Boeing 737-300
 

Lydd
 

Bad news from Lydd on local news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/6562965.stm

Good luck Guys...

P.S Sorry couldn't find the Old thread

Regretable and watching the various threads on Lydd and Manston surely this was only to be expected as both dromes are so remote I fail to see the likelyhood of any serious and sustained operations by airline companies. As a Southend resident that seems to be the only one of the S East corner seeing any improvements, much of that is down to the Ford Corporate Flights / regular small freight aircraft.

So if the operational capability of the airport is not going to be affected, I wonder where are the jobs being lost from exactly?

I hope this is not a brinkmanship exercise by the owner to pressurise the local planners; the staff over at Lydd deserve so much better than this if this is the case.

unfortunately, i have heard that some of the redundancies will come from the fire crew, with possibly up to a third of the team losing their jobs.

There is a more detailed article on 'travelmole.com' this morning relating to activities or the lack of them at Ashford International.

Sad for those involved but not exactly surprising. Like Manston Lydd
has no large catchment area to call on, and poor surface access and
local infrastructure.

It is difficult to see how it can ever produce a return on the millions
needed in investment.

I have relatives in the area and thisproject has been on and off for many years but as you rightly say the infrastructure is not there and it lacks a strong enough catchment area to survive.Maybe cargo /GA are the only real options long term.

Lydd Airport
 

Just joined ppune, so this my first comment.
Having operated from Lydd regularly for the last 3 years the pace of improvement is fantastic, and the number of movements continues to increase,. If you haven´t been there recently, give it a try.

With regards to the length of the ILS approach the airport is aware of this and are trying to get it shortened. There are 2 other problems with the approach,
1. Try finding the hold at ROMTI acurately in a basic equiped light aircraft.
The old NDB LYX has been replaced by LZD, named after the airport manager Zak Deir.
2. Joining th 14 DME arc puts you in close proximity to the very active gliding site at Challock.

We were all sorry about the loss of staff but fueling etc does not seem to be a problem. Its quite handy being fueled by the fire department, you invariably have the fire truck standing beside you, or in very close proximity!

When carrying out visual circuits a downwind dog leg is required when approaching the Dungerness Nuclear Power Station. If you are unfamilar with the limits, contact Lydd ATC, there are reduced minimum distances for light aircraft.
Be aware that the Anti runway extension group are very active and the police have been known to observe aircraft in the power station area.:yuk:

Normally there are very few delays for VFR departures at LYDD, however when an aircraft is on the ILS you can be held at holding point C or asked to orbit downwind.

The airport restaurant now serves good food, its very popular with the locals at the weekend.

On the subject of who would use it, us in GA. As far as medium/heavy aircraft are concerned I don´t think that Lydd is likely to be a new LGW.
Manston has a chance if in connection with the 2012 olympics a fast rail line can connect it with London.

But who cares, we have a rich arab who is willing to put money into the airfield, and when his lease is up in 30+ years we will have a modernised airfield.:)

If you realy want to get depressed look at the nimby web site www.kentnet.org.uk/laag/index.htm :yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:, if not don´t bother.

Airport job losses are announced
 

Six people are to be made redundant at Lydd airport as part of a restructuring exercise to cut costs.

The owners said the current economic climate meant it could not continue to operate at a loss.

They also blamed the decision to cut staff from 54 to 48 on the uncertainty over their expansion plans.

Earlier this month a hearing to decide whether the airport could extend its runway and build a new terminal was postponed for the fourth time.

The airport's managing director, Jonathan Gordon, said: "During the past eight years more than £25m has been spent on the airport project and dozens of jobs were created in the process. However, in light of the current economic climate, I have been forced to take a long hard look at the finances. The slight streamlining of our operations will produce the cost savings that we need to make, but I am saddened that it means the loss of six jobs."

A staff consultation is expected to take place this week.

Mr Gordon, who asked for the latest Shepway Council hearing to be postponed, said the meeting would now be held at the end of February or early March.

Lydd wants to extend its runway and build a new terminal to attract more passengers and bigger airline carriers.

Lynne Beaumont, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Shepway and a member of the Keep the Marsh Special Alliance, said she believed the delay until next year was to buy more time to answer environmental criticisms.

Jes, is this new information? Where did it come from?

BBC News website.

The Gordon brothers could run a bath let alone a new route

PAX numbers at Lydd 2003 around 4,000 by 2008 down to 2,000

What a sad joke Lydd is becoming - needs to be GA / Engineering / Training

PAX will simply not work

ATR42
 

I guess good news on the Malaga route, but cant imagine it working for 1 minute, but Lydd always a friendly place to fly in to. Does anyone know what the ATR42 does thats been at Lydd for a while now?

Is that Malaga route a mistake on theairdb website. Wouldn't be unknown for there to be mistakes on there

I think the ATR is operated by TransEuro Air

No, it isn't a mistake. I spoke with Robin Gordon at the weekend and he told me they had decided to test the scheduled market after having flown many BE200 charters to Malaga in the past couple of years. I should imagine it will be targeted at those who are willing to pay a premium for what will be equivalent to executive charter levels of service and operate at a low frequency.

I'd be interested on that basis of you getting a timetable and planned start date for the service? ExpressFlight.

The BE200 seems glued to the ground nearly 24 x 7

You'd be interested in me getting a timetable etc. colossus.?

With respect, wouldn't it be as easy for you to get a timetable/further information direct from Lydd Air yourself? After all, I have nothing whatever to do with the operation.

Sorry no offence meant to you ExpressFlight, but I doubt you or I would get anything realistic out of LyddAir - they will run any route if passengers turn up with the right amount of dosh, but anything over and above the 1 route they offer today I will eat my hat !