ABERDEEN

[pumaboy]

Throw a Dyce

tell me why BAA should be intrested in building an extension to Aberdeen's runway when most of the airlines are pulling out or not intrested in operating out of Aberdeen.

It would be just a waist of money

regarding the operating hours it is not totally not right what you say.

It is 24hour's but restricted to how many fligts can come in or out but to Helicopter traffic it closes after 2230.

Their is so much opertunity to be made Aberdeen but no one wants to spend the money to invest in the Airport it sad but true

So yes it is a fantasy land when you speak about extensions and runway extensions

I spoke about this 1000's of time before and 100's of people agree manybe not totally but a majority

My party i still open

[throw a dyce]

Pumaboy,
I thought my spelling was crap,but you've just taken over the crown.Been on the falling down water have we?
Yes I agree that the runway extension is probably a waste of time/money when there are other improvements that could help.Some more stands would be very welcome,but there is a gas pipe in the way.
I know the helis are restricted to 22.30,but that was ABZ Cooncil that imposed that one.It doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment,but with a 3rd rotation in the future,then that could well change.The taxiways are in a mess and that has probably used up money for the runway extension.It doesn't take much of a taxiway closure to completely Bger the whole airport.
I agree that they are missing the boat,as I often have to trail down to Glasgow to go anywhere on hols.
Quite frankly after another day in the fun palace,I couldn't give a stuff if it was sold,or sunk into the bog it was built on.Je dinna work for BAA pas.OK

[Mister Geezer]

Budget for any runway extension has probably been used in refurbishing the terminal.

Oh yes... as for the LCY route that was reported to start on 6th May... told you it would not be happening soon! You need aircraft to operate routes and VLM/CityJet are stretched as it is! Can't see RTM starting soon either! Unless they wet-lease someone to do it for them.

[Richard Taylor]

The frustrating problem is what the BAA tell you. eg:

i. A Polish route is imminent
ii. New routes to LCY & RTM soon
iii. (last year) We are working towards a STN route
iv. We are talking to try & resurrect BRU

And I'm sure they once said there were "a number" - which I seem to recall was claimed to be 30!!! - of airlines talking to them about setting up new routes.

Instead, we've had City Star go belly up, IAH as far away as ever; bmi withdraw AMS, KRS, BRU; RYR withdraw LPL; no takers for CWL or STN; BA withdraw LGW (albeit Flybe moved in).

And this stuff appears in the local press, so BAA obviously leak this to papers. An attempt to appease the business community up here?

[ABZlad]

Originally Posted by Richard Taylor

The frustrating problem is what the BAA tell you. {removed}
And this stuff appears in the local press, so BAA obviously leak this to papers. An attempt to appease the business community up here?

Agree with you Richard. It's time the BAA came clean with their plans, so that the local population, business or otherwise, can trust them.
I can't remember if it was he BAA that made the claim, or if the press speculated on the planning application, but it was announced that Aberdeen was getting a 300m runway extension which would enable flights to America etc. Insider information seems to indicate that the extension will be a maximum of 120m and recent speculation based on Ferrovials precarious finances leads some to believe that the extension just won't happen (unless Dubai Ports Authority buys the place)! I know that ABZ isn't for sale (yet) and that DPA aren't buying British airports, but if you start a rumour, you never know!

I reckon that ABZ's success combined with lack of investment is stifling it's growth. If an airline wants to operate to LCY it will be primarily for the business community, therefore it will be after an early morning departure slot. All stands are full first thing in the morning and at least one aircraft (usually Wideroe) is remotely parked. Until the BAA invest in more stands I'm afraid we won't see much more fixed wing growth at Aberdeen.

[youngskywalker]

At this rate it wont be long before they are asking the flying school/club to come back! RT, are their any more plans for some more services to norway yet?

[Mister Geezer]

Good idea.... That terminal will make a very large clubhouse!

[Richard Taylor]

YSW: you mean to STAVANGER surely... High time we had an hourly shuttle! (Actually to be serious Air UK used to fly something like 6x F50 flights to SVG, v 2x SAS DC9s - doubt we'll see those days again!)

