GUERNSEY

[Geo73]

Jets to return to Guernsey

Flybe is planning to bring jets back to Guernsey.

Flybe Europe managing director Mike Rutter said the company was keen to start flying its Embraer 175's to the island.

Initially the aircraft will be used on the Gatwick route, if that was successful it would investiage using the aircraft on other routes like Southampton.

Jets have not been used since the BAe 146 was retired due to concerns over the strength of the runway.

Work to strengthen the runway is progressing well and expected to be complete by the end of March.

Courtesy: Guernsey Press

[Saab2000 Freak]

Just a quick question for the Summer schedule, what charter and summer only flights is Guernsey expecting, Air Berlin i assume are returning will Cityjet be returning with their RTM charter too? Also any other new routes in the pipeline?

[J-Guy]

will Cityjet be returning with their RTM charter too?

No, end of an era there, I'm afraid. Flights transfer to Amsterdam with the new Blue Islands service. Connection via Jersey. I mentioned it in the Jersey thread a few weeks back.

In terms of Air Berlin - Stuttgart (new), Dusseldorf, Hannover and Frankfurt.

Other than that, Blue Islands to Glasgow and a once weekly flight to Norwich with Flybe. Can't think of anything else (unless you count non-stop services to Exeter and Birmingham on a Saturday!).

[EGCA]

Geo73: I read that the Guernsey runway is being extended at the western end, does this mean an actual increase in the declared/available distances, or was it necessary for the new "runway end safety areas" rules, which might have reduced the existing distances?

Regards

EGCA

[PeteAndre]

The declared distance will remain at 4800ft but is being shifted to west to acommodate RESAs - as you suggest. The dip at the western end has been filled in and all aprons and taxiways wil be reconstructed. Project is just at its half-way point, currently running 5 weeks late due to weather/rain - but this is expected to be made up - completion next spring.

Good article describing work in today's Guernsey Evening Press.

[EGCA]

Thanks for that. Presumably 4800 ft is adequate for the proposed jet ops with the Embraer 175.

EGCA

[PeteAndre]

FlyBE propose to re-introduce jets (the 175) to Gatwick in March. Other routes maybe later.

[Geo73]

Embraer 175 starts operating from 31st March.

[bmaviscount]

After years of being the unfavoured choice from the isle but with things looking up after launching their new Jet service; Flybe are upping sticks from LGW. What will follow? Will the island be worse off?

[adfly]

Apparently Aurigny were looking at taking some of the slack, either through increased frequency's or larger aircraft, would think the fares may jump a bit though!

[bmaviscount]

I would have thought either a code share with BA or a twice daily BA jet would go down a dream

[Aero Mad]

twice daily BA jet would go down a dream

High frequency is a pretty key requirement for GCI's London services; this simply wouldn't be good enough.

[Saab2000 Freak]

Aurigny considering a Jet operation into LGW. Would we perhaps see Blue Islands also introduce a LCY service? Would allow some form of competition on the Guernsey-London market, a multiple daily service in an ATR42/72 must be feasible now, the finance industry have been begging for one!

[virginblue]

On another forum, there is talk about GR taking over three BE E195 that are coming off the leases and are surplus to BE's requirements as a result of the LGW withdrawal.

Questions:

- is GCI E195-capable TORA and PCN-wise as far as shortish cross-channel hops to London are concerned?

- how many ATR72s frames are required for the current LGW operation? Certainly not three, so I am wondering why three E195 are targeted (if true).

[xtypeman]

Ref your second question 1 1/2 However they may be looking to increase rotations if they can secure further slots so that may absorb the second frame fully. Also this could be an opportunity for Aurigny to look at boosting capacity on other routes or even consider taking on a weakened Flybe.

[virginblue]

Well, at the moment the capacity to LON is roughly 6+1 x 70 by GR and 5 x 80 by BE = 890 seats daily. 6+1 flights on an E195 would mean 826 seats daily. Not sure about the current loads of BE and GR, but I guess 826 seats a day instead of 890 would do as it would guarantee improved load factors for GR.

[PlymSpotter]

Declared distances are not a problem on flight to London or UK/near Europe, the 195 will do it fine. Currently the PCN of 22 will limit the range and payload quite badly, but I understand the PCN will be 36 when the runway works are completed, which is sufficient for just about all the traffic GCI is likely to get.

