Coventry Airport

[konfused]

Anybody know whats happening at Coventry? there are lots of rumours that the company that run the field is about to go bust.

[ShyTorque]

Mmm.. I've heard those rumours too, but no hard facts.

[sedburgh]

There are plenty of news reports, here are a couple:
BBC News - Airport facing wind-up petition (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8387759.stm)

Coventry Telegraph - News - Coventry News - Coventry Airport: Solution must be found, say business leaders (http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2009/12/02/no-headline-92746-25304744/)

[NJTCF]

Also have a look at Coventry Airports webbsite.

Basically closed for 8 days over christmas and new year.

Close 7pm 24th Dec - Re open 9am 2nd Jan.

With just 2 x 12hrs opening slots 1300-0100 on the 29th-30th Dec.

[Chequeredflag]

Supposed to have flown from there today. Had a call this am to say airport closed for at the least the rest of today. Operators winding up petition to be heard tomorrow. Concrete information hard to come by, some saying announcement later today, others that it's closed until further notice. Bummer!

[GASH !]

The airport closed at 10am this morning. Operators were given only 5 minutes warning of the closure. Although the airport is NOTAM'd as being closed until 1200, none of us are expecting it to reopen today. When it does reopen, it will probably only be for remaining operators to remove aircraft elsewhere.

[coldair]

A very tragic turn of events.

Coventry is a fantastic airport with friendly ATC, an excellent flying club and other first rate schools and operators.

I sincerely hope that general aviation will still be able to use the site.
I remember my first solo from there as if were yesterday.

Let's hope that someone will keep it open rather than dig up the runway for an industrial estate.

[Chequeredflag]

I'm not an expert, but I believe there are some old covenents which state that it can ONLY be used as an airport. Sky News reckons it has shut, with 70 jobs going. There's some hope however, that this is just a bit of posturing before tomorrows winding up petition. If/when West Midlands Airport Authority go into liquidition, the lease will evidently automatically return to Coventry City Council which will hopefully keep it ticking over until a new lessee can be found.

[DB6]

I might be a bit behind the times here, but is Air Atlantique/Classic Flight still based there? Great airfield when I was last there, albeit more than a few years ago.

[maxred]

The situation must be finacially severe for HMRC to present wind up notice. Liquidator appointed to sell off assets and realise as much 'hard cash' as possible. Not sure it would be quite as simple as the Council picking up the tab. They may however undertake to underwrite any debt, with the eventual outcome a buyer, but in these circumstances the sharks are patrolling the shoreline, with vultures overhead. Pick up a bargain as they say:bored:

[goatface]

There has been very little support for the Airport by the local authority and council, it's my personal opinion that their determined objection to the new terminal at Coventry was the final nail in the coffin.

Regardess of covenants, scripts written on parchments or whatever it may say in the Midlands Bill of Rights, I can't see Coventry reopening as a going concern.
It requires someone with £millions to clear the debts alone, but, as an airport that consistently proves it will never have enough commercial traffic to cover anything like the running costs due to continued opposition from local authorities, no one in their right mind is going to take it on.

I dare say that the local authorities who own the lease and the site will ensure that everyone who has any interest in the place will be "persuaded" to go elsewhere and that by this time next year it will be a business park.

[fisbangwollop]

Was speaking to an Air Atlantic caravan today operating up north. He was told by company to return to Birmingham due to the closure of the airfield. I understand negotiations are ongoing to get the airfield open for an hour so as to enable AAG to get their aircraft out!! ....:confused:

[S78]

CVT should re-open later today as an unlicensed airfield. Not sure how long that status will remain for.



S78

[Dawdler]

The airport closed at 10am this morning. Operators were given only 5 minutes warning of the closure. Although the airport is NOTAM'd as being closed until 1200, none of us are expecting it to reopen today. When it does reopen, it will probably only be for remaining operators to remove aircraft elsewhere.

I wonder how this will affect the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, as it has it's base at Baginton. aka Coventry Airport?

[hunterxf382]

It was on the news yesterday that the Air Ambo is still able to operate under special dispensation from CAA - which is what you would expect for an Emergency Service

[coldair]

Just heard that CVT ATC is operating but for departures only.

It's a fast moving situation at the moment, fingers crossed and best wishes to all you great guys at Coventry.

You have given me superb service in the past, hope you still can in the future.

[Bobs-Your-Uncle]

NOTAM showing operating as un-licensed aerodrome until 2359hrs on 14th Dec (Monday night).

[athonite]

Does anyone have any information if the various flight training organisations will relocate or cease trading. I'm thinking here about Atlantic Flight Training, Coventry Aeroplane Club, AWA Flying Group?

