Oban/Glenforsa News
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Apologies for my temerity in posting about actual aviation facilities at Oban Coll & Colonsay. For those that are interested, the licences for the three airfields are now on the CAA website (Aerodrome Standards). However the Schedule 1s (maps of the airfields) are not published, and so far there is nothing in the AIP or its future amendments.
I don't suppose anyone has a copy of the Schedule 1 maps which form part of the licences for any/all of the three? Trying to get a feel for how much room there is for other aircraft when the Islander's in.
NS
I don't suppose anyone has a copy of the Schedule 1 maps which form part of the licences for any/all of the three? Trying to get a feel for how much room there is for other aircraft when the Islander's in.
NS
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Thanks sas. The licences are dated 5 June so they've had >3 weeks.
Looks to me like there's a gravel (?) area adjacent to the tarmac apron at Colonsay. I was hoping that light a/c could be pushed back on to that for parking, to give max room for the Islander to manoeuvre.
NS
Looks to me like there's a gravel (?) area adjacent to the tarmac apron at Colonsay. I was hoping that light a/c could be pushed back on to that for parking, to give max room for the Islander to manoeuvre.
NS
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Was at Coll and Colonsay recently.
No, there is no gravel or any other area for aircraft to be parked outside the circular apron at both airfields. At Colonsay there is a small fenced off area on the grass with large concrete tie down blocks for the Laird's aircraft. Coll has a real problem with greylag geese; they are now resident the whole year on the island, inhabit the airfield, crap all over everything and are practically impossible to scare away...
Glenforsa was immaculate as usual and Oban very friendly and helpful.
No, there is no gravel or any other area for aircraft to be parked outside the circular apron at both airfields. At Colonsay there is a small fenced off area on the grass with large concrete tie down blocks for the Laird's aircraft. Coll has a real problem with greylag geese; they are now resident the whole year on the island, inhabit the airfield, crap all over everything and are practically impossible to scare away...
Glenforsa was immaculate as usual and Oban very friendly and helpful.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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I am fairly new to pprune and was surprised at all the back biting and bitching on this and other Oban related threads.
I can imagine that those who are personally involved with the various airfields in question may feel that this is a good platform for personal attacks but it does seem to all be a bit much....
I have been flying into Oban and the outer Isles for years and can only see improvements in most areas and there have been good days and bad, like having a friendly (and a fair bit of p##s taking) chat over a jammy dodger or on the other hand being told that next time I should uplift more fuel and that thirty litres was hardly worth the effort of starting the bowser, and that part was serious.
I think that there`s not much good coming out of these particular threads but then hey, who cares? We are are all entitled to our little rant and I have had mine....
I love flying in this area and just hope that when I land next time my experience will not be tarnished by overhearing the tittle tattle that seems to have been exasperated on here.
I can imagine that those who are personally involved with the various airfields in question may feel that this is a good platform for personal attacks but it does seem to all be a bit much....
I have been flying into Oban and the outer Isles for years and can only see improvements in most areas and there have been good days and bad, like having a friendly (and a fair bit of p##s taking) chat over a jammy dodger or on the other hand being told that next time I should uplift more fuel and that thirty litres was hardly worth the effort of starting the bowser, and that part was serious.
I think that there`s not much good coming out of these particular threads but then hey, who cares? We are are all entitled to our little rant and I have had mine....
I love flying in this area and just hope that when I land next time my experience will not be tarnished by overhearing the tittle tattle that seems to have been exasperated on here.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Jammy dodgers and fuel
Have you bought a packet of jammy d's recently - you got them and the tes/coffee free I suspect - and do you know how little is made by suppliers on a litre of fuel these days..... you probably ate and drank the profit and were entertained as well....alll for thirty litres, who's taking the p**s,tuscan?
But don't worry you'll be welcomed back, so keep enjoying the flying in this wonderful area and ignore the tittle tattle.
But don't worry you'll be welcomed back, so keep enjoying the flying in this wonderful area and ignore the tittle tattle.
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Moan moan Moan 
, in the old days when fees were paid in the hut I always left my share of jammy change and even washed the cups.
I even used to uplift as much as I could at the irritation of the club who`s aircraft I had taken out for the day(who also supplied fuel), anything to help
Glad to hear I am welcome back although I`m not sure I outstayed my previous but who knows
.
I`m heading off to the Alps for a few weeks next Thursday but look forward my next visit some time in August.
, in the old days when fees were paid in the hut I always left my share of jammy change and even washed the cups.I even used to uplift as much as I could at the irritation of the club who`s aircraft I had taken out for the day(who also supplied fuel), anything to help
Glad to hear I am welcome back although I`m not sure I outstayed my previous but who knows
.I`m heading off to the Alps for a few weeks next Thursday but look forward my next visit some time in August.
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Jammy dodgers and fuel
I think Dan sums up his attitude well.
Most if not all clubs offer free T and bites to all visiting pilots. So in the past your offered T and jammy dodgers at Oban and your taking the P__S for accepting them. Oban is better now than it was before and that's a fact. Nothing against Paul. Its a pity so much money has been wasted but that's life. You know where you can stuff your Jammy Dodgers. 
Scottishflyer182.
Most if not all clubs offer free T and bites to all visiting pilots. So in the past your offered T and jammy dodgers at Oban and your taking the P__S for accepting them.
