Oban/Glenforsa News
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: U.K.
Age: 46
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Ah ! But Loganair (and I suspect Directflight) Islanders don't talk to Fisbangwallop on their inter-island routes. I think it would be fair to say that Logan have the longest and probably the most extensive Islander experience in Europe, if not the world. The aircraft were developed with the Orkney inter -island service very much in mind, indeed with input from the Orkney Island Shipping Company whose ship the Islander provided the very name.
Join Date: May 2001
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I doudt Highland was the lowest bid (But I don't know)
It will have been aload of political nonsense. Someone wanted that runway upgraded and the status quo at Oban changed and were quite happy to piss any amount of money up the wall to achieve that aim which I might add they have failed to do quite spectacularly.
And no doudt George called a bunch of incompetent bumholes, a bunch of politicans, they got the hump and the rest is history.
It will have been aload of political nonsense. Someone wanted that runway upgraded and the status quo at Oban changed and were quite happy to piss any amount of money up the wall to achieve that aim which I might add they have failed to do quite spectacularly.
And no doudt George called a bunch of incompetent bumholes, a bunch of politicans, they got the hump and the rest is history.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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I do know about the prices put into the bid. George was certainly not the cheapest (by quite a margin), but as anyone who knows him will tell you, that's hardly a surprise!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Add the overall costs of the failure of the previous (low priced ?) bidder, the failure to provide the service required, and the need to re-tender, and the original decision is not so low cost any more. Bring on canny George Sas ?
Obviously the decision making has to be conducted by those with some knowledge of air operations, and the Hebridean success seems to have taken into account the fact that gut instinct and huge experience is a major factor in providing Island Services
The sheer weight of the paperwork, inefficient Government jobsworth administration and regulation probably adds most of the cost to running Islanders to the boondocks anyway
Obviously the decision making has to be conducted by those with some knowledge of air operations, and the Hebridean success seems to have taken into account the fact that gut instinct and huge experience is a major factor in providing Island Services
The sheer weight of the paperwork, inefficient Government jobsworth administration and regulation probably adds most of the cost to running Islanders to the boondocks anyway
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Glenforsa Mull
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Glenforsa Update
I was considering Glenforsa for Sunday lunch. I presume the hotel is open? Haven't heard from GF for a while.
DO.
DO.
We have also taken over the Mediterranea restaurant just up the road, if you fancy a change.
Good news re Hebridean etc, the hope is that some sanity might prevail at last.
OGF
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Hebridean Website already up and running. Local employment, local knowledge and a real solution to the problems faced by small businesses in Scotland. Brown's Russian Shock Army of jobsworths are a millstone round our necks, though not for much longer. I wish Hebridean well.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Jockistan
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More Oban madness I hear on the grapevine that Friday's scholar flight was so successful that they would have needed 2 flights to get all the kids home for the weekend.
However the second flight couldn't go because Oban closes at 17:15 local.
Apparently Hebridean offered to fly the trip as a charter as they have dispensation from the CAA to use unlicensed airfields but this was rejected.
Complete madness when these flights were a key part of the justification for the investment.
Join Date: May 2001
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Funny enough I am on the west coast just now and yesterday evening there were brown clouds sitting out towards St Kilda. You had a cracking red sunset to the east and these brown clouds sitting off shore to the west. I hadn't seen the like of them before.
And to be fair the Airport manager doesn't really have much option about closing if the powers that be decide its to be so.
And to be fair the Airport manager doesn't really have much option about closing if the powers that be decide its to be so.
Join Date: May 2001
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Nah the clouds over the main land were red and the ones to the west were brown. Mind you a night out on the western Isles which way gravity is pointing is sometimes a bit of challenge.
I will see if I can get some photo's of it tonight. The clouds were like peat bog water in colour.
I will see if I can get some photo's of it tonight. The clouds were like peat bog water in colour.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Two pc12's on the apron yesterday. Quite a busy day at Oban and the staff were all were doing their utmost to be helpful and welcoming.
Out of hours indemnities are now £35 for all three airfields. Still per pilot however.
I had a feeling that perhaps things were starting to turn at Oban. However with this latest development it feels like one step forward follwed by ten back.
It seems to be all or nothing at Oban, perhpas because the folks running the show dont understand that your average GA visitor doesnt need a licenced airfield with all the bells and whistles.
In fact why dont they operate unlicenced other than the short periods when the Islander is operating. That could save them a fortune.
Out of hours indemnities are now £35 for all three airfields. Still per pilot however.
I had a feeling that perhaps things were starting to turn at Oban. However with this latest development it feels like one step forward follwed by ten back.
It seems to be all or nothing at Oban, perhpas because the folks running the show dont understand that your average GA visitor doesnt need a licenced airfield with all the bells and whistles.
In fact why dont they operate unlicenced other than the short periods when the Islander is operating. That could save them a fortune.