Airport Managers & Supervisors
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Airport Managers & Supervisors
I have been doing the rounds over the last couple of months and have come to the conclusion that there must be an airport managers or supervisors training course where they learn to become A$$h0le$
Ireland must get the best results, my top 6 are Aldergrove (Woodgates), Weston (faceless man in tower), Derry (everywhere), Kerry (accounts office), Galway (everywhere) and Enniskillen (just one in tower).
My latest insult was in Enniskillen where most of the staff are great and helpful, well that is until you get to the tower where the grumpy manager lives.
Between shouting at the fire fighters and then at me for trying to quickly pay a landing fee cause my pax had arrived back early this man was almost having a heart attack.
So who runs this managers course?? or is it all in a training manual??
Do these people not understand that they only exist because we Fly
Lets shame them!!!
Dawn B
Ireland must get the best results, my top 6 are Aldergrove (Woodgates), Weston (faceless man in tower), Derry (everywhere), Kerry (accounts office), Galway (everywhere) and Enniskillen (just one in tower).
My latest insult was in Enniskillen where most of the staff are great and helpful, well that is until you get to the tower where the grumpy manager lives.
Between shouting at the fire fighters and then at me for trying to quickly pay a landing fee cause my pax had arrived back early this man was almost having a heart attack.
So who runs this managers course?? or is it all in a training manual??
Do these people not understand that they only exist because we Fly
Lets shame them!!!
Dawn B
Join Date: Dec 2005
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Have to agree with DawnB on most of them....
1) Aldergrove - Yep landing fee is £30, but so is the handling fee they don't mention so its double then quits. Airport security also a farce there, wouldn't let me airside without a Passport, Irish DL no Good. Tried to explain that I can board a Ryanair without a passport, fell on thick ears. Had to ring police to sort the debacle....
2) Derry - Rudest ATC I've ever come across, and nothing else would do only park you miles from where you need to be, via snappy instructions on a poorly signed airport.
3) Galway - "Come on in, but by the way we shut in 5 mins till 8 o clock".... Avgas touched €3.00 a litre at race week, and unless you can bring oscar worthy acting skills and claim a training flight then landing fee is €40. You never can tell whats going to happen there...
Could go on and on... But it seems to fall on simple minds that they're handy number is only a function of your custom. I'd avoid so many places that I've had a cold rub in, and do anything I could to land in the microlight field down the road from these places. Really try to skip places where I have to take my shoes off and wear a high viz jacket. This may give some wannabe's a high - but I'd sooner the green grass, and clean some cow ****, than put up with bull****.
Irish
1) Aldergrove - Yep landing fee is £30, but so is the handling fee they don't mention so its double then quits. Airport security also a farce there, wouldn't let me airside without a Passport, Irish DL no Good. Tried to explain that I can board a Ryanair without a passport, fell on thick ears. Had to ring police to sort the debacle....
2) Derry - Rudest ATC I've ever come across, and nothing else would do only park you miles from where you need to be, via snappy instructions on a poorly signed airport.
3) Galway - "Come on in, but by the way we shut in 5 mins till 8 o clock".... Avgas touched €3.00 a litre at race week, and unless you can bring oscar worthy acting skills and claim a training flight then landing fee is €40. You never can tell whats going to happen there...
Could go on and on... But it seems to fall on simple minds that they're handy number is only a function of your custom. I'd avoid so many places that I've had a cold rub in, and do anything I could to land in the microlight field down the road from these places. Really try to skip places where I have to take my shoes off and wear a high viz jacket. This may give some wannabe's a high - but I'd sooner the green grass, and clean some cow ****, than put up with bull****.
Irish
Derry is definitely up with the best for being unfriendly but having said that it is only a couple of controllers that spoil it for the rest. Never had anything untoward about St Angelo so maybe you got them on a bad day. Woodgates is doing themselves no favours at all and I think it's beginning to tell.
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Kerry were very nice to me at the weekend, even the accounts office. What I found irritating was the time it took to fill in a very long form to pay a €10 landing fee (plus another €6 for my passenger), but their attitude in the office and at security was just fine. Pleasant visit.
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One of my plans for the summer was to fly around Ireland for a few days including some of the airfields that have been mentioned. I have visited Ireland both North and South on many occasions and I have always had a very genuine and warm welcome. I am a little disapointed by this thread as I worked at Heathrow for many years and thought that I had left all that "big airport", "rules is rules", and the "elf and safety" nonsense behind me.
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Whilst I've never been on the receiving end of ATC at Derry, the Airport Manager (and sometimes ATCO) is one of the nicest blokes you could ever meet....maybe we shouldn't tar all staff with the same brush based on the actions of one?
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Matsport3,
Whilst I agree with what you say; a single bad experience as a customer can easily leave a bad taste, and a single bad apple on an airfield can tarnish the entire visit. If airfields wish for people to return, or recommend them, a little customer service from all directions goes a long way.
