Flying to Isle of Man during TT Week
 

Hi

We are planning a trip to the Isle of Man 3rd - 6th June and would welcome and tips hints or general advice that anyone can furnish, flying from Exeter to Ronaldsway VFR only.

Thanks in advance
Nige

Other thread here. If you have any specific questions, feel free to message here or PM, I'll do my best to answer.

Hi, I've done it a few times from Exeter and Dunkeswell to both Ronaldsway and Andreas over the years. Its not difficult in anyway.

I usually fly direct over Anglesea, but you can go up via the Manchester lowlevel route. Direct is much closer for Ronaldsway. I always call Valley as I go through the wales areas, but they never seem interested.

I fax the forms over to special branch in plenty of time and have only been "stopped" once, as I was leaving Dunk once last year. IoM special branch have never shown any interest.

I wear an imersion suit and carry a PLB, well her indoors carrys the PLB.

Ronaldsway is expensive, but helpfull. And Manx Flyers are very friendly, but a long way from the terminal if you need transport.

Andreas is cheeper, and very stony surface. usually no one there talking on the radio unless taking off or landing. One time the glideing winchmaster talked to me to say they would wait while I landed.

You can't fly over the TT course at race times, there are so many helicopters you don't get clearance. ATC are helpfull as they can be.

Guess you will have other questions. If you like PM me and I will let you have my phone number, or reply to any direct questions on here if you like.

I was there the last couple of weeks, but can't get back for the TT. :mad:

I've flown to Ronaldsway and driven to Andreas.

The 1st is fine, of course. Watch out for the sudden fog etc.

The surface at Andreas is dreadful (crumbling tarmac, with huge chunks loose) and I would not want to fly there unless I was going to have a prop overhaul afterwards anyway.

There is a 3rd (big) runway there somewhere but is not allowed to be used. They IIRC used to have annual events there. Such a waste...

The water crossing is a non-issue. From say 6000ft you can almost see the IOM, on a good day.

Another thread here:

FLYER Forums • View topic - Isle of Man TT VFR flying restrictions: no slots required

Quite true the surface is dreadful, but with good technique i have never had so much as a nick in any of 4 aircraft I have flown in and out. But its really broken up.



:O Dont forget to ask USS George Bush if you can fly close ;)

I don't know why they don't resurface Andreas.

It can't cost more than about £50k to tarmac it.

I guess it is the usual GA situation: a bunch of people there who don't get on, and nobody wants to contribute to the others' flying. Or the landowner won't offer security of tenure.

I am told that the re-surfacing of Andreas is a victim of IoM politics with the background of objections from the IoM airport authority.

Surely a landowner with a tarmac runway can resurface it, without a breach of Planning rules.

I know a lot of people who fly out of Andreas, and I'm up there quite often myself. Not really got anything to do with the above, however IO540 has got it on the money.

Infighting in the GA/Microlight community, nobody wanting to put up any money. Disinterested landlords who won't give security of tenure (won't sign anything fullstop) and certainly won't put up any cash to improve the place.