Weston Airport

Kenny2012

G-JANN PA-34 D J Whitcombe

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G-JANN http://flic.kr/p/jSwAyD

folbotcar

notharrypotter wrote: »

Can you link the source?

No link, just well connected sources. Not written in stone yet I believe.

emo72

Dancer123456 wrote: »

Rumour has it Weston Airport to lose air traffic controllers at end of month.Slippery Road to closure? Looks like equipment bought from Galway may go somewhere Else. So much for College Ireland and Ethiad link.

1st post? find this hard to believe tbh. weston has been doing well the last couple of years. whats the etihad link anyway?

pclancy

Dancer123456 wrote: »

Rumour has it Weston Airport to lose air traffic controllers at end of month.Slippery Road to closure? Looks like equipment bought from Galway may go somewhere Else. So much for College Ireland and Ethiad link.

Source?

emo72

pclancy wrote: »

Source?

dont think you're going to get one! as he said its a rumour. not saying its a false rumour, just not a proveable one:D

folbotcar

You need controllers if there's any pretence of taking IFR traffic. Having said that. In the US there are many uncontrolled fields that take IFR.

But you really don't need a tower for ordinary GA traffic.

Xpro

Thats right. He bought all the equipment from Galway, ILS, NDB, etc. but I think he will just sell it on. One Firefruck is being used.
As for controllers, I don't think he's getting rid of Atc all together, just replacing the staff.
Weston is changing big time, and I don't like the new owner one bit.

logie101

In fairness the new owner is running a business and is entitled to do what he wants with it.
He has invested heavily in buying Weston and I suspect the ongoing running costs are high.
He can't be expected to run it at a loss to appease the aviation community.

Unfortunately it is a commercial venture and as long as it continues as an airport that is the main thing.

bombs away

You dont need controllers to keep the place open, Weston was operating for a long time as Class G without any controllers. I doubt the lack of same would cause it to close down.

Quebec Delta Mike

bombs away wrote: »

You dont need controllers to keep the place open, Weston was operating for a long time as Class G without any controllers. I doubt the lack of same would cause it to close down.

...so let's turn the clock back then, to pre-2006, when, with no ATC in Class G airspace, flying ops at Weston resembled a "circus". Ask any pilot who flew then, they will testify how much "less safe" it was. There was of course much more traffic then, including many helicopters, which no longer exists. Aircraft could come and go from Weston, without contacting anyone, regularly busting in to Dublin's and Baldonnel's airspace. The number of near misses cannot be counted, as the majority of aircraft involved flew without identifying themselves to anyone.
Following protracted negotiations with the IAA and adjacant ANSPs (Baldonnel & Dublin), many Safety Cases, and Airspace Change Proposals resulted in changing the airspace around Weston to Class C, controlled. The resulting increase in safety for all aviators and airspace users is now a historical record. Any incident at or near Weston, whether it involves Weston traffic or not, can be fully investigated and safety measures put in place.
Switching back to Class G will be an onerous task, without any safety benefits, in fact the opposite. The adjacent airspace users have a lot to lose by agreeing to this, which is not by any means a "given". However, no ATC at Weston, may just suit some people, who would see benefits in the lack of regulation, control and accountability.

Be careful what you wish for...

QDM.

bombs away

Quebec Delta Mike wrote: »

...so let's turn the clock back then, to pre-2006, when, with no ATC in Class G airspace, flying ops at Weston resembled a "circus". Ask any pilot who flew then, they will testify how much "less safe" it was.

Sorry mate but I'm one of those pilots you speak of having flown out of Weston since the late 90's and never during my time there when it was class G did I consider it unsafe. It certainly never resembled this "circus" you speak of. Pilots were well trained and knew the procedures so I resent the comment.

There are plenty of non controlled towers in the US that don't have any issues at all so if it works over there I cant see why it could not be adapted to suit the conditions here.

Quebec Delta Mike

bombs away wrote: »

Sorry mate but I'm one of those pilots you speak of having flown out of Weston since the late 90's and never during my time there when it was class G did I consider it unsafe. It certainly never resembled this "circus" you speak of. Pilots were well trained and knew the procedures so I resent the comment.

There are plenty of non controlled towers in the US that don't have any issues at all so if it works over there I cant see why it could not be adapted to suit the conditions here.

Firstly, (I seem to have hit a nerve.. )...sorry you resent my "circus" comment, but it's just my opinion, and this is a discussion forum so get over it. I agree many, many pilots were safely trained there, and continue to be, but the flying environment is now much safer.

Secondly, I never said it was unsafe, I said "less safe" than controlled airspace. I look forward to your safety case for Class G over Class C, as a flying environment.

I have no issue with your point about "non-controlled" airfields in the US. There are many of them here too, outside controlled airspace, but Weston is in Class C airspace, so it can not apply. The airspace at Weston can not be switched from C to G whenever it suits someone. When Weston is closed, the Weston Area of Responsibility reverts back to the control of Dublin ATS, specifically Dublin Tower, it remains Class C. As I said previously, being Class C, provides protection to both Dublin and Baldonnel's airspace and procedures, from uncontrolled traffic straying and infringing. This was regularly the case before Weston became Class C, with it's own ATC service. This is not my opinion, but historical fact.

Xpro, you are of course right. Weston will not see any of the bought up equipment from Galway, (apart from the RRV). The ILS and NDB, and airfield lighting are still in place, so...don't be surprised if you see some half arsed attempt to reopen EICM under some new owners...

QDM.

folbotcar

When Weston is closed, the Weston Area of Responsibility reverts back to the control of Dublin ATS, specifically Dublin Tower, it remains Class C. As I said previously, being Class C, provides protection to both Dublin and Baldonnel's airspace and procedures, from uncontrolled traffic straying and infringing. This was regularly the case before Weston became Class C, with it's own ATC service. This is not my opinion, but historical fact.

Xpro, you are of course right. Weston will not see any of the bought up equipment from Galway, (apart from the RRV). The ILS and NDB, and airfield lighting are still in place, so...don't be surprised if you see some half arsed attempt to reopen EICM under some new owners...

Hmm, although in fact I tend to believe controllers will remain at Weston in some form. You have in effect supplied the answer if the controllers were to go. It will be controlled from Dublin at least up to the point of final approach or entry into the circuit. Again this is common in the US and I'm sure elsewhere. I too can't see Weston reverting to class G when the controller goes home except perhaps for a corridor in and out. An example would Coonagh albeit in much less busy airspace.

As for the 'circus'. I flew from Weston when it really was a flying circus, in the eighties and nineties. 250 foot circuit altitude anyone? The Darby era. But even then there were procedures to follow and by an large they were observed. It was the Air Corps who paid scant attention to the Weston traffic. Many is the thrilling close up I had of one or two of their machines.

As for EICM. The new owners (the local councils) are clueless about aviation so they won't be attempting to reopen it as an airport anytime soon. But the potential to reopen as a nice GA field has been recognised and there's nothing half assed about it. We may well be surprised in a good way.

Oscar Bravo

Certainly wouldn't be flying to EICM in a hurry after the way they treated GA pilots in the past, new owners or not. Coonagh, Knock Sligo mabey but not Galway. transit your airspace....how much....

urajoke

The airspace at Weston IS more safe now, at one stage at the weekend we used to have a controller sit in a spare position and watch the boundary between Weston and dublins airspace as there was that many aircraft "wandering" into our zone and VERY near to traffic on the 10 approach. We still get the occasional wanderer but at least now we have someone to call who should know who that aircraft is and can call them and move them if needed.

There will NEVER be an ILS into Weston no matter how many biz jets people think will land there. So don't expect Galways ILS or NDB to appear at Weston.

Dublin already controls aircraft on instruments approaches up a few miles from touchdown into Weston so nothing new there.

folbotcar

Oscar Bravo wrote: »

Certainly wouldn't be flying to EICM in a hurry after the way they treated GA pilots in the past, new owners or not. Coonagh, Knock Sligo mabey but not Galway. transit your airspace....how much....

You're way out of touch. The management responsible for that attitude were forced out long ago. The temporary manager and airport staff tried hard to keep it going but they were overcome by the financial situation. The transit fee was always a bit of a joke and in any case it was mostly aimed at the helicopter traffic during race week back in the Celtic Tiger days.

I'm not privy to any plans for the place now but if it happens you can be sure lessons were learned and in any case it'll be an entirely new group of people in place. At the moment the flying club and the skydivers are still operating there. It could easily be opened to other traffic.

Kenny2012

G-EGLT C310 RVL Group

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G-EGLT http://flic.kr/p/kbqyLK

Kenny2012

N208ER Bell 206B Aircraft Guaranty Corp


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N208ER http://flic.kr/p/kdJ714

N7777G

Irish Coast Guard S-92 visited this morning - pity the weather was crap :-(


EI-ICA Sikorsky 92A Irish Coast Guard by eigjb, on Flickr


EI-ICA Sikorsky 92A Irish Coast Guard by eigjb, on Flickr

Kenny2012

G-BPWR Cennsa 172 FlyWales

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G-BPWR http://flic.kr/p/kwCuo4

N7777G

Four Air Corps Cessna 172s visited this afternoon:-

203 Cessna FR172H Irish Air Corps by eigjb, on Flickr

208 taxiing in

208 Cessna FR172H Irish Air Corps by eigjb, on Flickr

more pics:- http://www.flickr.com/photos/eigjb/tags/040314/

Kenny2012

G-BYHK PA-28 T-Air Services
G-ERED Beech 90 Gerard R Kinally
G-VLTT DA-42 The Leninton Co

Pictures
EI-FII http://flic.kr/p/kH5Jyg
G-BYHK http://flic.kr/p/kH2C4s
G-VLTT http://flic.kr/p/kH2tj2
G-VLTT http://flic.kr/p/kH8PWK
N65MJ http://flic.kr/p/kH6QCD
N840CD http://flic.kr/p/kHa6TG

airbusa320

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83304124@N07/12953380823/

Irish air corps Cessna 203 arriving into Weston today

Kenny2012

N147GT Cirrus CR-22 G2 147 Aviation

Pictures:

N147GT http://flic.kr/p/kS1uHV
N147GT http://flic.kr/p/kS2bai
N147GT http://flic.kr/p/kS2bDp

Kenny2012

EI-EWC Beech 76 Duchess National Flight Centre
G-STOP Robinson R-44 HLQ Services Ltd
N443LT Cessna 310R Aircraft Guaranty Corp

Pictures
EI-EWC http://flic.kr/p/kU6hRV
G-STOP http://flic.kr/p/kU6yjD
N443LT http://flic.kr/p/kU6aNt

Kenny2012

G-BKMA Mooney M.20J Foxtrot Whiskey Aviation

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G-BKMA http://flic.kr/p/m1xTwi

Davidth88

Kenny2012 wrote: »

G-BKMA Mooney M.20J Foxtrot Whiskey Aviation

Picture
G-BKMA http://flic.kr/p/m1xTwi

Jeez the Mooney is a great looking aircraft

folbotcar

N7777G wrote: »

Four Air Corps Cessna 172s visited this afternoon:

Must be all of a five minute flight. Refuelling too. I guess they were out of avgas in Baldonnel judging by the flickr photos.

Kenny2012

EI-JIM Samba Jim Smith
G-BSZC Beech 18 Kieran O'Connor - doing engine runs.
N129SC PA-32 Manx Orthopaedic Services Inc
N169WD C208 Rift Valley Flying Co

Pictures
EI-JIM http://flic.kr/p/m2X6BD
G-BSZC http://flic.kr/p/m2Xzu2
N169WD http://flic.kr/p/m2YfBk

FWVT

Cessna Caravan N169WD was departing for the UK this morning with a gang of guys on a stags weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ0QtKcYo18