Airfields near Aberdeen

[Captain Smithy]

Hi folks.

Once I'm qualified (hopefully not too far away) I fancy taking a trip up to Aberdeen to visit some friends up there and perhaps stay overnight - also would make a good navex for my hour-building.

Aberdeen Airport is a big no-no due to OTT charges so I was thinking of visiting one of the other airfields in the area... having a look at my half-mil chart I can see Insch, Fordoun and Hatton in the local area which look like viable options. Then I could get a taxi, train or a lift to Aberdeen city centre (distances are a bit much for walking! - probably about 15-20 miles at least, judging from the chart).

Any ideas or recommendations for where to go? Would do the trip in either a PA-28 or PA-38.

Smithy

[Unusual Attitude]

Dont think Fordoun is still active but Edzell still accepts arrivals with some notice, not sure if you can park up for a few days though?

Insch is a nice strip but very tight, especially in a PA28 with low hours so you might want to rethink that one. Local C172 pilots generally require a checkout before being allowed to operate from Insch due to surrounding terrain etc, its also closed a lot of the time if we've had a run of wet weather.

To be honest, by the time you muck about getting from Insch / Hatton your as quick landing at Dundee and getting the train up from there. Landing fees are pretty reasonable, the people are friendly and it has good facilities, IE Fuel which you wont get at Insch or Edzell!

[gasax]

Fordound is a pipe storage yard and has been for quite a few years.

Hatton is a private strip available by PPR only (and the Flying Farmers!).

Insch is a nice spot but as noted not ideal in either of you chosen machines.

Longside is a possiblity - although quite a drive.

Whiterashes is possible but again can be pretty soggy so a good briefing and PPR are essential.

[denhamflyer]

Aberdeen Airport is a big no-no due to OTT charges

Out of interest what are the charges? - I may make a visit myself (with a 182) as my Brother now lives up there. I may well fly IFR if anyone also knows those charges?

[Duchess_Driver]

Overnighted at Aberdeen about 4 years ago. Landed Saturday at about 1530hrs and departed Sunday at about 1200hrs. Again, in a 182.

Relieved of £91.00 for the privilege.
No fuel, no fuss, no limo collection, nowt. Just parking, landing and 'handling'.

[Unusual Attitude]

Think you'd probably be nearer £150 by now for that as fees have gone up quite a bit in the last 4 years! Landing fee for a locally based GA type is now over £20.

Throw in nav charges, mandatory handling, parking fees etc not to mention some of the most expensive Avgas in the UK and like most GA aircraft you'll find yourself looking for other options.....

[Captain Smithy]

The quoted price for a GA single was in the region of £100 for a night's stay (landing fee, nav charges, "handling", a van to drive you less than 50 metres to the FBO, tea, biscuits, using the bog, walking through the door, using the mat at the door to wipe your feet, various other silly punitive things along those lines). Or put this way, not far short off the cost an hour's flight time just to land and park.

Never mind. It's my money so if I'm not happy with the price I take my business elsewhere. Their loss. Simple really. :)

How far away are Longside and Whiterashes? Edzell is still marked as closed on my chart and I don't see either of the former on the chart.

As a newbie I'd probably give Insch a miss then unless I was well versed in shorty strip techniques... which currently I'm not, so wouldn't want to try anything silly.

Thanks for the contributions all.

Smithy

[NJTCF]

What About Aboyne the Gliding site west of Aberdeen. Its PPR But Very Friendly. Thou have not been there for over 5 years now so things might have changed but worth a try.

Cheers.

[140KIAS]

Have to agree with the previous replies, esp given a/c type.

As an alternative why not meet your friends in Dundee and then take them to Oban for lunch :ok:

Would be interested in more information regarding Edzell. Co-owner of my aircraft spends the odd weekend nearby and made some enquiries which drew a blank.

[MIKECR]

Aboyne is probably a no no. Unless you are on 'gliding business' then you wont get in. Many gliding sites dont allow powered aircraft(apart from tug's) due to planning permission. There are way's around however which will allow one or two aircraft to slip through the net so to speak.

Edzell is most definitely a no no too. As someone mentioned earlier, it is now a pipe storage yard. There is still about 600 metres of tarmac which is in good condition however there are obstacles at either end(high tree's and pipe's) which would stop anything from getting in or out(apart from a chopper or a harrier maybe!), assuming of course the owner was happy to allow aircraft to operate there.

