Worst GA Field?
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Worst GA Field?
Have seen many threads about everyones favorite GA field, and the many good reasons for it.
Would be interested in peoples views on what their most 'un-favorite' field would be, and why?
Would be interested in peoples views on what their most 'un-favorite' field would be, and why?
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IMHO, Panshanger has to be THE worst airfield in the UK. Went there first in 1977 to a semi derelict grass patch straight out of the 50's, hangars looking like they should have been condemned in the 30's. 'Dared' to make an emergency landing there a few years back, only to find the owner wanted to report me to the CAA for not calling him on the radio to ask permission! As if they were busy at that time! In my opinion, he is their biggest problem. To$$er...
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Following up to my last post, the management and staff at Redhill have a similar attitude to GA pilots. Which is why i dont grace their turf anymore..
For sheer amusement value, the guy on the radio at a certain airfield very near to Derby takes some beating. Those who have seen 'her' will know what i mean. Nice airfield though....
For sheer bloodymindedness, Southampton gets my vote. Arrive at night, walk airside to terminal, passing security gate. Exchange greetings with security chap and have a pee in the terminal. Walk back through not more than 5 mins later to be told i couldnt go back airside because i didnt have any ID or License and he didnt know I was aircrew!! What are these people on?? And before the anti-terrorost mob complain, this was quite a few years ago when virtually everybody lived in peace and harmony.
For sheer amusement value, the guy on the radio at a certain airfield very near to Derby takes some beating. Those who have seen 'her' will know what i mean. Nice airfield though....
For sheer bloodymindedness, Southampton gets my vote. Arrive at night, walk airside to terminal, passing security gate. Exchange greetings with security chap and have a pee in the terminal. Walk back through not more than 5 mins later to be told i couldnt go back airside because i didnt have any ID or License and he didnt know I was aircrew!! What are these people on?? And before the anti-terrorost mob complain, this was quite a few years ago when virtually everybody lived in peace and harmony.
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With out a doubt the worst place i have been is belfast city I waited over an hour for the fuel and had to keep putting the IFR flight plan back untill the tower controler got as sick of this as i had , so he cleared me to taxi to stand 1 at the pax terminal knowing full well that in 20 min an airliner was due on stand ,the ramp people went balistic ! but i refused to move untill the fuel turned up.........funny how the truck only took 2 min to turn up.
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One of the worst must be Elstree: Terrible runway surface, nowhere to park, over-controlling and bolshy (sp?) AFISO, and no circuits unless you pay Cabair's exorbitant rates or fly with Firecrest. (Yes I do know all the arguments about the NIMBYs having a very strong voice locally).
That airfield could be a goldmine if properly managed: Good location for London, lights and a hard runway, and a relatively affluent population in the area. But the owners make no attempt to improve the facilities or make it a pleasure to visit. You do well to pass through without your aircraft getting hangar rash on the apron or your ears burnt by Bossyboots. Give it a miss unless you really have to be in that part of Hertfordshire.
That airfield could be a goldmine if properly managed: Good location for London, lights and a hard runway, and a relatively affluent population in the area. But the owners make no attempt to improve the facilities or make it a pleasure to visit. You do well to pass through without your aircraft getting hangar rash on the apron or your ears burnt by Bossyboots. Give it a miss unless you really have to be in that part of Hertfordshire.
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I know it is not officially a GA airfield but my vote goes to.......................................................... .....Oxford.
When you first call them they sometimes sound a bit muffled over the radio, this is mainly because their heads are so far up their own a***s that they have to hold their mike somewhere near their navels to get any sound to come out.
Shame really, a good field ruined by an attitude problem.
When you first call them they sometimes sound a bit muffled over the radio, this is mainly because their heads are so far up their own a***s that they have to hold their mike somewhere near their navels to get any sound to come out.
Shame really, a good field ruined by an attitude problem.
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Toppers
You're right, it's not a GA airfield. The ATC staff there however are under contract to the airfield operator, who is also the main airfield user, and do the job in not ideal conditions. You might have had a bad experience but when you consider the airfield has over 130,000 fixed wing training movements a year it's not surprising that nerves get a bit frayed.
I'm not defending anyone - just saying that what you see on the surface is possibly influenced by things over which you and they have no control over. Don't be too harsh on them.
CM
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Chilli Monster ]</p>
You're right, it's not a GA airfield. The ATC staff there however are under contract to the airfield operator, who is also the main airfield user, and do the job in not ideal conditions. You might have had a bad experience but when you consider the airfield has over 130,000 fixed wing training movements a year it's not surprising that nerves get a bit frayed.
