PLYMOUTH -2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: cornwall, uk
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just a quick mention, but i notice that Plymouth City airport fire service appliance 1 seems to now be working at Penzance heliport, its been at PZ for around a month or so now so im guessing it could be a permanent move, still showing its Plymouth markings though!
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dodging Flybe at EHASC
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I flew from Plymouth with Air Wales to DUB a few years back. However, the problem is that with Newquay in one direction serving West/Mid Cornwall and it being easier to use the A30 to get to Exeter the market is about covered and the airport being very very prime development land. They could probabley fulfill the new housing quota by using that patch of ground alone.....
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: South of the Watford Gap, East of Portland
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Something has gone SERIOUSLY wrong with Plymouth's planners (and politicians) over the past 30 years that has created the situation in which a city with a population in excess of 250K has to travel 40 miles in one direction or 35 miles in another to access decent air services. Plymouth, for a city of its size, must be nigh on unique in this day and age.
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
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judge11 - Plymouth's only hope was a relocated airport. However the options are limited with all the country that surrounds it. They suggested a few years back to build one around the Sparkwell area. Only a council would suggest building at the point that an AONB (South Hams) and Dartmoor meet!
Maybe a STOL on the breakwater would be a good option!?!
Maybe a STOL on the breakwater would be a good option!?!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cloud 9
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Having worked for the (old) Brymon at PLH during the 1980's I agree that if an airport is to succeed then it needs to be relocated.
As I recall the secondary runway was 12/30, they realigned it to 13/31 to get as much length as possible so where exactly might a runway extension now come from, unless they are to landfill, reroute roads and/or knock down houses?
It is also located on top of a hill, I recall one February when for an entire month we didn't see an aircraft whilst the cloud remained on the surface, it needs to be relocated nearer to sea level and with a decent length of runway.
As I recall the secondary runway was 12/30, they realigned it to 13/31 to get as much length as possible so where exactly might a runway extension now come from, unless they are to landfill, reroute roads and/or knock down houses?
It is also located on top of a hill, I recall one February when for an entire month we didn't see an aircraft whilst the cloud remained on the surface, it needs to be relocated nearer to sea level and with a decent length of runway.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Devon
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I am afraid the chances of a new Plymouth Airport have gone and never to return. As has been stated numerous times before PCCs past and present just havent had the balls for want of a word or the forsight to take the bull by the horns and upset the nimbys living near the airport.The only chance now of a runway extension is a landfill at the 31 end of the runway the idea of putting it on stilts was thrown out a couple of years ago on cost grounds.The talk is and once again it is only talk which is what we keep getting from the relevant parties is that part of the airport is tobe sold off to pay for the improvements in infrastruture and the runway extension Ha! All talk and I doubt whether it will happen in our lifetime as they missed the boat numerous years ago.
good option
Tongue in cheek,landfill the Plym as far as Laira bridge leaving a dredged area for river water discharge!China clay has already done most of the work!Direct access to the embankment and the city!!Power stations gone so no Chimneys there!!
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: UK
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In 5 to 10 years when Flybe have muscled Airsouthwest out of the west country or taken them over and closed them down ensuring plymouth passengers have to go to Exeter or Newquay or the most unlikley of all taken them over and run plymouth services still
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Devon
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All of this has more truth than the runway extension.Im afraid Plymouth missed the boat some years ago thanks to short sighted cowardly councillors and it will never return.Im afraid Plymouths days with an airport are numbered I hope im wrong but the get up and go got up and went along time ago for Plymouth.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Dodging Flybe at EHASC
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Added to the mix is the Exeter Gateway project and the East Devon new town which is to built in stages around that present site. As a result a railway station is pencilled in which will serve both the Airport ndthe New Town and the connected freight facilities which puts Exeter on a firmer footing.
There are also "plans" to improve public transport to Newquay (town as opposed to the Airport) - though whether these come to fruition is anyone's guess.
10 years I reckon Plymouth will be housing. I hope I am wrong.
There are also "plans" to improve public transport to Newquay (town as opposed to the Airport) - though whether these come to fruition is anyone's guess.
10 years I reckon Plymouth will be housing. I hope I am wrong.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cloud 9
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But the winds generally blow east/west or west/east hence 06/24 being the 'old' primary runway. The only advantage of 12/30, or as it is now 13/31, is because of the increased length available and the favourable approach to 31, yes, we did use to watch DHC7's climb up the valley, whilst getting below the cloud, to land on 30.
