Plymouth Airport

[oldpax]

Talking on sunday to a friend in Plymouth ,apparently the city council are to reopen the airport?

[4eyed anorak]

No way! Sutton Harbour will never allow it!

Regards 4ea

[fjencl]

Only details i could find were back in 2020.

Plymouth applies to Airfield Fund to reopen airport : FLYER (https://www.flyer.co.uk/plymouth-applies-to-airfield-fund-to-help-reopen-airport/)

[SWBKCB]

There was a report of the leader of Plymouth council visiting the airport recently on one of the microlight forums.

[davidjohnson6]

What state is the airport infrastructure in ?
Just a bit of paint, go round with a feather duster, switch the lights on again and everyone's back in business ? Or major and costly works before the CAA would even consider taking a look ?

[Mogwi]

First solo there 55 years and two weeks ago!

Mog

[Sleeve Wing]

With you, Mog.
1st.Solo, 61 years ago........... 22,500 now.........oh, and still flying.......
They really would be short-sighted to close Roborough permanently.

[SWBKCB]

The owners certainly aren't interested. The airport is currently zoned in the Local Plan for aviation use, but that expires in 2024. I seem to remember that it was payload restricted on a DHC-8-300, so as an airport (with airline services) rather than a GA facility, who/what could operate?

[AirportPlanner1]

I seem to remember that it was payload restricted on a DHC-8-300, so as an airport (with airline services) rather than a GA facility, who/what could operate?

I don’t think it was restricted on a -300 or ATR, at least not for any destination that would be realistic. I don’t believe the Q400 could viably get in though.

[jmdavies86]

The owners certainly aren't interested.

Apologies for being overly pedantic, however I do think it's important to distinguish the difference between "owners" and "leaseholders" in matters like this.

As far as I understood things, Plymouth City Council would be considered as the "owners" as they own the majority of the freehold, and by all accounts they want to keep the site for aviation use; SHH are merely the current tenants as they're the "leaseholders" and they have to act accordingly within the terms of the lease agreement. When that lease comes up for renewal, it'll be the City Council that get to decide first and foremost whether they want to keep the site for aviation use and this will be written into any new lease agreement that is presented to SHH. If SHH subsequently choose not to accept this clause, then they can/will relinquish the lease when it expires and the City Council will assume responsibility for the site and need to conduct a tender process in order to find a new leaseholder/operator.


I don’t think it was restricted on a -300 or ATR, at least not for any destination that would be realistic.

Air Wales used to operate ATR42-300's on the CWL-PLH route before it transferred over to Air Southwest; if the Q400 were able to have operated from/to PLH on an unrestricted basis, then wouldn't it more than likely have been a base for Flybe 1.0...?!

[BA318]

I don’t think it was restricted on a -300 or ATR, at least not for any destination that would be realistic. I don’t believe the Q400 could viably get in though.

I flew in on the Q300 a few times and some flights I remember being pretty full. It was only to NQY or LCY though so not far.

Realistically though who would operate there? Aurigny/Blue Islands maybe? Skybus? Loganair perhaps with ATR42 or Saab340? Other than that I don’t believe anyone has the equipment.

[SWBKCB]

Apologies for being overly pedantic, however I do think it's important to distinguish the difference between "owners" and "leaseholders" in matters like this.

As far as I understood things, Plymouth City Council would be considered as the "owners" as they own the majority of the freehold, and by all accounts they want to keep the site for aviation use; SHH are merely the current tenants as they're the "leaseholders" and they have to act accordingly within the terms of the lease agreement. When that lease comes up for renewal, it'll be the City Council that get to decide first and foremost whether they want to keep the site for aviation use and this will be written into any new lease agreement that is presented to SHH. If SHH subsequently choose not to accept this clause, then they can/will relinquish the lease when it expires and the City Council will assume responsibility for the site and need to conduct a tender process in order to find a new leaseholder/operator.


Fair point! But I understand that the current lease has over 100 years to run, with an option to extend for another 150 years...