[Dawdler]

Almat relocated some aircraft to Wellesbourne when it all blew up, but I think they harbour hopes of returning to Coventry asap.

[wsmempson]

I rang Coventry ATC this am and was told that they were open for today only for VFR departures, in order to allow based aircraft to leave the field.

I sincerely hope this gets resolved, but I suspect that unless something very dramatic happens, it's all over for Coventry Airport as it was with ATC, radar etc. Perhaps it'll survive as a GA field, but I wouldn't put money on it. I wish them all well, as I've always had a superb service from Coventry.:(

[BoeingMEL]

Did my fixed-wing and helicopter PPLs at Cov starting in '69. Then first commercial job in '80 (AirCom) and IR renewals later too. Many happy memories of a relaxed atmosphere, top-drawer ATC and much more. Oh yes, my only genuine engine failure (downwind 23L) in '88. Genuinely hoping that someone steps in to save Cov for the present and future generations of flyers. Good Luck! bm:ok:

[Prangster]

Given the appalling economic situation I'm wondering who will be next. Given the exodus of big boys from East Midlands and BMI's ropy outlook could they be next? It'll be a bugger trying to fit whats' left into Netherthorpe. (Only joking) I hope

[Sir George Cayley]

Winter is always a bleak time for flying training, the schools that provide this and the aerodromes whose business is built on it. (Natch)

2010 might see a huge change in allowing PPL A flight training from non-licensed fields like microlights. That may save a few from bankruptcy. However the delayed increase in CAA charges next year will affect full service airfields and have a negative impact on GA.

Add to this the OFCOM charges, EASA charges, higher taxation and global warming and to me the future looks dismal. Sorry.

Sir George Cayley

[tarnish26]

OK folks were all doomed.....going to moth ball the Gulfstream tonight....no call for it anymore.......got an offer of flying a sledge for the next 2 weeks so beggars cant be choosers!!.......Last time I stopped at Baggington I was waiting for a Silver City DC3 to EGJB......afraid its a sign of he times .....were all doomed Capt Manwering!!!:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[Fried_Chicken]

There are rumours of a buyer but nothing solid yet :(

Coventry is still available as an unlicensed airfield. Most of the larger stuff (Atlantic freighters, RVL Cessna Twins etc) are operating out of Birmingham with much of the lighter stuff out of Wellesbourne. A couple of the aircraft were due to move out to a couple of the local strips (Wolvey, Stoke Golding, Baxterley etc) but with the recent weather, they may have stayed at Coventry or gone to somewhere else which has a hard runway.

Hopefully all will be resolved soon, even if it does mean a reduction in services (ie the ILS) to save money

FC

[Phil Space]

I wonder if Kemble are looking at Coventry.

It would seem to offer a lot more than Llanbedr.

[Sir George Cayley]

Except the scenery:ok:

Sir George Cayley

[Genghis the Engineer]

I wonder if Kemble are looking at Coventry.

It would seem to offer a lot more than Llanbedr.

As I understand it, the only company that's gone bust has been the managing company - Coventry airport itself is owned by the local council.

That certainly creates an opportunity for a company with airport managing capabilities, but not to buy the airport. (I think).

G

[Sir George Cayley]

Don't forget that the company that just got wound up by HMCR convinced the landowner that they were capable (or should that culpable) of running COV. So will will the local authority be any better able to pick another winner?

Well maybe.

Sir George Cayley

[niknak]

This would be the Council which deliberately contributed to the demise of the airport by being deliberately obstructive in all planning applications eh?:*

There is not the remotest chance of them stepping in with any cash to revitalise as an airport when they could develop it as a business park with guaranteed Government help, guaranteed tax breaks for the new customers and a significant employment boost for the area.

Unless a miracle occurs or an idiot with money to burn turns up, Coventry is done and dusted as an airport.

[Daysleeper]

This would be the Council which deliberately contributed to the demise of the airport by being deliberately obstructive in all planning applications eh?

Er no.... the airport is owned by Coventry city council however for planning purposes it is in Warwickshire. I'd have thought a good idea would be to get the county boundary moved to let the airport sit within the area of the council which owns it!

As for business park land, there is an entire defunct Peugeot car plant next door so plenty of room for that AND an airport.

The problem really was that Warwickshire saw no advantage to having the airport, they were completely blind the the jobs that the airport created and sustained. THe fact that most of the better paid airport employees lived south of the airport in Warwickshire bought large houses and paid lots of council tax seemed to escape them. Attracting an operator like T fly to a permanent base would have massively increased the number of those jobs.

Anyhow sufficient thread drift back to what is happening with the flying clubs?

[Genghis the Engineer]

That's not atypical of councils.

