Oban/Glenforsa News
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cumbernauld
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Yeah the pens are cool!!!! Especially at night when Paul supplies us with fuel at 2 in the morning then waits till we return to top up again! With out him the Western Isles would suffer.
God Save Paul Keegan!!!
God Save Paul Keegan!!!
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northland
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I would like to add my support of Paul Keegan, having visited Connal on many occasions prior to the "professionals" taking over. I visited earlier this year and could hardly believe the attitude." Park your aircraft over there, no, park with your tail wheel on the grass behind the white line"!
I ended up moving the a/c about four feet to satisfy the chap in the tower. Mind you they were very busy, there was another aircraft, I believe a C172 parked also. I did feel slightly less stupid when that pilot recieved the same attitude for not parking exactly in the imaginary spot.
For the avoidance of doubt, that made TWO aircraft on ramp.
However the lovely natured lass in the office collecting the landing fee did make up for the ATC's lack of grace.
It's a pity really because Oban is such a beautiful part of the country.
Come back Paul, all is forgiven I say!
I ended up moving the a/c about four feet to satisfy the chap in the tower. Mind you they were very busy, there was another aircraft, I believe a C172 parked also. I did feel slightly less stupid when that pilot recieved the same attitude for not parking exactly in the imaginary spot.
For the avoidance of doubt, that made TWO aircraft on ramp.
However the lovely natured lass in the office collecting the landing fee did make up for the ATC's lack of grace.
It's a pity really because Oban is such a beautiful part of the country.
Come back Paul, all is forgiven I say!
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Liverpool
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Visited Oban some years back in the company of friends who were regular visitors. Out initial call on the radio received the reply from Paul "I recognise that voice - Welcome back to Oban." We were met with drinks and Jammy Dodgers. We then flew across to Barra and back to Oban. Paul was there with the hose to wash off the seawater on the underside of the aircraft. Best service ever, anywhere.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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I last visited before the new regime and was very well served by friendly folk (Paul Keegan included) so will be eagerly anticipating the improvements when I return in a couple of weeks.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Sometimes north, sometimes south
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What improvements? The displaced thresholds which AFISOs insist even private flights must adhere to? The non-availability of runway 04/22? The mandatory yellow jackets? The reduced opening hours? The start-up clearance requirement? The anal attitude to parking location and orientation? The increased landing fees?
NS
NS
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
Can someone explain exactly why the threshold was moved?
http://www.pprune.org/5733462-post515.html
SD
Join Date: May 2001
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I believe it is the local flying club that erected the fence.
They have a long term lease on the land and have done for years.
Previously there was never an issue everyone got along and enjoyed flying at oban airport.
The fiasco started. The new managment decided that they would implement a heap of clueless rules and also decided that they would be done through out the airfield. Restrictions of access and all the usual stuff.
The club got that hacked off they erected a fence round there leased property which doesn't require PP. And also under Scots law they can't be restricted access to it either.
The airport also told fibs on there license application which one of the conditions is that the licancee has control over all the land inside the licensed airfield area which they did not.
I am willing to admit that my statement above is third hand and maybe incorrect. I am sure a local can confirm or deny my statement.
They have a long term lease on the land and have done for years.
Previously there was never an issue everyone got along and enjoyed flying at oban airport.
The fiasco started. The new managment decided that they would implement a heap of clueless rules and also decided that they would be done through out the airfield. Restrictions of access and all the usual stuff.
The club got that hacked off they erected a fence round there leased property which doesn't require PP. And also under Scots law they can't be restricted access to it either.
The airport also told fibs on there license application which one of the conditions is that the licancee has control over all the land inside the licensed airfield area which they did not.
I am willing to admit that my statement above is third hand and maybe incorrect. I am sure a local can confirm or deny my statement.
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Oban Follies
The A&BC applied for a Code 2 runway licence for Oban assuring the CAA on
the licence application form they either owned or controlled all the areas
required for the licensed runway. This was despite the fact that the
council's then development manager, Peter Jackson, pointed out in an email
to the council's legal department the Argyll Aero Club had a lease for 25
years on an area of ground that covered a significant part of the runway
strip adjacent to the 01 threshold. It is an offence to provide false
information, whether knowingly or not, for the purpose of obtaining an
aerodrome licence.
The CAA granted the Code 2 licence and then the council set about trying to
push the club off their leased area and ignoring the signed and recorded
lease document. After several months the club raised a legal action of
declarator in the courts asking the court to make a formal ruling on their
long standing lease with the council. The court totally upheld the club
lease and its terms and said it was absurd that the council should try to
ignore it.
The club then looked to the council to come to an agreement for the
resumption of any part of the leased area that they, the council as the
licensee, required for their Code 2 licence. Amazingly the council continued
to bully and tried to tough it out and attempted to raise the club's rent
for the leased area by sixfold. The club resisted and threatened further
legal action and obtained from the court a legal undertaking that the
council would not enter the area concerned without the express permission of
the club - the council broke that undertaking within a week and the club was
being harassed on a daily basis. By that point the had club spent about £15K
on legal fees which they are still seeking reimbursement for from the
council. Eventually the club committee took a decision to fence the area at
the western perimeter of their leased area. When this happened the CAA
immediately revoked the Code 2 runway licence and replaced it with a Code 1
runway licence.
It was expected that the CAA would prosecute the council for knowingly
providing false information on the licence application as they would should
a pilot provide false information in order to obtain a flying licence or
medical etc. To date nothing has happened but since March 2010 the director
of the department responsible for the airport and the licensing process and
two heads of service (including the head of legal services) have lost their
jobs within the council.
