CARDIFF
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Wales
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Sorry, Phileas, I'm not quite getting your point ... apologies. Wales is an aviation nation - hugely dependent on aerospace manufacturing and services, incoming/outgoing pax services (not always served from Wales), leisure/training/corporate/rotor operations, the list goes on. Yes, Cardiff is and always will be our international gateway - although WAN may disagree with the way it is run and its vision or lack of. There may be some potential for pax out of others - Anglesey has proved this and Swansea was, for a while, able to sustain services despite community opposition and a totally useless airline management IMHO. But we should be looking for other opportunities to drive investment and job creation from our runways.
Yet the runways themselves are only part of the story. We have a strong retail and wholesale travel sector in Wales. Our frequent business travellers need a voice. Welsh air sector training and education generates millions. On and on. Wales - Aviation Nation. Ah, that adds up to WAN. What a crude attempt for a plug!
Yet the runways themselves are only part of the story. We have a strong retail and wholesale travel sector in Wales. Our frequent business travellers need a voice. Welsh air sector training and education generates millions. On and on. Wales - Aviation Nation. Ah, that adds up to WAN. What a crude attempt for a plug!
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Peter,
I'll drop this exchange after this post because you are, apparently, living in cloud cuckoo land.
Cardiff, as in EGFC, has a 300m grass runway, you can spout all the corporate bullsh1t you like to spout but it ain't ever going to happen, oh the joy of building websites with affiliate links that make money ... YES, I have website building software and I am well aware of tradedoubler etc. etc. etc. that revenue monies, I'll rest my case rather than speak the truth which may offend!
Meanwhile my castle is now open should Lizzie, Charlie and/or Billy care to visit
I'll drop this exchange after this post because you are, apparently, living in cloud cuckoo land.
Cardiff, as in EGFC, has a 300m grass runway, you can spout all the corporate bullsh1t you like to spout but it ain't ever going to happen, oh the joy of building websites with affiliate links that make money ... YES, I have website building software and I am well aware of tradedoubler etc. etc. etc. that revenue monies, I'll rest my case rather than speak the truth which may offend!
Meanwhile my castle is now open should Lizzie, Charlie and/or Billy care to visit
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OK Peter,
My mistake, Wales is an aviation nation, Llandow is a thriving commercial airport, likewise St Athan, Swansea has multiple international services per day, Burry Port likewise, Brawdy International Airport is rumoured to be starting transatlantic services, Haverfordwest feeder services to all of the previous, likewise Welshpool, Mona is being developed as Angelsey's 2nd airport whilst Caernarfon is being developed to replace both Angelsey airfields, Aberporth remains 'TBA' whilst Llanbedr is being developed as a shuttle relief landing ground.
I'm sorry chum, you really do need to keep taking the tablets but please don't waste any taxpayers monies in the process!
My mistake, Wales is an aviation nation, Llandow is a thriving commercial airport, likewise St Athan, Swansea has multiple international services per day, Burry Port likewise, Brawdy International Airport is rumoured to be starting transatlantic services, Haverfordwest feeder services to all of the previous, likewise Welshpool, Mona is being developed as Angelsey's 2nd airport whilst Caernarfon is being developed to replace both Angelsey airfields, Aberporth remains 'TBA' whilst Llanbedr is being developed as a shuttle relief landing ground.
I'm sorry chum, you really do need to keep taking the tablets but please don't waste any taxpayers monies in the process!
Join Date: Dec 2005
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I think a reading of the last few posts could be taken as statements of intent from WAN, against a few ramblings by someone who thinks Cardiff has a grass runway. Never mind, he'll feel differently in the morning.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Peter,
I won't cringe, Cardiff (EGFC) has grass runway(s), Rhoose, or whatever they call it these days, has paved runway(s).
I'll make the journey later today but as I recall Cardiff city limits commence in the vicinity of Culverhouse Cross thus that coastal airfield you obviously work at is not in Cardiff!
And you wonder why people have problems with you?
I won't cringe, Cardiff (EGFC) has grass runway(s), Rhoose, or whatever they call it these days, has paved runway(s).
