Flying into Aberdeen
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 157
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From: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Flying into Aberdeen
Hi All,
I'll be making a trip to Aberdeen in the near future and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of flying into either EGPD or any other airfields in the area that they could recommend. Also, could anyone give some rough costs for an over night stay for a PA28 and landing fees etc at EGPD? I'm guessing it will be quite pricey.
Thanks in advance
Adam
I'll be making a trip to Aberdeen in the near future and I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of flying into either EGPD or any other airfields in the area that they could recommend. Also, could anyone give some rough costs for an over night stay for a PA28 and landing fees etc at EGPD? I'm guessing it will be quite pricey.
Thanks in advance
Adam
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,160
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From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Can't help you with any Aberdeen info but if your flying from Newcastle give me a call " Scottish Information" 119.875 after leaving Newcastle and I will update you with weathers etc on your flight north. Have a great trip and maybe we will talk soon....
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 526
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From: Aberdeen, UK
Flying into EGPD is fine - call for PPR via the number in Pooleys or you can file via Afpex (which is their perferred way of doing it). Get a service from Scottish as per fisbang, then you'll get handed over to Radar and you'll need to join via the VFR lanes (again see Pooleys, always <2000ft VFR into the zone), unless you're IFR obviously.
You'll need to call Signature 01224 723636 for a price for handling/parking - it won't be cheap unfortunately, but it's not as bad as say Edinburgh. Avgas also is expensive, fuel up elsewhere if possible.
When you leave Aberdeen, you can book out via Afpex, or just call from the Signature office - you'll need to request clearance out of the zone via one of the VFR lanes, and call Ground for your clearance after startup prior to Taxi. ATC are quite hot on correct read-backs of clearance currently.
Avoid peak times around 8-9.30 in the morning and late afternoon if departing/arriving if you can - it's not uncommon to be held at E1 waiting to depart for 25-30 mins if there's a load of rotary traffic and inbounds stacked up on the ILS. Same when arriving, don't be surprised if you have to orbit at the Bridge of Don if coming up the Stonehaven lane from the South.
Otherwise there isn't much up this way. Insch is a grass strip 10 miles to the west, but the chap who owns it is quite particular about who lands there, and it's been closed recently for quite a while (with micros using the taxiway). There's also Hatton and Whiterashes which are both private. And there's Longside up at Peterhead which is a hard surface, but quite short.
If you need any more info, drop me a PM as I'm in a 172 group which is based there.
Cheers,
S.
You'll need to call Signature 01224 723636 for a price for handling/parking - it won't be cheap unfortunately, but it's not as bad as say Edinburgh. Avgas also is expensive, fuel up elsewhere if possible.
When you leave Aberdeen, you can book out via Afpex, or just call from the Signature office - you'll need to request clearance out of the zone via one of the VFR lanes, and call Ground for your clearance after startup prior to Taxi. ATC are quite hot on correct read-backs of clearance currently.
Avoid peak times around 8-9.30 in the morning and late afternoon if departing/arriving if you can - it's not uncommon to be held at E1 waiting to depart for 25-30 mins if there's a load of rotary traffic and inbounds stacked up on the ILS. Same when arriving, don't be surprised if you have to orbit at the Bridge of Don if coming up the Stonehaven lane from the South.
Otherwise there isn't much up this way. Insch is a grass strip 10 miles to the west, but the chap who owns it is quite particular about who lands there, and it's been closed recently for quite a while (with micros using the taxiway). There's also Hatton and Whiterashes which are both private. And there's Longside up at Peterhead which is a hard surface, but quite short.
If you need any more info, drop me a PM as I'm in a 172 group which is based there.
Cheers,
S.
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
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From: UK
Aberdeen will cost you an arm and a leg. By the time you've paid landing/handling/parking fee's I think you'll be in for a painful surprise. Far cheaper using one of the outlying smaller feilds and get a bus or train into town. Even Dundee is probably a cheaper option.
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,235
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From: Niort
Why not ring or email Signature and ask?
Wellheads Drive, Aberdeen Airport East Aberdeen, AB21 7GQ, Scotland
Phone +44 1224 723636 | Fax +44 1224 725458
VHF: 122.35
[email protected]
06:30L - 21:30L - 24hrs on request
Station Manager: Brian Scott
Wellheads Drive, Aberdeen Airport East Aberdeen, AB21 7GQ, Scotland
Phone +44 1224 723636 | Fax +44 1224 725458
VHF: 122.35
[email protected]
06:30L - 21:30L - 24hrs on request
Station Manager: Brian Scott
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,160
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From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,827
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From: Sometimes north, sometimes south
C'mon guys, why are you so negative? Is it that dreadful shadow of John Knox that descends over us all as we pass Berwick? The Curse of Alba (and no I don't think Benedict's any better).
