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We have not given up on Plymouth Airport yet

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We have not given up on Plymouth Airport yet

Old 30th Jul 2011, 14:45
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We have not given up on Plymouth Airport yet

Hey people come help us support out wonderful airport we need all the support we can get.

Just type in facebook Save Plymouth City Airport..
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Old 10th Aug 2011, 02:17
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EGHQ,

The spotter in my wishes you luck.

The architect I trained as tells you 'not a hope'.

Unfortunately, the vultures are already circling. As an operational airport, PLH had the advantage of being so close to the city centre (and I really do think people know it exists). As a closed airport, this advantage make the land valuable for numerous other uses.

You are correct in that you could set up a website for £70 to promote your idea. Or you could invest £15 in a Monopoly set. Methinks the die are already rolling.
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Old 10th Aug 2011, 09:28
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With website building software already on my PC, a domain registration, 12 months web hosting and 10 email addresses would cost, I could set up a website to save PLH airport for, 70p.

Don't believe in throwing good money down the drain though!
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Old 10th Aug 2011, 13:02
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I don't have a Save The Airport website (Yet?) But I do have a photos website I built, 2011 is kept updated as of last Saturday but 2010 only has a handful of images on it (not yet completed)

Plymouth Airport PhotoGallery - Home
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Old 10th Aug 2011, 14:08
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Here's a pic from my archives for you:

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Old 16th Aug 2011, 08:19
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in todays Local press

Todays Herald
« Thread Started Today at 3:05am »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLYMOUTH City Council's Cabinet is being recommended to back plans to shut the city's airport for passenger flights.
Two reports from consultants have revealed there is no operator or airline willing to run the airport or flights, and not enough businesses used it to make it economically viable for the council to underwrite its use.
The Cabinet, when it meets on August 23, is therefore recommended to accept a notice of non-viability, allowing airport operators Sutton Harbour Group (SHG) to close the airport for passenger services.
The Cabinet will also consider further recommendations that the council enter talks with Plymouth City Airport and SHG to secure the airport's continued use for military flying and search-and-rescue on a temporary basis while future options are considered.
There is also a recommendation for the Cabinet to instruct officers to develop the case for better and more regular rail connectivity and infrastructure.
A report also suggests the airport land should be protected from incremental and short-term planning applications until long-term options can be looked at.
SHG, which has held the lease of the airport land since 2000, announced its intention to withdraw as airport operator last December.
And airline Air South West recently announced the end of passenger operations due to lack of demand.
Under conditions of the lease, the council must legally respond to the principle: "Is Plymouth City Airport viable for its principal purpose of a public airport and passenger services on a regular and commercial basis to members of the public?"
The authority commissioned aviation consultants Orien Advisors to see if there was interest from operators in running a downgraded airport.

But despite investigating 12 airlines and 17 airport operators, none came forward.

Orien found none were in a position to make firm commitments to establish services on commercial terms, within required timescales and with sufficient scale to make the economics of operating the airline viable.

The consultants also said there were not enough profitable routes out of Plymouth and the uncertainties and costs of trying to achieve even a modest route network would be a "substantial risk to the council".

An economic study, jointly commissioned by the council and Chamber of Commerce, into the economic impact of the airport and future operating models, found businesses wanted to use the airport, but actual use had been minimal in recent years.

Aviation experts Berkeley Hanover Consulting, which carried out the study, were unable to identify "an economic rationale" for the council to underwrite the commercial risks involved in keeping "any scale of airport operations".

The study highlighted that the economic impact declined sharply after losing Heathrow slots in 1997 and Gatwick slots in 2011.

The short runway severely restricts it to 19- to 50-seater planes, preventing low-cost and holiday charter markets.

Only two short-runway aircraft are still in production, limiting its long term future as a commercial airport.

Economic potential was further constrained by geography and surrounding airports.

Business travellers have adapted travel habits with more than half the businesses preferring better train services to London.

But the consultants said it could be possible to operate a "very limited" passenger airport or a general aviation airfield, broadly cost-covering though unlikely to be commercially profitable.

Cllr Ted Fry, Cabinet member for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Development, said: "We wanted to make sure every possible option had been explored before formally and carefully considering Sutton Harbour's notice.