I'm not defending anyone - just saying that what you see on the surface is possibly influenced by things over which you and they have no control over. Don't be too harsh on them.
CM
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Chilli Monster ]</p>
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Re- Oxford: I paid them a vist a few weeks ago and had no problems. Found them very pleasant and welcoming, plus they were happy to let me fly 4 or 5 circuits for no extra charge on the way out because I asked nicely when I paid the in-bound landing fee...
Maybe it depends who you catch on the day. I have once or twice over-flown them and caught a bit of a bossy boots on the Approach frequency...
So, this is not an airfield that I'd rate as "one of the worst" by any stretch... I think for such an accolade, someone needs to be getting things consistently wrong, like one or two of the others mentioned here.
Andy
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]</p>
Maybe it depends who you catch on the day. I have once or twice over-flown them and caught a bit of a bossy boots on the Approach frequency...
So, this is not an airfield that I'd rate as "one of the worst" by any stretch... I think for such an accolade, someone needs to be getting things consistently wrong, like one or two of the others mentioned here.
Andy
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]
[ 24 December 2001: Message edited by: Aussie Andy ]</p>
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Another vote for Elstree from me.
In defence of ATC there, it's only one person who is uncooperative to the point of being dangerous. All the others I've ever heard seem quite helpful and professional.
I wonder how much of the Elstree problems are brought about by the way they've handled things in the past. With so many different circuit patterns, some of them resembling cross countries, they must now overfly absolutely everyone living in the ATZ. They must be p*ss*ng off twice the number they would if they stuck to normal shape & size ones.
In defence of ATC there, it's only one person who is uncooperative to the point of being dangerous. All the others I've ever heard seem quite helpful and professional.
I wonder how much of the Elstree problems are brought about by the way they've handled things in the past. With so many different circuit patterns, some of them resembling cross countries, they must now overfly absolutely everyone living in the ATZ. They must be p*ss*ng off twice the number they would if they stuck to normal shape & size ones.
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Well I hate to post negativity on Xmas day... but! In my opinion the worst has to be...
Cumbernauld.
When I dropped in there on my solo XC qualifying flight parking was a little tight on the tiny apron. Never mind, I got a space, and went to get my form signed.
The owner was unhelpful, nosy, condescending, and down right rude to me. (He was also wearing 3 stripes, even though he is merely a PPL - legal?)
I was informed that if I hit the company terrorhawk - newly parked next to my PA-28 in a difficult spot - I would be sued.
NO offer to move it, NO offer to help me move my aircraft prior to engine start, NO offer to be marshalled out of my space, NO help from the crappy "radio service" who didn't even have the courtesy to reply to my RT.
As you can probably imagine, I was a somewhat nervous, inexperienced low hour type pilot, well on the way to the PPL skill test. This didn't help my situation one bit!
The route that day was Prestwick - Perth - Cumbernauld - Prestwick. And boy was I glad that I had stopped at Perth before reaching CBN.
I have nothing but praise for the proficiency and helpfulness of the staff at PERTH. Especially Colin who operates the radio service. Nothing was too much bother.
When I reached CBN the pressure was on, it's just outside the busy GLA zone, it's almost impossible to see from the air as you approach, due to its hidden location on an industrial estate, and for some strange reason that day it was busy!
There were many aircraft in the circuit as I joined overhead. (I'd kept at 2000' rather than coming in for a right base join to enable me to spot the airfield sooner).
I slotted in behind a slower aircraft than mine, and gained too much on him resulting in me going around (my fault not his, it was close but he missed the 1st exit and couldn't clear the runway in time), I was a bit nervous, very glad to get on the ground, could have done with a coffee and a 10 minute break, but after that, couldn't wait to get out of there and talk to the professionals at GLA and PIK!
Cumbernauld, I've been to you once, and in my opinion that’s FAR too many times. I would advise any of my friends and flying colleagues not to go there unless in a 7700 situation!
Cumbernauld.
When I dropped in there on my solo XC qualifying flight parking was a little tight on the tiny apron. Never mind, I got a space, and went to get my form signed.
The owner was unhelpful, nosy, condescending, and down right rude to me. (He was also wearing 3 stripes, even though he is merely a PPL - legal?)
I was informed that if I hit the company terrorhawk - newly parked next to my PA-28 in a difficult spot - I would be sued.