[Geo73]

The runway works are due to be completed in the next 6 weeks.

[bmaviscount]

Flew through GCI last week and have to say the not so old airport is a real mess with all the apron being carved up. Can't believe they went to all the trouble of lifting the west of the runway without extending it at the same time.

[davidjohnson6]

There has been noise about Easyjet visiting Guernsey airport - presumably with a view to possibly opening a route or two in the future.

Is an A319 able to both land and depart credibly with close to 156 passengers on a route to southern England or would severe payload restrictions be required ?

Furthermore, would Easyjet A319s be in Guernsey's best interests as this would likely mean relatively low frequency flights, while squeezing out Aurigny / Flybe on the basis of lower unit cost per passenger ?

[Expressflight]

The reconfigured runway at GCI now offers TODAs and LDAs quite similar to those at SEN, with LDA being only 140m less than at SEN, so I should think the A319 could operate satisfactorily on routes from UK.

The figures are:
TORA: 09/1463, 27/1583
TODA: 09/1721, 27/1799 (same as SEN)
ASDA: 09/1463, 27/1583
LDA: 09/1463, 27/1463

[Jerbourg]

easyJet have applied for a licence to operate from GCI, although the UK airport hasn't been divulged it's expected to be LGW

BBC News - Easyjet applies for Guernsey operating licence (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-guernsey-24340517)

[Wycombe]

That'll put the cat amongst the pidgeons at Aurigny and the States Govt!

Aurigny - we need to borrow lots of money to finance a new jet, so that a jet service to the island can be maintained post-Flybe

States -that makes sense because we deliberately remodelled the runway so it still isn't long enough for anything bigger than an Embraer, and don't worry, we can reject the Licence request!

[kcockayne]

Simply because The States Of Guernsey own Aurigny could they, would they, refuse EZY a licence ?
I doubt it. But, I could be wrong !

[GCI27]

Aurigny are not buying a jet to simply maintain a jet service post-flybe. They are buying a jet to replace seats lost by flybe pulling out of gatwick. It was always about increasing Aurignys capacity.
Months of behind the scenes work has gone into researching what would be a viable aircraft for aurigny to operate with. The purchase was only happening because no other airline showed any interest at all in stepping in to operate this service.
Then a few weeks after the the aircraft is ordered, Easyjet knock on the door. What have they been doing for all these months? If Easyjet annouced they would continue the service when flybe left when the slot sale was publicised then you might find that aurigny would have not gone down this particular path and stuck to turboprops.

[Ayline]

I hope Easyjet do operate to Gatwick. As for the purchase of the E195 this is probably still needed as I assume Easyjet will (1) not base an aircraft in Guernsey and (2) limit the operation to one or two flights per day (on the basis that they are going to operate 3 per day to Jersey). Flights would therefore not be aimed directly at the business market as there is unlikely to be an early departure or late arrival. Jersey's first Easyjet morning departure will not be until 0830 and the last departure from Gatwick will be at 1730. If one then considers that there are currently 160 seats available on the two 0700 departures from Guernsey and the same returning in the evening then the 122 seater E195 may still not be able to accommodate the potential number of passengers who might wish to travel at those times. At present Flybe operate 430 seats per day to Gatwick. Even with the Aurigny E195 operating 4 flights daily and the AT72-500 operating the remaining 2 flights there will be shortfall of 218 seats per day or 79,570 seats per year. Of course not all of these seats are likely to be filled. Let's hope it will work for the benefit of all. Interesting times.

[Jerbourg]

Would easyJet perhaps be looking at serving GCI from a London airport other than LGW does anyone think?

[macuser]

Based on Ayline's seat figures, I think it would be difficult for the Guernsey Government to resist at least one daily flight from EZY. Furthermore, I would see the travelling public avoiding any prop services with jet equipment becoming available. So, a twice daily service from EZY would probably work.

Maybe Aurigny would have to have a rethink on its fare structure though.

[Wycombe]

Thurs 3/10 @ 1640 BST

FR24 shows a Titan 733, under AUR callsign, currentky inbound to GCI from STN.

Positioning to do a flight for them I guess.

[xtypeman]

Inbound to LGW as AUR610

[GCI27]

One of the ATR's apparently had a bird strike and was taken out of service this afternoon.

