Llanbedr Airfield
 

I have read that Llanbedr Airfield near Harlech in Wales is re-opening as a potential UK Spaceport. Does anyone know who is providing ATC Services there?

Yes, chevvron does!

I think their MATS Pt II would need an update.....

Yes I do thanks; I've actually been asked to help establish the unit but regretfully I'm unable to help. Only FISOs need apply initially as it's actually re-opening firstly as a GA airfield which is short-listed as the spaceport, so it may develop to ATC.

I can PM further details if anyone can help.

www.safeskys.co.uk says QinetiQ have awarded them the contract.

…because of the possibility of non-scheduled Public Transport over 5700 Kgs… :)

I've seen a report on 'another' forum which indicates QinetiQ still use it for UAVs and as it's QinetiQ who have awarded the contract, they obviously want something more than A/G to assist in resolving any 'conflicts of interest'.

Due to an administrative error, MOD have overlooked cancelling the Llanbedr Location Indicator "EGOD". This will be shortly cancelled and removed from the UK AIP. If anyone at Llanbedr is interested in obtaining a new Location Indicator, have a read of AIC Y 001/2014.

pianyyd

Don't be taken in by the QinetiQ spin, open it may but as it does not have the protection of an ATZ with ATC (not AFIS), or has either a RA (T), TDA or a Danger Area surrounding it, the only testing is going to be with UAVs the size of model aeroplanes, typically 20 KG or less - they are not going to need a 7500 FT runway!

Rumour has it that many hundreds of thousands (may be a million+ ) of Welsh taxpayers money have ended up re-surfacing the runway and making other changes/for what? After large hand-outs to build Parc Aberporth, which sits mostly idle, what is WAG playing at? Parc Aberporth is/was the centre of excellence for flying UAVs, which they appear to be doing, albeit with only the MOD Watchkeeper project, why does Wales need another UAV centre when Parc Aberporth is clearly under utilised? I would love to see the business case for this latest hand-out!

If I was resident I'd be knocking on my AM's door to ask why all this money for something that appears pie (unmanned of course) in the sky when the Welsh NHS is in crisis? A good Welsh friend of mine was recently diagnosed with early signs of prostrate cancer and was essentially told by Wales NHS to go home and that he might live longer than expected. He's now paying for private healthcare, any chance that WAG will give him some cash to pay for it?

Making the case
 

After the money ploughed into improvements and upgrading all appears to be very quiet on the UAV and other business development fronts at Llanbedr.

Went on to the Snowdonia Aerospace Facebook page to find out what is happening. The most news worthy items were 34 microlights and Red Bulls flying through hangars!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone have any news on imminent developments that are going to provide a return on the WAG investment?

The flying school have ceased operations on the airfield and visiting aircraft at the weekends are not allowed.

Can anyone provide an update on what's happening there at the moment. Last time I flew in they were providing AFIS, heard a rumour that its now only A/G.

Safeskys had the AFIS contract originally but the new owners of that company don't seem to be interested in providing ATS anymore, just bird control and maintenance.
Not sure if they even have the contract for Wycombe Air Park any more; I think new owners recently took over the airfield.

Goodbye SafeSkys ATC
 

Sadly, Air Partner, the company which purchased SafeSkys have stopped all ATC activity. They cancelled the contracts which were won by SafeSkys at Lydd, Wycombe and Llanbedr.

I got that impression. I used to tip gisajob the wink when I heard of a likely contract coming up eg Manston but when I tried this under the new ownership I got a VERY curt reply roughly saying who the hell are you to tell us about ATS contracts?(Well I know I only did a few months freelance paid for by Safeskys but....)
Sad after all the effort gisajob went into to become an approved ANSP then Air Partners give it up just like that, so what services DO they provide?