YPID Phillip Island Airport closing

[CYHeli]

Press Release – 11 May 2015
‘Phillip Island Airport’ is soon to be ‘Phillip Island Heliport’.
The current private owners of Phillip Island Airport have announced via a Media Release the closure of the airports runway. This simply means that fixed wing aircraft will no longer be able to land on Phillip Island.
Ian Batton – Director of ‘Phillip Island Helicopters’ said, “Business as usual for ‘Phillip Island Helicopters’ and helicopter operations at the now ‘Phillip Island Heliport’.
The Closure was announced on Monday 11 May 2015. Unfortunately the earliest updates to all aeronautical publications will not be published until 12 November 2015.
Please let any fixed wing friends know about this, as we cannot publish a NOTAM for a non registered airport!
PS: Its out of our control.
All enquires;
Phillip Island Helicopters
03 59567316

[jas24zzk]

Shame. PID is such a great destination, esp in summer for the midweek beach bbq.

:{

[Jabawocky]

Another loss that will never return.

:(

[Bevan666]

My first ever nav after getting my PPL in 1990 was to YPID - bought a cray and ate it on the beach

:ok:

.. closing.. :sad:

[Ultralights]

damn, how am i going to get down to see the Moto GP now? :( somehow i dont think the local police will let me land in the paddocks used for the car park at the track either...

[Howard Hughes]

damn, how am i going to get down to see the Moto GP now?
On telly like the rest of us! ;)

[ACMS]

So when exactly does it close? It just says "soon"

[Sunfish]

Rotten taxiways, too much damage to propellers. Then of course you had to watch for trucks.

[Squawk7700]

You frequently amaze me Sunfish with your drivel. We are about to lose an iconic airport and all you can add is your inability to fly over a road with enough altitude to miss passing traffic. If you feel that you can't land safely at Phillip Island then you shouldn't be flying.

I'm surprised that you didn't mention the $20 landing fee either.

[Ultralights]

Nothing wrong with YPID, i found the strips and taxiways quite good, i have used far worse so called sealed surfaces, and paid a lot more for the privilege. (warnervale, im looking at you) as for the vehicles on final? really? have you ever been to The Oaks? the road is about 3 mtrs from the end of the strip, and elevated 1 metre.

though it will remain as a Helipad, in some of those south westers off the straights, im sure i could still land there safely..

[Wally Mk2]

Test reply

Wmk2:-)

[Aussie Bob]

Rotten taxiways, too much damage to propellersYep Sunny, I did once learn the hard (expensive) way with my old 172 and a brand new prop :ooh:

Ultralights, yes what a shame, no more flights into Moto GP, no more standing at the bus stop surrounded by pilots, I am so sad to see another one close. Guess it will be the telly now.

Has Sandy still got anything to do with it?

[IFEZ]

Damn shame if true. Spectacular scenery flying in and out of there. Nothing like launching off the end of RWY22 over the water and turning along the coast on a nice sunny day. Passengers use to love it (and I never got sick of it either!). So is it closed as of now, or do we get one last chance for a visit..?

[Squawk7700]

I can officially confirm that it is closed, effective immediately.

[Stationair8]

Did a lot of trips into PID for the ATTC championship, later on the V8s, historic car racing, Moto GP and various other bike events.

Rocked back up one day after a big bike meeting to find our two aircraft blocked in by a Warrior from a well known flying school at YMMB. The ace pilot had managed to park in front of the two twins and gone off leaving the aircraft locked securely and park brake on! At this stage the bikie group where not impressed and were not amused with the delay. Little Warrior was moved out of the way, and turned around to face the other way, one would have liked to have seen the expression on the pilots face face on arriving back at the aerodrome!

As far as black hole departures, nothing beats runway 22 on a dark moonless night with a strong sw blowing!

[IFEZ]

Spewing :sad:

[Seabreeze]

Brings back memories of Sandy Reith and Philip Island Air Charter, including scenic flights with "vertical" approaches on days with stiff southerly winds in his old C172s. Who needs a helicopter to land in a just a hundred metres or so???

Anyone know how Sandy is fairing these days. Must be well into his 70's now

SB

[Rotor Work]

Aussie Bob & Seabreeze

Sandy's Homepage (http://www.reith.com.au/sandy/sandy.php)

Is it true that the land will be developed for residential mansions?

Regards R W

[Ultralights]

of course it will, its pretty much the only place along the coastal strip now that isnt developed, except of course the penguin viewing areas around near Cowes

[Squawk7700]

The runway land has been leased for at least the last 10 years by PI heli's with no guarantee that it wouldn't be sold. I guess the owners received an offer that they couldn't refuse. It's a sizeable piece of land, perhaps 15-20 acres at a guess.

[Duck Pilot]

Sad to see the runways go, however it's good to see that Phillip Island Helicopters are still doing ok.

They are a good operator, especially for low hour hecicopter pilots who want to learn.

[jas24zzk]

Sad to see the runways go, however it's good to see that Phillip Island Helicopters are still doing ok.

They are a good operator, especially for low hour hecicopter pilots who want to learn

You can bet your A the Helo's won't last there for long....and I am infering NOTHING to do with the business model.

..Flashback..
I remember my first trip into PID, a nice sunny summers sunday arvo. Lots of people in the houses/holiday houses that line the eastern fenceline. So many people sitting what appeared elevated back decks, all plane spotting...waving to you as you came and went. All very friendly.

Further trips at all times of the year (over the last 10 or so years) revealed the same attitude to GA. Always felt welcome there.

Going forward, the land isn't going to be cheap, and it won't take much for a pundit with no brains to start complaining about the heliport.

Stage 1. Getting developers involved. Complete
Stage 2. Ending GA....50% complete. (unlike a few i count Helo's as GA)

Lets see how long it takes :ugh:

[Duck Pilot]

Agree totally.

Money hungry developers and aviation don't mix, I wonder how long it will be until Essendon closes, only a matter of time IMHO......

[jas24zzk]

Essendon is pretty safe...until the next prang :(

There is enough industry heavy weight with vested interests + governement usage to give it the freedom to not be too concerned...unless the greens ever get guvmint....

[Squawk7700]

Jas, why won't the Heli's last at PI, do you know something that the operators don't? Been going strong for around 10 years from memory, perfect safety record, late model machines, a couple of new choppers arriving shortly???

[megle2]

New home owners and helicopter noise don't / won't mix - NIMBY

[cattletruck]

My very first "off-site" landing as a fresh PPL was at YPID, still remember it and the power lines well. What a novel place to fly into.

Oh well, with the benefit of hindsight I should have been a real-estate agent instead.

[Stationair8]

When did the aerodrome first open?

Good old BPZ the C402 on the RPT service to Wynyard over the summer months.

[gerry111]

Perhaps yet another example of the gentrification of Australian aerodromes? :=