As for Fordoun, there's nothing usable there.

Best bet is Insch, it's not too far from away. Get some short field grass experience before you go.

[Stratus Fractus]

I think Whiterashes is very close to Aberdeen VOR. Something like 10 nm north of Aberdeen airport. I haven't been so cannot comment as to suitability. Fordoun is definately not an option. Dundee looks like a long way away but is surprisingly quick by car.

[Humaround]

Whiterashes is indeed inside Aberdeen Class D.

You need to contact ATC and follow the published route in, below (from memory) 1000', and GL is about 500', so you are LOW. On leaving, you have to 'book out' with ATC by phone, give them an ETD and then hit it within 5 min.

Can't help with present condition, we went in May last year and found the condition fair if a bit rough in places. OK for an RV6. It's a farmstrip...

[papa600]

Thats the cost of GA flying in the North East I'm afraid - as you say your money your choice. Some of us don't have much of a choice and if you want to fly you pay up :{.

What I will say is that GA flying in and around ABZ is a great experience in Class D if you are not phased flying amongst the Commercial traffic.

I don't think that any of the possible alternatives mentioned are suitable for a first time landing with low hours and thats assuming you can get in. They are either farm strips / gliding strips / short grassy strips / microlight strips and not for the inexperienced first time visitor to the area. Really if cost is a major issue I'd have a rethink about visiting the North East of Scotland.

Even if you looked at Dundee as an alternative and got the train as has been suggested you'd not be that much cheaper all in than an overnight at ABZ and alot more hassle.

[Tinstaafl]

What's the grass aerodrome to the NW of ABZ? It's near as dammit on a long final for 16, around the outer marker I seem to recall. It has two strips in a cross layout, possibly with hump.

I used to fly over it regularly when I flew ambulance flights from Shetland.

600 m remaining at the pipe place huh? Maybe they'd let you use it if you ask nicely. In an Islander I could manage 1/3 to 1/2 of that length if lightly loaded :E but 600m is ample for a C182.

[garrygaz]

BAA minimum departure charge £40.00, CAA minimum charge £10.00, but aircraft over 1 tonne (MToW) are £7.06 per tonne, parking 8 pence per tonne per 15 mins; then there's the compulsory handling. BAA Ts&Cs available at www.baa.com/cou.

GG

[Tony S]

What's the grass aerodrome to the NW of ABZ? It's near as dammit on a long final for 16, around the outer marker I seem to recall. It has two strips in a cross layout, possibly with hump. That's Whiterashes.

Tony S

[Tinstaafl]

Ta Tony. It looked like quite a decent strip.

[NorthSouth]

It's a lovely challenge! Went in there a while ago with a SSW wind, 3 up in an Archer. Big trees almost at threshold 27 made the approach interesting. On inspection, 18/36 too boggy to use for departure. 27 has an upslope from halfway point and has a line of trees on south side for first half of runway, giving no headwind - but also causing a drop in the tailwind component round about the rotation point if we'd taken off downhill on 09. But then there's the trees on the climbout from 09. We opted for 27 and managed to outclimb the upslope. Then it's level off at about 500' agl to keep below the Abdn ILS traffic. Exciting stuff.
NS

[much2much]

don't suppose peterhead is still usable/available,or perhaps just to far out,or someone would have mentioned it,vaguely recall going there in a pa23 long time past,so there must have been some space; but perhaps ,it's been blotted out as a defence because it was a o bu**er moment,some rottor wing then i think.

[NorthSouth]

I understand CHC Helicopters moved all the light aircraft out of Longside last year because they have other plans for the place. Not sure what the current status is.
NS

[papa600]

Still an active microlight club and you can still fly into Longside but its strictly PPR. Several pilots out of ABZ do circuit practice there (and coffee!) but heli's get priority.

[George Zipper]

Without wishing to dampen your enthusiasism to tour, and I know ABZ is expensive, but for a first visit up North it's probably worth going somewhere with a nice tarmac, given the added stress that flying to a new destination as an inexperienced aviator brings.

The weather in the Grampians can be very different to forecast and can change very quickly so keep your options open. On a nice day, the scenery is stunning. If you end up scud dodging it can be most unpleasant.

You can get a FIS frm Leuchars than pick up ABZ approach. If the muck does come in a bit, sticking to the East coast let's you drop down to maintain VFR. You can then turn back to Dundee / Perth if need be.

:ok: