View Full Version : Wyton or not?
Anyone heard gossip re closure of Wyton/UAS? And also including Henlow airfield?
Wholigan
22nd Sep 2005, 20:20
Since Wyton will be one of the 3 EFT bases, I think that rumour just may be totally unfounded!
If Wyton expands, will they think of keeping EGWE for a relief airfield, which already pays host to the odd noise machine from Wyton!! With a good choice of runways and fuel on site!! (and after 60+ years might have facilities at the tower rather than the Mk1 Landrover after a wind check!)
Or, is 10 min transit a bit much?
southside
22nd Sep 2005, 22:14
My oppo works at one of the IPT's at Wyton and he's also hearing lots of rumours surrounding Wyton and its impending closure. Seems that if Wyton doesn't get the EFT role then its days are numbered.
phutbang
22nd Sep 2005, 22:40
Isn't this par for the course, we spend millions doing the place up...then move out and sell the place off to the lowest bidder?
Talking of which, I thought that Wyton was going to be sold off to Marshalls of Cambridge because the council want that site for housing.
Well that sounds like Robin Hood International!!!
C130 Techie
23rd Sep 2005, 06:54
we spend millions doing the place up
When is this due to happen at Wyton??
I thought that Wyton was going to be sold off to Marshalls of Cambridge because the council want that site for housing.
That may be the councils aspiration but I don't think it's one that Marshall support.
1.3VStall
23rd Sep 2005, 08:54
Wyton (the airfield) has already been closed and reopened, so another closure would be par for the course.
After all, having an RAF Command (or Agency or whatever else they call themsleves these days) Headquarters at an active airfield makes no sense at all - does it?
PTR 175
23rd Sep 2005, 09:08
NDB
I think you will find that it is a series 3 109 Landrover ;o)
Jordan D
23rd Sep 2005, 09:51
It'd be a shame if Wyton closed - I did four years of AEF flying there and quite liked the place .... but as we know liking the place doesn't stop it being closed.
Jordan
PPRuNeUser0211
23rd Sep 2005, 21:29
well, in the grand scheme of things, they have just announced it will be the major uas (extended ATC now lol) flying base for the south of england.... so that might make it safe for the next 2 or 3 months..... or not? I think someone was referring to the millions (of pence?) they spent on the lovely, lovely pavillions a few (many?) years back..... and the cross runway (although somewhat smaller) that is now fit for use..... tho I dont think that cost millions (even in pence!)
Latest info I have on Marshalls is that they have narrowed the choice of site to Mildenhall and Wyton. It is very early days in the whole proposal to turn Cambridge airport into a houising development. It will be 5-10 years before action takes place - public enquiries, et al...
More comment on a previous thread:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=146087&highlight=marshalls+of+cambridge
thunderbird7
25th Sep 2005, 09:40
When I was (WIWAS) at Wyton and we were moved to Waddo with a view to closing the field, they discovered that the site was so contaminated with years of jet fuel, that it would be prohibitively expensive to clean it up! Hence closed-open-closedagain-whoops open itup again!!:O
ZH875
25th Sep 2005, 10:16
the other problem with keeping Wyton closed was that the local council wanted the closed road from St Ives to Warboys (Old Ramsey Road) re-opening, and lack of funds meant it was cheaper to move LUAS etc and re-open the site.
BEagle
25th Sep 2005, 11:37
I wasn't aware that Liverpool UAS had moved to Wyton?
Incidentally, the people who err, 'decomissioned' the ATC facilities at Wyton were astonished to hear that they were all to be re-instated at vast expense. Not sure about aerodrome lighting though....
Good to know that the shiny-ar$es in the Bull$hit Pavilions will have to suffer the sound of aeroplanes for a while longer - even if they are only someone else's Tupperware Trainers.
I was once told a story about some FJ mate who was doing time on his jet's IPT at SpannerWorld Wyton. He got fed up with the slackness of his colleagues turning up for work whenever it suited them... One day, he told them that there would be a meeting at 0830 (or whenever it was). A few of them shambled in and faffed about, until he said "Ten seconds.." They looked at him in bewilderment. "Five seconds.....3, 2, 1...NOW". At that precise second something fast and pointy shot overhead at 250 ft and all the engineers spilt their coffee. "THAT", quoth the FJ mate, "is what aircrew mean by being on time!"
He'd had a word with a mate up the road - and between them they'd cooked up this little demo for the benefit of the chair-polishers.
Jordan D
25th Sep 2005, 15:47
I think LUAS is London UAS, not Liverpool, but I may be mistaken.
Jordan
BEagle
25th Sep 2005, 15:50
LUAS = Liverpool University Air Squadron
ULAS = University of London Air Squadron
ZH875
25th Sep 2005, 17:17
Thanks BEags, I had the right letters, just in the wrong order...
Lord Trenchards Brat
25th Sep 2005, 20:29
Lets hope it does close – SNCOs and now JO’s rumoured to have a guard commitment of “6” yes “SIX “weeks a year at current manning levels (redundancy/post redundancy PVR’s to be factored in at a later stage) plus the training!! Still at least that’s forward progress and great utilisation of experienced manpower eh!
:yuk:
C130 Techie
26th Sep 2005, 06:49
Theres nothing like a good rumour to keep the jungle drums beating.
I rank amongst those poor unfortunates who have to do guard.
The current system is a 7 week stint but you only actually guard for 2 weeks of that. The remaining time is spent on 48 hours standby. The training lasts for 2 whole days.
Yes its cr@p that SNCOs have to stand on the gate and yes it is being considered that WOs and JOs will be guard commanders.
However it seems extremely unlikely that anyone would get away with putting people on guard for 6 straight weeks. For a start it breaks the armed guard rules.
EXATCO
26th Sep 2005, 07:15
BEagle
Nice one. I was at Wyton while it was closing and the LogicStix pavillions were being built. The airfield was still operational and we'd get the occasional PD.
On one occasion a FJ from Marham executed a rather quick overshoot and climb-out (nothing to do with impressing his mates on his ex-squadron you understand;) ). Everyone was suitably impressed - except some be-nighted Gp Capt blunty who DEMANDED that the SATCO cease this type of flying operation immediately "as people were trying to work"!!! The numpty got exceedingly short shrift from a normally mild mannered man!!!:E
PPRuNeUser0211
26th Sep 2005, 07:21
guard? Crikey, get MPGS to come and guard the place! Is the way ahead!
BigginAgain
26th Sep 2005, 07:42
C130 Techie said:
Yes its cr@p that SNCOs have to stand on the gate and yes it is being considered that WOs and JOs will be guard commanders
Haven't seen SNCOs actually on the gate before, but it was certainly the norm at my last unit for JOs to be Guard Cdr (been there, done that!).
STH
C130 Techie
26th Sep 2005, 08:18
The problem is they are only offering MPGS 14K a year.
They managed to recruit 3 out of the required 47. Are you surprised.
SNCOs are a common site on the gates of Wyton and Brampton.
Jordan D
26th Sep 2005, 09:37
BEagle - thanks for correcting me ... stupid mistake by me as well.
Jordan
PPRuNeUser0211
26th Sep 2005, 11:10
Hmm, I was aware that MPGS were on a lower pay-scale of some description, but thought that the package as a whole (non-deployability etc) was designed to compensate for it. They have plenty up north in the colder climbs, might be a geographic issue as to where some of our greener bretheren choose to settle after leaving the service.....