"We also needed to hear from independent aviation experts about the airport's prospects. Our role now is clear. The Cabinet is being asked to act as a legal check to make sure SHG are correct in their claim that the airport is not working as a commercial venture."

The two aviation reports, together with the findings of the Grant Thornton due diligence exercise on SHG will be taken into consideration by Cabinet members.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 08:37
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Oh dear, it does not look hopeful. Amen is the word that springs to mind.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 09:01
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That report is a load of bollox ...

I understand approaches have been made regarding operating the airport and reinstating air services but, the impression has been given, that a 'back door' deal has already been done and any such approaches are being swept under the carpet:

Only two short runway aircraft still in production?

Well how about the ATR42, the Do228NG the Twotter-400 and the Islander?

That's four short runway aircraft I can think of that are still in production and that's just off the top off my head.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 09:18
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Berkeley Hanover (spelling?) were not interested in hearing positive news and their report was nothing more than data collection and feedback it seems. Rubber stamps, awful. Approaches have been made and refused to be heard by Berkeley and SHG.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 09:46
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What slots did they lose at LGW and LHR? The services were withdrawn by the operator, not the same thing. An "expert" ought not to (un)intentionally mislead the client.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 09:50
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It would have been Brymon that were stripped of the LHR slots by their parent company 'BA'.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 12:32
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Can anyone put meat on these bones as far as operators wanting plymouth goes possibly by pm ing me with details.
Thanks
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 12:46
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footster,

On another note take a look at the statements of Berkeley Hanover.

Whoever on god's earth decided that these people are aviation experts when they don't even know of the current passenger aircraft types, currently in production, capable of PLH operations?

They seem to have placed great emphasis on the airport being doomed due to only two such aircraft types being in production!

And of these 12 airlines they approached how many of these currently operate appropriate aircraft types or did they approach Airbus, Boeing, Jetstream, Bombardier etc. operators who, of course, would have absolutely no interest in PLH operations?

This smells of cooking ... 'Cooking the Books'.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 13:05
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I really dont want this airport to close, i used to live in plymouth for nearly 6 years and i was desperatly hoping to fly into plymouth one day when i have my ppl.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 13:06
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Phileas I totally agree with you and there is another part of the statement which stinks and that is:

Orien found none were in a position to make firm commitments to establish services on commercial terms, within required timescales and with sufficient scale to make the economics of operating the airline viable.

Whose timescale Sutton Harbour Holdings.

As I have said numerous times before all Plymouth needs is an operator who knows how to run an airport, not one who plays at it with a hidden agenda.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 13:19
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Footster,

And something like a (Y16) Do228 operating airline, perhaps with 4 or 5 aircraft, could successfully operate business and leisure routes (MAN, JER, GCI, ORK, DUB etc.), all these lesser yield routes not currently operated, all on 'W' Patterns, from PLH, NQY and CWL also, PLH could adequately justify atleast 1.5 Do228's operating 6.5 to 7 days per week.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 15:37
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Phileas I did hear that apparently airlines where interested but the scale of clauses SHH were puttting on them were totally unacceptable and unworkable. Someone really needs to dig deep and exspose this shambles fopr what it is SHH flexing its muscles and getting what it wants which is the land.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 15:51
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footster

Why do you want to know who tried to buy the operations?
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 16:01
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JSCL as this site states it is a rumour network it would be just be intersting to have the knowledge of having the meat put on the bones. I have no other interest other than that. I for one would like to see the airport stay as i have visited it regularly for nearly 41yrs and it is my beleif with what ive read from SHH and others and the rumour network that this is a big con by SHH so it would be nice to actually read what has been said.Im afraid it seems apparent to me SHH have been a bit busy with Pengellys City Council and other vestid interested parties in making sure they have their way.
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Old 16th Aug 2011, 16:04
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Let me fill you in.

Lead researcher at Berkeley Hanover is blood relative to one of the leaders at Plymouth Chamber of Commerce.

Plymouth COC had no interest in serious interested parties and just wanted to put on a front, PCC had no vested interest and told parties to just combat SSH and SSH refuse to let parties past the secretary for anyone seriously interested.

Just names and copies of emails used to put together a total number of interested parties and just rubber stamp it as people were interested but clearly decided it has no future.
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