Spanish Airfield closure

[Ken Wells]

I was at Castellion airfield north of Vallencia last week nice people, but it appears that the airfield is under threat of closure.

AS Spain has fewer airfields than any country in Europe this seems crazy!!

Any comments?

[keltic]

Well in fact we have too many airports in Spain, and still counting. 47 and only 12 profitable. Other countries may have even more, but in many aspects the private investment, the local authorities are helping to keep then running. Not in Spain.

Castellon Airport has never existed. Is being built for the moment, but it´s being considered absolutely innecesary by most aviation experts, for the vicinity of other airports which don´t have any conggestion problems, the catchment area of Castellon is limited and comunications are good.

Many airports have always been considered a kind of localist toys by politicians, and to be "as important" as the neighbour. It doesn´t matter if we need the airport, if the traffic is sufficient, if some are working to collect money to suppor the others......airports, airports airports.. And lack of ground infrasestructes or train links which are still a "must" for most Spanish regions.

[Ken Wells]

Thanks Keltic, how long do you think Catellion will remain open.

The reason that it might close is that a new international airport is planned but to get there from the Castellion will be a nightmare as it will be over the mountains.

47 airports/fields is not a lot for a country the size of Spain and the new road infrastruture is all Coastal base North South.
It still takes ages to drive accross the country.

The last 15 years has seen a massive increase in wealth based on land sales. GA is the life blood of avaition it should produce more potential pilots not less.

I hope Castellion doesn't close in the not to distant future.

[keltic]

Well Ken, I am surprised about what you mention about Castellon. It hasn´t been opened yet to civil service. Maybe what they want to stop is the opening of the infrastructe, or delay it.

[manub767]

I think that Kent is talking about the "real" Castellon "airport". It's located by the sea, in El Grao de Castellon. A small rwy used by small airplanes and Ultralights.
A very nice place to stop over and have a great paella.:ok:

[Jamongris]

I think the fact that Spain has fewer airfields is due to two reasons.

Firstly GA is not really seen as a hobby by many here, more a route to become a commercial airline pilot. So small airfields are not well supported, and tend to be used more by microlights and autogyros than GA planes.

Secondly, Spain has vast areas of land which are unihabited. Most of the larger towns and cities do already have Aena airports. So aside from building maybe a fly park for foreign GA pilots to visit, it's hard to see where any more airstrips would work.

I've never had the chance to visit Castellon. I must do so if it is under threat.

[Ken Wells]

I think that Ken is talking about the "real" Castellion "airport". It's located by the sea, in El Grao de Castellon. A small rwy used by small airplanes and Ultralights.
A very nice place to stop over and have a great paella.

Yes I am, this small airfield has a great history being built in the Spanish Civil War.
It is right on the coast with a road seperating it from the beach. Greedy developers have built arround it and when I was there last month is was looking rather sad.

Nice tarmac strip, now has a few private a/c local Helivac and ag-planes, plus the Royal Valencia Flying Club.
Check it out it the people are great aviators.

[Ferrobus]

Castellón

Aena somete a estudio el nuevo proyecto de la torre de control del aeropuerto de Castellón

Aerocas espera salvar este obstáculo, cuyos problemas se remontan a 2004, para concluir las obras de la infraestructura aeroportuaria

Las obras de la terminal de pasajeros del aeropuerto de Castellón avanzan a buen ritmo al finalizar ya la primera planta de la estructura.



La empresa pública Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (Aena) estudia desde el pasado lunes el nuevo proyecto de la torre de control del aeropuerto de Vilanova d'Alcolea que la concesionaria, Aerocas, remitió a principios de mes con la esperanza de obtener la luz verde definitiva para superar este escollo que se remonta al año 2004.

Según informaron fuentes de Aena, el nuevo documento llegó el pasado lunes y desde entonces un equipo se está encargando de estudiar el proyecto al detalle para decidir sobre su viabilidad.

En principio se espera que la decisión sea positiva. Tal y como explicó el director de Aerocas, Juan García Salas, durante la última visita a las instalaciones de Vilanova, están seguros de que finalmente la torre de control cumplirá con todos los requisitos. De hecho, la empresa que ha redactado el nuevo documento, Aertec, es especialista en aeropuertos y ha sido elegida para redactar el proyecto constructivo de la torre de control del aeropuerto de Lleida, además de realizar trabajos de ingeniería para las torres de las instalaciones aeroportuarias de Pamplona, Ciudad Real, Málaga y el aeropuerto de Alcantarí, en Bolivia.

La ubicación definitiva de la torre de control del aeropuerto de Castellón ha supuesto un obstáculo desde hace cuatro años. En 2004, Aerocas remitió a Aena-Navegación el borrador del plan director, en cuyo documento se presentaban dos alternativas para la ubicación de la torre. Una integrada en el edificio de la terminal y otra, más alejada a la pista. La decisión final se quedó abierta y al año siguiente, Aerocas remitió el proyecto básico de la torre de control, de su estructura y de su contenido, pero tampoco se concretó la ubicación.

Durante 2005, Aerocas retomó los contactos para desbloquear la situación y lograr las coordenadas exactas para la ubicación de la torre. A finales de este año, representantes de Aerocas se reunieron en Madrid con miembros del Ministerio de Fomento para concretar el proyecto tras recibir las coordenadas exactas de su ubicación. Tras un rechazo inicial, el aeropuerto de Castellón espera de nuevo la decisión que de por fin vía libre a uno de los últimos elementos importantes de la construcción del aeródromo.

