Oban Airport's main problem is the local council - they commissioned, at great expense, some consultant who said that the approaches are completely impossible. PK then had the Scottish Airports CAA Inspector look over the place - who came up with a completely different view.
It seems that in that particular 'rotten burgh' there are one or more Councillors who may well have close links to a particular developer who has a keen interest in the airport as a prospective site for holiday homes - and who also, coincidentally, owns an unusable site to the south that he has suggested would make an excellent airport!
Interestingly, the one of the main transportation departments of the Scottish Executive is being moved up to Oban - and they definitely need decent air links!
I think this is a case of "watch this space" - but at the same time, don't hold your breath whilst doing it!
10W, Oban's weather is very actually very similar to that of PIK. In the same way that Arran's mountains shield PIK from the worst of the westerly weather, so does Mull shield Oban. The Met Office is setting up a weather station at Oban, and TAFS will be produced shortly.
[Edited for seplilgn!]
[ 31 August 2001: Message edited by: The Guvnor ]