I have to agree, this is one for AOPA to poke away at.
Peel might be bigger and richer than AOPA, but in reference to Manchester, were talking about a major international Airport here, who are always going to get their way!.
With Barton, we are talking grass strip, with not much space to start dropping 3 mile runways into, henceforth, this is a potential problem for AOPA to sort out, so come on, lets get them on it.
How many pilots will find themselves with nowhere to go if Barton closes??
The answer from other posters appears to be "go west young man"
Don't get me wrong, Liverpool could do with more students and PPL's, but the ramp is nearly full of club and shared aircraft, and the main apron seems to creep a little closer every year. Sad to say, but the writing may not be on the wall for Liverpool, but the spray cans are being shaken allright.
And as said before, Woodvale, now there is the middle of nowhere.
OK if you live on the north of Liverpool, or Southport, something of a pain in the rectum area if you live in Manchester. I went to a safety evening there last year, show ends about half ten, gone midnight when I got home, imagine a journey like that on a Sunday morning in the summer with all the day trippers heading for Suthport?
Sleap, too bloody far in total.
Sheffield, Peel again!
The other fields mentioned are great, but not near to Manchester. The next nearest GA field to Barton is Liverpool, another 20-30 minutes by road. Or Blackpool, just touching the hour. I know I drive to Liverpool for my flying, and that is my choice, but we live in a demoracy, we should have the right to fly from where we please, within reason of course!
If Barton cannot survive, lets as a community, look at alternatives. If Stretton is a none starter thanks to Shell, then do we have any freinds of GA on the outskirts of Manchester willing to donate, or change the use of a field, build a couple of hangars and a clubhouse etc, and create a new GA field in this area??
Just a thought. Discuss.............