Link now...


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6689977.stm

Derry Closure
 

It sounds like from the airport website that the airport is closed for safety reasons. It must be severe enough to warrant closure - thats quite extreme and unusual.

if it's long term it spells ruin to Loganair's flights. Surprised Ryanair wont use BFS in the interim until something is sorted. EG in the case of Weeze they used Eindhoven but not in this instance. They either dont want to get into a head to head with easyjet or they wont do business with BFS. Perhaps tomorrow there might be positive developements. I have a friend working at the airport I must chase up to find out some info.

Will it be open to light aircraft? I have a lesson booked for tomorrow!!!

Put UTV on mate... 10:45, top story!
Happy flying!
As I mentioned round Britain flyer Polly Vacher's G-FGRN is also there tonight... hope she can get out too.

Instructor just phoned. Not going anywhere tomorrow:ugh:

It seems a bit silly to divert the Dublin route to Belfast. By the time they have transferred the passengers to Belfast, got them through security etc. and flown them to Dublin would it be any quicker than driving them direct from Derry to Dublin. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be longer

UTV reporting...

Operating licence revoked on safety grounds.

Seamus Devine the airport manager says he hopes the licence will be re-instated asap.

A meeting due to take place tomorrow (Fri) between the CAA and Derry City Council (the owners) to progress things.

Yeah,

I can drive Coleraine to Dublin airport in less than 3.5 hrs.

Just curious, who is instructing there now?

In a way it's good to see problems being highlighted. Let's hope they're rectified properly and in good time.

Flying with MD Aviatino in a lovely 172. Started my PPL with Eglinton, but unfortunately they had many problems retaining instructors. Hope they get back on track though.

The suspension is provisional. Am willing to bet it wont be closed for long - I guess tha CAA need to be convinced that steps are taken to rectify any deficiences.

how long do you think it would be until they reopen it? i have flights booked on 18th of june you think it'll be open again by then?

The 'Round Britain Flyer' should not be affected. A qualified pilot in a 'private' aircraft does not require a Licensed Aerodrome.

I imagine that the Aerodrome Licence will be restored when the Airport Authority convince the Licensing Authority [CAA] that all the Licensing Requirements are being met.
H49

As the CAA do not normally work at weekends, will the reapproval happen before Monday.
Do the CAA suddenly withdraw a licence without any sort of warning - or was this a known non compliance which was not dealt with in a satisfactory manner in a given time period?
:confused:

Buy one get one free........most probably the latter of your suggestions!! It is an extreme measure on the part of the CAA. In these litigious days I imagine that the CAA will have consulted their Legal Department and I doubt the latter would give the go ahead unless a 'last resort' situation had already been reached.
H49

Just spoken with Polly Vacher (the Round Britain flyer), who is currently being shown around the tower at Derry (presumably they have the time to do it at the moment!) and is leaving the airport to continue her flight at 10:30am local.
Some wag on BBC Radio Ulster this morning suggested that Ryanair should not cancel their flights from Derry, but simply operate them from Ballykelly... after all (as the caller said) they've done it before!!!

Just for the record it was not Ryanair that landed at Ballykelly but, I believe, eirjet who were doing the flight on behalf of Ryanair.

Ryanair have this morning posted an update (of sorts) on their website:

Updated: Friday 25th May 10:00hrs
As a result of the suspension of the aerodrome licence of City of Derry Airport by the UK CAA, the airport is closed to all commercial flights today - (Fri 25th May). We are advised that discussions are now taking place between City of Derry Airport and the UK CAA; however it remains possible that further flights maybe cancelled.
An update will be provided again today at 17:00 hours, dependent on the outcome of discussions between the CAA and City of Derry Airport.

City of Derry Airport have posted on their website some news under the banner of Temporary Suspension of Airport Licence:

Travel Advisory 25 May 2007

25 May 2007

Friday 25th May 2007 9.45am Passenger Travel Update
City of Derry Airport Authority has been advised by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that it must suspend operations for scheduled flights from midnight tonight, Thursday 24th May. This is in place while variations to safety regulations are being reviewed by the CAA and the Airport Authority. A further update for passengers will be available on the City of Derry Airport website after 3.00pm on Friday 25th May 2007.


Beautiful language so far, sadly lacking in presentation of any pertinent fact leading to the suspension (that's my own update).

Inspections
 

If Lisdoonvarna is right it will be interesting to see if heads roll. The initial report I heard, mentioned bad drainage and inadequate bird control. If the CAA had given due warning, it was certainly not in the public domain. The CAA don't normally operate like this. Unless it is something unexpectedly serious, there's always a time frame to get things fixed, whether it is operational, maintenance, or a personal licence matter. This is something political.

Unless the Airport Authority wished to place the matter in the public domain, there is no reason why it should be there. If the Airport Authority has been remiss in its management of safety they are hardly likely to advertise the fact by telling everybody.....indeed far more likely to hush it up and hope it goes away. It hasn't and fortunately for the safety of the travelling public, it wont!! Not to say of course that there is no political agenda as well!!
Helen49