[Flying12]

Flybe to remove the ERJ175 from Guernsey on the 17th November, replaced with the Q400 unit from Aberdeen. The ERJ175 is off to Aberdeen to serve the Aberdeen-Manchester route..... That didn't last long.

[Artic Monkey]

Why would it? The Gatwick is stopping a few months after. The route is dead in the water

[beaufort1]

Easyjet has pulled its bid to run the Gatwick-Guernsey route.

[603DX]

The total cost publicly quoted for the current Guernsey airport upgrading work on runways, hardstandings, drainage, end safety zones, lighting, navigation aids, etc has been a figure of £80 million, if I recall correctly.

So I was rather surprised to see a much lower figure of £56 million stated in a recent Guernsey Weekly Press article about the work in progress by the main contractor Lagan. Does anyone know why there is such a large difference between the two; is the contract in two separate parts of £56 million and £24 million?

[LGS6753]

FlyBe have applied to operate GCI-LTN from March 2014:

http://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=84848&p=0

http://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=84845&p=0

[Jerbourg]

JEA used to operate a double daily LTN-GCI/JER some years ago, I seem to remember the service having fairly good loads, so maybe this reserrection of the route will be a sucess.

[richlit]

I hope it works out for flybe. Its nice they will be doing more flights out of luton. But I hope that it will not be the only new one they start.richard

[davidjohnson6]

Would someone be kind enough to tell me whether transferring between scheduled flights at Guernsey is possible without exiting and then going through security again ?
I'd like to transfer from Alderney via Guernsey to Gatwick, no luggage, with an already printed boarding card. I accept the transfer is entirely at my own risk but would like to know if 20 mins between one flight arriving and the next departing is likely achievable with a bit of running or if it's absolutely impossible. I'll have a backup anyway - it's really to decide whether a very short connection at GCI is worth giving it a go...

[mad_jock]

I stand by to be corrected but I think everyone goes through arrivals and customs.

Then its a 1 min walk back to security which will then be q dependant how long that takes.

The aircraft will start boarding 20mins before departure so I don't think its practical.

[Aero Mad]

Hmmm. Weather delays on flights out of ACI are so common (even if small) that whenever I fly ACI-GCI-LGW or vice versa I leave about an hour, at least. Aurigny itself won't put you on a connecting booking of less than an hour, for a reason. Probably best to leave the bigger gap and then to go to the desk and ask if you can get a seat on the earlier flight if you arrive on time.

[beaufort1]

Public meeting being held this evening in Alderney by a concerned group of residents (some of whom are former management of Aurigny before the States of Guernsey took over of ownership) looking to form an alternative airline utilising new build tri-islanders instead of the newly implemented plan for Dorniers. This to safeguard services on the EGJA/EGHI route and bring costs down.

[Aero Mad]

beaufort1, good evening. This discussion should really be taking place on the ALDERNEY (http://www.pprune.org/airlines-airports-routes/212182-alderney-7.html) thread and I've replied there.

[bmaviscount]

Intrigued where these ATPs fly to from Guernsey. Have tracked some evening departures to Brussels; is this just a repositioning flight?

[hapzim]

Moving money from the EU bureaucrats to their offshore accounts :suspect::E ;)

[Jerbourg]

Bmaviscount - The Brussels bound ATP is the week daily outbound JER-GCI-BRU flight for DHL

[virginblue]

Can I please nominate the Guernsey Airport Website as "Worst Airport Website of the Year"? Was surprised, to put it mildly, how 1990s it is. For sure they must be able to find a teenager from Guernsey Grammar School that will put up a better website for them in an afternoon or two...?

Amongst other crap, the official airport website still mentions routes like Guernsey - IoM by SI or Guernsey - Southampton/Gatwick/Dublin by BE.

[Jerbourg]

Virginblue - I am totally in agreement, the website certainly doesn't sell Guernsey or it's serving airlines & is shameful when compared to that of Jersey.

[virginblue]

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

New airline for Guernsey and Jersey in summer 2015 with Intersky operating flights to Zurich on saturdays with an ATR72-600. Flights operated on behalf of Swiss niche tour operator Rolf Meier Reisen.

[LGWAlan]

Operates 30/5 to 15/8/15

[Jerbourg]

Cityjet to operate RTM for the summer 2015 season with Fokker 50's & Air Berlin to operate a weekly charter to STR with I presume DH4's.

