Manston Airport : Possible Closure
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
The trouble is with announcing closing it, your business clients then shift elsewhere and an airport without traffic is on a downward spiral to nowhere.
I still think improve the infrastructure and put in a direct rail link with Boris's planned London airport scheme funding and rebrand it London airport is the way to go.
The Americans offered to more or less meet her spend on the place but I think the current owners are hoping for big bucks as a housing estate.
I still think improve the infrastructure and put in a direct rail link with Boris's planned London airport scheme funding and rebrand it London airport is the way to go.
The Americans offered to more or less meet her spend on the place but I think the current owners are hoping for big bucks as a housing estate.
The is Grate Brittin innit, so it will end up as a bloody great housing estate with no new jobs and a creaking infrastructure. New runways at LHR and LGW will plaster over the cracks and (almost) everyone will be happy.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Bang on the nail Nutty ...
Gloag got the airport for a nominal £1 when she originally purchased it. Almost certainly the Local and County Authorities will turn-down a planning application for residential housing. But I suspect under appeal Central Government will approve planning given their stated intension of increasing the housing stock in the Southeast.
It's just commercial poker ...
And what's to say that RiverOak won't have the same commercial objectives in the medium term as Gloag.
Gloag got the airport for a nominal £1 when she originally purchased it. Almost certainly the Local and County Authorities will turn-down a planning application for residential housing. But I suspect under appeal Central Government will approve planning given their stated intension of increasing the housing stock in the Southeast.
It's just commercial poker ...
And what's to say that RiverOak won't have the same commercial objectives in the medium term as Gloag.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 10th May 2014 at 13:56.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East sussex
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ann Gload OBE. Non executive director, Stagecoach board. Sure knows how to make a few ££ or two. Bought the airport for a £1 please correct me if I'm wrong.
She has learned the money game very well from her brother Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of Stagecoach.
She has learned the money game very well from her brother Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of Stagecoach.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
Yep you cannot read it any other way, and I can understand there distress at the announcement and the MP's comments, it in effect wipes out a main asset, customers. One does wonder if that was the plan all along... Or am I being cynical.
From
Manston airport buyer group revealed | Thanet Gazette
Details of the bidder here:
THE American firm behind the rejected Manston airport offer has been named as RiverOak Investment Corp LLC of Stamford Connecticut.
A statement released by the group says it offered airport owner Ann Gloag a price “significantly higher than the entire capital investment expended by the current owner since Manston was purchased in November of last year.”
It is understood Mrs Gloag has invested some £1.5 million with another £2.5 million in reserve. The offer is understood to have been above £4 million.
In a statement a RiverOak spokesman said: “ RiverOak currently has $350 million of assets under management with a number of operating partners and has a successful track record of turning around troubled operating and real estate assets.
“In this particular project, RiverOak is the capital partner of a number of aviation operating entities specialising in aircraft maintenance and cargo operations, and principal partners at RiverOak have extensive US experience with the capital markets and debt restructuring of a number of major airport assets, one of which is a singular maintenance and cargo hub in Texas.
“RiverOak has developed a long term plan to own and manage Manston as an airport in line with its investment philosophy of diversified investing in asset backed businesses. RiverOak remains committed to investing in and developing Manston as a successful diversified aviation services, cargo and potential future passenger airport facility, and values Manston as an important piece of aviation infrastructure that is very important to both Kent specifically and the United Kingdom in general.
“RiverOak is distressed to learn of the announced closure of Manston today and remains willing to engage with all parties to achieve a solution which allows the airport to continue operating and preserves the jobs of its staff.”
The firm is backed by MP Sir Roger Gale who says he is convinced it is a viable offer. He said the decision to close the site when the money and plan is there to buy Manston as an operating airport amounted to “corporate vandalism.”
But, he said, he remains hopeful that Mrs Gloag will reconsider the bid.
THE American firm behind the rejected Manston airport offer has been named as RiverOak Investment Corp LLC of Stamford Connecticut.
A statement released by the group says it offered airport owner Ann Gloag a price “significantly higher than the entire capital investment expended by the current owner since Manston was purchased in November of last year.”
It is understood Mrs Gloag has invested some £1.5 million with another £2.5 million in reserve. The offer is understood to have been above £4 million.
In a statement a RiverOak spokesman said: “ RiverOak currently has $350 million of assets under management with a number of operating partners and has a successful track record of turning around troubled operating and real estate assets.
“In this particular project, RiverOak is the capital partner of a number of aviation operating entities specialising in aircraft maintenance and cargo operations, and principal partners at RiverOak have extensive US experience with the capital markets and debt restructuring of a number of major airport assets, one of which is a singular maintenance and cargo hub in Texas.
“RiverOak has developed a long term plan to own and manage Manston as an airport in line with its investment philosophy of diversified investing in asset backed businesses. RiverOak remains committed to investing in and developing Manston as a successful diversified aviation services, cargo and potential future passenger airport facility, and values Manston as an important piece of aviation infrastructure that is very important to both Kent specifically and the United Kingdom in general.
