Battersea fees up again (incl BHAB statement)
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Battersea fees up again (incl BHAB statement)
Is it just me being a tightwad or is £450 per landing rather a lot to charge for landing at Battersea? This is what the price will be from 1/4/07 according to the latest missive from Von Essen towers. The first hour's parking will be £250 upwards depending on type.
Apparently they need to keep movements down as they will exceed their annual quota of 12000 movements pa by the end of September if things continue as they have so far this year.
Also Mr Von Essen hotels has put the lease up so prices have had to take a hike. (Perhaps to fund the new Von Essen hotel next door?)
I landed there last week and paid the then £210 (plus parking and VAT (plus fuel, depreciation, taxi and other overheads - before somebody starts comparing the cost of 4 peak time rail fares)) for 4 of us to attend 2 separate meetings in our capital, however I will be choosing less extravagant means in the future.
Sorry Mr Von Essen, although I can afford your extortionate fees I will choose not to pay them in future. Just like I can afford to stay at your hotels but would far rather stay at a Travel Inn and spend the money I save on something more meaningful.
Now, where did I put the number for Breeze heliport?
SB
Apparently they need to keep movements down as they will exceed their annual quota of 12000 movements pa by the end of September if things continue as they have so far this year.
Also Mr Von Essen hotels has put the lease up so prices have had to take a hike. (Perhaps to fund the new Von Essen hotel next door?)
I landed there last week and paid the then £210 (plus parking and VAT (plus fuel, depreciation, taxi and other overheads - before somebody starts comparing the cost of 4 peak time rail fares)) for 4 of us to attend 2 separate meetings in our capital, however I will be choosing less extravagant means in the future.
Sorry Mr Von Essen, although I can afford your extortionate fees I will choose not to pay them in future. Just like I can afford to stay at your hotels but would far rather stay at a Travel Inn and spend the money I save on something more meaningful.
Now, where did I put the number for Breeze heliport?
SB
No dont think so. I landed there last week asked for a rotors running refuel as we had had a starting issue. Was told no ( did one the day before) by atc as refuelers wont do it - was then asked by refuelers why I had shut down ! Then held by reception to fill in a form. guess what machine wouldnt start ( banger box playing up ) At 28 mins after landing it fired up. Next day £ 60 bill for parking. Tried to complain by e mail - sent back by their spam filter. Boss now said whats the point. He nearly fell over when I told him prices were going up
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I landed there last week asked for a rotors running refuel as we had had a starting issue.
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"and get a limo"
H-R, for the £450 Battersea landing fee plus £250 minimum parking charge plus VAT I could get a stretch hummer limo complete with integral hot tub, bubbly on tap and some Eastern european laydeez to help pass the time and ease my stress during the journey to central London.
OR Perhaps a Maybach with a magnum of Veuve Cliquot chilled but not iced in the back with highspeed broadband and a satphone?
I think I'll settle for the train though - safer for a number of reasons (and cheaper).
Got the IR yet?
SB
H-R, for the £450 Battersea landing fee plus £250 minimum parking charge plus VAT I could get a stretch hummer limo complete with integral hot tub, bubbly on tap and some Eastern european laydeez to help pass the time and ease my stress during the journey to central London.
OR Perhaps a Maybach with a magnum of Veuve Cliquot chilled but not iced in the back with highspeed broadband and a satphone?
I think I'll settle for the train though - safer for a number of reasons (and cheaper).
Got the IR yet?
SB
Paradism.... a helicopter not starting will usually have no relevance to safety and does not imply it is likely to stop in flight...
I hear Von Essen are doing a special deal for Robinson owners ...you can book 5 landings .....and on the 5th you just leave the machine behind as payment
I hear Von Essen are doing a special deal for Robinson owners ...you can book 5 landings .....and on the 5th you just leave the machine behind as payment
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nigelh
I think the operative words in your post are "usually" and "does not imply it is likely to stop". However, I have been in aviation long enough to know that accidents arise from a chain of events and a very good starting point would be a failure of auto-relight, if installed, and an inability to restart manually in emergency.
I think the operative words in your post are "usually" and "does not imply it is likely to stop". However, I have been in aviation long enough to know that accidents arise from a chain of events and a very good starting point would be a failure of auto-relight, if installed, and an inability to restart manually in emergency.
Nigel
Thanks for support there, no problem flying it, on occasion the banger box wont fire. New banger box on oder - done it twice in 97 starts. The point of my reply is to show how unreasonable the place has become and not to argue over an allison engine starting issue -Paradism. I too have been in aviation long enough to know when to fly and when not to thank you. Once the flame is going it is difficult to put it out. Ok there is a chance the autorelight wont work. But then again tell that to 206 pilots who dont have one !
Thanks for support there, no problem flying it, on occasion the banger box wont fire. New banger box on oder - done it twice in 97 starts. The point of my reply is to show how unreasonable the place has become and not to argue over an allison engine starting issue -Paradism. I too have been in aviation long enough to know when to fly and when not to thank you. Once the flame is going it is difficult to put it out. Ok there is a chance the autorelight wont work. But then again tell that to 206 pilots who dont have one !
Better red than ...
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From Denham, by the time you have landed and then walked down to the station (and waited for the inevitably delayed Chiltern line train), you could almost be in Central London via the M/A 40 in a decent car (about £50) - which compares with parking at Batters.
1/2 way through - I've started to have nightmares about the 29 seconds from the OM to the MAPt at Stauning ...
h-r
1/2 way through - I've started to have nightmares about the 29 seconds from the OM to the MAPt at Stauning ...
h-r
i've heard two major charter operators have now boycotted battersea.
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personally I used to think that keeping battersea open was important,
lately though having not always had good experiences there, I think its too expensive, too small, too much hassle and not really in the right place, so wouldnt really be bothered if it gets shut down.
having said that I wish the new lot well trying to make it work.
