Coventry, am I missing something?

[TotalBeginner]

I might need to fly into Coventry soon, and was just looking at their "Fees and Charges"


1) Handling not required for aircraft less than 3.5 tonnes MTOWA

2) Landing fee £10.00/tonne or part thereof

3) Parking - 1st 2 hours free, £10.00/tonne/hour subsequent.

When compared with airports such as Norwich, this seems quite reasonable?

Am I missing something? :confused:

[airac]

Yes , you have to buy biscuits/doughnuts for the ATC staff, who will gladly clean your A/C ( 737's excluded) whilst our females give you a manicure/pedicure. Fuel you will have to pay for and transport to and from said airport ,since none of us are allowed out now :E
Having said that Norwich is a fine airport to go along with its' fine City:ok:

[HeliCraig]

Although I have not flown out of there lately, it is my nearest airport; and it has always had quite a strong GA side to it I am led to believe. There is certainly a number of fixed wing schools / clubs based there and at least 1 rotary school (maybe 2?).

With Thomson now in what seems like terminal decline at the airport (pax figures last month down nearly 50%) their original roots of Freight & GA sit nicely together again - Freight at night, GA in the day!

Just my two penneth worth; I am sure someone who knows the place better will prove me wrong!

[llanfairpg]

Heli--any reason given for Thompsons decline--the terminal--the airport or is it just the present market?

[HeliCraig]

llanfairpg - A number of factors I believe...

... Thomson have cut scheduled routes since their merger.
... Thomsons latest a/c are to be 737-800's; which are too big for CVT (and Jersey!).
... The terminal (thank you Warwick District Council).

Wizz are offering flights to eastern Europe out of CVT and are apparently doing well at it too!

[Martin @ EGLK]

My boss flies into Coventry quite often (and I might from next spring). He joined the local flying club & gets all that you mentioned for free or a reduced price.

It cost him a few quid to join of course but if you're going to do regularly, it might be worth looking in to.

[llanfairpg]

Heli--thanks

What is the latest with the terminal, more woodworm treatment or a new one?

Sounds like Thompsons are going to ditch CVT then ???

[HeliCraig]

Not too sure on the latest with the terminal - as to what the current owners are going to do with it.

There is certainly mounting speculation that 2008 will see even less of TFly; although they will have trouble operating the -800 into Jersey too so that may be enough to keep their older a/c CVT based as apparently loads on this route are good!

We will see... lets hope it doesn't happen though.

[S-Works]

I guess the only advantage of a downturn on business at Coventry will be less of a case for the extra airspace they were bidding for.

[A and C]

Boeing make a "short field" kit for the B737-800 that would make CVT a viable airport for the aircraft however will the cost be matched by financal return?

[A Very Civil Pilot]

CVT is a 'scheduled' base for TFly. As we are cutting back on that side of the business, there will be less flights from CVT. General feeling in the company is that it will close as a base some time in the future.

It might then make it a bit easier to get some circuits done then. No orbiting downwind waiting for a 737 to get a release from Birmingham!

...until EZY turn up with 4 a/c based there!!

[llanfairpg]

Funny how things change.

Halfpenny Green and Coventry International !

[cvt person]

One of those 737-800's that are apparently to big for Coventry was in Coventry today!!!

[moggiee]

One of those 737-800's that are apparently to big for Coventry was in Coventry today!!!
Depends upon the weight, surely. Maybe too heavy at MTOW but OK at lighter weights.

[HeliCraig]

moggiee:

That was my understanding too - in that if an operator wanted to use them out of fields like Coventry and Jersey they would have to be careful with loads.

CVT Person:

No ill intent was meant towards CVT with my comments; its my nearest airport. I think that what WDC have done to the airport is nothing short of scandalous and I haven't met one WDC tax payer who actually agrees with it (apart from the very vocal minority).

Who was operating the 738 into CVT out of interest?

[cvt person]

The 737-800 was a Thomsonfly example, substituting for a sick 737-500

[Fried_Chicken]

When Atlantique owned the Airfield they offered Aircraft over a certain age a free (or discounted) landing but I believe the present owners have stopped that.

It's worth flying into Coventry just to look around the Midland Air Museum & look at some of the Gem's Atlantique have in & around their hangars (Twin Pin, Dc3, Prentice, Dove, Canberra etc..)

FC

[Riverboat]

I could be wrong, but I think you have got the parking charges wrong. Surely it is not £10 an hour after 2 hours, but £10 for 24 hours?

As regards the 737-800, the problem is when the runway is wet. CVT ATC are too prone to state that the runway is wet-wet-wet when there is no standing water, but when they state this, the -800 has performance problems at CVT.

[matspart3]

Riverboat
A runway doesn't need to have standing water to be classified as wet/wet/wet

Reporting Term Surface conditions

DRY The surface is not affected by water, slush, snow, or ice.

NOTE: Reports that the runway is dry are not normally to be
passed to pilots. If no runway surface report is passed, pilots will
assume the surface to be dry.

DAMP The surface shows a change of colour due to moisture.
NOTE: If there is sufficient moisture to produce a surface film or
the surface appears reflective, the runway will be reported as WET.

WET The surface is soaked but no significant patches of standing water
are visible.
NOTE: Standing water is considered to exist when water on the
runway surface is deeper than 3mm. Patches of standing water
covering more than 25% of the assessed area will be reported as
WATER PATCHES.

WATER PATCHES Significant patches of standing water are visible.
NOTE: Water patches will be reported when more than 25% of the
assessed area is covered by water more than 3mm deep.

FLOODED Extensive patches of standing water are visible.
NOTE: Flooded will be reported when more than 50% of the
assessed area is covered by water more than 3mm deep.

[HeliCraig]

I had also noticed that, when listening to CVT ATIS, the runway is often reported as WET WET WET when BHX is not; and the A45 is also not.

That said, I have not seen the actual runway at these times so can't comment on the accuracy (and not being qualified to do so, nor would I). Perhaps they have some drainage problems with it?

[TotalBeginner]

I think you have got the parking charges wrong. Surely it is not £10 an hour after 2 hours, but £10 for 24 hours?

I've just checked the fees and charges regarding parking and they have changed...

1st 2 hours free

5.00 GBP / tonne (for aircraft with a MTOWA less than 5 tonnes)

Of course this only applies to the 1st 24 hours. CVT have other monthly and annual parking charges but they are not published.