Does anyone know if GA operations are still happening at Blackpool after its closure “to commercial operations” last Wednesday? Their entire website is gone with a message “no more commercial flying”, and I’ve seen various references about the Squires Gate hub general aviation operations still going on – but there doesn’t seem to be anywhere detailing what’s happened to ATC, whether PPR is needed at Blackpool right now, whether it still counts as a designated airfield for Special Branch, or even a phone number. Any pilots local to Blackpool know what the current story is?
Sorry, don’t know what’s really going on behind the scenes. Anyway, here’s the NOTAM, issued today:
C5335/14 NOTAMN
Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5346N00302W005
A) EGNH B) 1410151700 C) 1411151700
E) AD IS NOT AVBL FOR THE USE OF AIRCRAFT WHICH NORMALLY REQUIRE A
LICENSED AD. LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN PLACE FOR BASED
OPERATORS ONLY. NO VISITORS WILL BE APPROVED.
One thing is for sure: UK is losing its future for GA in these years. No other country in Europe even remotely has this threatening pace of airport closures. If nothing gets done quickly, then 10 years from now, another 30 or so of the 125 remaining licensed airports in UK will be gone, which in itself doesn’t sound catastrophic, but if you look at which airfields are closing (i.e. the GA-accessible ones in “valuable” locations), it gets totally alarming.
A bit more info here.
http://www.westair.uk.com/blackpoolairportnews.php
I understand that Blackpool will re-open for GA in a couple of weeks. Not sure if as Blackpool Radio or Information, discussions are underway.
Also not sure as to status of fuel when it does reopen
I hope that they do re-open but this is what press is saying….
Zolfo Cooper statement regarding Blackpool Airport Limited Thursday, 16 October, 2014 – 18:13 London 16 October, Nick Cropper, Alastair Beveridge and Catherine Williamson of Zolfo Cooper, the leading independent provider of Advisory and Restructuring services, were today appointed Liquidators of Blackpool Airport Limited (BAL). – See more at: http://www.europe.zolfocooper.com/our-news?publication=Press+Release#sthash.zcxkduqc.dpuf