I can also understand the choice not to goto larger airfields too; the exciting idea of visiting a few big airports rapidly wears off once you've the paid 30 - 60 pounds or euros for landing and handling to find yourself stood in a carpark wondering what on earth i'm doing in this place (recent experiences!).
In contrast, I had a fantastic experience at Beverley recently, from a very welcoming and informative reply when I called to obtain PPR, to a warm and friendly welcome as I entered the clubhouse. To that end, I intend to return to Beverley in the near future, simply because of two very friendly staff (and because of the novelty in mixing with motorised parachutes and microlights).
Whilst I agree with what you say; a single bad experience as a customer can easily leave a bad taste, and a single bad apple on an airfield can tarnish the entire visit. If airfields wish for people to return, or recommend them, a little customer service from all directions goes a long way.
I can also understand the choice not to goto larger airfields too; the exciting idea of visiting a few big airports rapidly wears off once you've the paid 30 - 60 pounds or euros for landing and handling to find yourself stood in a carpark wondering what on earth i'm doing in this place (recent experiences!).
In contrast, I had a fantastic experience at Beverley recently, from a very welcoming and informative reply when I called to obtain PPR, to a warm and friendly welcome as I entered the clubhouse. To that end, I intend to return to Beverley in the near future, simply because of two very friendly staff (and because of the novelty in mixing with motorised parachutes and microlights).
Last edited by L'aviateur; 24th Feb 2009 at 15:56.
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I don't understand why people say they've had an unfriendly welcome because of a large landing fee. You should have asked about the landing fee when you got PPR, so it shouldn't be a surprise.
The two exceptions I'll take to that are Galway and Kerry.
At Galway the landing fee is unpredictable at best. Galway have one landing fee for private SEP's, one landing fee for training flights, and one landing fee for Club SEP's. The private SEP's is by far the most expensive. Trouble is not all the staff know about all the different fees, or at least deny knowledge of all but the private SEP fee.
They also charge you for flying through their zone if you aren't landing there!
Kerry will tell you want the landing fee is when you ring for PPR, but they forget to tell you that they also charge a passenger fee Since that one, I've learnt that after asking about landing fees, I need to ask "Is there any other charges or fees that I will have to pay, that I haven't asked you about?"
Derry have never been rude to me. Yes they make you park a bit away from the terminal, but unlike many other airports that need to send someone to collect you, they do not charge you a handling fee. If they want to make extra work for themselves, I don't have a problem with it.
But I can honestly say that I've never had an unwelcoming experience at any airport that I've visited. Maybe I'm just lucky
dp
The two exceptions I'll take to that are Galway and Kerry.
At Galway the landing fee is unpredictable at best. Galway have one landing fee for private SEP's, one landing fee for training flights, and one landing fee for Club SEP's. The private SEP's is by far the most expensive. Trouble is not all the staff know about all the different fees, or at least deny knowledge of all but the private SEP fee.
They also charge you for flying through their zone if you aren't landing there! Kerry will tell you want the landing fee is when you ring for PPR, but they forget to tell you that they also charge a passenger fee
Since that one, I've learnt that after asking about landing fees, I need to ask "Is there any other charges or fees that I will have to pay, that I haven't asked you about?" Derry have never been rude to me. Yes they make you park a bit away from the terminal, but unlike many other airports that need to send someone to collect you, they do not charge you a handling fee. If they want to make extra work for themselves, I don't have a problem with it.
But I can honestly say that I've never had an unwelcoming experience at any airport that I've visited. Maybe I'm just lucky
dp
It's a few years since I last visited Ireland. I was thinking of flying round it for a third time this year. I had found Weston, Waterford, Kerry, Coonagh, Galway, Inishmore, Sligo, and Donegal all very helpful. Things must have changed.
P.S. Coonagh and Sligo were exceptionally helpful.
P.S. Coonagh and Sligo were exceptionally helpful.
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Maoraigh1,
It has been my experience that if you are helfuly and friendly yourself, then you find that they people you meet are helpful and friendly people too.
Those who are grumpy and only see their own problems only find grumpy people where they go.
Don't let the stories here put you off. I think you'll find a very welcomeing experience here (apart from the weather).
dp
It has been my experience that if you are helfuly and friendly yourself, then you find that they people you meet are helpful and friendly people too.
Those who are grumpy and only see their own problems only find grumpy people where they go.
Don't let the stories here put you off. I think you'll find a very welcomeing experience here (apart from the weather).
dp
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For reasons that I cannot remember it pains me to agree with DP - however my experience in ALL of the counties was that a smile is often repaid by a smile and I cannot recall a hard-time from any ground flunkies in Ireland. Weston, Clombalugh, Waterford, Kilkenny, Kilrush, the west coast, etc.
