Military basing announcement: implications for GA in eastern Scotland
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Military basing announcement: implications for GA in eastern Scotland
I think it's come as a surprise to most that the basing plans announced by Liam Fox this afternoon include turning Kirknewton into one of the Army's five Multi-Role Brigade Headquarters - similar to Catterick and Aldershot.
We don't have the details yet but since these MRBs number around 6500 personnel and include tanks, heavy artillery, reconnaissance and all the support functions, as well as infantry, it's inevitable that this will have serious consequences for the Air Cadet gliders and light civil aircraft currently operating at Kirknewton.
In addition to that, the closure of Leuchars will mean East Of Scotland Universities Air Squadron will be looking for a home.
This is on top of the closure of Latch Farm after the hangar collapse in December and the interminable delays in getting a planning decision on the future Dirleton airstrip.
With all these light aviation units looking for a home, is there now a critical mass for a one-stop shop for light civil and military aviation in east central Scotland?
The UAS could move to Dundee and the Kirknewton gliders to Arbroath (if its runways aren't obliterated by the new Army base), but that would put them a long way away from most of their customers.
Anyone got 800m of flat grass in south Fife?
NS
We don't have the details yet but since these MRBs number around 6500 personnel and include tanks, heavy artillery, reconnaissance and all the support functions, as well as infantry, it's inevitable that this will have serious consequences for the Air Cadet gliders and light civil aircraft currently operating at Kirknewton.
In addition to that, the closure of Leuchars will mean East Of Scotland Universities Air Squadron will be looking for a home.
This is on top of the closure of Latch Farm after the hangar collapse in December and the interminable delays in getting a planning decision on the future Dirleton airstrip.
With all these light aviation units looking for a home, is there now a critical mass for a one-stop shop for light civil and military aviation in east central Scotland?
The UAS could move to Dundee and the Kirknewton gliders to Arbroath (if its runways aren't obliterated by the new Army base), but that would put them a long way away from most of their customers.
Anyone got 800m of flat grass in south Fife?
NS
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Tried that
Looked at this two years ago, we wanted to create a Breighton type operation, an all singing all dancing GA centre of excellence, Central Scotland. Usual crap- council planning, NIMBY neighbours, try looking for a suitable field, millions about, one to fit your requirements, errr no..........
Then, who gets in?????
Then, are their enough aircraft...........
Decided to have a pause, think about it, then time marched on. Agree though, times they are a changing.
Then, who gets in?????
Then, are their enough aircraft...........
Decided to have a pause, think about it, then time marched on. Agree though, times they are a changing.
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Well, for those happy with 530-ish metres of grass, there is Strathaven!
Steel for new 10,000 sq ft hangar is on site, steel for manager's house is now going up - lots happening!
Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More is an artist's impression of the house and the three hangars - although when the third will be built is another question.
Agree, though, that the loss of Kirknewton as a GA base for heavy singles and light twins is a shame.
Of course, I understand a new c10,000 sq ft hangar is going up at Cumbernauld and new broom in charge at Prestwick is clearing out decades of rubbish in buildings to make space for hangarage there.
So pretty positive for west central Scotland.
Steel for new 10,000 sq ft hangar is on site, steel for manager's house is now going up - lots happening!
Welcome to Facebook - Log In, Sign Up or Learn More is an artist's impression of the house and the three hangars - although when the third will be built is another question.
Agree, though, that the loss of Kirknewton as a GA base for heavy singles and light twins is a shame.
Of course, I understand a new c10,000 sq ft hangar is going up at Cumbernauld and new broom in charge at Prestwick is clearing out decades of rubbish in buildings to make space for hangarage there.
So pretty positive for west central Scotland.
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The folks in the West are OK; CBN and PIK remain active bases and are reasonably accessible by road (i.e. not too bad travel time). In the East choice is rather limited. For Fife/Perthshire folks Glenrothes, Perth and Dundee are all within reasonable distance but nothing exists for Edinburgh, Lothians & Borders. Edinburgh remains staunchly prohibitive to visiting GA and the only other airfield was Kirknewton, permission was required to get in from HQ Air Cadets but still it could be done. Now there is nothing at all for the South East.
Microlighting remains active at East Fortune but apart from that GA options are woeful, Glenrothes etc. remain IMO (although others may feel differently) too far a trek to be realistically accessible to the capital.
