smith:If Blackpool have used that as an excuse it has no basis. Blackpool had about 5000 commercial heli movements last year. Humberside and Norwich both about 7000, Scatsta 8000 and Aberdeen 37000. There's only two based commercial helis at Blackpool and anyway, why would they alter the risk level to fixed wing GA aircraft? They're always flown by two commercial pilots and operated under full JAR-OPS standards.
NS

NorthSouth
 

I totally accept what you are saying, all facts and figures and everything. My main point is that Blackpool have a specified insurance cover required for GA, whereas most airfields don't have anything specifeid or printed in airfield information guides.

I'm not bothered that the heli's have two crew, are under radar coverage etc etc, I am just warning other GA pilots to check their insurance liability if flying to Blackpool as it may not provide the coverage required.

My friend had actually said his club aircraft weren't allowed to fly to Blackpool because of the heli's and upon noticing the specific insurance requirments, maybe I tied the two together. If Scatsca, Aberdeen etc have more movements good for them. Final time I say it and irrespective of the heli's:- make sure your insurance liability will cove you when flying into Blackpool!!!

Sorry, not trying to argue with you, just challenging what the airport may have given as the reason. If anyone gets told by Blackpool that they can't fly in because of commercial heli movements then it's clearly rubbish. But then most of the reasons given by big-headed airports for banning light aircraft are bull****. In this case it's presumably that they decided to buy a cheap insurance policy which transfers all the risk to aircraft operators.

Only other UK airports I know with a stipulated minimum insurance are MoD airfields.

NS

Just to balance things. I had to fuel stop in Blackpool twice a couple of weeks ago (note to self buy Bigger fuel tanks for the YAK).

Landing fee £ 22 which is a lot better than Cranfield. ATC were accommodating to tight circuits. And also no messing around on the departure. On the ground 20 mins once and 30 mins the second time because the guys had to refuel an airliner. For three aircraft that is not bad going. So for what we wanted Blackpool had no faults.

We got stuck there last year and I have to say Pool aviation (or Hanger 3 as they are now) were superb at looking after a couple of stray pilots. Although security in the terminal were impolite, but there all the same these days.
So thanks Blackpool (Esp ATC and refuelers) for us you got it right, same again next year please.

All the best

Wide

quote :- "A friend of mine said it was due to the number of heli's going to the Morecombe bay gas fields " :* :*
The heli's do not effect the GA operation at Blackpool at all , your informant has simply made an error .

All I can think is that their is a protected zone around the Offshore Oil and Gas Fields and thats it , and GA traffic calls up regularly on their company frequency for crossing clearance , and 99.9% of the time GA gets cleared through. :ok:

The offshore helicopter operation has no impact on GA at Blackpool as it is a self contained operating unit:ok: :ok:

NS
 

It has never came directly from Blackpool airport, it was all hearsay from a friend. If you read my posts I have never quoted that Blackpool are giving this information. I have said I have heard and that a friend told me.

Just wanting to know why GA aircraft have to have £5m liability, I put two and two together and got five.

Anyone know why Blackpool stipulate minimum £5m liability? Is it incase you fly into the tower?:}

A quick scan of my Pooleys showed the next highest insurance requirement is £3m, with nothing specified for the major international airports. The £2m extra should cover the cost of the skips to dispose of Pontins, in the case of EFATO at 200ft. :E

The £5million liability IS NOT a requirement in order to land at Blackpool.
It is simply a guidline set down by the insurance company.
The onus for the limit of cover is completely on the operator.

The liabilty you face would be the same at any Airport which would be for the worse case scenario i.e. you fly into the passenger Terminal.

Blackpool is merely being prudent in advising this as a guidline but they obviously won't ask to see your insurance documents or indeed stop you landing if you haven't got £5m cover.

So Smith don't be put off and enjoy Blackpool !

So what's this entry in the AIP all about?
Airport Regulations:
b) Aircraft using Blackpool Airport are to carry third party insurance cover of not less than £5,000,000.

For the reasons previously given, most airports require a minimum insurance cover of around £2.5M.
Having sniffed around at our place, it may come as no suprise to you that, when the airport authority wanted know how much liability insurance an individual aircraft operater should have, no one could tell them - in the end it was the Insurance Industry who came up with the figures.