COVENTRY

[NorthSouth]

Does anyone know what the judgement was in the High Court yesterday? Seems to be v difficult to find that out on the old interweb thingy.
NS

[danieloakworth]

Wound up in less than 90 seconds I believe. At least the airport manager didn't have to be present, heaven forbid he might actually have had to leave his home in Ireland and face up to the people who've lost their jobs.

[0523 cov man]

cvt

eddie stobart will not come to coventry the is a big eddie stobart warehouse
at rugby. 0523 covman

[Leofric]

The local newspaper reports that a consortium of Airport based companies will be having talks in the next couple of days with a view to taking over the running of the airport.

[0523 cov man]

cvt

it is on friday 11/12/09 at 2pm 0523 covman

[tonge]

Never underestimate "Steady Eddie Stobart" he/they may not want Coventry for its warehouse potential, they may want another airport at a knocked down price to go with the other two they own (Carlisle and Southend). They do seem serious about going into the Air freight business.

[Ex Oggie]

1500' aal at EGBE is the base of B'ham Class D CTA

1500' amsl.

[Malcolm G O Payne]

Coventry Airport

HAs I flew out of Coventry from 1974 for 12 years I am sad to see its present state. Having been made redundant three times in my career I know how the staff will feel, especially as I understand they are not eligible for redundancy pay. My best wishes to them.

[PeterP]

18 months ago, I was fortunate-ish enough to be interviewed for a senior management position at Coventry. During the chat, I expressed the opinion that the airport was potentially a basket-case and needed to look beyond the usual route development bull**** and examine economic development in its immediate area: kinda like Amsterdam Airport Area (Amsterdam Airport Area if you are into that sort of thing.) Every airport I have ever worked for has experienced an average of 10 per cent pax growth.

I got the impression that I wasn't listened to and that my silver hair/paunch/wrinkles might indicate that I didn't know what I was talking about. Didn't get asked back.

[BOZR_DOUGIE]

Does anyone know if the Legacy Landed at CVT at 0958z (the A/D closed at 1000z) has gotten out, When I was there about 30 mins after the A/D was closed down, he asked for startup clearance, only to be told the news by someone in the ATC Tower!

I have heard that the A/D is briefly open unlicensed with A/G radio to allow the aircraft that were stranded there to depart (including Almat, AFT and COVFT) mostly to Wellesbourne, I was there the other day and all whats left are a couple of L-188 with bits missing, and those ATP's that have been parked up opposite the B hold for ages.

[Leofric]

It was a Gulf IV N317MJ and it positioned to Birmingham, I think on Friday afternoon

[ZeBedie]

Coventry is THE Midlands GA field. Even in this severe recession, I can't believe it's not a viable business. How many aeroplanes were based there?

[Amcapt89]

CVT

How many aeroplanes were based there?

For what I remember on the west and east apron; I'm not too sure on the CVT Flying Club side of the AD.

- 3 DA42
- 6 DA40
- 8 C152/150
- 1 C152 (tail-wheel)
- 3 PA28
- 2 C172
- 1 PA 34
- 1 R22
- 1 R44
- 1 BELL 206

- 3 DC-3
- 2 C310
- 4 C410
- 1 ROBIN HR200

- 1 B737
- 5 ATP
- 2 L-188A

All those a/c (excluding two Electras) have left CVT airport mainly to EGBW between tuesday and friday; RVL group has directed their a/c to EGBB, meanwhile Neptune's a/c have been directed to EGNX.

I have heard that the A/D is briefly open unlicensed with A/G radio to allow the aircraft that were stranded there to depart (including Almat, AFT and COVFT) mostly to Wellesbourne

Initially the share holders of "West Midlands International Airport Limited", have decied to close the AD completly, without prior notice at around 10.00 on tuesday. At that point no a/c could depart or arrive. Then between 14.00 and 15.00, a slot has been granted to allow only t.o. During that hour CVT wasn't an A/G; it was a "SAFETY COM" on 118.175 with "TRAFFIC" calls; no ATC or Fuel or Fire and Rescue service was granted; moreover it was mandatory to contact EGBB radar on 118.050 after TO.

During the last week a NOTAM specified that CAA has suspended CVT license, pending revocation, and a/c based in CVT are allowed to take off only, at their risk, until the 14th.

a couple of L-188 with bits missing, and those ATP's that have been parked up opposite the B hold for ages

The 2 L-188A are under manteinance; if CVT will be confirmed close in the next future they'll have to move them.

The 4 ATPs on the South Apron are under manteinance at CVT but they're not Atlantic Airlines aircrafts. Atlantic is providing manteinance for a second company that owns them.