I'll make the journey later today but as I recall Cardiff city limits commence in the vicinity of Culverhouse Cross thus that coastal airfield you obviously work at is not in Cardiff!
And you wonder why people have problems with you?
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I give up, this guy, the supposed 'backbone' of 'Wales Air Network', is seemingly not even aware that there is an aircraft facility in Cardiff docks!
Wales Air Network is only for fixed wing aircraft?
Wales Air Network is only for fixed wing aircraft?
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Wales Air Network focuses on all air travel in Wales but the majority of which is obviously taken up by fixed wing ops. Along with this rotary ops. isn't as commercially viable as fixed wing therefore WAN will focus on fixed as it will give a greater return in the future. But we don't ignore heli ops totally. Have a look on the site and you will see.
Anyway why are you so anti-WAN? You don't need to get involved at all, it's optional, so why smite the group down. If you don't like it don't involve yourself with it rather than having a go at people who like to be apart of something whether or not a there is a future with it. Simple. But its worth a shot.
Now everyone breathe in....and out....
Anyway why are you so anti-WAN? You don't need to get involved at all, it's optional, so why smite the group down. If you don't like it don't involve yourself with it rather than having a go at people who like to be apart of something whether or not a there is a future with it. Simple. But its worth a shot.
Now everyone breathe in....and out....
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Would that be the Cardiff Heliport which indeed is listed on the Wales Air Networks' Welsh Air Directory?
I doubt you can call EGFC as having a grass runway as they are helicopter landing pads.
Technically you may well be able to land a small aircraft on there but i doubt it is licensed to do so.
I doubt you can call EGFC as having a grass runway as they are helicopter landing pads.
Technically you may well be able to land a small aircraft on there but i doubt it is licensed to do so.
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Wales Air Network is not just for fixed wing aircraft, it is for Welsh aviation in general including manufacturing & engineering.
I don't care what the photo looks like. Yes it looks like a grass runway however it is a heliport not an airfield. I believe but could stand corrected that not planes can land on the strip it is for helicopter use only.
I don't care what the photo looks like. Yes it looks like a grass runway however it is a heliport not an airfield. I believe but could stand corrected that not planes can land on the strip it is for helicopter use only.
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planenut321,
Who said I am so anti-WAN?
I am not anti-WAN but I do live in the real world, there's a good chance I have been in aviation longer than many of yourselves and I have been a taxpayer of England & Wales.
Regards the Angelsey Air Link whereas each passenger seat filled is subsidised to an approximate amount of £150 and I see or read that a passenger is so thankful because it saved him circa one hour on his overall journey time, this is my bl00dy taxes being wasted to save a guy an hour on his journey time and you wonder why people say "Wake Up Wales"?
I'm not anti WAN but I am anti to living in a fantasy world whilst wasting my taxes in the process.
Who said I am so anti-WAN?
I am not anti-WAN but I do live in the real world, there's a good chance I have been in aviation longer than many of yourselves and I have been a taxpayer of England & Wales.
Regards the Angelsey Air Link whereas each passenger seat filled is subsidised to an approximate amount of £150 and I see or read that a passenger is so thankful because it saved him circa one hour on his overall journey time, this is my bl00dy taxes being wasted to save a guy an hour on his journey time and you wonder why people say "Wake Up Wales"?
I'm not anti WAN but I am anti to living in a fantasy world whilst wasting my taxes in the process.
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What has the PSO link got to do with it? Have we ever said we support it? It is clear we don't think it is sustainable. We support the idea of intra-Wales links but not like this. We are looking into ways to improve the service without so much help from the Government by trying to get the aircraft off the ground during the day rather than sat their between 11-3.
Again you don't need to slag us off. We don't care if you think it is a fantasy world because again you don't need to be in it. Now go back to you cynical little hole you dragged yourself out of.
Again you don't need to slag us off. We don't care if you think it is a fantasy world because again you don't need to be in it. Now go back to you cynical little hole you dragged yourself out of.
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planenut,
Would you prefer I write in Welsh because it seems you're having difficulty understanding my English ..... I have repeated that I am not anti WAN and you thereafter accuse me of slagging "us" off!
