They are pretty much in the public domain, as the local paper carries pages on the subject each week.
Local opinion is divided. There are really very few pilots in Sheffield (never been an airfield locally to train many) and the locals clearly do not want planes and rotors in their overhead on a sunny Sunday.
However I do not think the Local Authority have the belly for a fight to keep the place open. For them, there is a dream about creating new jobs in a plush new business park (real or not, remember people can commute in as well as get hired locally).
The real issue is about the public money that went into creating the airport in the first place (that would be our taxes then) and WHO agreed to sell the land for a peppercorn £1 if the airport was not a success?? if this point reported in the local press is true.
The region is poorly served for GA. After EGSY, Netherthorpe is small, grass and still not local. Gamston is a long drive. Sherburn and Nottingham further.
If the airport goes, or becomes untenable, then there is no other local alternative that can provide a realistic driver for GA in the region (notwithstanding the quality of these other fields, I was very happy at Gamston except for the bl@&dy drive there and back).
More GA pilots writing to the Local Authority to express their views would help. AOPA is on the case but more people telling Martin Robinson about situations will keep it high on the pile of other cases
There may be a situation around soon where the airport owners suggest that traffic shifts to Finningley (Doncaster-Sheffield-Robin Hood Airport). If this occurs, the costs of flying will almost certainly go up and IFR jet traffic will get priority.
I'm note sure what the solution is.
Check out Flyer for December on the topic too.
And the AOPA December magazine.
All letters to the Council members named from GA pilots would be welcome.
SOA,
h-r
