Aircraft with 24 pax diverted from Stansted to Southend today, following report from crew of burning insulation smell in cabin.

Smell virtually gone by approach time, and satnav said to have expired.

No dramas.

The 737 BBJs were sold to the US military some years ago and were replaced with a coupe of ex Braathens 737-700s.

Posted on another site. The Ford's flights to Cologne began yesterday.
Two rotations per day ex Southend, using Flightline 146 equipment.

Doe's this mean Southend might now start building that illusive Terminal and Railway station they talk about? :}

Surely of greater importance a coat of emulsion and gloss has been applied to various areas within the terminal and the cafe now has daily papers. However, I do not see this having any effect on the time scales of the new terminal the dates / plans of which are becoming more elusive by the day?

Flightline
 

So where is Flightline sourcing their aircraft for the Fordair flights?

Do they have a 146 based at Southend now or are they positioning from Aberdeen, or elsewhere? Heard an early morning Flightline arrival this morning, which leads me to ask the question.

Also, would appreciate knowing the departure and arrival times as I might like to pop down and have a cup of tea and read a newspaper in the 'refurbished' terminal!!!!! I remember discovering 'Propliner' in newsagents in the old terminal many years ago.

Still, it's nice to see a bit of activity again.

Cheers

Southender

Ford flights are operated by a Flightline 146 , G-BPNT BAe146-300 , which has been based at SEN for flightline for years. It is now configured with 90 seats iso of its usual 48 or 99/110

Additionally the Flightline 146 operated the FlyBe JER on saturday as once again there was 3 Dash 8's u/s. The inbound a/c arrived 7 hours late. There was a rumour that the service was going to be pulled as RAL are fed up with the poor punctuality record in addition to the first two services that were transferred to LGW.

Airports of the World Magazine reports Fordair will get a RJ80 (I assume they mean a RJ85) and base it at SEN to operate the flights. A high security car park for Ford workers has been built at the airport

There is also a good article in Airports of the World Magazine July-August 2006 edition about Southend .

That doesn't make the airport secure.

Cheers

Gerard (ex FordAir pilot)

No airport by definition can be totally secure Gerard, and if you haven't already,then I hope you soon find new employment.

We all have, so no worries there. Thanks for your concern.

It just makes me laugh they built a 'secure car park' at an airfield with holes in the fence. Pictures can be supplied on request.

The new Car park for Ford Employees is very secure and there are NO holes in the fence. Southend may not be Fort Knox but compared to other places its good. Those who seek to 'diss' the security I'd like to see your evidence....

As requested. Taken in April this year (not by me), by someone who wandered around with a camera for ages taking these pictures without ever being challenged by security.
http://www.irrenewal.com/snd/southen...rity%20001.jpg
http://www.irrenewal.com/snd/southen...rity%20002.jpg
http://www.irrenewal.com/snd/southen...rity%20004.jpg
http://www.irrenewal.com/snd/southen...rity%20006.jpg
Smallpilot: I am sure the carpark is very secure. I never said it wasn't. I didn't even say that the airfield is not secure. I just pointed out there are (or at least two months ago were) some holes in the fence.

Southend = Secure airport, you must be on something I thing after the preceding pictures the prosecution can rest their case. As much as I like the place 'What is there to secure anyway'?

A commercial pilot I have known for years, flew into SEN. Their areas on on the apron with Fords flights were very tight on security. Nobody could go near the the stand without being challenged or security screened.
:}

I received an email from Flybe several weeks ago stating that they had "no further plans" for routes from SEN, which doesn't sound too hopeful, although I suppose it could mean no definite plans as yet.

The 'Evening Echo' also reports that the planning application for the proposed station Parkway has been withdrawn due to local opposition and that a revised planning application is being drawn up in that regard.

Neither of the above are likely to lead to an early start on building the new terminal I fear.

Expressflight.

According to their website, a building on the site of the new Terminal development is up for lease. It doe's say short term though.
I would happily fly from there. Stay at my relatives, walk to the airport (well short taxi ride). ...Oh well. :cool:



Surely Flybe is not the only carrier that could operate from there? What about Air Southwest, Aer Aarann, VLM etc. I understand the runway won't allow pax loads of 737's etc, but it must have a similar operation capability to London City, Plymouth and the like? I would of thought it would also be cheaper than Gatwick or Stansted etc. to operate from?

Stored 707
 

The long term stored 707 has now moved to outside the paint shop.
Does this mean that it is soon to fly again?