DURHAM TEES VALLEY AIRPORT - 4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Darlington
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ncleflights 
Wild allegations? what wild allegations did I make, I thought I was only asking for the evidence to back up what you had said? I am not saying you are wrong just would like to know what you have to back it all up?
skyman 771, - of course the document you refer to is entitled ' at the heart of the North West' and actually only mentions Doncaster airport in 3 sentences, which you would think that would be highlighted more as they have achieved much greater things there than at MME so I don't think we can read too much into that document.
Anyway flyglobespan don't think that the airport is closing anytime soon,as they have put Pula on their website for 2008, starting in April running through to October,so more flights there than this year.
Wild allegations? what wild allegations did I make, I thought I was only asking for the evidence to back up what you had said? I am not saying you are wrong just would like to know what you have to back it all up? skyman 771, - of course the document you refer to is entitled ' at the heart of the North West' and actually only mentions Doncaster airport in 3 sentences, which you would think that would be highlighted more as they have achieved much greater things there than at MME so I don't think we can read too much into that document.
Anyway flyglobespan don't think that the airport is closing anytime soon,as they have put Pula on their website for 2008, starting in April running through to October,so more flights there than this year.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Near MME, England, UK
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There is no real purpose to this, but I thought it might make the discussion easier, rather than having to look back through the thread. Basically, I've listed below all of MME's problems, beginning with the worst:
1) Management
2) Peel; little or no money spent. as well as an apparent lack of interest
3) Possible termination of the LHR route
4) ATC closures
5) 05 glideslope
6) Imminent TOM pull-out
7) Lack of winter routes from GSM
8) Road Signs
Feel free to add anymore to the above. I've colour coded them, with red being the most serious and yellow the least, below are explanations, from my personal point of view, of the above problems.
1) Don't seem to know what they're doing, in fact, Del Boy could do a better job.
2) Not even God knows what there long term plans for MME are.
3) Not many airports our size can boast an LHR route, if bmi used some common sense, it could once more be a real jem for us.
4) Could easily be sorted, if management was willing to bring the pay inline with other airports, problem here is, it might take a strike and action from SRG first.
5) Sounds like this problem is in the process of being sorted, but it's appauling that management enquired about removing it completely.
6) This seems bound to happen, but I think we could easily replace them, XL are rumoured to be one step short of unhappy at NCL, and who knows what the two big mergers might bring.
7) Again, this one isn't too much of a problem, they seem to release their routes for all their base operations in two parts, we could still get a second aircraft.
8) Road signs have started to be changed, the main problem here is Network Rail and putting the old name on the new signs on the airport station
On a separate, and much happier note, Eastern have signed an agreement with Bombardier for the purchase of an undisclosed number of Dash 8-Q300s, rumoured to be coming from Flybe; rumour is our ABZ route will be one of the first to be upgraded.
Regards.
1) Management
2) Peel; little or no money spent. as well as an apparent lack of interest
3) Possible termination of the LHR route
4) ATC closures
5) 05 glideslope
6) Imminent TOM pull-out
7) Lack of winter routes from GSM
8) Road Signs
Feel free to add anymore to the above. I've colour coded them, with red being the most serious and yellow the least, below are explanations, from my personal point of view, of the above problems.
1) Don't seem to know what they're doing, in fact, Del Boy could do a better job.
2) Not even God knows what there long term plans for MME are.
3) Not many airports our size can boast an LHR route, if bmi used some common sense, it could once more be a real jem for us.
4) Could easily be sorted, if management was willing to bring the pay inline with other airports, problem here is, it might take a strike and action from SRG first.
5) Sounds like this problem is in the process of being sorted, but it's appauling that management enquired about removing it completely.
6) This seems bound to happen, but I think we could easily replace them, XL are rumoured to be one step short of unhappy at NCL, and who knows what the two big mergers might bring.
7) Again, this one isn't too much of a problem, they seem to release their routes for all their base operations in two parts, we could still get a second aircraft.
8) Road signs have started to be changed, the main problem here is Network Rail and putting the old name on the new signs on the airport station
On a separate, and much happier note, Eastern have signed an agreement with Bombardier for the purchase of an undisclosed number of Dash 8-Q300s, rumoured to be coming from Flybe; rumour is our ABZ route will be one of the first to be upgraded.
Regards.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Originally Posted by DTVAairport
4) Could easily be sorted, if management was willing to bring the pay inline with other airports, problem here is, it might take a strike and action from SRG first.
1) You'll have to make it higher to get people to relocate.
2) Last time I looked fully qualified ATCO's were not exactly pouring out of the woodwork. There is a shortage, you're going to have to compete with everyone else for the workforce that's available.