“RiverOak is distressed to learn of the announced closure of Manston today and remains willing to engage with all parties to achieve a solution which allows the airport to continue operating and preserves the jobs of its staff.”
The firm is backed by MP Sir Roger Gale who says he is convinced it is a viable offer. He said the decision to close the site when the money and plan is there to buy Manston as an operating airport amounted to “corporate vandalism.”
But, he said, he remains hopeful that Mrs Gloag will reconsider the bid.
Manston airport buyer group revealed | Thanet Gazette
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Manston closed at 17:00 Hrs Local today ... a very sad day 
For those interested ... I understand TG Aviation will be operating out of Pent Farm Airfield ... which is located just north of Folkestone Kent.
Pent Farm Airfield
Good luck Mark and Sue Girdler ...
UPDATE 17/5/14
I understand TG has now moved their fleet to Lydd ...
For those interested ... I understand TG Aviation will be operating out of Pent Farm Airfield ... which is located just north of Folkestone Kent.
Pent Farm Airfield
Good luck Mark and Sue Girdler ...
UPDATE 17/5/14
I understand TG has now moved their fleet to Lydd ...
Unfortunately Pent Farm isn't suitable for training/PPL flights we are now moving the aircraft to Lydd and will operate there as of tomorrow
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 17th May 2014 at 12:35.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
I just hope any future planning decisions that do not involve aviation are thrown out.
A sad day for aviation.
A sad day for aviation.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
Plans for 1,000 homes at Manston airport discussed | Canterbury Times
Those ones were being planned even before the closure date
Those ones were being planned even before the closure date
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Well the "bonkers silly season" has come early this year 
Following a High Court decision today, Lydd airport has been given the green light to add an additional 984 feet to the existing 4,938 feet of runway ... and progress investment of £25m on a new Terminal and airport infrastructure.
Just 24 Hrs after Manston closed with it's 9,106 feet of runway
And in terms or remoteness and lack off communication infrastructure ... Lydd is more remote ... ask any Romney Marsh Sheep or have a squint at a Topo
BBC News : Lydd Airport
Lydd Airport : London Ashford Airport
London Ashford Airport ... who are they trying to kid
Rant over ...
Following a High Court decision today, Lydd airport has been given the green light to add an additional 984 feet to the existing 4,938 feet of runway ... and progress investment of £25m on a new Terminal and airport infrastructure.
Just 24 Hrs after Manston closed with it's 9,106 feet of runway
And in terms or remoteness and lack off communication infrastructure ... Lydd is more remote ... ask any Romney Marsh Sheep or have a squint at a Topo
BBC News : Lydd Airport
Lydd Airport : London Ashford Airport
London Ashford Airport ... who are they trying to kid
Rant over ...
Coffmann Starter,
At least Lydd, has services, is in use, and is expanding, more than can be said for Manston.
Not quite sure WHY this is a sad day for aviation, there is no aviation need for Manston, that's the problem...
At least Lydd, has services, is in use, and is expanding, more than can be said for Manston.
Not quite sure WHY this is a sad day for aviation, there is no aviation need for Manston, that's the problem...
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
PrOOne, Manston had as well until this happened
http://www.manstonairport.com/userfi...elease-KLM.pdf
There are a lot of aviation based companies now having to relocate.
http://www.manstonairport.com/userfi...elease-KLM.pdf
There are a lot of aviation based companies now having to relocate.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Pr00ne ...
The "sad" bit is purely personal (evidently shared by a few others on here) to see yet another RAF WWII airfield succumb to a developers JCB ... as was the case with West Malling. However I'm not commercially naive. Having seen over many years a number of false hopes for both Manston and Lydd ... the question in my mind is why this time will be any different at Lydd. The fact remains that without significant investment in infrastructure (fast rail) linking either Manston or Lydd to London neither site had/has any real hope as a Hub Airport of any significance IMHO.
The "sad" bit is purely personal (evidently shared by a few others on here) to see yet another RAF WWII airfield succumb to a developers JCB ... as was the case with West Malling. However I'm not commercially naive. Having seen over many years a number of false hopes for both Manston and Lydd ... the question in my mind is why this time will be any different at Lydd. The fact remains that without significant investment in infrastructure (fast rail) linking either Manston or Lydd to London neither site had/has any real hope as a Hub Airport of any significance IMHO.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,037
Received 2,914 Likes
on
1,247 Posts
My sadness is also in the madness of it all, why build a new airfield for London on the estuary which is full of the one thing you don't want.... Birds. When you have a viable airport close by that simply needs a high speed link building to it... The country seems to be obsessed with demolish and build new, it's just madness, like closing schools that don't perform and building new ones.... WTF would they do if the new one didn't perform either.... We just throw money the country hasn't got at the problem without fixing the cause...
Last edited by NutLoose; 16th May 2014 at 20:45. Reason: Reformatted a sentence.