NO offer to move it, NO offer to help me move my aircraft prior to engine start, NO offer to be marshalled out of my space, NO help from the crappy "radio service" who didn't even have the courtesy to reply to my RT.
As you can probably imagine, I was a somewhat nervous, inexperienced low hour type pilot, well on the way to the PPL skill test. This didn't help my situation one bit!
The route that day was Prestwick - Perth - Cumbernauld - Prestwick. And boy was I glad that I had stopped at Perth before reaching CBN.
I have nothing but praise for the proficiency and helpfulness of the staff at PERTH. Especially Colin who operates the radio service. Nothing was too much bother.
When I reached CBN the pressure was on, it's just outside the busy GLA zone, it's almost impossible to see from the air as you approach, due to its hidden location on an industrial estate, and for some strange reason that day it was busy!
There were many aircraft in the circuit as I joined overhead. (I'd kept at 2000' rather than coming in for a right base join to enable me to spot the airfield sooner).
I slotted in behind a slower aircraft than mine, and gained too much on him resulting in me going around (my fault not his, it was close but he missed the 1st exit and couldn't clear the runway in time), I was a bit nervous, very glad to get on the ground, could have done with a coffee and a 10 minute break, but after that, couldn't wait to get out of there and talk to the professionals at GLA and PIK!
Cumbernauld, I've been to you once, and in my opinion that’s FAR too many times. I would advise any of my friends and flying colleagues not to go there unless in a 7700 situation!
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In defence of Elstree:
We started the 2000 Dawn to Dusk there. We flew in late one afternoon, left the aircraft overnight, and took off from there 8am the next day. Everyone was friendly and helpful, the manager opened early so we could leave, and they donated our landing fee and a tankful of fuel to "Flying Scholarships for The Disabled", which we were collecting for. I have good memories of the place.
We started the 2000 Dawn to Dusk there. We flew in late one afternoon, left the aircraft overnight, and took off from there 8am the next day. Everyone was friendly and helpful, the manager opened early so we could leave, and they donated our landing fee and a tankful of fuel to "Flying Scholarships for The Disabled", which we were collecting for. I have good memories of the place.
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Stapleford used to be a bit of a haven for second-hand car dealers from the East End of London. Obligatory items were a mobile phone, white slip-on shoes, Pringle jumpers and a 20 year old blonde bimbo with too much make-up on for wife/girlfriend/mistress. I havent been there for years, but remember well the old chap who used to run the "a/g service" from the end of the bar. Used to be the moustachio'd CFI until he lost his medical....Anyway, whilst on finals in a very old aeroplane I was 'instructed' to go around to allow the company Navajo to land, fast approaching my 6 o'clock at about 3000 knots. Needless to say, I then closed the throttle and cruised in at 45 knots to make a very nice landing on the numbers! Havent been back there for years as i said, but I'm sure it hasnt changed much. So, anyone know if the said moustachio'd ex-CFI is still there??
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Do you mean Eric Thurston OBE? He was still CFI last I heard and a legend amongst his IR students. As far as I know he is also still(non-exec) chairman of London Executive Aviation
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Jeez... another Redhill-bashing thread... <img src="frown.gif" border="0">
I can't really comment as it's the only field I have flown out of but I find it OK. ATC can be a bit aggressive but I'm taking the view that it's sharpening my RT!
I can't wait to get my PPL and try somewhere else if I've started at the bottom, so to speak! Can only get better...
Hersh
I can't really comment as it's the only field I have flown out of but I find it OK. ATC can be a bit aggressive but I'm taking the view that it's sharpening my RT!
I can't wait to get my PPL and try somewhere else if I've started at the bottom, so to speak! Can only get better...
Hersh
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I've been thinking about this.... Panshangar was fine whilst the previously mentioned large bearded gentleman was adventuring in the US (he is back now). I avoided Elstree for years but it doesn't worry me now, I'm not sure if that is because I've grown a thicker skin or because Elstree Info has more civilised habits 
One airfield which did worry me was Skegness. A hefty ditch at the stop end of the runway I landed on with holidaymakers' tents pitched alarmingly close to the threshold. I took off from another runway at the end of which were rather large flats.... Call me a coward but I won't be going there again in a hurry <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
One airfield which did worry me was Skegness. A hefty ditch at the stop end of the runway I landed on with holidaymakers' tents pitched alarmingly close to the threshold. I took off from another runway at the end of which were rather large flats.... Call me a coward but I won't be going there again in a hurry <img src="eek.gif" border="0">