With the lead time in recruiting and training, judging by the staffing levels DTV has at the moment, I'd say you're looking at 18 months IF you could get the people in and trained, before being able to operate an uninterrupted, H24 service. You need a minimum of 15 fully rated and 5 tower only just to provide that. That still gives no flex for sickness, or in house training, or for sending the tower onlys on radar courses (which you will need to do eventually).
I've been there with a previous employer - it's a long haul, it's tiring, and if you don't reward the staff accordingly while they're carrying the place then they up and leave - increasing, not decreasing, the problem.
Tees Valley Unlimited
Extract from the airport website:
"Hugh Lang, Managing Director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, will lead the Board of Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU)—the new organisation which aims to build on the area’s pioneering work over the last decade in developing partnerships across all sectors of the community.
Today he described his new role as “A great opportunity to play a part in ensuring that a united Tees Valley City Region punches above its weight and that we really can deliver on our ambitions to make the area a Twenty First Century success story.”
My initial thoughts were (in no particular order!):
1. hasn't he got enough to do in his day job?;
2. securing an escape route in case things go pear-shaped;
3. gets the airport a nice 'in' to any new developments in the region and ensures its place at the centre of things.
Any other views??
"Hugh Lang, Managing Director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, will lead the Board of Tees Valley Unlimited (TVU)—the new organisation which aims to build on the area’s pioneering work over the last decade in developing partnerships across all sectors of the community.
Today he described his new role as “A great opportunity to play a part in ensuring that a united Tees Valley City Region punches above its weight and that we really can deliver on our ambitions to make the area a Twenty First Century success story.”
My initial thoughts were (in no particular order!):
1. hasn't he got enough to do in his day job?;
2. securing an escape route in case things go pear-shaped;
3. gets the airport a nice 'in' to any new developments in the region and ensures its place at the centre of things.
Any other views??
Last edited by SWBKCB; 9th Jun 2007 at 16:50.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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swbkcb :
Factors may have been against him, but 6 years into the job & DTV has hardly moved forward against it's competitors & growth prospects look weak. Peel has come on board during time of his appointment, so not an 'in house' sponsored appointment. Perhaps Peel are considering their options 
Any other views??
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UK Airport Stats -
I was reviewing the latest 'Year on Year' stats that I could find on the CAA web site 2007-3 published 25 May 07 & as regards DTV taken on their own they make horrific reading for DTV. Worst peformance of the top 25 UK airports with fall in pax no.'s of 5.56% to 842,246. 'Neighbours' NCL +4.73%, LBA +8%, 'Finningly' +21%. Peels other interest LPL +9.84%.
Yeh! Yeh! it's all BMI Baby's fault, bcks !!! It's down to bad management, & 'Hughie' needs to pull his finger out or he'll be going the same way as his neighbour up the road. How much more time are Peel going to give him, or is it a high priority for them
.
I was reviewing the latest 'Year on Year' stats that I could find on the CAA web site 2007-3 published 25 May 07 & as regards DTV taken on their own they make horrific reading for DTV. Worst peformance of the top 25 UK airports with fall in pax no.'s of 5.56% to 842,246. 'Neighbours' NCL +4.73%, LBA +8%, 'Finningly
' +21%. Peels other interest LPL +9.84%.Yeh! Yeh! it's all BMI Baby's fault, b
cks !!! It's down to bad management, & 'Hughie' needs to pull his finger out or he'll be going the same way as his neighbour up the road. How much more time are Peel going to give him, or is it a high priority for them.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Skyman just out of interest who do you work for, and what is your problem with MME? Ok it is not performing particularly well at the moment, but all you seem to do is belittle the place. You have on several occasions stepped across the line (in my opinion). You forget that your negative comments are about people's jobs. Yes we all have banter with people from other airports but you just seem to cross that line more than most.
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Join Date: Aug 2006
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I don't think we should be too hard on Skyman, he may or may not be a "barcode" but he speaks the truth about the stats. I've been to the airport twice this weekend, once coming in on the ryanair from Girona(a few empty seats but nothing to worry about) and once to collect my daughter and partner on the Heathrow (LOTS of empty seats)
The first impression is one of scruffy (lack of maintenance to landscaping on the expensive new entrance road) Chaos (taxi drop off in the car park)
The new appointment of the Managing director as non executive chair of Tees Valley Unlimited seems to me to be a bit of a strange move, given his overiding committments should be first, second, and third to the Airport.
He may well be looking to improve his CV in anticipation of a move.
The first impression is one of scruffy (lack of maintenance to landscaping on the expensive new entrance road) Chaos (taxi drop off in the car park)
The new appointment of the Managing director as non executive chair of Tees Valley Unlimited seems to me to be a bit of a strange move, given his overiding committments should be first, second, and third to the Airport.
He may well be looking to improve his CV in anticipation of a move.
