We have not given up on Plymouth Airport yet
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Footster,
But Roborough would always be handicapped by it's short runway, airliner operations shall, literally, always be restricted to a home based, or local, operator and every other airliner, biz jet, or whatever that goes to NQY or EXT because they cannot operate in/out PLH shall always be lost potential and lost revenue.
If there really is a requirement for an airport in the region then someone should buy up some land, with planning permission, nearer to sea level, perhaps to the east or south east of Plymouth, where nobody wants to build houses, and build a circa 6,000ft runway airport from scratch.
But Roborough would always be handicapped by it's short runway, airliner operations shall, literally, always be restricted to a home based, or local, operator and every other airliner, biz jet, or whatever that goes to NQY or EXT because they cannot operate in/out PLH shall always be lost potential and lost revenue.
If there really is a requirement for an airport in the region then someone should buy up some land, with planning permission, nearer to sea level, perhaps to the east or south east of Plymouth, where nobody wants to build houses, and build a circa 6,000ft runway airport from scratch.
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Helen,
Everybody loves a smart backside however check your geography, I said east or south east, I didn't say north or north east of Plymouth.
Indeed the airfield to the east of Plymouth is mid point between Yealmpton and the A38 and nowhere near Exeter!
Everybody loves a smart backside however check your geography, I said east or south east, I didn't say north or north east of Plymouth.
Indeed the airfield to the east of Plymouth is mid point between Yealmpton and the A38 and nowhere near Exeter!
alternatives
If you have a flight to catch from LHR or GTW early in the morning then you must stay near the airport overnight OR hire a car and leave about 4 AM OR if the sleeper train still runs catch that(about 6 hours!!).So its going to cost you money whichever method you use.I used to hire a car .Of course at one time you could fly into LHR and then BA ran Brymon long enough until they could grab the slots then they got rid of Brymon/BA to South West ,clever ploy!I no longer live in Plymouth but would still like the choice of flying there than travel Great Western on a crowded train where you must stand for 3 hours!!!
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There is an alternative flying from Bangkok to Exeter with Etihad via Manchester. I used it last year from Sydney and found it a great service. Flybe's codeshare with AF may also allow connections to SE Asia via Paris CDG.
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EGHQ,
For some 30 years, that I have been aware of, the biggest offput to punters has been these two stage flights and it was only because Brymon, then ASW, had a 'DHC' qualified maintenance dept, DHC6 then DHC7 then DHC8, which ultimately proved to be their downfall, there are 30 (ish) seater aircraft out there .... "Can't consider those, they're not manufactured by DHC, we'd need to pay for new maintenance approvals and training".
If anyone is on local BBC please make a point that the supposed appointed experts could have learned more just by reading a spotter publication ... only 2 airliners, capable of PLH operations, currently in production ... my ass!
For some 30 years, that I have been aware of, the biggest offput to punters has been these two stage flights and it was only because Brymon, then ASW, had a 'DHC' qualified maintenance dept, DHC6 then DHC7 then DHC8, which ultimately proved to be their downfall, there are 30 (ish) seater aircraft out there .... "Can't consider those, they're not manufactured by DHC, we'd need to pay for new maintenance approvals and training".
If anyone is on local BBC please make a point that the supposed appointed experts could have learned more just by reading a spotter publication ... only 2 airliners, capable of PLH operations, currently in production ... my ass!
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Good luck with the Save Plymouth campaign.
I do have one thought, though. If it is to become a GA centre, the airport does need to be rather more customer-focussed and less bureaucratic than it has been. I have always enjoyed visiting the area, but the airport is not exactly welcoming.
The restaurant is more like a station buffet and the need to go through a full-blooded security check on departure was a real irritant.
That said, there would be a lot of goodwill towards the airport if it became a real GA-friendly site
I do have one thought, though. If it is to become a GA centre, the airport does need to be rather more customer-focussed and less bureaucratic than it has been. I have always enjoyed visiting the area, but the airport is not exactly welcoming.
The restaurant is more like a station buffet and the need to go through a full-blooded security check on departure was a real irritant.
That said, there would be a lot of goodwill towards the airport if it became a real GA-friendly site
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Rumour on the ground is that we could be winning it!
It seems that in the last hour PCC have agreed to SHH closing Plymouth City Airport.
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I know the contents of the meeting - it is said that unless an new operator is found by December, it will close.
Plenty of time to find a new operator and they are hunting.
Plenty of time to find a new operator and they are hunting.
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footster,
We know ASW / T3 have left a gap in the market at PLH. One of the oldest sayings I learnt in business was 'there might be a gap in the market, but is there are market in the gap'?
Of all the airlines I know of with UK passenger ops, there are very few who have a business model based on aircraft small enough to squeeze into PLH. Airlines don't need much notice if there are rich pickings to be made.
Airlines and airports are separate businesses - I don't think they usually work well when both have the same parent - but again, if the airport was a going concern, there has been plenty of time for another operator to express interest.
I'm also sceptical about an operation using twotters, or similar sized aircraft - they are great puddle jumpers, but how can they compete over land which is relatively well traversed by (non-APD paying) road and rail links?
We know ASW / T3 have left a gap in the market at PLH. One of the oldest sayings I learnt in business was 'there might be a gap in the market, but is there are market in the gap'?
Of all the airlines I know of with UK passenger ops, there are very few who have a business model based on aircraft small enough to squeeze into PLH. Airlines don't need much notice if there are rich pickings to be made.
Airlines and airports are separate businesses - I don't think they usually work well when both have the same parent - but again, if the airport was a going concern, there has been plenty of time for another operator to express interest.
I'm also sceptical about an operation using twotters, or similar sized aircraft - they are great puddle jumpers, but how can they compete over land which is relatively well traversed by (non-APD paying) road and rail links?
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The only reason to operate an unpressurised and noisy Twotter in the south west is if ISC is on one's route network ... if one has no plans to operate to ISC then operate something pressurised and with wheels that go up and down. 
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With the little knowledge I have of SHH's financial woes without including ASW and the airport they were in trouble. It seemed that the airports lease left them a big get out of jail clause which was why everybody down here were scepticle when the announcement of the lease was publicised and those rumours still hadnt let up untill they came clean with the closure proposal. And as they say there is no smoke without fire and now we have the fire.