Oban Airport
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Oban Airport to close: staff on 90 days notice
FORARGYLL is reporting that Oban Airport might have to close
Oban Airport to close: staff on 90 days notice
Oban Airport to close: staff on 90 days notice
Join Date: Mar 2003
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I am thinking about taking a Hebridean Air Services Sightseer Fare for a roundtrip from Oban (e.g. Oban - Islay - Colonsay - Oban). These special fares can only be bokked five days in advance if seats are still available. In order to be able to assess the amount of gambling involved as I need to travel to Oban from quite a distance - how are the flights generally booked and which pair - Coll/Tiree or Islay/Colonsay - tends to get more bookings)? A certain day more busy than the other?
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virginblue, I've flown Oban - Islay - Colonsay for £32.50 each way (£65 return for whole trip) on the standard Earlybird ticket before now. Looking at how late those prices are available (see here if you haven't already), it doesn't appear that many people book far in advance - bear in mind it's mostly locals using the air link rather than Cal Mac so we're not talking months in advance. Thursday flights always seemed a tad busier (everything's relative - perhaps four onboard rather than two), but perhaps that's just me.
Personal recommendation: if you've got the time and are based daan sarf, getting the Caledonian Sleeper, changing at Glasgow or Crianlarich for Connel Ferry (ask in the Post Office if you want a taxi from there to the airport) and then lunch at the Lochnell Arms (walking distance from the airport - ask at the desk) before an afternoon flight really does make a trip of it.
What's the fare differential between the Sightseer fare and the standard Earlybird?
Maybe just worth giving them a ring.
Personal recommendation: if you've got the time and are based daan sarf, getting the Caledonian Sleeper, changing at Glasgow or Crianlarich for Connel Ferry (ask in the Post Office if you want a taxi from there to the airport) and then lunch at the Lochnell Arms (walking distance from the airport - ask at the desk) before an afternoon flight really does make a trip of it.
What's the fare differential between the Sightseer fare and the standard Earlybird?
Maybe just worth giving them a ring.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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Aero Mad, thanks for the information, very helpful indeed. The plan calls for travel on a tuesday afternoon, "positioning" in from EDI by train, so that seems to fit in with your recommendations.
Not sure when you travelled, but nowadays the early bird fare for Oban - Colonsay - Islay - Oban is 55 GBP each leg plus a total of 19.12 GBP in taxes (i.e. 129.12 GBP in total). The sightseer fare is just 32.50 GBP each leg plus 2.50 GBP in taxes (67.50 GBP in total) - hence my asking....
Alternatively, I could also fly to Islay on Loganair's GLA service in the morning instead of doing a round trip from Oban, but I am not sure what to do for 6 hours between flights on Islay in March - plus there is always a risk of the BE flight getting cancelled due to poor weather (had a rather annoying weather related cancellation to Campbeltown a couple of months ago)...
Not sure when you travelled, but nowadays the early bird fare for Oban - Colonsay - Islay - Oban is 55 GBP each leg plus a total of 19.12 GBP in taxes (i.e. 129.12 GBP in total). The sightseer fare is just 32.50 GBP each leg plus 2.50 GBP in taxes (67.50 GBP in total) - hence my asking....
Alternatively, I could also fly to Islay on Loganair's GLA service in the morning instead of doing a round trip from Oban, but I am not sure what to do for 6 hours between flights on Islay in March - plus there is always a risk of the BE flight getting cancelled due to poor weather (had a rather annoying weather related cancellation to Campbeltown a couple of months ago)...
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To report how it played out:
HAS have a rather flexible operation. They seem to put ony various extra flights depending on demand that are not published in the timetable but bookable online as a sightseer fare five days in advance. So it is always worth checking the booking engine. I ended up on two roundtrips to Coll and Colonsay that are not shown in the published timetable.
It is worth noting that they will operate a direct return instead of a triangle flight if the only paid passenger for the triangle is a sightseer passenger (in my case, there were no passengers to/from Islay, so they did a direct Colonsay return)
HAS have a rather flexible operation. They seem to put ony various extra flights depending on demand that are not published in the timetable but bookable online as a sightseer fare five days in advance. So it is always worth checking the booking engine. I ended up on two roundtrips to Coll and Colonsay that are not shown in the published timetable.
It is worth noting that they will operate a direct return instead of a triangle flight if the only paid passenger for the triangle is a sightseer passenger (in my case, there were no passengers to/from Islay, so they did a direct Colonsay return)
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Well, there was one other passenger...
Overall, loads were mixed. Of the four flights I took, one was full, one had five pax, one two and one just one pax (= me). The latter was, however, the inbound flight for the full flight.
Overall, loads were mixed. Of the four flights I took, one was full, one had five pax, one two and one just one pax (= me). The latter was, however, the inbound flight for the full flight.
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Trouble for flights between Oban/Tiree/Islay/Coll/Colonsay:
Air Charter
Talks are progressing but no agreement reached yet.
http://www.dunoon-observer.com/index...news&Itemid=19
Air Charter
Talks are progressing but no agreement reached yet.
http://www.dunoon-observer.com/index...news&Itemid=19
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My word. 1997 just called. It wants its website back.
Sorry but there's no excuse for that pathetic website. I would not buy anything from a website like that never mind a plane ticket.
Sorry but there's no excuse for that pathetic website. I would not buy anything from a website like that never mind a plane ticket.
