Isle of Scilly link could be re-established by 2016
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From: The Alps
Isle of Scilly link could be re-established by 2016
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From: Aberdeen
No. Newquay is twice the distance. Half the number of rotations in the day. It was already an expensive flight and depended on high frequency/ short distance/ high load factors. From Newquay you would have to charge much more and would struggle to fill the seats.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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From: Too close to Croydon for comfort
BIH had identified another potential site (St Agnes? Can't recall now...) before closing the service. Another option was Lands End Aerodrome (St Just).
Hope they manage it, PZ ain't quite the same without it...!
Hope they manage it, PZ ain't quite the same without it...!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Kammbronn
BIH had identified another potential site (St Agnes? Can't recall now...) before closing the service. Another option was Lands End Aerodrome (St Just).
Penzance is much quieter these days.
Gnome de PPRuNe
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Thanks Digin. St Erth would have been a good place. Didn't realise who owns Lands End; I seem to recall that BIH's plan was to close Lands End to light aircraft (?) which seemed a bit odd as St Mary's seems to work OK.
Earliest aviation memory was the BEA S-61N shuttling back and forth across PZ in mid-60s (that and being slightly scared by a loud and angry buzzing sound that turned out to be a Wasp!).
Finally got my ride out to St Mary's on the S-61N just before they shut the service down. Trip back on a perfect September evening was at low level around the coast past Lamorna and Mousehole - as much for the crew's benefit as the pax I suspect!
Earliest aviation memory was the BEA S-61N shuttling back and forth across PZ in mid-60s (that and being slightly scared by a loud and angry buzzing sound that turned out to be a Wasp!).
Finally got my ride out to St Mary's on the S-61N just before they shut the service down. Trip back on a perfect September evening was at low level around the coast past Lamorna and Mousehole - as much for the crew's benefit as the pax I suspect!
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Kammbronn
Despite living down that way for the past 18 years it was a trip I never managed to do. TBH I can't see anyone resurrecting a service unless they can find a suitable departure point that ties-in with the mainline rail service close to PZ.
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Cornwall
Don't forget the NIMBY's
I wonder how the folk at ST Erth would respond if you told them these two things:
1. There WILL be a heliport at St Erth.
2. A Landing fee will be charged for every movement and a share paid to each household within 1 mile (?) of the new heliport. If just one pound per ticket were added for this 'solidarity' fund it would easily generate a sizeable fund each year. At the height of the season the old PZ operation was flying 24 rotations a day (2 aircraft). Sixteen seats per rotation so at a rough guess you might be able to give each household (I am guessing 40) a couple of hundred pounds a month. The reward would be proportional to their pain.
Then add the fact that from St Erth there could be four outbound and four inbound routes that will be used in rotation to minimise the flyover noise issues. The speed of modern helicopters makes small variations in routing hardly noticeable on the bottom line.
The Islands are a regional asset and they need a direct service from a railhead. West Penwith could capitalise on this regional asset and profit by it.
The money needs to come via the Islands and may be available from European Development funds?
G
1. There WILL be a heliport at St Erth.
2. A Landing fee will be charged for every movement and a share paid to each household within 1 mile (?) of the new heliport. If just one pound per ticket were added for this 'solidarity' fund it would easily generate a sizeable fund each year. At the height of the season the old PZ operation was flying 24 rotations a day (2 aircraft). Sixteen seats per rotation so at a rough guess you might be able to give each household (I am guessing 40) a couple of hundred pounds a month. The reward would be proportional to their pain.
Then add the fact that from St Erth there could be four outbound and four inbound routes that will be used in rotation to minimise the flyover noise issues. The speed of modern helicopters makes small variations in routing hardly noticeable on the bottom line.
The Islands are a regional asset and they need a direct service from a railhead. West Penwith could capitalise on this regional asset and profit by it.
The money needs to come via the Islands and may be available from European Development funds?
G
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 48
From: Kammbronn
A quid a ticket bounty isn't going to go far, as any noise footprint will invariable cover large parts of Hayle, St Erth, Canonstown, and the posh houses overlooking the estuary at Lelant. Then you'll have the RSPB claiming compensation on behalf of the waders in the saltings...
