S61 Ops
Just for info, Penzance has an IF approach valid only for Co aircraft. It is GPS based, height against distance to run. However, the approach requires use of the NDB based the heliport, cross-referencing against radials and DME from Lands End VOR and also identification of the very prominent coastal swimming pool on the aircraft radar. It is probably one of the most complicated approaches in the world. It sounds Mickey Mouse but in practice works very well - I regularly flew six a day. It has been around for many years, using Decca before GPS. The minima are 350'/900 metres.
Max wind speed for rotor engagement on the S61 is 50 knots although there is a diagram limiting that according to wind relative to the aircraft heading. Not a problem at Penzance, rarely a problem even in windy Sumburgh, unlikely to be much of one at Lands End.
The fixed wing have long priced their seats somewhere just below the helicopter so have always had a price advantage. Monster profit for an Islander. One of the helicopter advantages is that it can carry 25 pax, with seats for thirty with children keeping the weight down against 8 for the Islander and 18 for the Twotter. It can be loaded/off-loaded/refueled rotors running which means very speedy turn-rounds.
There are no IFR ops from Lands End but that doesn't mean that there never will be. The helicopter does have an IF approach into St Marys on Scillies again based on GPS, Lands end VOR/DME and the Scillies beacon.
Every part of Lands End does not become water-logged in wet weather. I carried out a 61 conversion Penzance in winter '76, typical Cornish wet winter. Rejects (at least 90% of MAUW) were carried out at Lands End without any problems.
Its worth bearing in mind that if the company can no longer make a profit at Penzance due to having to fund an airfield out of its own profits and facing steep increases in spares annually, it must do something. Further, any problem raised in this column is likely to have been considered by the company and they still feel its worth moving.
Why should selling the heliport be called a scam? If you own something you have every right to sell it if you wish and if its a good business move. How better to raise money (admittedly not right now) for new aircraft?