[GCI27]

There appears to be a Cello BAE146 parked on the west apron with a very pronounced list to its port side.
Anyone know what happened?

[Expressflight]

I think G-RAJJ operated an Aurigny sub-service LGW-GCI last Monday and doesn't seem to have flown since. Perhaps it suffered some sort of incident on arrival GCI.

[Jerbourg]

It burst a tyre on landing according to the local rag - it was operating for GR at the time.

[hapzim]

heard more of a gear than tyre problem

[wakeup]

Any news of any new routes for the summer, I know its getting a little late in the day, or will it be the usual with some increases in frequency?

[cobopete]

Summer sat routes mainly what has been before but with some changes and one new:

Air Berlin 1255 arr Douseldorf Dep 1330
1450 arr Stuttgart Dep 1525

VLM. 1420 arr Rotterdam Dep 1505

Intersky 1450 arr Zurich. Dep 1525 Jersey/Zurich

Domestic Services
Manchester 3X Aurigny
Southampton 1X FlyBe
3X BlueIsands
Gatwick. 5X Aurigny
Stansted. 2X. Aurigny
Bristol. 2X. Aurigny
EMA. 2X. Aurigny
Exeter. 1x. Fly Be
Birmingham. 1X. FlyBe
ACI. 6x. Aurigny
Jersey. 4x. BlueIslands
Mail/papers. 2x. Atlantic

Sunday has the single FlyBe Norwich service
Above may contain several errors, please advise of any corrections/errors

Pete

[adfly]

Southampton should be 4x Blue Islands and there is also two Flybe flights on Sat/Sun.

[cobopete]

adfly
I have gone to FlyBe's and Blue's online timetable for August 2015 and I'm not able to see the 4th BI and 2nd FlyBE flights perhaps you have updated data?

Pete

[adfly]

Blue Islands are 4 daily during the week but only 3 at the weekends. Gyazo - d739566ad027b04c6c511d58fa40c070.png (http://gyazo.com/d739566ad027b04c6c511d58fa40c070)

Flybe now appear to only have two flights on Sun, it was two on Sat as well last time I looked so my apologies. Gyazo - efb2ffee5d25d964b872fa2534b8793b.png (http://gyazo.com/efb2ffee5d25d964b872fa2534b8793b)

[cobopete]

Airport website has finally been updated and released. History of flying in Guernsey is done quite well and worth a read. Info for pax and users also given.

Pete

[LBIA]

Any news on if Aurigny have had their route licence approved to operate the proposed Guernsey - Leeds/Bradford route next summer?

[cobopete]

Not seen anything yet, but they have taken delivery of the ATR42 which they intend to use, between it's trips to LCY.

[cobopete]

Just noted on the visitguernsey website that a summer charter to GCI from Vienna is planned,stating that the carrier has yet to be disclosed. Anyone with any info?
Pete

[J-Guy]

It is Austrian Airlines, I believe. It is the same tour operator that has offered holidays to Jersey for the past 3 years or so, Primer Reisen. I would imagine it is a triangular route this year? It is a fairly short season, end of May to the beginning of July.

[kcockayne]

Yes, they used FK100s & A319s to Jersey. I suppose these a/c could "scrape into" Guernsey !

[LGWAlan]

According to the online brochure its' two separate flights:

VIE-JER 0940-1100/1150-1505 OS2765/6
VIE-GCI 1515-1710/1755-2150 OS2599/600

Possibly DH4 VIE-GCI? Austrian do use them on 3hr plus sectors

[kcockayne]

Yes, I would have thought that the Dash 8 was more likely for Guernsey; & the fact that it is a separate flight to Guernsey would seem to indicate that.

[cobopete]

LGWAlan,

Thanx for the info, are you able to supply a bit more ?


1. What day do they propose this service to run and over what period
2. Do you have a link to their site with this info as I'm blowed if I can find it!

I'm pretty sure u r right re the a/c as the flight times r longer than the JER rotation.

Thnx in advance

Pete

[FFHKG]

Austrian and DH4 -seem to remember that one of their DH4's operated a summer route in LBD throughout the summer in 2013, possibly for a tour operator. Arrived just after lunch not sure where it came in from but guess it would be one of the resort airports in the Alps -so CGI should not be a problem for it.