Moreover on Atlantic Airlines apron there are still 2 ATPs on manteinance.

For the ATPs and the Electras I'm not too sure what is going to happen... As Commercial Operations they can't take off nor land from an unlicensed strip as CAA has declared. They might need a special permission to depart CVT.

amcapt89

[niknak]

Aircraft under maintenance can get special "one off" permit from the CAA to leave under such circumstances, normally it would only to be the nearest airfield which has facilities where the maintenance can be continued the satisfaction of the CAA and the operator.
Clearly it entirely depends at what stage of repair/refit they are, but provided the Operators Engineers can still access the site to get them temporarily airworthy, it doesn't matter if Coventry is open or closed until the permit is issued.

Whoever is in charge of the airfield at the time the aircraft are ready to go will know that it's unlikely to be in their interest to even consider stopping their departure unless there's a solid legal reason to do so.

[12Watt Tim]

"As Commercial Operations they can't take off nor land from an unlicensed strip as CAA has declared"

Are you sure?

ANO 126

(1) An aircraft to which this paragraph applies shall not take off or land at a place in the
United Kingdom other than:
(a) an aerodrome licensed under this Order for the take-off and landing of such
aircraft; or
(b) a Government aerodrome notified as available for the take-off and landing of such
aircraft, or in respect of which the person in charge of the aerodrome has given
his permission for the particular aircraft to take off or land as the case may be;
and in accordance with any conditions subject to which the aerodrome may have
been licensed or notified, or subject to which such permission may have been given.
(2) Subject to paragraph (4), paragraph (1) applies to:
(a) any aeroplane of which the maximum total weight authorised exceeds 2730 kg
flying on a flight:
(i) for the purpose of the public transport of passengers;
(ii) for the purpose of instruction in flying given to any person for the purpose
of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion of an
aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence; or
(iii) for the purpose of carrying out flying tests in respect of the grant of a pilot's
licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating or a night rating in a licence;

N.B. Para 4 relates to police flights.

These would not, in any case, be commercial flights. A commercial operator is still able to perform private flights, and many do so frequently.

I always thought Lasham was unlicensed, as it is not in the AIP, although I might be wrong about that.

[Amcapt89]

Are you sure?

I can see your point and I might be wrong...!

amcapt89

[12Watt Tim]

I have had to look this up in the past - working for a small operator we used to go into unlicensed airfields for some purposes even above 2730 kg (obviously not for pax). You might, however, be right that they can't get out, if the insurance company don't like it.

[Amcapt89]

Here I am again...

I did a small search on UK ANO and I found out intresting bits and pieces... I don't really want to go OFF-topic and I'll keep it short.

Anyway... It was all about the 2 L-188A Electras based at CVT, and we were asking ourselves if they can take off from an unlicensed aerodrome like Coventry.

12Watt Tim pointed out that according to ANO 126 they can take off as a Private Flight. But the real question is... Can they be a private flight?

For what I've understood from UK ANO, no they can't.

Have a look at art 160 (3) (d) UK ANO section 1 part 13, where you'll find the definition of Private Flight.

Moreover art (1) UK ANO Section 2 Schedule 8 FCL, defines the privileges of aerial operations under a PPL.

Brief explenation: a Private Flight is defined as a non-revenue flight, where the PIC does not act for remuneration. And we all know that Atlantic Airlines employs pilots that are paid to fly the a/c. Therefore they cannot operate under a PPL and therefore the flight cannot be elected as private.

160 (3) (d) states that the PIC of a Private Flight cannot be employed as a pilot by the operator of the aircraft which is being flown.

For those reasons I understand that the two Electras cannot take-off under the privileges of a Private License, therefore they'll be considered a/c engaged in pubblic transport or aerial work, and therefore they can't take-off from an unlicensed AD.


Although I might be wrong!


Cheers.

PS: I don't want to be right at any cost and I'm not sure I am right anyway, if you see what I mean... I'm just really intrested in the chat as I work quite close to Aviation Law environment... And I'm quite sure that we might find a lot of regulations here...!

amcapt89

[ShyTorque]

Sorry but you aren't right. It's perfectly legal for a pilot to be employed to fly a private aircraft for the owner on private (non public transport) flights.

However, the crew do need professional licences.

[Amcapt89]

Well this is not what the UK Air Navigation Order states and I took it today from CAA website;

I'm sure you know what you're talking about... But do you remember where can we find it? It has to be written somewhere around AIP-ANO-JAR-OPS...

Cheers

amcapt89