St Helena closed except Medevacs 2/10/2018
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: N Yorkshire, UK
Age: 76
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
St Helena closed except Medevacs 2/10/2018
Understand St Helena Government has pulled current operating contract and consequently airport is effectively closed save for Medevacs
apparently hope is being raised for the regular flight this coming Saturday October 6th
apparently hope is being raised for the regular flight this coming Saturday October 6th
News « St Helena
Summary: Operator (Basil Read Ltd.) has financial problems. Ongoing contract renegotiation with St. Helena Govt. (airport owner) failed, thus contract dissolved. Without contracted operator, ASSI (branch of UK CAA) pulled aerodrome certification - for the moment.
Summary: Operator (Basil Read Ltd.) has financial problems. Ongoing contract renegotiation with St. Helena Govt. (airport owner) failed, thus contract dissolved. Without contracted operator, ASSI (branch of UK CAA) pulled aerodrome certification - for the moment.
News « St Helena
Summary: Operator (Basil Read Ltd.) has financial problems. Ongoing contract renegotiation with St. Helena Govt. (airport owner) failed, thus contract dissolved. Without contracted operator, ASSI (branch of UK CAA) pulled aerodrome certification - for the moment.
Summary: Operator (Basil Read Ltd.) has financial problems. Ongoing contract renegotiation with St. Helena Govt. (airport owner) failed, thus contract dissolved. Without contracted operator, ASSI (branch of UK CAA) pulled aerodrome certification - for the moment.
Anyone who followed the construction of this airport will be aware that the terminal in size and fitout would be the envy of quite a few regional airports around the world. Whereas one might think that a few Portakabins would have sufficed, I believe it's the largest building on the island, with staffing to match.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 645
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My point is this seems to be no place for some regular commercial airport. Wiki suggests strategic interests (Falklands) might have played a role. How viable can regular operations and some airport business case be down there?
A start up airline Atlantic Star Airways was setting up a series of scheduled services from LGW using an AMS based TUI 737-800 with a reduced payload and some premium seating with a tech stop at Banjul planned. Marketing and ticket sales were commenced.
BA/comair ordered a new 737-800 with scimitars to operate planned services twice a week from both CPT and JNB and flew the first big jet test flights into St helena.
These flights as we know saw Comair find the 738 was now unsuitable for the weather/wind conditions found at the new airport against their own SOP's with it's runway as built.
Seems the saga is continuing....I have not heard that the Falklands or even Ascension have played any part in the airports opening problems.
except that wideawake cannot be used for commercial flight alternates
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: cambs.
Age: 61
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bugger.....there goes my dream of spending all day laying on the beach at English Bay flying a nice little turboprop/ regional jet between ASI-HLE once a week.😭
Last edited by captbod; 8th Oct 2018 at 13:35. Reason: Additional text
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Sydney NSW
Posts: 513
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
well captainbod
yup basil read has folded the tent and crept silently to rest.
but with the obsidian gone, car hire gone, petrol gone, filling station gone it might get kinda lonely on asi. it is too late for me but not for you. dream on!!
these months past lack of range and low mist is not helping
yup basil read has folded the tent and crept silently to rest.
but with the obsidian gone, car hire gone, petrol gone, filling station gone it might get kinda lonely on asi. it is too late for me but not for you. dream on!!
these months past lack of range and low mist is not helping
Just to put the above into plain language (!) Basil Read, the contractors/operators for the airport, have indeed gone into the South African equivalent of Administration/Chapter 11, known as Business Rescue. Their website now bears the branding of the Administrators
BUSINESS RESCUE OF BASIL READ LIMITED - Matuson & Associates
They had been the key business and employer on the island throughout the airport construction and their subsequent operation of it. They were also its principal user, they had a Falcon business jet which often seemed to be in and out with personnel and materials. With them having gone under, the island administration (and the UK government who funded the airport and who were determined not to let a mainstream UK contractor have the job) areoing to have to think quickly what to do.
BUSINESS RESCUE OF BASIL READ LIMITED - Matuson & Associates
They had been the key business and employer on the island throughout the airport construction and their subsequent operation of it. They were also its principal user, they had a Falcon business jet which often seemed to be in and out with personnel and materials. With them having gone under, the island administration (and the UK government who funded the airport and who were determined not to let a mainstream UK contractor have the job) areoing to have to think quickly what to do.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Bishops Stortford
Age: 64
Posts: 143
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The former RMS St Helena is now the MNG Tahiti, a Vessel Based Armoury, working in the Gulf of Oman in the anti-piracy business.
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The cargo ship has a few passenger berths as there will always be people who can't or won't fly.
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: UK
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looks like they were fairly well prepared for the inevitable collapse of BR. Airport reopened as of 5th October. Credit where it's due I say.
"St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to inform that confirmation has been received from the Airport Regulator, Air Safety Support International (ASSI), that the Aerodrome Certificate and approvals for St Helena Airport have been issued to St Helena Airport Ltd (SHAL).
SHG is also pleased to advise that all staff previously engaged at the St Helena Airport have taken up positions with SHAL. The team is highly qualified and experienced and their support to the ongoing operation of the St Helena Airport is very much appreciated. Of particular note is the appointment of Ms Gwyneth Howell as Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager of SHAL. Our congratulations to Gwyneth on her appointment.
Finally, SHG has been advised by our insurance providers that all necessary insurances are in place. SHG is therefore pleased to announce that St Helena Airport has recommenced operations as normal with effect from today, 5 October 2018.
SHG
5 October 2018"
"St Helena Government (SHG) is pleased to inform that confirmation has been received from the Airport Regulator, Air Safety Support International (ASSI), that the Aerodrome Certificate and approvals for St Helena Airport have been issued to St Helena Airport Ltd (SHAL).
SHG is also pleased to advise that all staff previously engaged at the St Helena Airport have taken up positions with SHAL. The team is highly qualified and experienced and their support to the ongoing operation of the St Helena Airport is very much appreciated. Of particular note is the appointment of Ms Gwyneth Howell as Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager of SHAL. Our congratulations to Gwyneth on her appointment.
Finally, SHG has been advised by our insurance providers that all necessary insurances are in place. SHG is therefore pleased to announce that St Helena Airport has recommenced operations as normal with effect from today, 5 October 2018.
SHG
5 October 2018"