Barton Aerodrome / City Airport Manchester, The Future?

[Sam-MAN]

Hello all.

Couldn't seem to find a similar topic so i started this one.

Following LAC going 'bump' recently what are your views on the future of Baton? (Yes, i know its City Airport Manchester but i will always know it as Barton!). Peel seem to be going along with the commercial / exec travel route which obviously isn't good news for the GA community (or maybe i am misled?). I would just like to know your views of the airfield.

Many thanks!!

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

LAC hasn't gone 'bump'. It's alive and well, but not at Barton. But many LAC folk still fly from there.

Barton continues as a very active airfield under Peel ownership.

The future? Crikey, who knows?

SSD

[Sam-MAN]

Hello.

When i said LAC going 'bump' i meant the 'clubhouse' etc no longer owned at Barton. The flying school seems to be doing very good for itself, and thats where im hoping to do my PPL

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Sorry about the Thread drift but where has the LAC gone? As a former member who wears the tie proudly, I am interested.

[3FallinFlyer]

Peel seem to be going along with the commercial / exec travel route which obviously isn't good news for the GA community

Flew in a couple of weeks ago in the arrow, everyone very helpful, lift to & from the western parking area, tower organised a cab on initial call up & filed IFR FLP for the way home while I was away, all day parking, no fuel pick up and all for £7!! They are doing something right, that's how GA should be....... Or someone in admin did something very wrong...

[Retired Redcap]

Lancashire Aero Club is no longer "Barton" but it still exists.
Who can know the future of Barton we must just see what develops. In the mean time LAC Flying School is effectively a new business formed when Lancashire Aero Club sold the flying school business. If it gets support it will have the chance to flourish.

[Rod1]

Not another Barton thread. If you do a search you will find 1000’s of comments on Barton, LAC and the future of both. This has become one of the most debated topics on this BBS and as an ex member I lost interest long ago.

Rod1

[BroomstickPilot]

Would someone please tell us where Lancashire Aero Club has moved to.

It would be nice to know what aeroplanes and club facilities they now have and generally how they are doing.

I did my PPL at Barton in 1960. I live in the sunny South now and don't have much cause to go up there, but I still have a soft spot for LAC and would like to hear that they are doing well.

Broomstick.

[Retired Redcap]

Rod1
I don't want to continue Barton thread. Issue is Lancashire Aero Club is not Barton. LAC Flying School is an entirely different entity. I you want to do a PPL at Barton it is one of two schools to choose from. If it does not succeed students will have to find another.

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

That's LAC flying school in the portacabin. Nothing whatever to do with Lancashire Aero Club, who no longer have a presence at Barton or any other airfield.

LAC flying school used to be owned by Lancashire Aero Club, hence their name - but were sold off when Lancashire Aero Club quit Barton. LAC flying school is now independant, albeit with same staff and instructors as it had under Lancashire Aero Club ownership.

[BroomstickPilot]

Thanks for the info Shemy and Shaggy.

Broomstick.

[Sam-MAN]

LAC flying school are now owned by 'upperstack ltd' (i think!) Not sure if they had anything to do with LAC the club?

After my recent visits to Barton LAC flying school seems to be doing very, very good. They have a fairly big fleet and what looked like some excellent staff. There was plenty of students there learning when i went so as far as i can see LAC flying school seem to be doing ok for them selfs :ok:

[BroomstickPilot]

Thanks, Sam, good to hear.

Broomstick.

[Dog's Bone]

As noted there have been many Barton threads over the past years. One to have a look at is this (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=162166&highlight=Barton+Happening) thread. It is dated in places, but is worth another read, as many of the comments and observations remain valid, and several events which were rumoured have now come to pass.
Sam-Man I suggest you explain yourself better in future, otherwise you could be deemed to be making unscrupulous accusations against an existing flying club, which is far from being 'bump'. The LAC web site (http://www.lancsaeroclub.co.uk/) will tell you more.
LAC is now a closed membership list consisting of around 325 paid up members, each having paid £50 for 2007 membership and free landings at certain airfields which have been negotiated and paid for by LAC. The vast majority of rejoining members have joined in the hope of (1) getting a share out of the half million pounds in the bank, or (2) using the money to acquire a new site from which to operate. It is well known that Stretton is high on the list, as are other potential new grass field sites, the locations of which are not being divulged, as the owners of Barton have informed LAC directors that they will object to the establishment of any new venues, hence the secrecy.
The LAC Flying School was sold in March 07, and now trades totally independent of LAC (the aero club). Mr Carr's 'LAC Flying School (http://www.lacflyingschool.co.uk/)' trades as such, with the same staff and aircraft fleet which he also purchased from LAC. Ravenair purchased the airfield's maintenance organisation from LAC. At the same time Ravenair (http://www.ravenair.co.uk) took on the lease of the former LAC clubhouse building. This building now houses the Ravenair Flying School and also continues as the airfield's restaurant, which is available for public use with appropriate alcohol licences for public sales (before it was a licence for alcoholic sales to LAC members only, which was a bone of contention, as noted on several threads).
It is essential that people now understand that Lancashire Aero Club, (LAC) is just that. i.e. a large group of members, with their own aircraft or group share owners (most based at Barton, some elsewhere). The Lancashire Aero Club does not own any aircraft, it no longer has a flying training school (see above), it no longer has any leases on property at Barton - again read the LAC web site. Whether LAC resurrects itself in the coming years at a new location is another seemingly never ending wait and see story. Hopefully the oldest flying club in the country will continue, and from a new airfield.