CF
lately though having not always had good experiences there, I think its too expensive, too small, too much hassle and not really in the right place, so wouldnt really be bothered if it gets shut down.
having said that I wish the new lot well trying to make it work.
CF
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The concept was excellent, operated on the 28 day rule. Originally conceived by George MH but the cost of defending the various court actions proved too expensive. At least he found a new site at the back of the power station. So not all was lost.
I dont want all you owners with "small choppers" to get a complex but have you noticed that the price for the big boys has not gone up at all ......this is really just a great opportunity to get rid of common little poor people in small helicopters flown by themselves , often with poor knowledge of the procedures which then causes other problems with the locals etc You can see their point that if you can afford a proper helicopter you can probably afford a proper pilot. Personally i only go in there if somebody else is paying/ leasing the aircraft because in a single you can easily be held up by ATC and by the time you a snaked down the river it only saves 5 min or so compared to having a car waiting at Denham. It had to come ....simple economics !!
nigelh: you're so wrong about small helis upsetting the neighbours. Suggest you read the Helicopter Noise document produced by GLA last year. The vast majority of noise complaints about Battersea come during Farnborough week - and (surprise, surprise) all Farnborough movements are exempt from Battersea's count due to grandfathering from the days of Westland....this makes it all hilarious. The management at Battersea justify their rates increases by saying they have to reduce movements due to cap - and then they let as many as possible move through during Farnborough at a time of year when all the neighbours have their windows open and are trying to enjoy the outside.
Then there's the question of a certain football club owner and his late night movements
As far as I'm aware, Roman hasn't got a 22.
Then there's the question of a certain football club owner and his late night movements
As far as I'm aware, Roman hasn't got a 22.
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Battersea Charges
I wasn’t surprised to hear that the fees at Battersea are going to be increased! I’m sure that none of us were surprised really.
What does annoy me is the lack of notice. A letter dated 21st March arrived yesterday, giving us a one week notice period. I don’t think it makes life easier for Charter Operators.
I don’t foresee a huge reduction in movements as a result of the new fees.
Why don’t we give the ‘Close from September’ option a go? Do you think they would close the heliport?
XD
What does annoy me is the lack of notice. A letter dated 21st March arrived yesterday, giving us a one week notice period. I don’t think it makes life easier for Charter Operators.
I don’t foresee a huge reduction in movements as a result of the new fees.
Why don’t we give the ‘Close from September’ option a go? Do you think they would close the heliport?
XD
Last edited by Xavier Dosh; 27th Mar 2007 at 10:29.
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"Do you think they would close the heliport?"
Depends whose counting the movements Xavier and whether they can count past 12000!
I am sure that a financial analysis will have been done demonstrating that the majority of Battersea income derives from big expensive helicopters (quite possibly carrying Russian oligarchs at ungodly hours of the night and earning lots of out-of-hours type extra fees) and that those of us with more humble choppers generate relatively miniscule amounts. When your ex-wife has just taken you for a billion then the issue of a piddly few thousand is neither here nor there really!
Nigelh, you are correct in that the fee structure is only a deterrent to those with smaller choppers and the big boys will not see much difference (they were paying through the nose already).
Shame to see it go so astronomically overpriced though, landing there was a buzz.
SB
Depends whose counting the movements Xavier and whether they can count past 12000!
I am sure that a financial analysis will have been done demonstrating that the majority of Battersea income derives from big expensive helicopters (quite possibly carrying Russian oligarchs at ungodly hours of the night and earning lots of out-of-hours type extra fees) and that those of us with more humble choppers generate relatively miniscule amounts. When your ex-wife has just taken you for a billion then the issue of a piddly few thousand is neither here nor there really!
Nigelh, you are correct in that the fee structure is only a deterrent to those with smaller choppers and the big boys will not see much difference (they were paying through the nose already).
Shame to see it go so astronomically overpriced though, landing there was a buzz.
SB
The One Your Mother Warned You About
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Wasn't the last enormous hike, less than six months ago explained away as an effort to cut down the number of movements?
Even the Grocer didn't shove the prices up like this when Harrods operated the place.
It just feels as though we are all helping to pay the development costs of the new hotel, or that there is an element of anti-competitiveness creeping in.
I have been told (rightly or wrongly) that Premiair are leasing the heliport from Von Essen. Love to know what those lease costs are. Also how much are Premiair paying in landing fees, lets face it Von H and Prem are all now one big happy familly.
Sadly I feel that too many complaints will play straight into the hands of Red Ken and his army of whingers, none of whom have a history as long as Battersea.
Bring back the barge or borrow one of the mothballed carriers from Mrs Windsors navy, stick it at Greenwich and we'll all go there.
Vanguard is ok, they just need to realise that you can't seriously get two public transport machines on there and their pad markings look misleading.
Even the Grocer didn't shove the prices up like this when Harrods operated the place.
It just feels as though we are all helping to pay the development costs of the new hotel, or that there is an element of anti-competitiveness creeping in.
I have been told (rightly or wrongly) that Premiair are leasing the heliport from Von Essen. Love to know what those lease costs are. Also how much are Premiair paying in landing fees, lets face it Von H and Prem are all now one big happy familly.
Sadly I feel that too many complaints will play straight into the hands of Red Ken and his army of whingers, none of whom have a history as long as Battersea.
Bring back the barge or borrow one of the mothballed carriers from Mrs Windsors navy, stick it at Greenwich and we'll all go there.
Vanguard is ok, they just need to realise that you can't seriously get two public transport machines on there and their pad markings look misleading.
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Its a pity the current legistration in power could not feed a few million into developing decent helipads in London as opposed to wasting billions staging games for ten days which now one wants.