Light Aircraft Evicted l-End
The light ac demise at L-E was due to the closure of the Aero Club as they had run out of room for the expanding Skybus fleet, and needed the hangar space.
What they forgot was the Club, and associated pleasure flying operation provided an ongoing source of pilots who had gained valuable experience of the peculiar weather factor in the area. For many years the PF pilots would eventually gain a twin/IR and were then well placed to join the Islander fleet.
Without suitable radar cover the L-End IOS route has always relied on sensible height control and 'VFR' conditions. At one time (usually a Saturday) there could be two BA helicopters 4 skybus Islanders a Brymon Otter plus the odd private machine all flying in the L-E corridor. PZ and IOS had an NDB cloud break procedure (rarely used due to the high break off height) and L-E would use the LND VOR/DME for a similar purpose. To give added separation we would frequently use a slightly northern route which gave suitable space from the Helicopters routing from PZ that always coasted out south of Longships.
In other words by sensible cooperation and keeping to two way separation the system worked very well right up to the time PZ Heliport closed and the traffic reduced accordingly.