If you don't want to pay the fees dictated by Spanish airport owners, then investigate Insch, Whiterashes, Longside. I've been to all of them in a PA28 and they're all good airfields although Insch and Whiterashes vulnerable to being boggy in winter.
Not sure these are the current details but you've got the same Google as me:
Insch
Whiterashes
Longside: 07857 633 031
The flight up the coast is great and if Aberdeen's on runway 34 ATC will restrict you to not above 1000ft in the zone north of Stonehaven due to IFR traffic overhead.
Might also be worth making some inquiries with the newly-established flying school at Aberdeen to see if they have done any deals to get cheaper club rates which they might extend to you.
NS
If you don't want to pay the fees dictated by Spanish airport owners, then investigate Insch, Whiterashes, Longside. I've been to all of them in a PA28 and they're all good airfields although Insch and Whiterashes vulnerable to being boggy in winter.
Not sure these are the current details but you've got the same Google as me:
Insch
Whiterashes
Longside: 07857 633 031
The flight up the coast is great and if Aberdeen's on runway 34 ATC will restrict you to not above 1000ft in the zone north of Stonehaven due to IFR traffic overhead.
Might also be worth making some inquiries with the newly-established flying school at Aberdeen to see if they have done any deals to get cheaper club rates which they might extend to you.
NS
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
If you don't want to pay the fees dictated by Spanish airport owners, then investigate Insch, Whiterashes, Longside. I've been to all of them in a PA28 and they're all good airfields although Insch and Whiterashes vulnerable to being boggy in winter.
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,160
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From: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
Insch in a PA28? Either your a braver man than me or you must have had a good headwind!
Grampian Microlight Flying Club
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 115
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From: UK
Welcome To Cabro Aviation Ltd
Actually these guys have full approval for training out of Aberdeen.
As others have said speak to Signature's station manager Brian Scott.
The Signature/Flying Club apron is only for resident aircraft since a visitor managed to have a runway incursion through E1 a few years ago so ALL visitors unless resident, have to be parked on the East Apron.
Actually these guys have full approval for training out of Aberdeen.
As others have said speak to Signature's station manager Brian Scott.
The Signature/Flying Club apron is only for resident aircraft since a visitor managed to have a runway incursion through E1 a few years ago so ALL visitors unless resident, have to be parked on the East Apron.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
547m Grass, significant down/upslope and a variety of obstructions on short finals / departure make it pretty sporty in a C172, so much so that Ken insists local pilots have an Insch check-out.
You could probably do it in something like a Warrior not too heavy but it would be pretty marginal on a warm day, especially landing downhill on RWY13 given how PA28's like to float...
You could probably do it in something like a Warrior not too heavy but it would be pretty marginal on a warm day, especially landing downhill on RWY13 given how PA28's like to float...
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 526
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From: Aberdeen, UK
And into the tail end of last year the runway was unserviceable, so microlight pilots were taking off/landing via the taxiway adjacent to the burn. You'd have to be pretty suicidal to try that in anything bigger as it's not exactly smooth, or wide, and the ditch is quite deep, and wet.
And you'd need to get Ken to let you in anyway.
And you'd need to get Ken to let you in anyway.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
I've operated off the taxiway at Insch a couple of times over the years in a locally based C172 but I'd have serious reservations on anything other than a calm day, any drift and your in the burn as Slopey says !!
No fuel at Insch any more either so you'd probably end up at ABZ anyway!
No fuel at Insch any more either so you'd probably end up at ABZ anyway!
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 32
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From: North UK
FBW - New Charges published 1st January, £40.00 Departure Charge (minimum) + £9.30 per tonne Naviation Charge + parking0.06 per tonne per 15 minutes + whatever your chosen handling agent charges; there are at least 6.
http://www.aberdeenairport.com/asset...-ABZ_Final.pdf
http://www.aberdeenairport.com/asset...-ABZ_Final.pdf
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,164
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From: UK
Lets be honest, Abz isnt interested in GA, not unless its a 727 with Trump on the fuselage. As soon as Trump announced his golf course plans, BAA raised all the fee's to local based GA a/c in the hope of clearing parking space for high paying biz jets.
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 549
Likes: 2
From: The frozen north....
Lets be honest, Abz isnt interested in GA, not unless its a 727 with Trump on the fuselage. As soon as Trump announced his golf course plans, BAA raised all the fee's to local based GA a/c in the hope of clearing parking space for high paying biz jets.
So after such a good advert for the experience, if anyone wants to buy an ABZ based C172 share feel fre to PM me!!