Stands: Many airports have remote stands, pax bussed to/from terminal. I thought there was talk of 3 new remote stands where they park a/c on the C apron? Albeit it's not ADDING to the available parking areas. Seems the gas pipe problem is insurmountable as far as stands to the south are concerned. Peak times it is certainly pretty crowded - if routes are always going to be targetting the business community then more stands are sorely needed, & if ABZ is truly looking internationally as it claims, more INTERNATIONAL stands are sorely needed. BAA has certainly invested in the last few years, but nothing to the levels that many people think they should.

Where I think they miss a trick is freight. With the oil industry on our doorstep, & more & more companies seem to be exporting, most oil freight is either shipped out of the harbour or airfreighted out of PIK. Wouldn't enhanced freight facilities (there you are, a reason for longer runway) bring in more income for ABZ? Or am I being too simplistic? Probably!

Inbound tourism is another potential growth area. There have been more tourists in the area in general recently, but is the area being marketed properly or as aggresively as it should by those who run the city/shire, tourist bodies etc? (I seem to think BAA ABZ is a partner in the recent promotion campaign as recently carried on the T3 Saab - I'm not sure if the promotion is ongoing, the contract for the wrap-around livery on the T3 came to an end last month.) May be more difficult currently with the fuel costs & "credit crunch" but all things are cyclical, & things will get better again. That is why I am strongly in favour of all the golf resorts being touted for the area - OK, they are not the answer ON THEIR OWN post-oil, but they can act as a catalyst to draw tourists in. Surely that is win/win for the area & airport, since most will likely fly up on schedule & private charters.

Maybe it is proving hard to attract airlines/routes & if they do, keep them. But they must persevere. If BAA EDI can attract RYR to the airport & EZY expand their ops there too, it must be (for me) because BAA EDI were given licence to give them deals to do so. Whilst I'm not saying we have the catchment area to attract the same level of flights, the right deal could bring in one or two more? Or don't BAA ABZ want to "meddle with their charges at ABZ" as I seem to remember they said once, as it would "play games with the NE economy". What I suspect they REALLY meant was that it would mean less income for THEM, to be distributed elsewhere.

[pumaboy]

The problem with Aberdeen is people in Aberdeen are too Arrogant and do not know how to treat tourists.

I had visited Abedeen last year and was shocked to how we are treated in Hotels, shops and travelling on the Busses just the simple things.

I try now to keep away from Aberdeen as many of my colleauges, we just hate it.

What is going to happen when Donald Trump gets his Golf course when most of the tourists will probably come from the states.

Aberdeen as a city will not be able to cope their is not enough resourses the transport system is useless and the airport is not big enough to cope with transatlantic routes.

Aberdeen has a major problem unless it is going to change which I pretty much doubt it

These are some simple facts.

[Richard Taylor]

Funnily enough I have come across that same level of service in the likes of Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol, London over the years. So not confined to Aberdeen I'm afraid Pumaboy.

General deterioration & dumbing-down of our Society.

I agree that Aberdeen has its faults, having lived here long enough I have seen the deterioration. Recently I have felt like banging my head off the nearest brick wall. But it's the same everywhere. It's who deals with you on any given day.

And not everything up here is a dead loss, or the area would be deserted.

That you hate the place has been made very clear by you. I agree not everything up here is rosy. But not everything up here is dire either. But perhaps for the best that you have moved away, trust to an area that you find agreeable...so far.

[youngskywalker]

I've yet to find anywhere in the UK any better. As mentioned above Glasgow is 'not the prettiest' but apparently the people are friendly, Edinburgh is very pleasing on the eye but the people are as arrogant as Londoners, I could go on but of course these are just sweeping generalisations. A city is what you make of it. Aberdeen has lot's to offer if you open your eyes but also it has massive room for improvement. Also there is more to a City than just an airport. Aberdeen Aiport is a regional business airport, it has never been and never will be for taking people to the States or Dubai, period. As mentioned many times, this airport is for taking people to London, Manchester, Newcastle or the endless flights to Stavanger and of course the occasional charter flight taking the inflatable donkey brigade to the 'costa de la cheap and nasty' so that they can roast their testicles on the beach whilst sleeping off a hangover induced by drinking cheap pernot in the nightclubs. It's a business airport, an oil terminal, nothing more and nothing less.

