FILTON CLOSING......CLOSED!
Joined: May 2004
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From: Neither Here Nor There
Originally Posted by soaringhigh650
I heard a rumour that the nearest airport charges £250 for a PA28 landing.
The airport 'approach fee' is about £ 50.00 and the mandatory handling charges of about £ 80.00 for parking over at the GA terminal, for the privilege of someone popping his head out of the office to point at a parking space that was blatantly obvious in the first place.
Note that the 'approach fee' is just that, a charge for the approach, regardless of whether you land, touch and go or go around. As for the handling fee, the GA terminal on the south-side is nowhere near the main terminal and there is no danger of you getting mixed with the big stuff - in my many landings at Bristol International over the past four years I have never actually been greeted by someone directing me to a parking space and have only witnessed one occasion. A major rip off by the operators, if you ask me.
As for Filton, having flown in and out of there many times over the last four years, what a great airport to operate from and a crying shame that it has to go.
What logic and foresight that was, to make Filton a GA/Business Airport, with its major city on the doorstep; two major motorways (M4 and M5) within 10 minutes via major arterial routes; a main railway line station offering nationwide connections five minutes away; a plethora of nearby hotels; a major hospital with first class A&E facilities only 10 minutes away; several large retail, commercial and business parks within spitting distance and the largest runway on the country, capable of taking ALL aircraft currently flying.
No, it made far more sense to make Lulsgate the international airport for the west country; out in the middle of nowhere surrounded by nothing other than one congested major road (A38); on the top of a hill which is regularly enshrouded in cloud such that the airport has to be CAT III; few facilities in the area and very little in the way of commercial businesses.
There must have been some sense in the decision..........or was it politics?
Last edited by 2close; 22nd December 2012 at 15:20.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: UK
Pace:
Bit like stabbing and mortally wounding someone and offering them an aspirin to help with the pain as they die.
I couldn't agree with you any more and I don't think I could put it more accurately.
It is a disgrace what BAe have done to Bristol. A land that was paid for by tax payers which they inherited it for £1 (to make a transaction legal, they deny this)! Now they have apparently been offered £120 million for it.
That part of Bristol, is already congested, and they are going to build about 3500 houses, turning an already traffic congested area into a major traffic disaster.
For those of you who may be interested in knowing how short term gains was chosen over long term benefits, here how it was:
1) Bristol City Council had financial interest in southern parts of Lulsgate ground which is now used as carpark generating £1000s per day. Filton was private and any contributions would have gone to South Gloucestershire council.
2) South Gloucestershire council is purely interested in the income from rates, a few more millions easy money, they couldn't dream of this. What they don't seem to care, is turning an area into the biggest rough ground in the UK. Just as the council in Bristol has done in Southmead and Easton... (No dis-respect to anyone from these areas).
I just hope that, one day the law of the land in the UK, allows for prosecution of those ... planners and councillors who caused the downfall of Bristol.
I guess Bristol is now the only major City in UK that hasn't got a decent airfield nor a decent Flight training facility.
Bit like stabbing and mortally wounding someone and offering them an aspirin to help with the pain as they die.
I couldn't agree with you any more and I don't think I could put it more accurately.
It is a disgrace what BAe have done to Bristol. A land that was paid for by tax payers which they inherited it for £1 (to make a transaction legal, they deny this)! Now they have apparently been offered £120 million for it.
That part of Bristol, is already congested, and they are going to build about 3500 houses, turning an already traffic congested area into a major traffic disaster.
For those of you who may be interested in knowing how short term gains was chosen over long term benefits, here how it was:
1) Bristol City Council had financial interest in southern parts of Lulsgate ground which is now used as carpark generating £1000s per day. Filton was private and any contributions would have gone to South Gloucestershire council.
2) South Gloucestershire council is purely interested in the income from rates, a few more millions easy money, they couldn't dream of this. What they don't seem to care, is turning an area into the biggest rough ground in the UK. Just as the council in Bristol has done in Southmead and Easton... (No dis-respect to anyone from these areas).
