Muffin, if you land a R22 and take on fuel it should be free (minima is about 50l avgas).
The strategic plan for EGSY points to more rotary traffic, for even if the runway is 'sawn orf' the rotary ramp is huge.
This is the frustrating thing. They want more movements and put in place incentives like no LF if fuel uplifted and then refuse the movement.
It is like a programme of "passive rejection" of custom. And perhaps this comes back to one of the original threads about a desire to fail.
The original building deal was done by the SDC in the early 90\'s.
I recall the arrangement was that RJB Mining would develop the site in exchange for open cast (which you can see on the Helicopters South Golf Course Approach, just don\'t autorotate into the hole) but have some recollection of there being a problem that left them with the open cast site but no airport (forget the exact details).
I think the work was done with European funding and underwriten by the council.
One of the former airport managers at Gamston was involved in the planning of the airport and told me that a better runway alignment could have yielded more runway and hence made it more attractive for airlines to use.
The original flight was a KLM UK to Schipol (always full and v useful flight because of connections). This was ended (KLM wanted lots at Schipol ???????? but it was always very full and popular so don\'t understand that one in \'98/\'99)
Then BA City Express with flights to LCY, Belfast and Dublin. The City flights were a non starter. I was often the only PAX on a J41 (expensive anyway) so it never made money but much faster than the trains.
Then there was the famous crash (reverse thrust I think).
Then Sabena for a while, and the final flight was the Belfast route.
The only big traffic in since are royal flights in an Avro146 (which can stop on the current runway).
The big problem in the airline days was cost. Landing etc was prohibitive whereas a Swansea/ Cardiff/ Southampton type operation was (and is) significantly less expensive and much more welcoming.
Problem of strategy or problem of people?
Also, read more here from the Council eGov site
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/index.asp?pgid=26549
What difference will the shorter runway make to GA?