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Sorry but there's no excuse for that pathetic website. I would not buy anything from a website like that never mind a plane ticket.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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The latest two ideas for Oban:
1) Chairman of Prestwick suggests it (Prestwick) should be a hub for Scottish domestic services via the "big runway" at Oban
2) Oban Airport website has launched a survey by Vortex Aviation (Farnborough-based executive jet charter broker) of a possible "small commuter airline based out of Oban", starting summer 2016. They're canvassing views on the demand for (presumably scheduled) services to all points across Scotland plus London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and London, with the emphasis seemingly on Glasgow/Manchester/London.
It would appear that neither party is aware that the Council signed a contract with an instrument procedure designer in October last year to design IFPs for Oban, Coll and Colonsay, only to be told at the first stage by the CAA that there was no way any procedure design for Oban could be feasible. So Oban will remain VFR only and therefore inaccessible to any IFR traffic for much of the year.
1) Chairman of Prestwick suggests it (Prestwick) should be a hub for Scottish domestic services via the "big runway" at Oban
2) Oban Airport website has launched a survey by Vortex Aviation (Farnborough-based executive jet charter broker) of a possible "small commuter airline based out of Oban", starting summer 2016. They're canvassing views on the demand for (presumably scheduled) services to all points across Scotland plus London, Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester and London, with the emphasis seemingly on Glasgow/Manchester/London.
It would appear that neither party is aware that the Council signed a contract with an instrument procedure designer in October last year to design IFPs for Oban, Coll and Colonsay, only to be told at the first stage by the CAA that there was no way any procedure design for Oban could be feasible. So Oban will remain VFR only and therefore inaccessible to any IFR traffic for much of the year.
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It would appear that neither party is aware that the Council signed a contract with an instrument procedure designer in October last year to design IFPs for Oban, Coll and Colonsay, only to be told at the first stage by the CAA that there was no way any procedure design for Oban could be feasible. So Oban will remain VFR only and therefore inaccessible to any IFR traffic for much of the year.
Unless of course, home made GPS let downs, are de rigueur, with the Oban Hoi Polloi, in their fast jets on a commercial basis
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Argyll & Bute Council has issued a request for proposals to "to investigate the opportunities for and benefits of expansion of the airfield at Oban Airport", focusing on extending the runway northwards, then looking at whether any such extension "would allow any increase in the range, types or size of the aircraft which could access Oban Airport".
Yep, of course it will - as long as operators of said aircraft are quite happy to only arrive and depart VFR, to only ever arrive on 01 and only ever depart on 19!
Sad.
Yep, of course it will - as long as operators of said aircraft are quite happy to only arrive and depart VFR, to only ever arrive on 01 and only ever depart on 19!
Sad.
Join Date: May 2002
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Here's the text of the notice:
These are the specific issues they are looking at.
II.2.4) Description of the procurement
Argyll & Bute Council wish to investigate the opportunities for and benefits of expansion of the airfield at Oban Airport (North Connel). In particular the areas to be examined are:
1. Runway extension options, including approach and departure routes & any derogations from CAA standards which would be required. The current runway is Cat 2 with a declared length of 1,199m (physical length c.1,260m). The Falls of Lora are located at the southern end of the runway, therefore options for extension of the runway only exist at the northern end. There is a residential caravan park approximately 600m from the current northern runway threshold, while the peak of Beinn Lora (308m) is located 2,100m to the north-east of the northern threshold.
i. Option 1: expansion without impacting on the caravan park or any other existing land uses/roads.
ii. Options 2: expansion assuming we could purchase any land required/reroute A828 trunk road/etc.
2. Based on the options identified for 1, clarify the impacts of increasing the length of the runway in terms of Runway Category, runway widths (currently 40m) and impacts on land uses/maximum development heights/etc. at the ends and sides of the runway. Also, highlight any other changes required by the change in runway length/category on the operation of this currently VFR, FISO controlled airport.
3. Taking account of the options identified in 1 and 2, identify if these changes would allow any increase in the range, types or size of the aircraft which could access Oban Airport – with a particular focus on passenger aircraft currently in revenue earning service within Scotland and the UK. Also, should increased aircraft sizes be able to be operated [in passenger revenue service] identify if the increased size of aircraft would require any changes in the operation of the airport (which does not currently have any security screening facilities, etc).
Argyll & Bute Council wish to investigate the opportunities for and benefits of expansion of the airfield at Oban Airport (North Connel). In particular the areas to be examined are:
1. Runway extension options, including approach and departure routes & any derogations from CAA standards which would be required. The current runway is Cat 2 with a declared length of 1,199m (physical length c.1,260m). The Falls of Lora are located at the southern end of the runway, therefore options for extension of the runway only exist at the northern end. There is a residential caravan park approximately 600m from the current northern runway threshold, while the peak of Beinn Lora (308m) is located 2,100m to the north-east of the northern threshold.
i. Option 1: expansion without impacting on the caravan park or any other existing land uses/roads.
ii. Options 2: expansion assuming we could purchase any land required/reroute A828 trunk road/etc.
2. Based on the options identified for 1, clarify the impacts of increasing the length of the runway in terms of Runway Category, runway widths (currently 40m) and impacts on land uses/maximum development heights/etc. at the ends and sides of the runway. Also, highlight any other changes required by the change in runway length/category on the operation of this currently VFR, FISO controlled airport.
3. Taking account of the options identified in 1 and 2, identify if these changes would allow any increase in the range, types or size of the aircraft which could access Oban Airport – with a particular focus on passenger aircraft currently in revenue earning service within Scotland and the UK. Also, should increased aircraft sizes be able to be operated [in passenger revenue service] identify if the increased size of aircraft would require any changes in the operation of the airport (which does not currently have any security screening facilities, etc).
Yep, of course it will - as long as operators of said aircraft are quite happy to only arrive and depart VFR, to only ever arrive on 01 and only ever depart on 19!