A/C to Tower, upon landing, 'confirm you said the vis was 1500m' (the minima), reply, 'negative, 150m'!
So to close 06/24, not that there is much commercially that can use it, really has to be an 'beancounter' decision, not only has PLH got a problem of excessive low cloud but with only 13/31 it will have a crosswind problem also.
As an aside, does anyone know wher Dave Cornish might be lurking these days ..... please?
A/C to Tower, upon landing, 'confirm you said the vis was 1500m' (the minima), reply, 'negative, 150m'!
So to close 06/24, not that there is much commercially that can use it, really has to be an 'beancounter' decision, not only has PLH got a problem of excessive low cloud but with only 13/31 it will have a crosswind problem also.
As an aside, does anyone know wher Dave Cornish might be lurking these days ..... please?
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Devon
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I dont know whether anyone is interested but I have just found another forum for the southwests airports if you are interested in joining that one pm me and I will give you the details.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: I sell sea shells by the sea shore
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The future for PLH does indeed look bleak, and decisions taken WAY, way back started the rot........
Take a drive out to Yelverton, and before you come to the village you will drive past what used to be RAF HARROBEER, now common land (and where I, and many others, learned to ride a motorcycle.... aged 12!)
Following the end of WW2 the whole airfield was offered to both Plymouth City Council, and then Devonshire County Council, for continued use as the city's municipal airport.
Both councils turned the offer from the War Dept. down, Devon, because they already had the use of Exeter Airport, and Plymouth City because the didn't have the money. Remember Plymouth had been "Bilitzed" in 1941, and was in the throws of serious rebuilding
(There is a film of the devestation wrought on what was the city centre, viewed from North Road. Few buildings remain standing amongst the rubble . The film remained under a D notice until after the war and did not get a public release until the early 1980's. It was deemed too shocking. It still is)
So, the grass aerodrome at Roborough soldiered on in various guises, was briefly sucessful under Bill Bryce.... and now the end is near.. sad really..... but inevitable?
BEX
P.S. I was told recently Dave Cornish works for BA, I went to school with his brother Paul.
Take a drive out to Yelverton, and before you come to the village you will drive past what used to be RAF HARROBEER, now common land (and where I, and many others, learned to ride a motorcycle.... aged 12!)
Following the end of WW2 the whole airfield was offered to both Plymouth City Council, and then Devonshire County Council, for continued use as the city's municipal airport.
Both councils turned the offer from the War Dept. down, Devon, because they already had the use of Exeter Airport, and Plymouth City because the didn't have the money. Remember Plymouth had been "Bilitzed" in 1941, and was in the throws of serious rebuilding
(There is a film of the devestation wrought on what was the city centre, viewed from North Road. Few buildings remain standing amongst the rubble
. The film remained under a D notice until after the war and did not get a public release until the early 1980's. It was deemed too shocking. It still is)So, the grass aerodrome at Roborough soldiered on in various guises, was briefly sucessful under Bill Bryce.... and now the end is near.. sad really..... but inevitable?
BEX
P.S. I was told recently Dave Cornish works for BA, I went to school with his brother Paul.
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: England
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Actually I think you'll find the future is rather bright at Plymouth!
The local media seem to have got the wrong end of the stick. Lots of comment about property development on the airfield - but the facts are that there is some potential property development on the southern end of the airfield, which in no way conflicts with the operation of the airport. A fact that is rather endorsed by Air Southwest (also owned by Sutton Harbour) doubling the number of destinations from Plymouth this year with new flights to Glasgow, Newcastle, Cork, Dublin and Chambery.
The extensive local marketing of the new flights is causing a lot of interest locally, and would suggest that the Sutton Harbour parent company has a strong commitment to developing flights from the airport in tandem with its property interests. A pretty shrewd commercial approach I reckon.
The local media seem to have got the wrong end of the stick. Lots of comment about property development on the airfield - but the facts are that there is some potential property development on the southern end of the airfield, which in no way conflicts with the operation of the airport. A fact that is rather endorsed by Air Southwest (also owned by Sutton Harbour) doubling the number of destinations from Plymouth this year with new flights to Glasgow, Newcastle, Cork, Dublin and Chambery.
The extensive local marketing of the new flights is causing a lot of interest locally, and would suggest that the Sutton Harbour parent company has a strong commitment to developing flights from the airport in tandem with its property interests. A pretty shrewd commercial approach I reckon.