options for flying to Edinburgh?
 

Hi all

I am wanting to fly up and stay 2 nights for an up and coming trip. Been reading that their international airport is a little on ther pricey side!?

Any other suggestions? We are heading to EH15 post code area. C172 or PA28 size.


Thanks

Liam

Edinburgh is a bit of a headache - the airport management just don't like non based GA.

Might sound a bit out of the way, but try Dundee. Nice friendly and affordable airport, lights and an instrument approach, then a very picturesque 1 hour train ride to the centre of Edinburgh.

G

Kirknewton gliding - 1000m of tarmac about 7-8 miles South West of the city centre? Never been there so no idea what sort of condition it is in, or how secure.

Kirknewton technical

Go to East Fortune.

You'd be lucky to get a PA28/C172 into East Fortune.. try Fife (Glenrothes, EGPJ). It's about the closest to Edinburgh, and not too difficult to travel from.

Day/VFR only I agree, I'd use Glenrothes.

My recommendation for Dundee was based upon having the options of an instrument approach and/or night runway lighting.

Depends upon aircraft/pilot capability which is best.

G

If you're wanting to fly into Edinburgh itself, make sure you have deep pockets. Expect to pay in the region of £200 for landing, nav, parking, "handling" (sic :rolleyes:) and security charges for a two-night stay. As for fuel... :eek:

You might be better just getting an EasyJet/BMI. Glenrothes, Dundee, Perth and Cumbernauld are all not too far away and affordable but then you've got the hassle of getting to where you want to be. Trains, taxis etc. Much easier and cheaper just to let somebody else fly you straight there...

I hope Edinburgh's new owners (whoever they end up being) will treat GA better, it's absolutely farcical how poorly served Scotland's capital is with regards to GA. There again pigs might aviate before GA is seen as welcome at reasonable price at a "big" airport like PH. :(

Smithy

Kirknewton is perfectly usable, there is a significant MOD flaf factor, though easy enough to comply with and the natives are friendly once you get there.

Edinburgh is also perfectly usable and friendly enough .... but expensive. Expect to orbit on base leg and nip in behind a 737.

I have been to both in my Robin.

Bill

Captain Smithy is right. It's an absolute disgrace that Scotlands capital doesn't have a GA friendly airfield.
It is almost worth paying the price to fly to Edinburgh direct then Signature should give you a lift once you get there. However you must check they can accept you as they have limited parking.

Next nearest to the city is Kirknewton although dealing with the MOD in advance is an extra hassle. If there are no locals available to help you are kind of in the middle of nowhere.

Glenrothes, Cumbernauld, Perth and Dundee are next in order of distance. Dundee and Perth although the furthest have a stations and are busy enough fields that you will be able to blag a lift.

D.O.

DO:Would that be on the same GAT that's completely empty most days?
NS

Edinburgh
 

Done Kirknewton, as the others have said, it is possible but a load of faff dealing with the MOD. Then you have to find someone to take you to the station and get a train to Edinburgh.

East Fortune, very user friendly buy probably not for a spam can.

I would go via Big Easy or maybe even not bother as they just don't want us in Edinburgh and when that is the case I am less inclined to give them my money.

Edinburgh visits.
 

We have waited more than five years from the East Lothian planning authority for a decision on Dirlton so can`t help there. Other options are
East Fortune[either microlight strip at west end which is sound and long enough-no hangarage- or strip at east which is good and long if you run down the centre-no hangarage and no facilities and pponly, local farmer], Glenrothes[good but no direct transport to Edinburgh], Perth[good but a bit far away], Kirknewton is OK and near but you would have to contact them beforehand for hangar access and permission, Portmoak [fine if the motorless will let you in and you can arrange transport] and there are one or two private strips----------

may as well just drive up then. Crazy that Edinburgh is so expensive.

Whos the handling agent or GA flights there? Is there no flying school situated at the airport?

I wouldnt mind giving them a call tomorrow to find out the exact cost if someone woulkd be kind enough to provide a number for the (only?) handling agent?

Kind of says it all doesn't it? What a shame. :( PH controllers are always great and it's a good experience flying in and out of there. There must be a massive market for GA travel into and from PH but it's driven away by the pricing. Is it that difficult to make a grass parking area for visiting light GA near the GAT and set a reasonable landing fee say £20 or whatever it would be after NATS take their cut of it too with overnight parking charges of something reasonable to make a weekend stay of less than £three figures and for the airport still to make reasonable profit off it? Even taking into account security arrangements etc. surely this is entirely feasable? The airspace and capacity fitting in with arrivals/departures is there, the controllers are good at it, never understood why GA is kept away, unless there's some sort of plan in the pipeline to turn PH into an intergalactic spaceport with massive spaceplanes taking off & landing every 30 seconds...

Smithy

Jings and Crivens, go to Cumbernauld then rent a car from Enterprise for a couple of days, they'll pick you up at cumbernauld airport and the car will cost you 30 quid for a couple of days :)

Liam

Signature or Greer Aviation. I've used both and highly recommend Greer.

If cost is an issue then driving is probably cheapest. If there is a few of you by the time you factor train fares from Dundee or wherever there ain't a lot in it.

I do agree that GA could be made more welcome. However on more than one occasion at EDI I have witnessed havoc caused by clowns either getting lost in the zone, on the ground, not knowing any Vfr routes etc etc. Frankly I don't blame them. It is a shame though. It's not the most operationally best laid out airport in the world, and someone taxiing at 4 kts while they try to work out where they're going can cause a lot of problems.

I've witnessed the same silverknapper, I remember someone having to get radar vectors to Hillend for the ski slopes. One of the most prominent features around Edinburgh and they couldn't see it in excellent VMC :ugh:

Prats can cause big problems at busier airports but not everybody's a prat...

It's quite a haul from Portmoak, Glenrothes or Scone to central Edinburgh and more on to EH15 if you use public transport.

Portmoak visiting pilots info:

Visiting Pilots

liam548:Mandatory handling by Signature Flight Support. Greer pulled out of Edinburgh some time ago so Signature has a monopoly. There is a flying club but it has no handling authority. As to GA getting lost in the zone, this is not the reason for the airport's attitude to GA. If it was, the negative attitude would be driven by ATC and would affect zone transits as well as aircraft landing at EGPH. But that's not the case. It's BAA and Signature that drive the negative attitudes. ATC have no problem with GA, whether transiting or landing.
NS

Signature Flight Support for Edinburgh:-

Handling fee £95 pounds.
Landing fee £40.
Parking charge 12.5p per quarter hour. So £12 per day.
Navigation charge £10
Security Fee £45

Total: £214

Avgas £2.70 a litre!

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