A <1000m grass strip to the East of Edinburgh right on the city (and EDI Class D) boundary would be ideal. Plenty of space away from NIMBYs yet accessible to the city centre. If circuit patterns could be adapted to avoid the flightpath for EDI 24 arrivals things would surely work out. There must be tons of people wanting to visit Edinburgh by GA but put off by EDI's Mandatory Handling? Smithy for one would be a regular visitor.
Smithy
Microlighting remains active at East Fortune but apart from that GA options are woeful, Glenrothes etc. remain IMO (although others may feel differently) too far a trek to be realistically accessible to the capital.
A <1000m grass strip to the East of Edinburgh right on the city (and EDI Class D) boundary would be ideal. Plenty of space away from NIMBYs yet accessible to the city centre. If circuit patterns could be adapted to avoid the flightpath for EDI 24 arrivals things would surely work out. There must be tons of people wanting to visit Edinburgh by GA but put off by EDI's Mandatory Handling? Smithy for one would be a regular visitor.
Smithy
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They're in Largs. That's nae use as that's through in Weegeshire.
There again it depends what one wants to visit Edinburgh for. If visiting the outskirts, family or friends - OK. But avoid Edinburgh City Centre. Smithy visited it at the weekend. It's a fecking dump full of roadworks, neds, crap nightclubs and the Scottish Parliament, or Government, or something in Heedrum Hodrum, or whatever King Alex likes to call it these days.
Smithy
There again it depends what one wants to visit Edinburgh for. If visiting the outskirts, family or friends - OK. But avoid Edinburgh City Centre. Smithy visited it at the weekend. It's a fecking dump full of roadworks, neds, crap nightclubs and the Scottish Parliament, or Government, or something in Heedrum Hodrum, or whatever King Alex likes to call it these days.
Smithy
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Anyone got 800m of flat grass in south Fife?
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Agreed the Kirknewton closure is a problem. At last count there were some 12 aircraft there, almost all local residents, therefore the choice becomes really limited for them. The issue is that you do need to be close to the airfield, so that you can pop out whenever you like, a break in the weather, without the 1 hour commute backwards and forwards to get to the airfield.
Dundee/Perth and Fife, are all at least an hours commute, probabaly longer with traffic at peak times, from EDI, therefore to go anywhere, add 3 hours to your day. I have experienced that and it does eventually weaken the will to go flying. Asset sits in hangar, not getting used, therefore waste of time and money. Eventually wheres the point.
The project at Direlton would be the answer, but that appears to have been going on for years now, with no movement. Any update anyone??
You could also approach NMS re East Fortune, and make a plea to open up the tarmac. We used to do it.
Dundee/Perth and Fife, are all at least an hours commute, probabaly longer with traffic at peak times, from EDI, therefore to go anywhere, add 3 hours to your day. I have experienced that and it does eventually weaken the will to go flying. Asset sits in hangar, not getting used, therefore waste of time and money. Eventually wheres the point.
The project at Direlton would be the answer, but that appears to have been going on for years now, with no movement. Any update anyone??
You could also approach NMS re East Fortune, and make a plea to open up the tarmac. We used to do it.
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It will take as long to get to Direlton from the west of Edinburgh as it would to get to Perth.
A compromise for the Edinbuggers may be Balado if the planned extra hangarage comes about.
There is already ~ 700m grass and 400m of concrete and a pro aviation owner.
Downside. It's not available for six weeks in the summer.
D.O.
A compromise for the Edinbuggers may be Balado if the planned extra hangarage comes about.
There is already ~ 700m grass and 400m of concrete and a pro aviation owner.
Downside. It's not available for six weeks in the summer.
D.O.
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"In addition to that, the closure of Leuchars will mean East Of Scotland Universities Air Squadron will be looking for a home"
Not necessarily. When RAF Gutersloh was handed over to the army and became Princess Royal Bks. The RAF ATC and MET Office remained to support the AAC and Bertelsmann ( Local company) who operate business jets on site.
Floppy
Not necessarily. When RAF Gutersloh was handed over to the army and became Princess Royal Bks. The RAF ATC and MET Office remained to support the AAC and Bertelsmann ( Local company) who operate business jets on site.
Floppy
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Floppy, your comments re the man at Kingsmuir are entirley at odds with my experience.
I've always found him to be a friendly and co-operative chap with a passion for aviation.
I've always found him to be a friendly and co-operative chap with a passion for aviation.