PC12 operations at Elstree
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: upminster
Elstree
Having worked at Elstree for a short while, I found it to be an interesting place with many different types of aircraft (and a very nice bar)... Allthough I found most of the staff, ground crew and ATC to be ignorant, unhelpful, lazy, foul mouthed, grumpy but most of all very rude!
The worst I ever saw was a helicopter firm based at Elstree who always used to slag clients/customers off behind their backs and they were the most unorganised group of people I have ever met, let alone worked with!
3 months was enough for me, I just had to leave. I have never had an expirience that bad before or since then
Finally... I have seen the PC12 several times at Elstree and the scariest part is watching one perform a touch and go!
Them friggas use EVERY inch of the runway! doesnt look safe atall but a lovely aeroplane 
Sorry in advance for any offence caused but you must be insane to have anything to do with elstree!
Mr Cessna
The worst I ever saw was a helicopter firm based at Elstree who always used to slag clients/customers off behind their backs and they were the most unorganised group of people I have ever met, let alone worked with!
3 months was enough for me, I just had to leave. I have never had an expirience that bad before or since then
Finally... I have seen the PC12 several times at Elstree and the scariest part is watching one perform a touch and go!
Them friggas use EVERY inch of the runway! doesnt look safe atall but a lovely aeroplane Sorry in advance for any offence caused but you must be insane to have anything to do with elstree!
Mr Cessna
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 4
From: London
Fantastic! Another "Let's all have a go at Elstree" string resurrected! Were that all GA aerodromes like Sywell!
Unfortunately they're not. Much like life then - very rarely is everything perfect.
So it's got a sloping runway. And a non-standard joining procedure. And the bloke in the tower is a bit grumpy. And it appears there's no money being spent on it.
Get f**king real. This is GA in the depths of a crippling recession. It's an airfield close to London that's still operating. If you can't cope with bolshy AFIS, funny joining procedures, lots of Class A airspace around you - and a funny runway - don't bother. Or go to Stapleford. Bleating about it is utterly pointless.
Unfortunately they're not. Much like life then - very rarely is everything perfect.
So it's got a sloping runway. And a non-standard joining procedure. And the bloke in the tower is a bit grumpy. And it appears there's no money being spent on it.
Get f**king real. This is GA in the depths of a crippling recession. It's an airfield close to London that's still operating. If you can't cope with bolshy AFIS, funny joining procedures, lots of Class A airspace around you - and a funny runway - don't bother. Or go to Stapleford. Bleating about it is utterly pointless.
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: upminster
Elstree
Hamish 123... Im sure that if you were treated like !!!!!e for just doing your job to the best of your standards you too would have something against the people there. As you say Elstree its self is not a bad aerodrome. Just a shame about the people who work there.
Mr Cessna
Mr Cessna
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Here and there. Here at the moment but soon I'll be there.
If anyone thinks Elstree is tight for a PC-12 watch this video showing a PC-12 going into one of my local airports, Pacific City in Oregon, where the runway is 1875ft x 30ft. They could have stopped well before the 300ft displaced threshold at the far end.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,631
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles, USA
I've only been into Elstree a couple of times, but both times they've been nothing but friendly and very helpful in the tower. The runway was in bits, though. Literally had to plop her down between huge boulders of dislodged asphalt bits. It was like running a gauntlet.
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: esher
Elstree crowding
Just imagine how crowded it was then in 1946 when London Aero and Motor Services bought 6 Handley Page Halifax bombers and took them to Elstree for conversion to freighters ! Just to help things along one of them G-AHZM had its undercarriage collapse whilst taxiing out for test flight . They had a wingspan of 103 ft 8 inches .