[kcockayne]

cobopete

I have no info. on this flight, but the Jersey operation (over the last 2 years) took place on a Saturday & ran from April to June - if my memory serves me right !
By the way, Did you get my pm, sent yesterday ?

[LGWAlan]

Hi Pete
Its on page 7 of the electronic version of the Nordische Lander brochure on the following link:
https://www.primareisen.com/prima-kataloge/

Basically - dates are Saturdays 4/6/16 until 2/7/16 for the GCI flight.

Just as an aside - example of a longish DH4 -flight would be LNZ-AOK on Tuesdays block time of 3h20

[cobopete]

Thnx Alan for info.........good to see new service!
Pete

[wakeup]

Does anyone have any info on the new inter-island agreement with flybe? Just thinking this may be an option if the flights are going to be cheap?

[cobopete]

Current situation is complex, and nothing is certain at the moment. As I understand it:

1. Code share Blue and Aurigny to end
2. No codeshare with FlyBE by Blue has been mooted
3. Blue in discussion with FlyBE re possible franchise agreement .......Blue ac to fly in FlyBE colours and bookings made through FlyBE website
4. Limit on number of Pax FlyBE can fly interisland lifted - cheap fares currently on offer

So cheap flight via JER may be possible but nothing to do with codeshare.

If you remember the TV sitcom "soap".........confused, you will be!


Pete

[Jerbourg]

What, if anything is happening with the summer European routes, will we see Air Berlin, Austrian (new) & VLM this year?

[AdamThePassenger]

What, if anything is happening with the summer European routes, will we Air Berlin, Austrian & VLM this year?

VLM are operating charters from Rotterdam, not sure about the other two

Adam :D

[cobopete]

Additional summer services, not including GR extra services to Man etc:
Blue Islands
Liverpool, Sats 4 Jun - 17 Sep
Aurigny
Barcelona. Sats 23 Jul - 13 Aug
Norwich. Sats 14 May - 17 Sep
Leeds/Brad MWFS from 27 May

Air Berlin
From 23 Apr
DUS 1115
STUT 1530.
Austrian
Vienna - CIAN newsletter states to have been withdrawn

[LAX_LHR]

I don't think MAN has any additional flights this summer.

Pretty sure it was 16/17 weekly last summer, but only seems to be 15 weekly this summer.

[cobopete]

Timetable is showing summer services as follows -

Saturdays -.2 rotations
East Midlands 28/5 to 17/9


Sunday's -
Manchester. 3/7 to 18/9 X3
Stansted 24/7 to 4/9. X2

[Jerbourg]

I know it's early days, but has anyone heard if anyone will be taking over the Saturday RTM charter that VLM used to do?

[J-Guy]

Rotterdam is going to be operated by CityJet from this Saturday until start of September. Flights operated by an RJ85.

[Jerbourg]

Brilliant, Thank you.

[cobopete]

Great new view of west apron, Stands 21-23 at aurignycam.com. Updates when movement detected.

[Aero Mad]

Uber style air taxi to start this year | Channel - ITV News (http://www.itv.com/news/channel/update/2017-01-17/inter-island-air-taxi-to-begin-operating-this-year/)

The ambition is for an air taxi service and for 'up to four timetabled flights an hour' between the islands and the mainland and France by 2018. No mention of 'subject to States agreement,' which must either be selective quotation from ITV or no mention in the original release. The founder's LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/magliocchetti) indicates that the project has financial backing. What is the current CAA position on single-engine IFR ops?

[kcockayne]

Does this not require a "licence" from the States of Guernsey - & will it be forthcoming ?

[Jerbourg]

As this will be operated with 2- rather than G- registered aircraft will the CAA have any say?

[five zero by ortac]

Interesting idea. As long as it is an air-taxi service I don't think they will need any route licenses, however as soon as it turns into any kind of schedule they need route licenses from Guernsey & Alderney if they are going there. I'm sure some people will use this but all its going to do is cherry pick pax off Aurigny & FlyBe, which will only end one way. Also, single engine commercial IFR ops over water, is that really going to be approved??? A straw pole at work today said 'single engine no way'. I wish them luck but I have serious doubts.

