Originally Posted by
shetlander
Hello,
As a shetlander I dont see much point in keeping Scatsta open. Sumburgh has more to offer and has just had the runway extended - costing millions.
I think they should transfer back to Sumburgh like the old days.
Ok so they lost the SAR contract but they still have hangers at Sumburgh and if need be, there is room for more.
But yeah i think Sumburgh is better for the BP operations because its not like they can do much with Scatsta. They cant extend the apron and they cant extend the runway. Were as Sumburgh has ample apron space etc.
Cheers,
Shetlander
'As a shetlander, I dont see much point in keeping Scatsta open' -clearly one from the south end I'd guess
and obviously not one that's tried to fly on a very regular basis in and out of the isles. I've departed ABZ a few times with the pilot not sure what the destination actually was, just depends what's open when we get there
I've circled SCS and LSI a number of times before diverting to the other airfield - rather that than heading back to ABZ.
'Sumburgh has more to offer and has just had the runway extended - costing millions.' - and what a complete waste of money that was. £10 million for what? Shortly after deciding to do this they downgrade the scheduled planes from ATP's to Saab 340's. They now lost one of the weekly 146 Faroe flights after the airline clearly realised that there isn't the customer base they expected.
Scatsta was converted with a clear business requirement in mind and it's facilites and services are tailored to suit. Bit stretched at times but not like the ghostly facility sat at the other end of the isles. HIAL and airport management have delusions of grandeur over Sumburgh thinking that if they build a bigger airstrip then the business will come flocking their way.
They need to keep both open for the good of the isles and HIAL need to give up LSI and let it be run by someone who understands the real lifeline requirements of the service.