Yes robin, most certainly GA, the conversation here has always been around the commercial aspect, so lets shed a little light on other aspects.
Plymouth Airport isn't just a necessity for commercial services, does it need them? Ofcourse it does, but there's a variety of other factors at play here which, in the not to distant future could cause Plymouth to take a rapid down turn.
For many years, the airport has housed the FOST section of the Royal Navy in Plymouth, using 2 Dauphins to provide ship to shore movements with near 25 flights a day. As a consequnce, FOST has had to relocate Newquay meaning that staff and pilots face a 50minute trip to pick up the chopper, before flying back to HMS Raleigh to pick up the personnel. FOST is currently on the barebones of operation, with many staff having left to find alternative employment, the FOST flying unit won't keep going, as it is for much longer.
FOST overall, aside from the flying section is a huge part of the dockyard and without it would face yet another nail in the coffin and yet another reason to close down and move operations to pompy.
Devon and Cornwall Air Ambulance/Police has said closure of the airport will place restrictions on its operations around Derriford which is now the major trauma centre for the South West. Night flights has become impossible as will landings while the helipad is occupied and helicopters will no longer be able to refuel near Derriford or receive METARS local weather information.
Search and Rescue helicopters make use of the Airport. It is the only suitable local facility for the large rescue helicopters. These are vital for divers suffering from decompression and makes hyperbaric operations at Derriford more difficult, so far there have been several cases where divers have been flown to Poole late at night after 30 minutes of searching for a suitable landing site in Plymouth.
Transplant organs are regularly flown into Plymouth by fixed wing for operations at Derriford. Rail and road do not offer the same ability to get organs here from as far away as Scotland, this has ceased since the closure of the airport.
Plymouth has had an active Flying school here for many years training pilots and opening aviation to many. This is all part of the quality of life offering from Plymouth.
Aviation engineering services have employed people at Plymouth for decades. Plymouth offers a good low cost competitive venue to attract new businesses.
General Aviation is a large user of Plymouth bringing with it users of hotels, restaurants, bars and the marinas. The loss of this community and facility would reduce Plymouth's attraction to many interested in the South West.
Last edited by PlymouthPixie; 26th Sep 2012 at 11:46.
Reason: grammar