Oban/Glenforsa News
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Coming back to the "airport about to shut everyone losing their jobs it'll become a Cala Homes site and Paul Keegan's to blame" theme, aren't we forgetting that what's happening here is that the council has put the whole lot (airfield operation plus air service provision) out to tender, with a start date of 1st April (yeah yeah I know....)? Isn't it fair to make an optimistic assumption that some enlightened operator will make the council a reasonable offer, resulting in continuation of services in some shape or form? And won't TUPE apply in this case, thus protecting at least some of the jobs? As for the others, I have complete sympathy with anyone likely to lose their job as a result of the privatisation, but surely no-one working at Oban Airport can have been unaware of the shaky finances and the huge controversy?
NS
NS
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Mad Jock...
You never eaten out in Marlow I guess!!!
So the YAK boys wouldn't be interested in Bambi burgers with chunky chips followed by apple pie and Mackies Ice Cream.
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If one was interested in operating this airfield, where would one find details of the tender document?
(Obviously, I could just phone the council. But are the service requirements published yet?)
(Obviously, I could just phone the council. But are the service requirements published yet?)
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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Thanks again NS.
Interested to see the tender is for airport operations and flights.
The report in the Press and Journal at the end of last year - I have cut and pasted it here because it sometomes shows and sometimes doesn't with these pay walls - says:
Now the council is planing to issue a tender in the new year for the running of the airport and for the running of the flights.
Under European law, the flights and the airport cannot be run by the same company.
**********************
Council in hunt to find company to run Oban Airport
Published: 29/12/2010
ARGYLL and Bute Council is looking for a company to take over the operation of the council-run Oban Airport as it desperately attempts to cut costs.
The contract to operate the scheduled fights to the remote Argyll islands is also being put out to tender.
The move might see the airport reduced from a Category 2 to a Category 1 which would do away with its ability to take 19-seater planes, a senior councillor said yesterday.
The planes which operate services at present to the islands are nine-seaters.
The council announced last week that it was facing the “worst funding cut in Scotland” after learning it was facing a 4.94% reduction in its funding from the Scottish Government, when it only expected to lose 2.6%.
The airport at Connel, which is the base for flights to Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Islay, currently costs the council in the region of £600,000-a-year to run and has 18 employees.
The council spent £8.5million upgrading the airport before Highland Airways started operating flights to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree in June 2008.
Highland Airways went bust in March this year, and the Public Service Operator (PSO) contract for the flights was taken over by Hebridean Air Services, which introduced an additional service to Islay in June.
Now the council is planing to issue a tender in the new year for the running of the airport and for the running of the flights.
Under European law, the flights and the airport cannot be run by the same company.
Councillor Duncan MacIntyre, the council’s transport spokesman, said: “We have the worst possible settlement from the Scottish Government.
“We thought we were looking at cuts of between £9-13million. But we were looking at £15million. We have to look at all services and how they are delivered. It is an examination of how services could be run on reduced costs. Oban Airport comes into that category as well.
Read more: Council in hunt to find company to run Oban Airport - Press & Journal
Interested to see the tender is for airport operations and flights.
The report in the Press and Journal at the end of last year - I have cut and pasted it here because it sometomes shows and sometimes doesn't with these pay walls - says:
Now the council is planing to issue a tender in the new year for the running of the airport and for the running of the flights.
Under European law, the flights and the airport cannot be run by the same company.
**********************
Council in hunt to find company to run Oban Airport
Published: 29/12/2010
ARGYLL and Bute Council is looking for a company to take over the operation of the council-run Oban Airport as it desperately attempts to cut costs.
The contract to operate the scheduled fights to the remote Argyll islands is also being put out to tender.
The move might see the airport reduced from a Category 2 to a Category 1 which would do away with its ability to take 19-seater planes, a senior councillor said yesterday.
The planes which operate services at present to the islands are nine-seaters.
The council announced last week that it was facing the “worst funding cut in Scotland” after learning it was facing a 4.94% reduction in its funding from the Scottish Government, when it only expected to lose 2.6%.
The airport at Connel, which is the base for flights to Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Islay, currently costs the council in the region of £600,000-a-year to run and has 18 employees.
The council spent £8.5million upgrading the airport before Highland Airways started operating flights to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree in June 2008.
Highland Airways went bust in March this year, and the Public Service Operator (PSO) contract for the flights was taken over by Hebridean Air Services, which introduced an additional service to Islay in June.
Now the council is planing to issue a tender in the new year for the running of the airport and for the running of the flights.
Under European law, the flights and the airport cannot be run by the same company.
Councillor Duncan MacIntyre, the council’s transport spokesman, said: “We have the worst possible settlement from the Scottish Government.