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As Onion points out, criticism of our local airport is sometimes hard to swallow, sometimes unjustified, and sometimes made by people from ‘up the road’ and elsewhere with an axe to grind for no good reason. However, like Carbheathot, I also believe Skyman makes a valid point in his post, whatever the reasons.
I work in a large office in Darlington with colleagues across all age groups, living in a wide cross section of locations throughout the north east, yet the total lack of knowledge as to where they think they can, or can’t, fly to from MME is staggering. They can quote me train times and destinations, bus routes and times, which road to take to get me to wherever. Any mention of flight destinations, holidays, etc. however and it’s always Newcastle virtually every time, never MME. You have to seriously ask why this continues to happen, when there’s an airport on their doorstep.
I’ve lived in this area all my life, and despite wanting MME to be a successful airport, I’ve seen nothing positive to show that management, either past or present, has the necessary drive, vision or the marketing strategy to take it beyond being anything other than a small local airport. I appreciate that major developments such as those proposed don’t happen overnight, but I’m also old enough to remember MME opening as a civil airport over 40 years ago. After all those years it still provides potential customers in this part of the world with an abysmal lack of services, still retains and uses many of its previous military buildings, and still clings onto a general feel of something from the 1960’s that’s never quite got started. It will continue to do so, because nobody, including the local media, appears to question publicly how or why this situation is allowed to continue year after year.
When Bmibaby pulled out, GSM were a welcome replacement for the usual bucket and spade routes, but I always get the impression that MME management then sits back and says ‘that’s a job well done, we can all go to sleep as there’s nothing for us to do for a year or so until another disaster looms large on the horizon’.
I work in a large office in Darlington with colleagues across all age groups, living in a wide cross section of locations throughout the north east, yet the total lack of knowledge as to where they think they can, or can’t, fly to from MME is staggering. They can quote me train times and destinations, bus routes and times, which road to take to get me to wherever. Any mention of flight destinations, holidays, etc. however and it’s always Newcastle virtually every time, never MME. You have to seriously ask why this continues to happen, when there’s an airport on their doorstep.
I’ve lived in this area all my life, and despite wanting MME to be a successful airport, I’ve seen nothing positive to show that management, either past or present, has the necessary drive, vision or the marketing strategy to take it beyond being anything other than a small local airport. I appreciate that major developments such as those proposed don’t happen overnight, but I’m also old enough to remember MME opening as a civil airport over 40 years ago. After all those years it still provides potential customers in this part of the world with an abysmal lack of services, still retains and uses many of its previous military buildings, and still clings onto a general feel of something from the 1960’s that’s never quite got started. It will continue to do so, because nobody, including the local media, appears to question publicly how or why this situation is allowed to continue year after year.
When Bmibaby pulled out, GSM were a welcome replacement for the usual bucket and spade routes, but I always get the impression that MME management then sits back and says ‘that’s a job well done, we can all go to sleep as there’s nothing for us to do for a year or so until another disaster looms large on the horizon’.
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I've no idea who Skyman works for, I can honestly say that I do not work for any of the airports in the NE. I used to, but not now.
Turn the clock back a few (about 15-17) years. NCL was struggling in relation to other regional airports and particularly EDI, GLA, LBA and MAN.
The marketing team at NCL started their roadshow programme in conjunction with the top tour operators of the time. They hit loads of towns in the 30 - 60 mile radial band. They held roadshows in all the towns around MME, all the Border towns etc. The response was almost instant and massive. They did these for 3 or 4 years and NCL took off with double digit % growth.
AT that time MME's marketing manager - the department of 1 - had virtually no budget and was not as dynamic as his counterpart up North.
The NCL initiative might have fallen flat and cost them thousands, but you have to be prepared to put out if you want to gain.
Don't knock MME/DTV; it's a good airport - I've enjoyed flying from there several times when times/destinations suit better than NCL down the road. It is incredibly difficult for an airport to attract new airlines, get new routes started etc.without giving away any hope of making a shilling - and if you don't make the shilling you might as well not bother.
Turn the clock back a few (about 15-17) years. NCL was struggling in relation to other regional airports and particularly EDI, GLA, LBA and MAN.
The marketing team at NCL started their roadshow programme in conjunction with the top tour operators of the time. They hit loads of towns in the 30 - 60 mile radial band. They held roadshows in all the towns around MME, all the Border towns etc. The response was almost instant and massive. They did these for 3 or 4 years and NCL took off with double digit % growth.
AT that time MME's marketing manager - the department of 1 - had virtually no budget and was not as dynamic as his counterpart up North.
The NCL initiative might have fallen flat and cost them thousands, but you have to be prepared to put out if you want to gain.
Don't knock MME/DTV; it's a good airport - I've enjoyed flying from there several times when times/destinations suit better than NCL down the road. It is incredibly difficult for an airport to attract new airlines, get new routes started etc.without giving away any hope of making a shilling - and if you don't make the shilling you might as well not bother.
?