phase 1 of a project was introduced last November. The Commissioner then said something close to, "I must not have been at that meeting."
I'll also add a tidbit to JShank's notes, which occurred near the end of the meeting, regarding Ameren's solar farm on Mo. Bottom Rd. This project is entirely funded by Ameren, on land they're leasing from STL. Rhonda stated the farm is on land the airport had otherwise no use for and it was a good deal to collect revenue with no associated maintenance costs. The farm should be complete in the "next couple of months" and STL will hold a joint press conference with Ameren near the completion date. The airport said the project is a pilot program and will be a 1 megawatt farm that will power approximately 200 residences.
- 1,292
I'm thinking you meant 1 million watt farm (i.e. 1 megawatt)? 1 million megawatts would power like half the country haha.frequentflyer wrote:The airport said the project is a pilot program and will be a 1 million megawatt farm that will power approximately 200 residences.
Otherwise, it's good to see that solar farm finally come to fruition. Where exactly on the property will this be?
- 6,123
^It's going in up off of Fee Fee on the way to Berry Hill on a nice exposed piece of south facing hill. Basically over the Lindbergh trench.
Would love to see a rendering of this if there is one.jshank83 wrote: New signage, big STL letters at the entrance to the airport are going in.
Airline representatives (AA and SW) urge Mayor to refinance airport debt:
- 221
LOL! You're right. I combined the math. Edited, thank you.Trololzilla wrote:I'm thinking you meant 1 million watt farm (i.e. 1 megawatt)? 1 million megawatts would power like half the country haha.frequentflyer wrote:The airport said the project is a pilot program and will be a 1 million megawatt farm that will power approximately 200 residences.
Otherwise, it's good to see that solar farm finally come to fruition. Where exactly on the property will this be?
The Mayor wrote:Would love to see a rendering of this if there is one.jshank83 wrote: New signage, big STL letters at the entrance to the airport are going in.
It will be in 2 places. Can't remember where they said the other one was. There are 2 other options I think also for design.
- 221
Mayor Lyda Krewson signed the bill today. Here's her tweet giving her reasons for the delay in signing the bill.kipfilet wrote: Airline representatives (AA and SW) urge Mayor to refinance airport debt:
Mayor's Tweet
Always happy for more signage. But damn the new logo is such sh*t! The old one was so much betterjshank83 wrote:The Mayor wrote:Would love to see a rendering of this if there is one.jshank83 wrote: New signage, big STL letters at the entrance to the airport are going in.
It will be in 2 places. Can't remember where they said the other one was. There are 2 other options I think also for design.
- 1,292
I used to feel that same way about the new logo, but as time's gone on, I've come to realize that the old logo, while clever and unique, was pretty dated looking. At least dated feeling. While the new logo's pretty dang boring, it's at least fresh. It's the same way I felt about AA's new livery/logo for quite some time, too.
I think the new one is just as dated! Straight out of some late 90's corporate crap.Trololzilla wrote: I used to feel that same way about the new logo, but as time's gone on, I've come to realize that the old logo, while clever and unique, was pretty dated looking. At least dated feeling. While the new logo's pretty dang boring, it's at least fresh. It's the same way I felt about AA's new livery/logo for quite some time, too.
I did like the old logo with the Arch and the plane, but it was dated. I'm neutral on the current one. As far as the entry signage I think big giant STL letters are pretty good, but I'd rather see them in white without the "wings" or whatever is soaring over the top. Rather see something a little closer to the big LAX letters in LA.