I just hope that, one day the law of the land in the UK, allows for prosecution of those ... planners and councillors who caused the downfall of Bristol.
I guess Bristol is now the only major City in UK that hasn't got a decent airfield nor a decent Flight training facility.
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,856
Likes: 75
From: uk
I saw the Bristol Brabazon take off on its first flight from Filton airfield, anyone else?
Edited to say that my main memory is the only time I have been there. We were just flaring to touch down on 09 when ATC asked us to confirm that we were on the ground. Didn't realise until then that they couldn't see that end of the runway.
Last edited by pulse1; 26th December 2012 at 10:54.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,112
Likes: 1,086
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Does this mean yet another LARS provider unit has gone for good (or are Bristol going to "officially" help out)? I know they do help out when able if you ask nicely.
So much for progress - we are losing LARS coverage in UK, little by little. No doubt the answer will be officially published at some stage soon.
So much for progress - we are losing LARS coverage in UK, little by little. No doubt the answer will be officially published at some stage soon.
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: USA
Not quite £ 250.00 but not much change out of £ 150.00.
1,157kg MTOW PA-28-181 Archer III parking overnight (Sat to Sun) with 3 passengers:
Passenger Load Supplement = 14.30 x 3 = £42.90
Airport Safety and Security Levy = 4.95 x 3 = £14.85
Security and Insurance Surcharge = 0.30 x 3 = £0.90
Police Services Agreement = 1.80 x 2 = £3.60
Runway fee = 29.50 x 2 = £59.00
ATC fee = 16.40 x 2 = £32.80
Parking fee = £17.00
Handling Fee = £66.12
Handling Weekend Surcharge = £25
Total ex.VAT = £262.17
Total inc. VAT = £314.60
Given the airport is only a Level 2 Co-ordinated Airport and there is no off-peak rate, I congratulate the Bristol government, the airport bosses, and the stupidity and short sightedness of the pilot community for all playing their part (or lack of) in leading the way to killing general aviation.
Last edited by soaringhigh650; 2nd January 2013 at 16:15.
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 532
Likes: 0
From: Wales
This guide on the flyontrack website (to be updated) might be useful.
Huuuummmm..... 33 pages of information; Would take the average pilot 30 minutes to read... Better start reading at least 60nm from Bristol.
Huuuummmm..... 33 pages of information; Would take the average pilot 30 minutes to read... Better start reading at least 60nm from Bristol.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 581
Likes: 3
From: ZRH
It's frightening how many cities are disconnecting themselfs from GA by closing servicable airports. Horrible. It really appears that Europe seems to have the goal to eradicate GA for good.
Munich and Berlin come to mind with others trying hard to get rid of the vermin they think GA is.
Well, I've taken my consequences and avoid cities like that whenever I can, be it for business, pleasure or otherwise. I prefer spending my hard earned cash where I am welcome.
Munich and Berlin come to mind with others trying hard to get rid of the vermin they think GA is.
Well, I've taken my consequences and avoid cities like that whenever I can, be it for business, pleasure or otherwise. I prefer spending my hard earned cash where I am welcome.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,982
Likes: 1
From: In the boot of my car!
AN2
I Agree with you! Compared to America aviation is very badly treated in Europe especially GA with massive costs and restrictions.
It is disgusting how short sighted and stupid some of our decision makers are.
Bristol obviously only wants to be a second rate city which sadly is the way its going with a bunch of short sighted ignorant idiots running it
Pace
I Agree with you! Compared to America aviation is very badly treated in Europe especially GA with massive costs and restrictions.
It is disgusting how short sighted and stupid some of our decision makers are.
Bristol obviously only wants to be a second rate city which sadly is the way its going with a bunch of short sighted ignorant idiots running it
Pace
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: USA
So why do you all put up with that?
What the pilot doesn't know is that he is effectively killing his own network of airports to fly to and from......
Watch this space in 5 years. I'd be surprised if anything changes. Until the EASA accessible IR is rolled out, GA will remain confined to the remote farm fields.