Biggin Hill Closure

[shuttle1tango]

Any one Know why Biggin Hill shut early yesterday? Roumour has it ,that it was down to ATC shortage ,if that was the case any more to come?:confused:

[we_never_change]

EGKB appeared to be open till 'normal' closing time the last couple of nights

WNC

[shuttle1tango]

W N C
According to a notam Biggin Hill closed 1800utc for essential rwy maintenance ?? on Monday , but no apparent evidence visible the next day. :confused:

[You what?]

Biggin Hill did indeed close early on Monday evening and as far as I am aware it was due to ATC staff shortages. I didn't see the NOTAM myself but I think someone at Biggin must have been having a laugh with the RWY Maintenance idea!!!

I'm sure SATCO Biggin will confirm exactly what's going on with staffing there but the last I heard they had got 2 or 3 controllers training, possibly more..... SATCO B???

They lost a fine controller recently who became SATCO at Lydd I believe. Hope the remaining troops don't follow otherwise Biggin will be in the poop!

[Angels Three Five]

That would not happen in my day !:sad:

[9J-LUN]

More closures due ATC staff shortage! 29th Nov 1800L
Not good news for operators hoping to get a weekend charter!

Only recently the airport applied to Bromley council to allow a Qatar government aircraft to come and go whenever it wants to regardless of opening hours.

HEY whatabout all of the other operators here at EGKB, would be very advantageous to be able to depart or arrive outside of hours!!

I believe the airport lacks direction at the top, such potential here if under good management. The fuel cost's are astronomical compared to Manston and the handling is very questionable!

Too many monopolies running here!

Sorry to moan but I felt it had to be said, there are some good people here at EGKB but the business practices are near on MAFIA style!

Oh by the way I'm sure some kind of backhander was involved in this very suspicous Qatar deal, though there is no evidence OF COURSE!

SORRY I meant today 29th October!! for EGKB closure.

I\'m ahead of time

[shuttle1tango]

9J Totally agree with your insight to management of KB

At least this time they were honest and declared the real reason in the notam ie staff shortages, perhaps the management had something to hide before, or have realised it is pointless trying to hide the inevitable increase in early closures. Doesn't bode well for the future. Also can't understand why Satco Biggin hasn't replied he's normally quite active when KB pops upon these forums :confused:

[shuttle1tango]

Yet more early nights for Biggin last week, and still no news from Satco biggin. Can one assume that in this case no news is bad news:confused:

[You what?]

shuttle1tango

Whats with all your interest with Biggin Hill?

[9J-LUN]

Seems there may have been a bit of a coming together shall we say! in the tower recently resulting in an instant dismissal of a very well respected controller, word has it the victim was well deserving of the punch!
Guess the bosses had no choice, a real shame.

Now what happens!

To complicate matters more, one of the other controllers is moving on to pastures new, oh and is also married to the sacked one!!

It's all been a bit of a drama here, unfortunately it's the operaters who are suffering because of earlier closures being enforced seriously reducing the capability of a late departure or arrival.

I hope things get better sooner rather than later

[SATCO Biggin]

Ah Mr 1 Tango.....the rancid smell of politics.

Now why wasn't this thread started in the 'Airports forum' or the ATC forum? :confused:

Why was it placed in the Biz Jets forum, the market that Biggin Hill is targeting for expansion? :confused:

Why was your only previous posting on the subject of 'What makes a good SATCO'? :confused:

It is a shame that these forum, originally set up to provide useful comment by professionals on professional matters, have to be used by individuals with an over developed desire for revenge.



9JLUN

The incident to which you refer happened over a year ago and is not relevant to current problems.

[83 3708]

Seems there may have been a bit of a coming together shall we say! in the tower recently resulting in an instant dismissal of a very well respected controller, word has it the victim was well deserving of the punch!

From what I have heard he wasn't a well respected controller amongst his colleagues and thumped the other guy because he didn't like him.!! Bit of a yob by the sound of it.

Whats with all your interest with Biggin Hill?

Very good question :confused:

[9J-LUN]

Early airport closures may not be interesting to some but when your trying to operate an aircraft charter company these closures seriously undermine earning potential!
I already know of two potential charters lost due to these closures, be good to get an idea of the timescale before normal operations resume here at EGKB!

just heard another 1900 closure sked for 16th Nov

[727 exec]

I think it's a pity that the excellent work being done by the boys and girls at EGKB is being thwarted by Bromley Council...the way I heard it, the refusal to allow the A319 operation has also resulted in the cancellation of other investments (and jobs) by the A319 Owner which would have been either at EGKB or in the area (big house with staff - cancelled).

[Bright-Ling]

9J-LUN

Sorry to hear about yr operational difficulties.

Have many of the bizjets there started using LCY/FAB instead?

[9J-LUN]

Bright-Ling

Biz-jet ops ok at EGKB, EGLF seems to be much preferred by customers now, just means a quick hop over the gliders at Kenley!

EGKB not the easiest airport to find! there have been improvements with signage to and from.

The closures have been irritating but just a blip.

The latest saga at EGKB is a proposed housing development close by which the airport is totally against and which could halt any more air shows.

[SATCO Biggin]

As a footnote to this thread.......hopefully.....

The controller who departed Biggin under a cloud last year has contacted me to deny any involvement in this thread. I have no reason to dis-believe him in this matter and have placed this posting to counter the suggestions made earlier.

I do feel that 'shuttle1tango' should contact me via PM to state his/her reasons for starting this debate before any more 'innocents' get dragged into it.

:E

[Bumz_Rush]

....a new housing development next to a very busy established airport is upset by suddenly finding aircraft make a noise......
..well what will they find next....moles in the garden......Bumz

[83 3708]

Considering they are working against a local Council who are hell bent on being obstructive to the airport I dont think the airport operators are doing too badly.

The proposed housing estate is on green belt land across the road from the airports main entrance. This comes after planning approval for houses on 0.5 mile final for runway 03, and another load under the base leg for runway 21. All this after the council, when faced with two locations to build their showcase hospital, chose the one that is 2.5 mile final for runway 21!!

It just takes one or two councillors with a personal agenda. :yuk: