Well I've got no vendetta. I flew into Caernarfon a few years back (4 I think) and had no problems. Going up there again in a couple of weeks so will let you know any impressions.

Interesting thread, though.

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"Take-off is optional, Landing is mandatory"

The CAA are aware of Mr Pickles....If you wish to make your thoughts known to them forget the telephone...put it in writing to CAA, Aviation House @ LGW not Kingsway in London for the Attention of Capt.B Johnson, Head of Flight Operations Inspectorate and make sure you have evidence or they will not act.

And No, i'm not CAA (heaven forbid), I know Capt Johnson's son very well.

Regards
H

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[email protected]

Anyone been to Caernarfon today(5th May) If so any impressions or news ?

Planned on visiting Caernarfon today to see what all the fuss was about. But because there was no fuel there - there was a general broadcast on 122.25 about no fuel for sale - we about turned and went home. At least the gliders needn't worry about the lack of fuel.

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happiness is a peck on the cheek by a cygnet

What gliders?
Check the notams, maps and even the Caernarfon Airport website and there's no mention of that anywhere?
Have these gliders taken the place of swallows in North Wales this year? Are they a permanent fixture?
Let's have some answers Billy!

There was a thread a couple of weeks ago stating that the N Wales Gliding Club had relocated there due to F&M. They were also looking for a tug. I also heard the broad cast about fuel but at the same time another visiting A/C on the ground had 'approval' to taxi to the pumps to uplift 5 gallons. I wonder if they were serving it in buckets from the drain cocks as they have done on several occasions recently. They seem to have a habit of running out of fuel don't they? One voice on the radio gave an excuse that it had been a very busy weekend, all the more reason for ordering fuel in good time or don't they check the levels very often! Checked the Notams, nothing there about the gliders or the fuel. Still waiting to hear from the feds.

[This message has been edited by agent.mulder (edited 06 May 2001).]

[This message has been edited by agent.mulder (edited 06 May 2001).]

So Billy's at it again. Last weekend there were rally cars on the active runway. Now its gliders on the same tarmac as lycomings and continentals. At least rally cars can get out of the way if they have to but how do gliders manage to keep to Rule 37 - Right of Way on the Ground - item 2 which says "aircraft on the ground must give way to those taking off or landing".

In my experience gliders and aircraft can only co-habit successfully if there is a separate landing strip for the gliders. They can only be tolerated on the active during take-off if a tug aircraft is in use - at least then they are "powered"

I agree with farmstrip (and agent.mulder) that the gliding activity is not officially promulgated but (sound of slapped wrist) there is a one word reference to it on Billy's webpage. So that must make it all right then. Presumably gliding is covered by the airport's operating manual?

[This message has been edited by good shepherd (edited 06 May 2001).]

Well all I can say is that this is all tragic. A beautiful airfield absolutely ruined. From what I have read I won't be going there again until all this stuff is sorted out. Which really annoys me. Caernarfon used to be amongst the highlights of my summer trips, a place I always looked forward to visiting.Damn Damn Damn.

Is it just me or do others smell a rat here.

Lots of posters (or perhaps just one) with very low posts ALL condeming this place. mmmmmmmm

With a view to objectivity, why don't we have a mini fly-in there and see for ourselves how dangerous it is. Be careful though, the runway will be full of rally cars, gliders and little children so be prepared to weave a bit on landing.



[This message has been edited by New Bloke (edited 07 May 2001).]

I've ignored the comments about posts until now but the conspiracy theory needs to be laid to rest once and for all. As Agent Mulder said I'm me and no one else. Well same here.
And as for lots of single posters everyone has to start somewhere and better post when you've got something to say than post for the sake of it.
By the way any news on what's happening at Caernarfon today. No fuel should mean no flying - shouldn't it?

New Bloke,

if I wasn't so busy I'd nip over there. I have mixed feelings, but the friend of mine who was learning to fly there definitely was not treated well. Yes, I think a fly-in to Caernarfon would be a great idea. When?

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Whirly

To fly is human, to hover, divine.

Hi Whirly,

I'm up for it sometime.

Yes everyone need to post their first post, but so many new postings and all on the same subject and (as far as I can tell) only on that subject. I have no axe to grind, I don't know any of the protagonists, it just smells a bit fishy to me.