Edited for fairness!

[atcomarkingtime]

Interesting walk to work today by the guy who was dropped off in Dyce and works in the industrial estate at the airport....he walked direct....over a fence...over the runway!!!

[Skipness One Echo]

I've yet to find anywhere in the UK any better. As mentioned above Glasgow is a toilet but apparently the people are friendly...when they are not cutting your throat, Edinburgh is very pleasing on the eye but the people are as arrogant as Londoners, I could go on but of course these are just sweeping generalisations.

Yes and you are a complete ****. Actually thats more of a fact than a sweeping generalisation.

( former Glaswegian )

[Richard Taylor]

I should stress that I didn't use the phrase "Glasgow izza toilet"

Seems to be plenty Man U fans up here, I see we had a Thomsonfly 733 taking the happy punters back from the Chumpions (sic) League SF.

Wonder if we'll see a couple of charters to Moscow for the final?

[youngskywalker]

You didnt RT, I did

Apologies to our Glaswegian friend, was perhaps a tad unkind!

[Richard Taylor]

current H24 status

YSW: I may not have SAID it, but that doesn't mean to say.........


See a NOTAM from 1/5 - does it suggest that non-pre-planned closures at ABZ are a thing of the past, or does it mean they are now in place? I read it both ways so not sure.

I though overnight cover was due to be upgraded.

Assume breaks are to give the night man a rest from being on station, especially if there's not much to wait for at certain times of the night.

[letMfly]

There are two night mannies on duty now, so there is continuous ATC cover available on night shift.

[exlatccatsa]

Just to be accurate... there have always been 2, one airport and one offshore.
Last year there were three when the ATSA's started doing the weather.. so now with the additional approach controller, there are 4.

[letMfly]

Originally Posted by exlatccatsa

Just to be accurate... there have always been 2, one airport and one offshore.
Last year there were three when the ATSA's started doing the weather.. so now with the additional approach controller, there are 4.

Not quite exlatccatsa. There used to be 3, one airport, one met observer and one Tels. Then we lost the met observer (almost literally in one case), followed by the Tels person, leaving only the airport controller on his/her own. This was then boosted to 2 with the introduction of the offshore FIS and then 3 as you rightly state in your posting. Now there are 4, but only 2 do the real work... just to be controversial!

[Hipsway]

Oh dear....The Aberdeen basher (Pumaboy) is back. If Aberdeen is such a bad place and us Aberdonians are such a miserable bunch, can you tell us all about the Utopia where you reside and perhaps enlighten us all with your witty tales of cities where people's **** doesn't smell and where no-one bothers to focus on spelling at School? If you don't like Aberdeen, keep it to yourself chum.

On a positive note, I checked in at ABZ on business the other day and found to my surprise that the check in area has finally been extended. What a difference.. no hassles with security which has also been expanded in recent times, and straight into the business lounge which isn't too bad.

Only small complaint is upon return to the airport from my recent Nigeria trip (via AMS of course) the customs border control and baggage reclaim area is still too small. I believe the airport management are looking at fixing this, does anyone know what they are planning to do?

PS - As with everything else in Aberdeen, we are slow to catch up with the rest of the world. I think we have always been a geographically and politically isolated city but we do eventually get there in the end and on that basis we will get our runway extension at some point in the near future.

As a regular passenger, I've seen great improvements to the airport over the past few years, although it's clear that there is still some way to go. BAA or no BAA, I think the airport will continue to improve.

Any more bollocks about Aberdeen, Glasgow etc, then I suggest the perpetrator should try experience "life" in Nigeria to try and get an appreciation of just how lucky we are living in the UK.