Oban is better now than it was before and that's a fact. Nothing against Paul. Its a pity so much money has been wasted but that's life. You know where you can stuff your Jammy Dodgers. Scottishflyer182.
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“Oban is better now than it was before and that's a fact”
Interesting statement. In the past the airfield won awards for being the best GA field in the UK. I am not aware of it wining any recently?
In the past there were two runways available, now just one.
From the perspective of an average PPL, what has improved?
Rod1
Interesting statement. In the past the airfield won awards for being the best GA field in the UK. I am not aware of it wining any recently?
In the past there were two runways available, now just one.
From the perspective of an average PPL, what has improved?
Rod1
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Oban.
Hi Rod1.
I accept that a runway has been lost and some lighter aircraft may not be albe to visit under certain X wind conditions. However the new tarmac runway is a cracker.
One of the reasons Oban has not won any prizes recently has more to do with the constant negativity posted here. Of course the numbers are down, I flew in a few months ago and posted my delight at the friendly service and good facilities and was rebuked for saying so. Some encouragement for other pilots to pay a visit to the new Oban.
Of course many mistakes have been made by the council and I'm sure they know it. Constantly knocking Oban and the visiting pilots will not do any good to the long term future of Oban.
So I repeat, Oban is better than before in my opinoin as a visiting pilot.
Scottishflyer182.
I accept that a runway has been lost and some lighter aircraft may not be albe to visit under certain X wind conditions. However the new tarmac runway is a cracker.
One of the reasons Oban has not won any prizes recently has more to do with the constant negativity posted here. Of course the numbers are down, I flew in a few months ago and posted my delight at the friendly service and good facilities and was rebuked for saying so. Some encouragement for other pilots to pay a visit to the new Oban.
Of course many mistakes have been made by the council and I'm sure they know it. Constantly knocking Oban and the visiting pilots will not do any good to the long term future of Oban.
So I repeat, Oban is better than before in my opinoin as a visiting pilot.
Scottishflyer182.
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“I flew in a few months ago and posted my delight at the friendly service”
As did I.
From my perspective as a visiting pilot the loss of the runway makes it less good. I agree the tarmac is 1st class, but as I operate from a farm strip this is not something I care much about. I am not knocking Oban, it is still a good place to fuel up, but it is not as good as it was before all the money was spent. This is unfortunate, but true.
Rod1
As did I.
From my perspective as a visiting pilot the loss of the runway makes it less good. I agree the tarmac is 1st class, but as I operate from a farm strip this is not something I care much about. I am not knocking Oban, it is still a good place to fuel up, but it is not as good as it was before all the money was spent. This is unfortunate, but true.
Rod1
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Scottish, I can think of a few airfields that do not offer freebies, can I borrow your rose tinted RayBans next time I take a tour of airfields
, anyway I think its better to leave something behind for the kitty even if there is no charge, its only good manners.
I too think there are improvements but then all I really want is a descent surface to land on and a friendly chat before leaving.
, anyway I think its better to leave something behind for the kitty even if there is no charge, its only good manners.I too think there are improvements but then all I really want is a descent surface to land on and a friendly chat before leaving.
Last edited by tuscan; 2nd Jul 2008 at 13:34.
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For a tailwheel pilot like myself with an aeroplane that has a lowish crosswind capability the loss of the second runway, albeit only a few degrees off the main one, is a serious loss of utility. However the grass to the east of the disused looked ever so appealing a few weeks ago. A suitable unlicenced alternative perhaps?
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Jammie Dodgers
SF182
TLC is NOT a flying club, it is a re-fuelling and handling company. So you cannot put it in the same bracket as your average UK flying club. You would not receive tea/coffee and biscuits at Cumbernauld; Perth; Glerothes etc when you buy fuel.
So would you say that these are some of the changes for the better that have taken place since the development:
1) Closure of the most in to wind runway
2) Lack of parking (ie. as shown on the weekend of the Glenforsa fly-in)
3) Steeper landing fees and longer PPR requirements
4) More fireman than at Heathrow Airport
5) Unnecessary new runway with unnecesary lighting and unnescessary NDB/DME
6) A reduction in visiting aircraft numbers by 60% at least
7) Need I continue...?
Islanders have been flying in and out of Connel , Coll and Colonsay for years with no problems so why was it necessary for £9 million to be spent which now only allows the same aircraft to operate under the same circumstances?
So SF182 where are the benefits that you were talking about, because I for sure cannot see any obvious ones?
Best regards
CF
TLC is NOT a flying club, it is a re-fuelling and handling company. So you cannot put it in the same bracket as your average UK flying club. You would not receive tea/coffee and biscuits at Cumbernauld; Perth; Glerothes etc when you buy fuel.
So would you say that these are some of the changes for the better that have taken place since the development:
1) Closure of the most in to wind runway
2) Lack of parking (ie. as shown on the weekend of the Glenforsa fly-in)
3) Steeper landing fees and longer PPR requirements
4) More fireman than at Heathrow Airport
5) Unnecessary new runway with unnecesary lighting and unnescessary NDB/DME
6) A reduction in visiting aircraft numbers by 60% at least
7) Need I continue...?
Islanders have been flying in and out of Connel , Coll and Colonsay for years with no problems so why was it necessary for £9 million to be spent which now only allows the same aircraft to operate under the same circumstances?
So SF182 where are the benefits that you were talking about, because I for sure cannot see any obvious ones?
Best regards
CF