MANSTON -3
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Essex
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I wonder how close they actually were to a deal with FR, and what it would have entailed. I can't see it being substantial enough to save the place.
The vultures will be circling around the freight offer, would have thought MAG will be keen to get some of it to offset the loss of BAWC/GSS
I wonder if bad news was about to appear from KLM? Even if that wasn't the case, this news won't do much for consumer confidence even if the place is saved at the 11th hour
Sad for the staff there
The vultures will be circling around the freight offer, would have thought MAG will be keen to get some of it to offset the loss of BAWC/GSS
I wonder if bad news was about to appear from KLM? Even if that wasn't the case, this news won't do much for consumer confidence even if the place is saved at the 11th hour
Sad for the staff there
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: se england
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Gutted
I feel totally gutted for the boys and girls that have given their all ( a lot have been there from day one ) to keep that place going through years of uncertainty and neglect. I believe that there is a place in the aviation market for it but it has never been given the investment to fulfill this. Every company that has owned/operated it has tried to run it on a shoe string, invested nothing to improve the infrastructure and relied on the enthusiasm and good will of the workforce to lurch them from day to day for no thanks. Now its a swift kick in the bollox and goodbye. I'm sure they will make a tidy profit from the real estate value none of which will filter down to the people that find themselves out of work!
Muppets!!!
Muppets!!!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: In the sticks
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Hidden agenders come to mind. Ann Gloag buys a loss making airport for £1 with her eyes wide open and 5 months later plans to close it. The question has to be asked was that her plan all along? So how much is the land worth? Someone is going to make a killing.
Hidden agenders come to mind. Ann Gloag buys a loss making airport for £1 with her eyes wide open and 5 months later plans to close it. The question has to be asked was that her plan all along? So how much is the land worth? Someone is going to make a killing.
Hidden agenda? You realise that Ann Gloag can’t just close the place down and start building houses on it……. If the local authority (and I believe that many councillors are keen on keeping the place running as an airport) refuse planning permission, then she can’t. End of story.
The most probable explanation is generally the simplest. MSE simply isn’t even close to being commercially viable, so why continue to throw good money after bad?
The most probable explanation is generally the simplest. MSE simply isn’t even close to being commercially viable, so why continue to throw good money after bad?
Surely it was obvious six months ago that it was uncommercial, so what's changed?
even without planning permission, that's a lot of land for £350k plus six months losses.
even without planning permission, that's a lot of land for £350k plus six months losses.
I agree. Who knows, maybe you're right. At £350K plus losses a wealthy lady might have decided it was worth a punt.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: KENT, UK
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Ann Gloag, and her brother Brian Souter, are both "savie" operators, having had direct experience of how Ann and Brian operate, when they were both Shareholders of Scotairways, you can bet Ann went into this deal to purchase Manston with her eyes wide open.
It is clear Manston is not viable as an airport, you can guarantee Ann and her advisers have a plan for the future, and it will not be to many peoples liking.
It is clear Manston is not viable as an airport, you can guarantee Ann and her advisers have a plan for the future, and it will not be to many peoples liking.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Cloud 9
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MSE simply isn’t even close to being commercially viable, so why continue to throw good money after bad?
NQY (St Mawgan) is another airfield that were it not for taxpayers subsidy it wouldn't be there but, unlike NQY, MSE is in the prime south-east of England.
When it was still "RAF Manston" there were already commercial/civil operations there such as maintenance, perhaps MSE does have a place in the market but passenger airline operations it is not.
MSE is in a prime location to attract customers from the LON airports and indeed from continental Europe, maintenance might be the way forward, crew training/circuit bashing, aircraft storage, an aircraft knackers yard, whatever ...
So where are the 150 airport staff employed for, effectively, 2 KLM flights per day? Handling agent, refuellers, admin staff, ATC, fire, what RFF cat is MSE at? Or are many of these 150 staff employed by different companies other than directly employed by the airport?
Sorry to say so but "survival of the fittest", lay off as many staff as is reasonable to do so and hire a "sales" person to get out there, go knocking on the airlines doors, offering them reduced rate crew training, aircraft storage, would they like a special deal to build a maintenance at MSE etc.
And, if there isn't one already there, develop a flying club with a bar/restaurant, perhaps some overnight accommodation also, and put the word around the flying clubs of UK and Europe of MSE's competitive charges and it's flying club bar/restaurant etc. and give the club some roadside access to encourage the reggie spotters in there to spend their hard earned in the bar/restaurant.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
Age: 55
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Staff level
Significant freight is carried through Manston. 4 X 747s on Tuesday for example..
Plus 2 flying schools and GA and commercial jet maintenance companies on site that require the Fire/ATC etc cover
http://www.tgaviation.com/
Plus 2 flying schools and GA and commercial jet maintenance companies on site that require the Fire/ATC etc cover
http://www.tgaviation.com/
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
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Sad news if does indeed come to pass. Within a three mile radius, you'll be able to see
1. An abandoned/redeveloped airport
2. An abandoned hoverport at Pegwell Bay
3. An abandoned ferry terminal in Ramsgate Harbour
Sort of tells a story......
1. An abandoned/redeveloped airport
2. An abandoned hoverport at Pegwell Bay
3. An abandoned ferry terminal in Ramsgate Harbour
Sort of tells a story......
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: kent
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a sad day
there wont be any eleventh hour reprieve this time. its done and dusted and it was planned from day one, its a lot of land for £1. lets hope that they cant get planning permission, but the sec.of state is bound to grant it, interesting how local councillors and politicians have stated their support for housing and industry development now, after backing the airport previously. a truly sad day for all that have worked their nuts off for the place.
Lothian Shelf
Lothian Shelf
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Essex
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MSE is in the prime south-east of England.
The possible closure of Manston Airport is another blow for an already struggling area. I hope some positive solution can be found, but it may not involve an aviation related outcome.