How long have "we" been looking at ways of reducing the government subsidy on the air link? This might seem like rocket science but if an 18 seater aircraft is operating with circa 50% load factors then one reduces the size of aircraft to perhaps a Chieftan or a Titan!!!
But I do laugh when I hear, above, "We are an aviation nation", If Wales is such an aviation nation then why don't WAG develop the north Wales airfield, with the longest runway in the north of the country, that they own in to a commercial airport, why are WAG only allowing Llanbedr to be used for agriculture?
Could it be that a certain politician doesn't live on the doorstep of Llanbedr?
And please refrain from being so rude just because somebody doesn't agree with your beliefs!
Would you prefer I write in Welsh because it seems you're having difficulty understanding my English ..... I have repeated that I am not anti WAN and you thereafter accuse me of slagging "us" off!
How long have "we" been looking at ways of reducing the government subsidy on the air link? This might seem like rocket science but if an 18 seater aircraft is operating with circa 50% load factors then one reduces the size of aircraft to perhaps a Chieftan or a Titan!!!
But I do laugh when I hear, above, "We are an aviation nation", If Wales is such an aviation nation then why don't WAG develop the north Wales airfield, with the longest runway in the north of the country, that they own in to a commercial airport, why are WAG only allowing Llanbedr to be used for agriculture?
Could it be that a certain politician doesn't live on the doorstep of Llanbedr?
And please refrain from being so rude just because somebody doesn't agree with your beliefs!
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I wish WAN all the luck in the world but even a cursory look at the facts makes depressing reading.
Cardiff has a core catchment of about 2.3 million, which is Mid and South Wales, 30 minute drive. Even this catchment is under increasing pressure from Bristol Airport.
Its outer catchment is a further 2.3 million, 90 minute drive.
The problem is, that outer catchment is mainly South West England, Avon, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Hereford and Worcester.
The difficulty is, how to persuade those English passengers in the outer catchment to travel to Cardiff to fly when they have Bristol and to a lesser extent, Birmingham, virtually on their doorstep?
Sorry but I don't see any way it can be done.
Cardiff has a core catchment of about 2.3 million, which is Mid and South Wales, 30 minute drive. Even this catchment is under increasing pressure from Bristol Airport.
Its outer catchment is a further 2.3 million, 90 minute drive.
The problem is, that outer catchment is mainly South West England, Avon, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Hereford and Worcester.
The difficulty is, how to persuade those English passengers in the outer catchment to travel to Cardiff to fly when they have Bristol and to a lesser extent, Birmingham, virtually on their doorstep?
Sorry but I don't see any way it can be done.
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There are ways in which it can be done as it has been done in the past. Don't foget that Bristol was operating at similar levels compared to Cardiff if not lower for quite some time. However the failure to win the bid for a GO base was a start to the problems.
Another main issue is under investment in Cardiff Airport and possibly the lack of balls to seal a good deal and look at the wider picture or so it seems on the outside.
Could the main issue for Cardiff be Abertis considering that they also own Luton & Belfast which a re higher in the pecking order?
There are so many other things that could be considered from various airfields/heliport such as MRO, Freight, General Aviation, or even helicopter ops and i'm not suggesting that all airfields could do all.
Wales is underachieving and certainly Cardiff Airport who should be the gateway to Wales.
In all fairness Phileas your tongue in cheek comments and the photo of the 747 in Asda colors were always going to ruffle a few feathers.
Another main issue is under investment in Cardiff Airport and possibly the lack of balls to seal a good deal and look at the wider picture or so it seems on the outside.
Could the main issue for Cardiff be Abertis considering that they also own Luton & Belfast which a re higher in the pecking order?
There are so many other things that could be considered from various airfields/heliport such as MRO, Freight, General Aviation, or even helicopter ops and i'm not suggesting that all airfields could do all.
Wales is underachieving and certainly Cardiff Airport who should be the gateway to Wales.
In all fairness Phileas your tongue in cheek comments and the photo of the 747 in Asda colors were always going to ruffle a few feathers.