[Aero Mad]

Apologies; my reference to services being subject to 'States agreement' was to air route licensing. The reference to 'timetabled' services suggests a mix of ad hoc and scheduled flying. 2-REG guidelines (https://www.gov.gg/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=103855&p=0) indicate that the States now award AOCs to public transport operators (I haven't looked very hard but can't find reference to any specific limitations on single engine IFR over-water ops.) Given political and popular pressure, CICRA scepticism and the competition situation, likely that a GCI-JER application would be approved; could see this succeeding against SI/BE's more infrequent (and possibly higher cost?) operation against a strong backbone of air taxi work. Likewise for thinner, seasonal, CI-UK routes currently unserved. Any attempt to gain a foothold on more established routes would be likely to fall foul of the Board, subject to the representations it received.

(Recent licensing history for those less familiar: after purchase of BE slots at LGW, and hearing of the likelihood of rejection upon further enquiry, U2 did not bother to apply for GCI-LGW. SI withdrew from a GCI-BRS application prior to a hearing, and the Board only approved BE's GCI-LTN application on the basis of stringent year-round operating conditions. Its composition changed substantially after the 2016 election, to include a number of populist and pro-business members. It has not been called upon to decide on contested applications since then; its likely position on proposals for competition with existing operators is thus unknown.)

[kcockayne]

Very succinct reply, Aero Mad. I agree with all that you have said. Guernsey is very protectionist when it comes to licensing of air carriers. One only has to look at the States ownership of AUR (which continues to operate at a loss) to understand why ! Jersey is different & political realities would suggest that Guernsey would acquiesce in the granting of a Guernsey-Jersey licence.

[kcockayne]

I should add that this is particularly so as AUR no longer operate between Guernsey & Jersey !

[Jerbourg]

I hear Air Berlin have pulled the plug on GCI this year & looking on their website no GCI flights are available. I wonder who if anyone will operate the German tourist flights this year?

[Geo73]

CityJet are back this year with a 1x weekly Rotterdam-Guernsey-Jersey-Rotterdam service using ARJ-85 equipment, operating 15th April to 2nd September.

[virginblue]

AFAIK, Eurowings will take over the DUS flight, opb an A319.

[J-Guy]

I see that Flybe are going to launch flights from Dusseldorf to Guernsey and Jersey starting on 29 April. Its a triangular route operating on Saturdays for the summer season so basically replacing Air Berlin.

Germanwings will be operating to Jersey from Dusseldorf as well.

It is a shame about Hannover and Stuttgart. Hannover particularly has been a regular charter destination since at least the 1990s - Eurowings, VLM even Brymon I recall at some stage.

[Aero Mad]

Link here (http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/272728/flybe-to-operate-from-guernsey-and-jersey-to-dusseldorf). JER-DUS from £39.99

[kcockayne]

I see that Flybe are going to launch flights from Dusseldorf to Guernsey and Jersey starting on 29 April. Its a triangular route operating on Saturdays for the summer season so basically replacing Air Berlin.

Germanwings will be operating to Jersey from Dusseldorf as well.

It is a shame about Hannover and Stuttgart. Hannover particularly has been a regular charter destination since at least the 1990s - Eurowings, VLM even Brymon I recall at some stage.

Are BEE definitely replacing Air Berlin ? If so, it is a bit of a capacity drop; considering that Air Berlin operated a DH8-400 on a Guernsey only service & an EA319 on a Jersey only service. Just one DH8 operating to both Jersey & Guernsey (total capacity 70 pax as opposed to 210 - or thereabouts).

[virginblue]

DUS-JER is also operated by EW with an A319, so it will be only a slight decrease for GCI (assuming that some JER-bound travellers will use the BE flight).

[cobopete]

Does anyone have info on the TACV ATR72 D4 CBU currently on stand on the west apron?
Pete

[Geo73]

Its lease to TACV has finished and it is being stored until a new operator is found.

[cobopete]

I've just found a webcam of eastern apron at GCI, it scrolls thro about 7 views, from Mail plane - looking west towards main apron to the Water tower to the east. Find it at Home | Aiglle Flight Support (http://www.Aiglle.com). Picture good quality and can be dragged to full screen on iPad without significant degradation.

[cobopete]

The possibility of extending the runway has got back on the agenda, with a States debate planned for later this year....thus making the use of small Airbus and 737 at full loads possible and new routes and destinations following (perhaps). I was under the impression that scope for the extension at the western end was made when the runway was shifted west to provide sufficient safety run off during the Lagan upgrade. However the latest info I have seen is to extend to east by filling in the valley, and with huge earth works. Is this really planned and if so can anyone explain the logic for it (aside from keeping the St Peters and Torteval politicos on-side?).

