Shobdon

[cessnapete]

Is this airfield planning to become Shobdon Hereford (London) Airport?
A recent visit required a call just before departure from home base with eta, so ''a strip could be prepared''
On departure a PPR departure slot was required.
A collegue had the timerity to call for taxi and was told that it was 20mins before his allocated slot, no other movements at the time.
The aerodrome plate states A/G Shobdon Radio. You could have done better with a handheld VHF and safetycom!!
Apart from all that, still a pleasant place to visit.

[Spit161]

It's all changed recently from A/G to booking in, and out.
Not sure why - it seems a bit silly as there aren't that many aircraft movements. And, when there are, they are usually just Tiger Helis and HAC..

cheers,
Jake.

[Echo Romeo]

Suppose you're required to ware Hi- vis now as well then.

[BillieBob]

The aerodrome plate states A/G Shobdon Radio.No, the current aerodrome chart states both A/G and AFIS and the accompanying text gives the operating hours of each, as well as stating that it is strictly PPR by telephone.

[avonflyer]

seem to remember there was a thread here, or on flyer, that they got a bit of a ticking off during a snap inspection back in the summer. Too many movements and not enough control. (which seemed perverse for an Air Ground service) anyway they had to put in the slot system which keeps the CAA happy but not necessarily the visiting pilots.

[Claverley04]

Went there this morning, first land away since passing skills test as it happens.
Have to say, it all seemed pretty relaxed on the whole. Was quite busy due to rotary movements and the FISO sounded a bit tense on occaisons, but it was a flight information service and not A/G at the time (landed 11.30 local).

Didnt get any problems or issues with slot times, on the whole I thought it was a good place to visit, a bit of a throw back in time which is nice!:)

[bravobravo74]

Whatever you do, don't descend below 1500ft agl on the deadside or the FISO will spontaneously combust.

[niceday2700classic]

Read their website, you'll see what the score is. Some days they get very busy due a to a new training contract that one of the heli firms has won.

So they've gone to AFIS during what you might describe as 'business hours', no service at all outside those hours so just call 'traffic' on the same frequency.

Went there a couple of weeks ago and they were nice as pie. Can't imagine they'll ever become high-vis.

Even got a straight-in approach.

[Pull what]

Shobdon is a beautiful airfield that over the years has suffered from some very poor management.

I see the CFI is retiring shortly so there could be some changes on the way.

[justmaybe]

any idea who the new CFI will be? Rumour has it it could be retired SATCO - that could make 'control' at the field even more interesting!!

[PW Cooper]

Q) EGTT/QFAXX/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5215N00253W005
B) FROM: 11/11/07 08:08C) TO: PERM
E) ALL PILOTS AND PERSONNEL, EXCEPT FOR PASSENGERS AND OTHER PERSONS
THAT ARE BEING ESCORTED, SHALL WEAR HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING WHILST
AIRSIDE.
AD 2.20 REFERS

I was intending to visit tomorrow but wondering how the conversation will go if I request to deviate from the above or am queried about my knowledge of the NOTAM? Has anyone been challenged yet?
I know this may kick off the Hi Vis debate but this is a slippery slope for what was and should be still a great place to fly. Hi Vis has its place on a dirty dark ramp but is totally out of proportion for this airfield.
Prepare for incoming!!

[thing]

I believe Sywell fine people who wear hi viz....

[Echo Romeo]

E) ALL PILOTS AND PERSONNEL, EXCEPT FOR PASSENGERS AND OTHER PERSONS
THAT ARE BEING ESCORTED, SHALL WEAR HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING WHILST
AIRSIDE.
AD 2.20 REFERS


Well there you go, another one to cross off the 'airfields to visit list' :*

[thing]

It's a sad reflection that I now carry a small (for small read big) hi viz vest stuffed into the side pocket of my flight bag just in case I have to divert to numpty land some day.

[overun]

P W Cooper has said it all really.

E). Hi - vis required.

Does your dad have a 70`s shirt that you could borrow for the day ?

l`m not convinced that "hi-vis" has been properly quantified.

Shobden is a blast from the past for me .... a Twin Pioneer rotting away,

ambulances refusing to take an injured glider pilot to hospital in Hereford

because they had an arrangement with the para club not to turn out for

broken bones, - the chap in question was lifted into a car front seat and

the dangly leg was folded onto his lap for the journey to Hereford Hospital.

Would you begrudge him a smuggled bottle of Guinness ?,

mind it was a good caff.

l also remember a chappie in a wheel chair - ex fleet air arm l think - trying

to charge me a landing fee for arrival in a pawnee to have a farmers

coach bolt changed for a proper one. He seemed totally unaware that l`d

slipped in with parachutists landing both sides of the runway.

These things happen.

Obviously getting money out of me didn`t.

l remember him as a gentleman. Some time ago now.

ps. l won`t do the spaces again, l`m snow blind.

[Mariner9]

Green high vis jackets are the perfect attire on a green grass apron if you want to blend in with the background :D

[A and C]

You are spot on ! Hi-Vis clothing should be required when approprate.

NOT when Nanny says!

This rush to dress in daglo is just more stupidity from the H & S nanny state and is the thin end of the wedge to ban "danerous" sports. Give in to the nannys and next will be a ban on parachuting, motorcycling, light aviation, ect, etc.

Finaly I have to commend Hi Vis the policy at Booker, daylight & good vis= no hi vis requirment. Night time or poor vis= hi vis colthing is required.

If you are a fit person to fly an aircraft then the policy at Booker should be no problem to you............if not your removal from the gene pool is not a disaster.

[Echo Romeo]

Finaly I have to commend Hi Vis the policy at Booker, daylight & good vis= no hi vis requirment. Night time or poor vis= hi vis colthing is required

The above is the sensible approach I'd say. It Really irritates me when places like Shobdon introduce a Hi-Vis ruling without any real justification, I mean, it's hardly Heathrow is it.:=

[Shoestring Flyer]

Motor bikes and cars which are just visiting park up on the apron in front of the caff and are therefore are 'airside'. I wonder if they will be expected to wear Hi viz jackets before entering the airfield as well!

[Nibbler]

Old Sarum has a high-viz requirement however it's not enforced with any great vigor even with home based pilots and not at all with visiting aircrew. It is enforced on non-pilot enthusiasts who wander about with cameras.

There is some justification to the high-viz thinking in that ground staff and ATS are able to quickly spot any potential prop kill member of the public wandering about without a care in the world. Old Sarum is perhaps not unique in the airfield boundary and movement areas are entirely open access.