Robinrider
Having a second flying school on the airfield can surely only generate more business for the Airfield as a whole ?
Yes and No. The way I read it is there is only one cake and that now has to be split between two flying schools. Whereas before one had the whole cake to itself (and ran at a loss). This could get even more interesting if a rumoured third operator starts up in the near future undercutting the other two by offering aircraft at even lower rates. Which means that an LAC flying member could claim his free landings using cheaper hired a/c.
LAC no longer (or at least at this point in time) provide PPL package deals. Probably because they got stung when they tried to charge existing students seperate landing and circuit fees from April 1st when BAOL took over the running of the airfield. The LAC chairman tried to charge the package paid students for these extras, though eventually relented under threat of legal action for breach of contract. LAC has had to absorb these additional charges. Presumably they are now juggling the figures for new students.
Do both charge £240 for membership? No. Read the multimembership rates on the download page at the ravenair.co.uk web site. One area where a PPL LAC member will benefit will be the use of the members car parking area when the new barriers/pay for parking etc. comes into effect shortly.
LAC Student membership rate is £180 pa, but the student does have to pay all landing and circuit fees. A 150 landing fee is £10+vat. The LAC £240 rate is for exisiting PPL members and includes landing & circuit fees. Though I gather this may all change next membership renewal year as the story goes the chairman has seriously underestimated the figures when buying the block movements off MSCD for the current LAC membership year.
We all agree that Barton is a good place for GA in the Manchester area, in fact THE ONLY PLACE, however many LAC members are not burying their heads in the sand and proclaiming everything to be rosie, as is the LAC/BAOL Chairman (conflict of interest there).