PS Do you also find it sad that all press reports emphasise the proposed length would be longer than Jerseys'.

[kcockayne]

Apart from the cost of filling in the valley, I think that the logical way to go would be east. If you extend to the west you run into the St.Peter's village area. Not that the extension would run into the village, but the a/c would be extremely low passing over it. It might well result in St.Peter's church having to be demolished. Also, the land slopes down from the 09 threshold area, so a lot of leveling would have to take place. Perhaps the cost of compulsory purchase, leveling & social disruption would be greater than filling in the valley !
Having said that, the elevation of the 27 threshold is, from memory, considerably higher than the road to the east of it, & even more so than the valley & surrounding land - a pretty daunting challenge to fill it in. I suppose that the water tower would have to go too.
I am pretty sceptical about this project. Some Guernsey politicians seem to think that all they have to do to expand air services & increase visitor numbers, is to extend the r/w. I would suggest that, if the demand for new routes actually exists, then the existing operators would already be operating them with their existing equipment. Why would a longer r/w, of itself, provide the impetus for new routes ?
Then there is the hope that EZY would be encouraged to operate low cost routes (primarily Gatwick). If they were, that would be the end of AUR ; because they couldn't compete with EZY -unless the States were to subsidise them even more ! Why would the States spend tens of millions on the extension, encourage EZY to operate, & then watch their multi million investment in AUR go down the pan ?

[jensdad]

As everything's gone a bit quiet, just thought I'd ask a question of those of you in the know... I visited Guernsey last month and while loitering suspiciously at the 27 threshold with my camera, I noticed that most aircraft, even the ones arriving from the UK, seemed to intercept the localiser from the south. Any reason behind this?

[kcockayne]

Poor radar vectoring ? (Tongue in cheek !).

[Wycombe]

Avoiding Sark and Brecqhou maybe? (also tongue-in-cheek ;))

[jensdad]

Haha, indeed it might be to avoid Dr. No's SAMs on Brecqhou. :)


Joking aside, I did wonder if there was something unusual happening the day I was there (it was the evening after the Battle of Britain display coincidentally) but I had a look on FR24 this morning and watched an ATR arriving from Gatwick and it also took a 'dip' to the south before lining up.


Apologies for what might seem a trivial question. Just taking advantage of the fact that there's not much going on on the thread :)

[kcockayne]

I've been "out of the loop" for 10 years, now - so I don't know what local procedures might have been adopted. There may have been a "one off" occurrence which required vectoring to position a/c onto the ILS from the south. Certainly, Wycombe is correct to mention the need to avoid overflying Sark below 2000', but Guernsey Approach can usually position a/c onto the 27 ILS & still keep a/c over Sark above that height. I am presuming that we are talking about 27. Jersey would not want Guernsey going too far south of the 27 LOC on a frequent & regular basis (because that would infringe Jersey's airspace & vectoring). So, I am at a loss to explain why
you should have observed what you did.

[jensdad]

Thanks for your local knowledge, kcockayne and Wycombe :)


Might just be a series of 'one-off's' as you say. The ATR72 I followed on FR24 this morning - AUR603 was the one I tracked - went directly overhead Sark on it's journey south so I'm guessing it's nothing to do with that. On the evening after the BoB display there were several arrivals that went south of the centreline so that may have been something to do with airspace restrictions still in place.

[cobopete]

Loganair has submitted applications to fly Glasgow - Guernsey and Durham Tees Valley - Guernsey for 2018. Hope they are granted and loads are good.
Pete

[Plane.Silly]

A nice development, Obviously wanting to make the most of their DTVA investment

[kcockayne]

Should help, in a small way, to satisfy the apparent call for more air routes from the Guernsey public. But, such new routes will always be somewhat limited in their scope.

[Gurnard]

... and they will not offer cheap fares.

[Ayline]

FlIghts will operate on Saturdays during peak summer months.

[VickersVicount]

nice to see Loganair try Glasgow-Guernsey again for S18. Think it was 'Airline of Britain' time when they specifically last tried it. Niche and low numbers but welcome none the less