Stik
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There are few airfields that you can visit, that no matter how smiley and friendly you are, you will get snarled at and treated like dirt, no matter who you are.
There are, unfortunately, many sales prevention officers at work in UK airfields.
There are, unfortunately, many sales prevention officers at work in UK airfields.
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Originally Posted by stiknruda
For reasons that I cannot remember it pains me to agree with DP
If so, then I don't remember it either, so lets forget about it 
dp
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Wouldn't want to put anyone off visiting Ireland. Really great spot for a flying trip. Cannot find fault with 62/65 airfields I've used. Guess there's only a handful of places where you'll get the silly treatment, and with over 200 places to land I guess thats acceptable.
Just do it....
Irish
Just do it....
Irish
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DC10Real Man,
Don't be put off. Spent a spectaoular week in '07 with a PA28 doing the rounds in Ireland. Without exception, it was a positive experience (we did give Galway a miss ). One of the most spectacular days' flying I've spent was the trip from Kilkenny around the Ring of Kerry - Kenmare - Blasket Islands - Dingle Peninsula. A quick fuel stop in Kerry then off to Inishmore for the night by way of the Cliffs of Moher. Magic!! Go for it and enjoy!!
Don't be put off. Spent a spectaoular week in '07 with a PA28 doing the rounds in Ireland. Without exception, it was a positive experience (we did give Galway a miss
). One of the most spectacular days' flying I've spent was the trip from Kilkenny around the Ring of Kerry - Kenmare - Blasket Islands - Dingle Peninsula. A quick fuel stop in Kerry then off to Inishmore for the night by way of the Cliffs of Moher. Magic!! Go for it and enjoy!!
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I don't think one should moan about landing fees below say £20.
The reason is that in the UK the airport has no other income.
Elsewhere there are taxpayer subsidies, which is why the USA is mostly zero, France a few Euros, etc.
But in the UK an airport has a choice of
- zero maintenance, runways covered in stones so loads of hugely expensive prop maintenance/overhauls, toilets covered in excrement, bad taxiway condition generally (e.g. Elstree)
- no facilities beyond cutting the grass (true for many/most grass fields)
- a £20 landing fee and providing a decent airport (Shoreham is one example)
Even an airport like Shoreham is - financially - basically a commercial/business park which just happens to have a runway and a tower.
Welshpool seems to hang in there, albeit with miniscule staff, but I guess they get local council subsidies occassionally.
The ultralight brigade will never pay more than 3p anyway so there is no point in trying to please them.
What I hate is an airport charging £50 plus, for a crap service (Norwich) where they confiscate your toothpaste. And it gets worse but this happens everywhere - Prague is now about £150 I think which is way OTT. At this level you do lose a lot of "normal GA" traffic. Norwich has to charge a lot because the place is full to the brim of yellow jacketed important looking people looking for something to do. The worst example of management I have seen for a long time.
The reason is that in the UK the airport has no other income.
Elsewhere there are taxpayer subsidies, which is why the USA is mostly zero, France a few Euros, etc.
But in the UK an airport has a choice of
- zero maintenance, runways covered in stones so loads of hugely expensive prop maintenance/overhauls, toilets covered in excrement, bad taxiway condition generally (e.g. Elstree)
- no facilities beyond cutting the grass (true for many/most grass fields)
- a £20 landing fee and providing a decent airport (Shoreham is one example)
Even an airport like Shoreham is - financially - basically a commercial/business park which just happens to have a runway and a tower.
Welshpool seems to hang in there, albeit with miniscule staff, but I guess they get local council subsidies occassionally.
The ultralight brigade will never pay more than 3p anyway so there is no point in trying to please them.
What I hate is an airport charging £50 plus, for a crap service (Norwich) where they confiscate your toothpaste. And it gets worse but this happens everywhere - Prague is now about £150 I think which is way OTT. At this level you do lose a lot of "normal GA" traffic. Norwich has to charge a lot because the place is full to the brim of yellow jacketed important looking people looking for something to do. The worst example of management I have seen for a long time.
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What I hate is an airport charging £50 plus, for a crap service (Norwich) where they confiscate your toothpaste. And it gets worse but this happens everywhere - Prague is now about £150 I think which is way OTT. At this level you do lose a lot of "normal GA" traffic. Norwich has to charge a lot because the place is full to the brim of yellow jacketed important looking people looking for something to do. The worst example of management I have seen for a long time.
Landing in a helicopter is a pain. They make you land on one of the H's then bus you to the terminal for the 3rd degree. Better you phone the landlord of the Green Man in Rackheath and land on the grass near the pub car park free of charge. The passenegers using Norwich are now charged a tax called an airport development fee. As I'm just as near to Stansted I've voted with my feet. Norwich has lost quite a lot of trade over the last year.
