I’ve made use if the 5 for £5.
It was an ‘engine-run only’ flight where normally I wouldn’t bother landing away.
I’ll do the same again.
Atc were friendly accommodating and professional as always.
This option helps them and me, win-win.
(Yes I know it’s only while CAT is quiet)
If they are not busy you can call by phone with quite short notice and then pay over the phone the next working day. What’s not to like.
Just be clear that this is t&g only. A regular visit attracts the regular fees. Maybe they could see a way to discount that too in the future, even if only until CAT returns.
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To be fair, for me if I needed or wanted to be in the area I wouldn’t think it too excessive, it’s just a bit excessive if it’s a ‘no particular reason’ visit but as I’m a bit too close anyway it’s rather pointless……easier (and quicker) to drive.
AFAIK instrument training is the same price as it was but that does fall in line with similar fees elsewhere in the south east.
I have been flying a DA42 into Southend once or twice a year for the last 3 or 4 years. For one IAP plus parking for a day or two I have found it quite competitively priced compared many other UK airports which offer far less in terms of parking or marshalling. The parking has always been on hard standing alongside the biz jets.
The ATC and ground staff are helpful as is clearing immigration. And it is convenient for London with a railway station a five or ten minute walk from the exit to the GA area
Everytime I fly in there I am thankful for the advice I received on this forum on my first trip there.
However, I advise against taking a TBM 700 in there from Europe for the weekend. The fees were eye watering.
If you’ve been buzzing around in a TBM, I’m slightly more envious of that than I am sympathetic to the fees. 
Peter wrote:
Flying to EGMC is also a significant risk; a 10 second mistake around that bit of the LTMA will land you in this
I had a look on the chart and it doesn’t look like a significant risk – in the immediate vicinity of EGMC, the London TMA doesn’t start till 3500’. If you level off at 2000’ you’re well clear of any controlled airspace that doesn’t belong to EGMC for a number of miles, even if you’re departing EGMC in a south westerly direction.
Whilst obviously I’m hugely sympathetic on their current situation, some of these airfields that were looking down on “little GA” and wanted to have nothing to do with us are literally begging for business (Southampton, looking at you).
I hope they remember who their friends are in the recovery. I get that some are slot constrained, but the idea that these not-so-busy airports can’t accommodate GA too – alongside CAT – is absurd. Even the larger ones like Zurich do a good job of it.
This has been sent round by one of the FTOs based at Southend. It is pretty amazing! I wonder if they would extend it to other GA pilots? The offer ends at the end of Feb 2021, However