“We thought we were looking at cuts of between £9-13million. But we were looking at £15million. We have to look at all services and how they are delivered. It is an examination of how services could be run on reduced costs. Oban Airport comes into that category as well.
Read more: Council in hunt to find company to run Oban Airport - Press & Journal
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The tender referred to above is a Prior Information Notice (PIN) providing advance notice of their intention to issue a tender. No formal tender appears to have been issues as yet. Scope is detailed as follows;
"Argyll & Bute Council are required to re-tender the operation of the Schedules flights routes from Oban to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay and the operation of the three of their airports at Oban, Coll, and Colonsay. The scheduled flights were previously tendered during the summer of 2010 but deemed unaffordable for the Council. The decision has therefore been taken to return to market with a fresh tender, encompassing the whole operation, including the PSO and the management of the airports at Oban, Colonsay and Coll."
Edited to say - Notice also says it wont be divided into lots which means anyone tendering must bid for the whole service. That of course doesn't prohibit companies from entering into partnerships or subcontracting certain elements.
"Argyll & Bute Council are required to re-tender the operation of the Schedules flights routes from Oban to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay and the operation of the three of their airports at Oban, Coll, and Colonsay. The scheduled flights were previously tendered during the summer of 2010 but deemed unaffordable for the Council. The decision has therefore been taken to return to market with a fresh tender, encompassing the whole operation, including the PSO and the management of the airports at Oban, Colonsay and Coll."
Edited to say - Notice also says it wont be divided into lots which means anyone tendering must bid for the whole service. That of course doesn't prohibit companies from entering into partnerships or subcontracting certain elements.
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Oban Follies
It would appear that all is not lost at our favorite Airport.
The word is, the current airport staff are organising their own bid to operate Connel.
I don't see what could possibly go wrong!
WW
The word is, the current airport staff are organising their own bid to operate Connel.
I don't see what could possibly go wrong!
WW
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Well,
Looked at the "proposal to tender" document, and emailled the contact name to ask about how I could tender for the airfield ops.
Used "my airfield" email, and received an auto-reply that the lady was out oif the office until Monday.
That was a week ago.
As the Spaniard asked to the Highlander: What's the local word for manana?
The reply: "Och, we've no such sense of urgency in these parts!"
Looked at the "proposal to tender" document, and emailled the contact name to ask about how I could tender for the airfield ops.
Used "my airfield" email, and received an auto-reply that the lady was out oif the office until Monday.
That was a week ago.
As the Spaniard asked to the Highlander: What's the local word for manana?
The reply: "Och, we've no such sense of urgency in these parts!"
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Perhaps a small practical demonstration of why they want to get the whole project off the council's books.
If I was the council I'd be looking for an operator that has diversity at the core of their plans, e.g.:
- continue the small isles services on a charter basis
- get a training organisation in to do PPL training
- pleasure flights in summer
- set up a small but good restaurant next to the terminal where locals and tourists can watch the planes
- use the remaining landside space for small office/industrial units
NS
If I was the council I'd be looking for an operator that has diversity at the core of their plans, e.g.:
- continue the small isles services on a charter basis
- get a training organisation in to do PPL training
- pleasure flights in summer
- set up a small but good restaurant next to the terminal where locals and tourists can watch the planes
- use the remaining landside space for small office/industrial units
NS
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Them?
NS - I believe that was their strategy, however,the individual that project managed the lot from the start got his jotters. I think justifiably.
The issue, as is the issue in so many areas, can it make money, stand alone i.e.without taxpayer subsidy. I think we know the answer to that - err.......... no.
As a small unlicensed, tight budget atrfield, it might, but:-
low population
poor - generally- weather.
local cost of things - rates/rent/tax
the current state of the economy
the current state of GA
the current state of the local economy
I could go on
Back to basics I think, and start small, tight and neat, oh and any 'operator' needs the fuel
The issue, as is the issue in so many areas, can it make money, stand alone i.e.without taxpayer subsidy. I think we know the answer to that - err.......... no.As a small unlicensed, tight budget atrfield, it might, but:-
low population
poor - generally- weather.
local cost of things - rates/rent/tax
the current state of the economy
the current state of GA
the current state of the local economy
I could go on
Back to basics I think, and start small, tight and neat, oh and any 'operator' needs the fuel
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MJ:
Given that said "solution" (or "bitter pill", you pays your money and you eats your salad) is not in the business of running the air service to the islands, surely it's not too much to ask the council to accept a bid which involves AN Other AOC holder operating the services and sub-contracting fuel provision and airfield operation to Solution/Bitter Pill? The council leader who had the particular problem with PK has gone, can't they now see there's a better way?
NS
unfortuantely for the tax payer the obvious cost effective solution is not possible because of the very bitter political pill that would need to be swallowed
NS