Having been an instructor for Tony i think this is a great day for GA. How someone can compare flying a tomohawk with no airways equip out of an airfield surrounded by high ground to flying in an airline enviroment is stupid and perhaps is the CFI at Welshpool.

Impressive Wingspan I live on the south cost I’ve just retired here and for your information I learnt to fly at the oldest flying school in the world. I am in no way knocking any past or present instructor. I have spoken to many of them over the years the story’s they have told particularly about the use of the WPL sent chills down my spine.

Wee Weasley Welshman said the pressure to fly reduced after the fatal accident well Impressive Wingspan three people had to die for that to happen. Those who occupy a glasshouse in the south predicted deaths at CV many years ago.

Impressive Wingspan you say you and other instructors you worked with were put under pressure to fly, you had a duty to report that fact to the correct authorities and ensure action was taken. I hope if you are still flying commercially you put your duty as a pilot before profit cheap flying or even your gainful employment.

Bossman - the glasshouse have a lot to answer for though...

I am aware of seven separate occasions where people, ranging from office staff to instructors, who have made reports to the CAA regarding events that occurred there; with no attempted prosecutions.

The previous MP, Alex Carlile, had a long correspondence with the then Chairman of the CAA over what was going on there, following their refusal to prosecute.

Mr Carlile, I should remind those of you who don't know, was, and is, a top civil law barrister...

(Edited for missing word)

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: Daifly ]</p>

Yes Bossman I am still flying commercially but fortunately the company I work for has a lucrative government contract, so profit is not really a consideration, not that I would ever consider breaking the limits placed on us. Nor did I break the limits as an instructor at Welshpool, or any others I worked with. I think that your use of the phrase “sent chills down my spine“ is a bit of an overkill really. I did a lot of hours at Welshpool and the only two aircraft who’s pilots put a chill down my spine where two who hadn’t visited the field before. Also you havn’t really explained why you think cheap and quality don’t go together, if you are saying it’s not the instructors you are getting at then what are you getting at. Look I’m not sticking up for Pool or it’s owner, but the place has been running and obviously making enough for the owner to be earning a wage and to be smoking around in a Baron.

If you didn't work there you have no business specualting about working conditions. I did and they were fine.

A fine school just bit the dust. I hope something approaching its equal rapidly fills its place.

WWW

Lots of experts on Welshpool on the Forum. I have worked here for 3 months. Before that I trained with the RAF in a UAS, Oxford, and completed my FIC at White Waltham. I then stared instructing at European Flyers before moving to Welshpool. Out of the instructors I work with no one will fly when the conditions are not safe. Incidentally for those who seem to think that the instructors are inexperienced I am the greenest with only 600 hours, the others have 4 figure logbooks. Yes there is pressure from the management to fly - it is a commercial job! There is not however as much management pressure to fly as I witnessed at Oxford, or was subjected to at EF. Here the instructors decision is respected - I have never had my job threatened for not flying. I cannot say what happened in the past, only my experience of the present. I am also not commenting on any character clashes people seem to have had - only how I view the quality of the flying training. And that is better than the 3 clubs I have flown with previously. There is more continuity and personal attention than I have seen at other schools.

Irespective of whether the owner of the school is on anyone`s Christmas card list.The school was putting out 45 hr PPL courses for £3000 and appeared to be making money.So I think it is rather sad that they are going.......still there are plenty of other schools pushing out 45 hr PPL courses....unfortunately not at that price. <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

Absolutely Delta Wun Wun, it is an excellent price and makes it more affordable to many young lads (or old even) wanting to try and get a start in aviation without having to spend four weeks in Florida. I would certainly train at Welshpool myself if i had to go through it all again (perish the thought). Shouldn't all wannabes on this forum be wanting owners to shave the odd thousand here and there off the cost of courses???

There are many reasons why Pool Ave could offer training so cheaply and a lot of them are unique to Welshpool:. .Exclusive use of entire airfield and hangers. .Own maintenance facilities. .Direct purchase of fuel (no middle man). .Well-maintained put cheap aircraft purchased mainly in the states with high hours and some with damaged history most with minimum equipment.. .I understand very favourable rent and business rates agreements.. .Other source of income, E.g. sale of fuel Inc jet A1, landing fees, maintenance, hangerage ext. . .There is no reason why some one else couldn’t do the same thing; Mr. B Jones would be in a better position because he’s the landlord.. .I think the point most are trying to make is that the current owner is/was an absolute tyrant more suit to gorilla warfare than GA.. . <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Pete Marsden who works at Welshpool taught me to fly before his Welshpool days, and he was the most profesional and rule book following person you could ever hope to meet, he would NEVER risk anything or anyone.. .On top of that he is also a very nice guy and I hope he finds a new source of income very soon.. Good luck Pete <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

How come they always seemed to be bending those Tomahawks though?

I'm sad to hear that Pool aviation is being forced to relocate, it offered a good affordable service to GA. If you do the maths I think you'll find that their accident record is good.. . As for further development bear in mind that welshpool airport is built on a flood plain, a local farmer was refused permission to build a porta-loo on his camp site near by, let alone expanding an airport!

Indeed Flash, the airport is a on floodplain - every year that is very, very obvious... But the longest the runway has been underwater is four days - Luton's closed for snow more times than that through one winter!!

And anyway, this is a quote from the Government's current planning guidelines:

"The new planning guidance includes a clear statement that building in the functional flood plains used to hold excess water in times of flood should be wholly exceptional - and limited to essential infrastructure."

So, let's examine the facts, essential infrastructure...

An airport? Yes.

A portaloo? No.

<img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

Let's make the most of it before the Government introduce a countrywide ban on further airport development without a public enquiry (LHR T5) for each case.

I actually do not think planning permission will be a problem. Apart from half a dozen malcontents who nearly all moved to the area after flying started at EGCW the local populace support ANYTHING that supplies jobs. You could probably get the local council to grant a nuclear waste dump approval if you could show it would create half a dozen 'local' jobs for 'local' people. Shades of Royston Vasey abound <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

It would be nice to finally see that ATC Tower in use...

WWW

Oh God, don't give them ideas WWW!!

Perhaps you could take on a "Homer Simpson" role from the tower overseeing the Welshpool Thermonuclear Reprosessing Plant"?

:)