Well I am just me as well, and no one else. As soon as the general concensus of opinion is that things are back to normal then I will be returning to Caernarfon and giving the place my full support, no matter who is running the show, be it Billy and his pickles or anybody else, and I am so sorry for not having posted thousands of other messages before coming across this forum and picking up on this interesting and in my view important thread. The sooner things are back to normal at Caernarfon the better from my point of view, and I will be the first to endorse any impovement.

So no answers from Billy about the gliders then. Nothing new there then!
But from all accounts strange goings on continue at Caernarfon.
A notam issued today points out the lack of fuel. At a licensed aerodrome this means it becomes unlicensed doesn't it. So no training allowed but the two Silly Billy Cherrytrees were pretty active and even the R-22 made a few flights. They were being flown solely by PPLs weren't they? A check of the logs could prove to be interesting!!!
The notam says there is no Avgas in the tanks but there was a fair number of visiting aircraft. Did these pilots not check the notam which also states the airport was closed today?
Or is this another notam which cocks up the dates like the one about the air racing which appears to be still current! Or was the air racing not notamed at all?
It is also stated that the airport will also be closed on saturday for some undetermined reason - certainly there's nothing announced on the website.
Anyone know why?
Anyone heard from the feds yet?

I've just checked the web site and low and behold the airfield is closed Saturday so that they can sell rally car rides again! Farm Strip you have a very valid point, does every pilot check Notams before they set off? I doubt it somehow. So you guys that were planning on giving Caernarfon a visit this weekend looks like Saturday is not the time. However, we do still hold a welcome in the hillside, so maybe Mona would be a better option.....

This all makes me very sad. I've been flying from Caernarfon occasionally for a very long time, and love the place.

Has it really gone to the dogs? Should I abandon my plans for a trip to Ireland from there in June?

There is nothing wrong with airfields finding new much needed revenue streams via utilising facilities for other pastimes & fun.

Sandtoft have motorcycles using the runway every Friday night in the summer, however in this instance everyone is aware that the airfield is closed (radio is manned,,,,,,just in case!)as it is a regular weekly event.

On odd occasions the police also set up a 'vascar' speed measuring system and provide speeds achieved to the riders.

However it seems that Mr Pickles seems to arrange events at short notice which surely must risk safety, which along with 'mixed' events (cars & aircraft) increase the risks.

One can fully understand the need for small airfields to have additional revenue streams, after all we all like to have free or cheap landing fees, however to close the airfield on a Saturday seems very strange.

I wonder what the owners of the aircraft based there are feeling?.

My own flying club has a reciprocal free landing fee arrangement with Mr Pickles airfield and with the mass of Notams for F&M at present it would be very easy at present to miss the one (ones) about about Mr Pickles closing yet again, just hope that alternates have been planned for any trips there that may be tight for fuel duration as it seems that most of the time the airfield is either closed or out of fuel (I have my own opinion regarding why the latter).

Hi

I have been reading this topic with interest, especially after my earlier post when someone said I held some sort of personal vendetta ! I happened to make the comment as my first post purely because I had just subscribed, Caernarfon is a nice airfield in itself and therefore one I'd hate to see ruined, and also because I'm involved in airfield operations myselsf, so can see when dangerous occurences are happening.

I couldn't believe that spectators were standing on the runway edge during the air race. If this is true then it is totally unacceptable. Runways are licenced on the basis of a 30m clear area existing from the runway centre line, any obstruction, let alone members of the public, should be nowhere near an active runway at any time.

[This message has been edited by Squadgy (edited 10 May 2001).]

Well bugger me, find all this about the airfield quite unbelievable, only been twice before & that was last summer as an airfield on x-country excercise. Could'nt have been more impressed, a/g good, food good,plenty of visiting aircraft who had just dropped in, all first class.My how things have changed it seems, did see a brochure at my local airfield about the rally cars so it does look as though they are trying to promote various alternative activites, but when all said & done mixing the two is far from easy.I speak as an ex rally driver & no one would love to see this sort of activity more then me but I think the house should be put in order first, things like no fuel, pooR RT etc are unforgivable in my mind. Might take a pop over there in the next week or two see things first hand ,but I agree if they are that bad the facts should be obtained & reported to the CAA (campaign against aviation)before a serious incident occurs.

Well, I didn't believe the conspiracy theorists at first. But this is getting odder. More and more criticisms from very new PPRuNers, none of whom give an e-mail address or very much else on their profiles. They may not all be the same person, but I for one will be taking everything said so far with a pinch of salt. I'll hopefully get to Caernarfon this summer and find out for myself.

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Whirly

To fly is human, to hover, divine.