Who knows what will happen next ?
WW
the licence application form they either owned or controlled all the areas
required for the licensed runway. This was despite the fact that the
council's then development manager, Peter Jackson, pointed out in an email
to the council's legal department the Argyll Aero Club had a lease for 25
years on an area of ground that covered a significant part of the runway
strip adjacent to the 01 threshold. It is an offence to provide false
information, whether knowingly or not, for the purpose of obtaining an
aerodrome licence.
The CAA granted the Code 2 licence and then the council set about trying to
push the club off their leased area and ignoring the signed and recorded
lease document. After several months the club raised a legal action of
declarator in the courts asking the court to make a formal ruling on their
long standing lease with the council. The court totally upheld the club
lease and its terms and said it was absurd that the council should try to
ignore it.
The club then looked to the council to come to an agreement for the
resumption of any part of the leased area that they, the council as the
licensee, required for their Code 2 licence. Amazingly the council continued
to bully and tried to tough it out and attempted to raise the club's rent
for the leased area by sixfold. The club resisted and threatened further
legal action and obtained from the court a legal undertaking that the
council would not enter the area concerned without the express permission of
the club - the council broke that undertaking within a week and the club was
being harassed on a daily basis. By that point the had club spent about £15K
on legal fees which they are still seeking reimbursement for from the
council. Eventually the club committee took a decision to fence the area at
the western perimeter of their leased area. When this happened the CAA
immediately revoked the Code 2 runway licence and replaced it with a Code 1
runway licence.
It was expected that the CAA would prosecute the council for knowingly
providing false information on the licence application as they would should
a pilot provide false information in order to obtain a flying licence or
medical etc. To date nothing has happened but since March 2010 the director
of the department responsible for the airport and the licensing process and
two heads of service (including the head of legal services) have lost their
jobs within the council.
Who knows what will happen next ?
WW
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: pluto
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Keegan never got the top job at Oban as he had a transgression with the law involving aviation. His mentality is if he can't run it well no one is going too. He was also booted out of Prestwick for being a **** and megalomaniac. It's hilarious watching his loyal hoodwinked followers bath him in glory. One poster who I assume works on the air ambulance hails him as the second coming of Christ............. puleeeeeeeeeees he is getting paid for it and it's his job and if he wasn't doing it well someone else would. As for the club setup it isn’t one it's a bunch of followers scared of his wrath and follow him and support his ideals which is off course to make money, not for the good and better of Oban Airport. Note to KEEGAN you never got the job you never will get over it move on, resign yourself to the fact that you’re the only one making money be happy with that, it's not your airport, it's the cooncils, you’re a guest, an awkward one at that.
Last edited by Argyll Cooncil; 5th Jul 2010 at 20:40. Reason: such terrible spelling!
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Join Date: Mar 2007
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Oban Follies
Well there you go then! I'm convinced, you can't argue against that calibre of compelling logical argument.
I am pretty sure that Argyll Cooncil must be the (former) head of legal services for A&BC.
WW
I am pretty sure that Argyll Cooncil must be the (former) head of legal services for A&BC.
WW
Join Date: Oct 2009
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I may just be a simple lad, but to me this all seems a little on the petty side 
If there was a falsification on the license application then that is for the CAA to deal with.
If there is a club that leases a part of the airfield then the management should butt out and leave them alone - as long as by doing so does not breech the integrity of standard airport security - for that is what Oban is, like it or not, it is an airport. If security means that the club have to play ball a little, then so be it.
The management should respect the club and the club should respect the management. Both should respect the GA community and air transport users of the airport and stop this stupidity.
I have visited Oban in the past few months and found it a very welcoming place. The AFISO was not as some suggest on here. I was told where to park, but I expect that everywhere I go. I parked approximately where I was told and nobody came out with a tape measure shouting at me. I had a lovely cuppa and biscuit with the firemen - the same people that are the AFISO's. They helped us get information about the weather to the north from an outbound scheduled flight over the radio. They didn't bat an eyelid when we started the engine without asking first. I honestly think, when reading some of the comments here, that I am reading about a different airfield
Come on guys, for the good of the GA community, the airport, the flying club, the council, the community, etc, stop all this "it's my ball and you're not playing with it" nonsense and get back to aviating... for aviations sake!
If there was a falsification on the license application then that is for the CAA to deal with.
If there is a club that leases a part of the airfield then the management should butt out and leave them alone - as long as by doing so does not breech the integrity of standard airport security - for that is what Oban is, like it or not, it is an airport. If security means that the club have to play ball a little, then so be it.
The management should respect the club and the club should respect the management. Both should respect the GA community and air transport users of the airport and stop this stupidity.
I have visited Oban in the past few months and found it a very welcoming place. The AFISO was not as some suggest on here. I was told where to park, but I expect that everywhere I go. I parked approximately where I was told and nobody came out with a tape measure shouting at me. I had a lovely cuppa and biscuit with the firemen - the same people that are the AFISO's. They helped us get information about the weather to the north from an outbound scheduled flight over the radio. They didn't bat an eyelid when we started the engine without asking first. I honestly think, when reading some of the comments here, that I am reading about a different airfield
Come on guys, for the good of the GA community, the airport, the flying club, the council, the community, etc, stop all this "it's my ball and you're not playing with it" nonsense and get back to aviating... for aviations sake!
Fly Conventional Gear
Join Date: May 2007
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Does anyone know when the disagreement is likely to be settled and the full runway length restored? I can understand that the flying club are angry with the airport management but keeping the fence there surely isn't helping anyone.