Sunday evening was very pleasant at Oban (sunny and limited cloud) and South of Mull other fields (and beaches) on Colonsay were clear of cloud (viz 40km).
Monday was *&^%. That was the longest wait I have ever had at Oban. thanks to Paul for hospitality and to the Oban team for putting up with me pacing around for 6 hours (I think there is now a perm track worn in the helipad).
I was really only bad west of Kintyre and around Oban/ E Mull. Everybody else had a sunny weekend.
Tried to get PPR to fly into Oban from Perth yesterday morning and was told that the airfield was closed to fixed wing????...Then later on in the afternoon was told it was open again but that they had NOTAMed reduced runway lengths. By this time the CBs were building so I didn't bother. Any idea what's going on?
Just an observation - I flew into North Connell for the first time in several years last week.
The phoned PPR was straightforward enough. The ATC was fairly incompetent - you DO NOT distract a pilot on finals by asking his PoB, and you DO NOT ask somebody to park a taildragger with the tail over the grass when the grass is edged with lighting on stalks (one less stalk now than it had a week ago, but fortunately it was frangible so no damage to the aircraft).
Apart from that, Paul.K was his ever-friendly and helpful self and a pleasure to catch up with, and the airfield and scenery as fantastic as they've ever been. I'll be back again, because it remains one of the nicest places in Britain to fly into.
Can't honestly see where anybody spent £9m compared to a by and large useable airfield before that - looks like a few tens of thousands have been spent tidying up the runway, adding lights, and a bit of block-paving to park on.
Just an observation, why didn't you ask for an amended taxi clearance if you though you were taxiing into the unknown, or did you check where your tail-wheel was going to end up prior to swinging round.
Your assumption is mostly correct about the Radio facility, just because any facility tells you to do something doesn't mean your absolved from using your common sense especially if you have prior knowledge of incompetent practices.
Asking for POB on final is not a CAP 418 SOP but it's hardly worth reporting that on this forum. I am a local pilot and I have heard the RT and it's not great but you have to use your savy and decipher whats best for you. I would suggest that you visit the tower on your next trip and correct them on the error of their ways. These guys are all bar one non aviators, so unless there is a complaint all that's going to happen is perpetuating error.
By coming on here airing your grievances is in my opinion not the best course of action, affirmative action is much better and could go a long way to sorting the issues out. All you have done is highlight an issue but in retrospect could you have avoided it?
Phil Space,
The waste of money thing has been done to death and unless you have a cunning scheme to recoup the said money, drop it as it's boring as hell. Most people know by now of the debacle that went on, but it's time to move on and encourage more to utilise this magnificent site.
Tried to get PPR to fly into Oban from Perth yesterday morning and was told that the airfield was closed to fixed wing????...Then later on in the afternoon was told it was open again but that they had NOTAMed reduced runway lengths. By this time the CBs were building so I didn't bother. Any idea what's going on?
Rumour has it that -
Argyll and Bute Council may have provided false information to the CAA about ground they owned/controlled at Oban airport in order to get a licence. It turns out that the local aero club had leased part of the r/w strip for 20 + years and they have been getting so pissed of with the council hassling them that they have fenced off their leased area adjacent to the r/w to park their a/c. Panic ensued and Argyll and Bute Council closed the runway until they worked out what it all meant! The scheduled flights were halted until it was pointed out that they were operating off only 500 metres on Coll and Colonsay! Alledgedly some top bods at the council had known about the lease for years but decided to try and bluff it out. It is also rumoured from within Argyll and Bute Council at Lochgilphead that a certain senior official is likely to lose their job and may be prosecuted for providing false info' on the official license application form. Furthermore it is rumoured that the current airport manager has been underperforming and having too much time off and his position is under review.
If parking with my taildragger tailwheel on the grass, I push back after I get out.
As the Oban airport staff have usually offered to help, (which I decline) this should be a possible technique even with an AN2, but possibly not a DC3.
Capt ww, how strong, on a scale of 1-10, is this rumour? You honestly could not make up half of the Oban antics.
In response to the atc radio, they are not the best, however, they are learning, and as pilot in command, you do whatever is safe for you and your aircraft. If you do not like a request, tell them so. Secondly, ignore them if they are asking questions at inopertune moments.
Does any one know what the correct procedure for Glenforsa is now? Do we still have to ppr via Oban?
Argyll and Bute Council may have provided false information to the CAA about ground they owned/controlled at Oban airport in order to get a licence. It turns out that the local aero club had leased part of the r/w strip for 20 + years and they have been getting so pissed of with the council hassling them that they have fenced off their leased area adjacent to the r/w to park their a/c. Panic ensued and Argyll and Bute Council closed the runway until they worked out what it all meant! The scheduled flights were halted until it was pointed out that they were operating off only 500 metres on Coll and Colonsay! Alledgedly some top bods at the council had known about the lease for years but decided to try and bluff it out. It is also rumoured from within Argyll and Bute Council at Lochgilphead that a certain senior official is likely to lose their job and may be prosecuted for providing false info' on the official license application form. Furthermore it is rumoured that the current airport manager has been underperforming and having too much time off and his position is under review.
Will he also be sent to Coventry?
Watch this space playmates.
WW
You couldnt make it up, Monty Python sketch in there somewhere, what a crowd of Knobs. LOL
We are constantly refering pilots to Oban for PPR who have called the Hotel because they are unable to contact the 'Airport Manager' at Glenforsa.
In the past, pilots have had their meals disturbed by local police who have been called out by the 'Airport Manager' to investigate why they have not PPR'd or filed a flight plan!
Surely not, GF? He has always been extremely decent to me, providing it was somewhere between 1000 and 1130hrs.
Here's a suggestion. Let the chap (and his charming chappess) who owns the hotel run the airfield. Almost all the airfield users avail themselves of this fine hostelry and maybe it would be worthwhile putting the eggs in one basket. When chap & chappess are feeling tired and emotional, I believe that Stella Dog is ably qualified to run the show (certainly on a par with Airfield Manager). What's more, I'm sure the chap will not cost as much as Airfield Manager to employ. Indeed, he would probably do it for free (well almost) thus saving ABC a noticeable amount of cash.
Sorry, I'll come back down to Earth. That suggestion is far too logical.
pilots have had their meals disturbed by local police who have been called out by the 'Airport Manager' to investigate why they have not PPR'd or filed a flight plan!
What the hell has it got to do with him if you have filed a flight plan or not.
I would hope the police do the prick for wasting police time.
And stella looks more than capable of running an airfield but I suspect she would be open to biased favouritism to pilots offering chocolate hobnobs. But to be fair there are quite a few international airports which ATC act in exactly the same manner.
The "reliability " of the airfield manager seems to be a contentious issue. I wonder why A&BC have not done anything about it? I presume they are his employer.
Do please remember this is not just a council, this is a completely incompetent, officious and somewhat vindicative council.
Logic, sense, service and efficiency are thus not just completely alien but actually terrible threats to the officials, the employees and all the placemen. There is something almost uniquely bad about many Scottish councils......
So it is probably true that a personable pooch could do better!
Absolutely brilliant everyone. It's no great secret that Brendan and David don't send each other Christmas cards. Now for the rest of this summer at least flying into Glenforsa I will be walking on eggshells trying not to take sides. "It was 'im wot done it"...no no .."If he wasn't so whatever".."I never said that"..."Oh yes he did"...Who has the current radio license?.Then he is the man. Who tried to get a personal frequency?......Too may questions and not enough good sense. I suggest they both grow up and keep what is a beautiful Airfield a wonderful place to visit. I also suggest contributors to the forum stop trying to wind them up.
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