Ya en la última reunión del consejo de administración de Aerocas, celebrada en febrero, el presidente de la empresa promotora y presidente de la Diputación, Carlos Fabra, informó de que se había puesto solución a otro escollo importante que ha sido objeto de negociación: el abastecimiento eléctrico del aeropuerto.

En este sentido, Iberdrola aconsejó finalmente que la línea eléctrica fuera aérea mediante la construcción de una estación. Antes, se deberá trasladar medio kilómetro la actual torre de alta tensión que se halla próxima a la pista de aterrizaje.

Entre los futuros trabajos a los que Aerocas deberá hacer frente, está la compra del equipo de navegación aérea y la contratación de los controladores de vuelo, cuyo coste repercutirá sobre la empresa, aunque el objetivo es lograr que sea financiado por el Ministerio de Fomento.


Un largo camino desde 2004
Con estos últimos trámites, parece que finalmente el aeropuerto de Castellón Costa Azahar podrá acoger sus primeros vuelos a principios del próximo año. La última fecha que se ha fijado para su puesta en marcha es el 31 de enero de 2009. Casi dos años después de la fecha fijada cuando el 22 de enero de 2004 Carlos Fabra colocó la primera piedra de la instalación aeroportuaria.

Ese día, toda la plana mayor del PP acudió a respaldar un proyecto considerado "esencial" para el desarrollo turístico y económico de la provincia. No obstante, también hicieron acto de presencia colectivos contrarios al aeropuerto que han marcado también el desarrollo de las obras.

El aeropuerto de Castellón ha tenido que hacer frente a constantes paralizaciones y parones de las obras que han motivado este retraso de casi dos años en su puesta en funcionamiento.

En noviembre de 2005, el Ministerio de Fomento paralizó las obras al considerar que estas no contaban con las autorizaciones pertinentes. La suspensión acarreó el retraso en su inauguración hasta el primer semestre de 2008 y una deuda de 18 millones de euros que obligó a ampliar el capital de la empresa promotora.

Un año después, el Juzgado de Instrucción número 4 de Castellón ordenó una nueva paralización por la afección de las obras al monte de Santa Bárbara, una zona que quedaba fuera del ámbito de actuación del proyecto que obtuvo la declaración ambiental. Además, hay que recordar que las obras estaban sujetas a las prohibiciones que estableció esta declaración y que impedía realizar obras en los periodos de cría del aguilucho cenizo, desde el 1 de abril al 15 de mayo.

Todo un sinfín de problemas que ha obligado a retrasar la apertura a enero de 2009, la última fecha acordada en el consejo de administración de Aerocas.

[Flying surfer]

I think the main problem in Spain in general whether it be aviation or any other form of sport/ activity is that it is heaped in red tape and legislation, if you think we have it bad in the UK with the CAA go and live in Spain. The UK makes it looks easy compared with Spanish authourties many of whom don't even know the law themselves!

Just try buying a car for example providing you have the right paper work then you will just spend about 4 hours visiting about 3 different offices and in each place you will have to go to at least 3 counters! A nightmare and the question i ask is why? :confused: what for why don't they adopt a simple system like we have in the UK? ohh and lastly only residents who have a residents ID can buy a car and BTW that takes 3 months to get!!!

welcome to Spain :)

[ppppilot]

Right on where it hurts Surfer. It is amazing and archaic, but this is Spain. :\Not only Spain. South of Europe is very similar. Our history come from a different culture, than yours and we still have a long way to walk to come to European costumes. Not only people are the key. Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain are modest economies compared on what are you used to. But everything is changing and the differences between you and me are becoming less day by day. Not only between you and me but Europe, USA, China, Japan, Australia, etc…
In front of those problems, we have a lot of advantages. So many that I have declined good offers to work in the USA. :ok:Even I could be earning more than two times salary flying the A340/330 in Europe. That is to say, good things compensate for that no so good, when you get used to. Think there are lots of European pilots willing to be based in Spain. Not to long, life in Spain will be as “easy” as in your country and if you have not come by that time, it will be very difficult then. So, don’t waste your time, come and enjoy. Don’t forget to take your solar lotion and a couple of beers for me please.:cool:
Cheers.

[Knockers]

Modest economy ? Spain has an economy with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) greater than Canada. Yes, darling : Canada! And we have a growth rate greater than France and Germany in the last 6 or 7 yeras. So what are you talking about ? Even more, I prefer few airports but with good quality than thousands and thousands as France and Germany but wiht a certain amount of them close to an African standards.

[Morbid]

Knockers


Modest economy ? Spain has an economy with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) greater than Canada. Yes, darling : Canada! And we have a growth rate greater than France and Germany in the last 6 or 7 yeras.


All based upon over inflated land and housing prices... and the construction industry. Financial professionals saw this all along and Spain is in for a re adjusment very shortly. The necessity was maybe 1-3% yet the actual was 15-20%.... inflationary pricing to a degree not seen since the early 90´s in the UK.

Even more, I prefer few airports but with good quality than thousands and thousands as France and Germany but wiht a certain amount of them close to an African standards.

This sounds like the rest of your post... Spain is good in some things, great in others but it is certainly NOT the leader in Aviation standards! Its your mentality that is one of the factors that holds back aviation in Spain "We are fantastic why change"... :ugh:

Now, there are a great number of professionals in Spanish Aviation that I have had the pleasure to work with who do not share your attitude and through exchange of ideas both they and I have considerably increased standards and experience... IMO: The man who thinks he knows it all in Aviation is the most dangerous!