Go back to the time of the original sale of the airport by the Government.
It would be an accurate description to say that the Aero Club, Flying Schools and associated engineering outfits were stabbed in the back during the course of the tender process. rather than "
"and the flying clubs seem intent on shooting themselves in their feet"
Mr Robinson may have lofty dreams about the future role of the airport, at this time it does not generate enough revenue to even provide any meaningfull maintenance, there is no way he will get a return on the millions invested to retain it as an airport, he is after all a property developer, not an airport operator.
The statements he makes about creating some 6,000 new jobs if he gets his way with the airport, many regard as pipe dream stuff, and with the traffic problems already occuring, such an increase in population would not be able to be supported by the present infrastructure. It would lead to traffic congestion problems of major proportions. Unless one stands to make money out of these deals why would the locals support a scheme that will have such an negative impact on their lifestyle???