Agreed the Kirknewton closure is a problem. At last count there were some 12 aircraft there, almost all local residents, therefore the choice becomes really limited for them. The issue is that you do need to be close to the airfield, so that you can pop out whenever you like, a break in the weather, without the 1 hour commute backwards and forwards to get to the airfield.
Dundee/Perth and Fife, are all at least an hours commute, probabaly longer with traffic at peak times, from EDI, therefore to go anywhere, add 3 hours to your day. I have experienced that and it does eventually weaken the will to go flying. Asset sits in hangar, not getting used, therefore waste of time and money. Eventually wheres the point.
The project at Direlton would be the answer, but that appears to have been going on for years now, with no movement. Any update anyone??
You could also approach NMS re East Fortune, and make a plea to open up the tarmac. We used to do it.