I've had occasional skirmishes with Hillingdon town council - they have the pleasure of Heathrow Airport and Brunel University on their patch. As an organisation they seem to spend much of their time at war with these two - who are not only by far the largest employers of their constituents, but also so far as I can see very responsible employers and organisations who each bring millions into the patch.

And just ask anybody involved with North Weald...

It seems to be in the nature of councils that they are mostly comprised of people who are essentially negative about things, and struggle to be positive about anything in particular.

G

[Sir George Cayley]

And, sweeping generalisation coming, made up predominantly of middle-aged white professional types. :ugh: Oh! how I'd like to get on our local council and shake 'em up a bit:E

Except I'm white, middle-aged and professional :uhoh:

Sad to think that, were there young black airminded citizens willing to stand for civic duties, our cause (aerial fun) might be better served. As it seems that General Aviation doesn't get a decent proportion of black people wanting to join, we may be the authors of our own predicament?

So from ignorant planners to ethnic diversity in one post:ok:

Sir George Cayley

[Art E. Fischler-Reisen]

Suffolk Council did a really good job with Ipswich Airport, especially by approving a major housing development right onto the boundary of the most commonly used runway.... now the county has no airport.

[cvt person]

For the sake of acuracy the council that was obstructive over planning permision was neither Coventry City Council nor Warwickshire it was Warwick District Council, the county council supported development.

['Chuffer' Dandridge]

Suffolk Council did a really good job with Ipswich Airport,

And also with Crowfield.. 'Permanent' planning permission granted, then taken away....:rolleyes:

One only has to look at the UK planning system to realise that we are always going to be fighting a losing battle with airfields..:(

[Flyingvisitor]

Let's get our facts right please with regard to Ipswich and Crowfield. Planning matters are the remit of the borough/district council, not the county council (unless it's unitary authority). Ipswich was closed by Ipswich Borough Council. The Crowfield planning fiasco was the work of Mid-Suffolk District Council. Suffolk County Council had nothing to do with this.

[G-CPTN]

BBC News - Talks to reopen Coventry Airport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/8434450.stm)

[hunterxf382]

Originally Posted by Phil Space http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.pprune.org/private-flying/397767-coventry-airport-2.html#post5402721)
I wonder if Kemble are looking at Coventry.

It would seem to offer a lot more than Llanbedr.



Now that would be really nice from a personal perspective, as I have interests in both locations.... :ok:

The same thought had crossed my mind almost as soon as the news spread about Coventry.

[BRL]

I have just deleted a post aimed at the manager there. Please guys, no more blatant **** stirring posts ok. I have banned someone recently for the same thing and just deleted a post here.

As the old saying goes, play the ball not the player. (and I hate using that phrase)

[Fried_Chicken]

From various sources, it looks like Jan 18th may be the date when Coventry reopens. No firm news on the new operators but apparently they plan to make Coventry GA friendly & concentrate on GA, training & freight

FC

[S-Works]

I will be glad to see them reopen, my maintenance company are based there for a start and I have always liked Coventry for it's friendliness. if it goes back to being a GA destination and cargo it will be great.

BRL, what on earth is the reference about the player and the ball? Is this some reference to that chav ballgame?

[BRL]

Don't ask mate, don't ask!! I hate using that saying, in fact that may be the first time I have used it! Never again! :D

[aerobat 1971]

Well, on the grapevine, the latest rumour I've heard is that we should see Air traffic services restored at Cov by 1st February. Don't know what level of service this will be, but it's looking promising.

Cheers,

David.

[niknak]

the latest rumour I've heard is that we should see Air traffic services restored at Cov by 1st February. Don't know what level of service this will be, but it's looking promising.

Whoever the new owners are will have to move fast then.
ATC was provided on contract by Marshalls, who are doing their best to keep people on where they can by putting them in at some of their other contracts even if it's on a short term basis.
To keep Cov' open, even if, as was ludicrously suggested, it was H24 5 days and AFIS Sat/Sun, would require the same number of fully rated ATCOs as they had prior to closure and those guys just won't be available.
There are more than enough jobs elsewhere to employ the majority, certainly those with all the ratings and no ATCO in their right mind would want to return to an airport where uncertainty reigns and will continue to do so.

Looking promising isn't a phrase I'd use to describe the present or the future if Coventry are required to provide an ATC service.

[fear and loathing]

befoe the aiport closed we couldnt go to 24/5 because we didnt have enough controllers so they could have their regulation amount of down time. if controllers have left i would suggest those hours are unrealistic as my understanding is that even a fully qualified one coming into to a new airfield has to have a fixed amount of time on each of the disciplines before they could go on the run.