Weston Airport

FWVT

FWVT wrote: »

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

And it appeared on M-LAT off the east coast at 11:46

http://www.flightradar24.com/2014-03-15/11:46/12x/N169WD/2e595a6

http://n169WD.com

Kenny2012

G-MAOL Agusta A109SP Mash Aviation

Picture
G-MAOL http://flic.kr/p/mdjZdU

flyingcowboys

Was driving up the celbridge road a few days back when I saw some heavy construction machinery parked on the old apron. Its not the first time Ive seen heavy construction machinery stored in weston, was plenty of it late last year but parked behind the hangar facing the carpark, security looked a bit lax at the time, easy to access both the planes and diggers. The question I'm asking seeing as the equipment is back in Weston is is there any plans for further development at the airport?? or is it just used as a storage ground for the owners.

If it is being used as a storage facility my question is does the IAA and dublin/kildare councils allow the storage of non essential heavy machinery in the airport??

Also I've seen that same equipment loaded on to the back of a flat back 40ft trailer and transported via the taxiways and runway back and forth.

Doesn't seem very safe to me with potential debris from dirty diggers falling off.

Anybody any ideas on what the score is??

Xpro

Its sad that Weston is no longer owned by an aviation enthusiast.:(
Different place all together since the new guy took over. No more aviation spirit thats for sure.

smurfjed

Who owns it now?

I remember, Kennedy, Mansfield, Bank ......

Davidth88

smurfjed wrote: »

Who owns it now?

I remember, Kennedy, Mansfield, Bank ......

A Galway based haulage firm iirc

phonypony

Conneely http://westonairport.ie/about/conneely-group

FWVT

Two visitors parked side-by-side at Weston this afternoon. Nice Eclipse jet.

https://us.v-cdn.net/6034073/uploads/attachments/606708/299720.jpg

smurfjed

Are KOC and the NFC still there?

Bsal

smurfjed wrote: »

Is KOC and the NFC still there?

Yes they are.

Xpro

smurfjed wrote: »

Is KOC and the NFC still there?

Still in business, yes.

Bsal

Weston was much more fun before they built the new airport buildings, there was a much more friendly atmosphere when NFC where in the oul porta cabins on the south side...I miss those days.

Xpro

Bsal wrote: »

Weston was much more fun before they built the new airport buildings, there was a much more friendly atmosphere when NFC where in the oul porta cabins on the south side...I miss those days.

I remember those days. :cool:

Its gone very dull in my opinion, zero encouragment for GA. Not many visitors either.

FWVT

Xpro wrote: »

I remember those days. :cool:

Its gone very dull in my opinion, zero encouragment for GA. Not many visitors either.

In what way? How could they encourage more GA? It's been pretty much rescued from the brink, and any time I pop in there are several visiting aircraft. I'm not sure what more they can do in the current circumstances.

Kenny2012

EI-EYJ C172 Michael Marrey
G-ERED Be90 Gerard R Kinally

Pictures
EI-EYJ http://flic.kr/p/mmSzAH
G-ERED http://flic.kr/p/mmXmUk

folbotcar

Aviation enthusiast does not always equal good businessman. Better a dull airfield than no airfield. That atmosphere was a whole lot better in the old days. You never knew who you'd find yourself sitting down with and having coffee in the portakabin. The coffee I'd been sent out to buy by KOC. It could be the McEvaddy brothers having dropped in with their Longranger. Or the CEO of Cityjet or Eddie Irvine.

They really could do with a small outdoor observation area with picnic tables so you could watch the comings and goings. At the moment it's really rather unfriendly to the casual visitor or enthusiast. Even I who know the place well begin to feel uncomfortable hanging around unless someone I know is there and they're not busy. Missed opportunity I think.

At the moment it's like a closed shop.

ondafly

folbotcar wrote: »

That atmosphere was a whole lot better in the old days.

Don't forget the Peacocks - rambling about of their own accord, or the few Sopwith camels ? or at least Bluemax left overs in the hangers.

folbotcar

Yes the Peacocks, not to mention the other birds wandering freely. Or Darby himself. You must be really old if you remember Sopwith Camels. Maybe you're thinking of the Avro Cadet EI-ALP which was in the hangar for a long time. I wonder what happened to that? The only thing wrong with it was the engine which was hard to get. There were also a couple of Tiger Moths.

Yes there were a lot of reminders of the at least three movies made there. All gone now though. Like the Catalina the whole lot was flattened and carted away by people with no sense of history or heritage.

Quebec Delta Mike

Gents,

All the nostalgia is wonderful, and Weston holds a very important place in real Irish aviation history. Unfortunately, with the demise of the Irish economy recently, with it went a huge amount of GA machines (how many turbine helicopters did we once see, now they are all but gone, even the developers favorite, the RH44 is in miniscule numbers now). In recent years, many of the stalwarts at Weston have left, see how bare the grass parking area east of the hangars is!

With the departure of the late Jim Mansfield (R.I.P), Weston's previous owner, so too went any chance of future development of the airfield in an aviation sense. His often controversial plans to upgrade facilities, including the runway, now lie on dusty shelves along with other denied plans, in the SDCC and KCC planning offices. Any resurrection of development plans are a long way off, not helped by recent problems between the new owners and the planners. (Very quick objections to some innocuous signage were reported, not a good start really!)

As for business traffic....well, a too short (and badly orientated vis a vis DW and Bal) runway, no lighting, no precision approach, too short opening hours...all mitigate against more of Dublin Airport's bizz jets getting in to Weston instead.

And finally, Weston attracts huge rates bills, and along with the daily running costs, all of which are nowhere near being covered by the current GA traffic, can only lead to a slow and protracted end to aviation at Weston.

Today, Weston is a shadow of it's former bustling self. Without the NFC, it would simply close (No disrespect to Flightwise, Skyways, SkyWest etc.).

As previously stated, the new owners have no interest in aviation, but see Weston as a business which must turn a profit. Nothing wrong with that, but the cost to jobs among Weston staff has been devastating.

Only a major injection of cash, some innovative thinking, and a lot of luck with the planners (notwithstanding the usual objectors to anything at Weston), will see any hope for this once proud little airfield.

QDM.

folbotcar

I saw the signs QDM and wondered if there had been a change of heart. But apparently not. The sign issue however is a good example of the pettiness of the planners and objectors to Weston. Granny's old jam shop is allowed a sign but you won't find any sign pointing the way to the busiest GA field in the country. Irish begrudgery at it's worst.

With due respect to Mr Mansfield and his plans. I met him and liked him but the way he went about it has not helped Weston at all. Even the size and style of the place is out of proportion to what was needed. You only have to compare any of the regional airports to see that. His cavalier attitude to the planning laws was fine when it comes to hotels but airports are a different matter. I was involved with another airfield caught up in local objections and council hostility. Believe me there is no room for rational debate when it comes to airfields and this one was barely more than a field in a bog. But the hysteria it generated was remarkable and disturbing. I never faced a howling mob before and don't want to repeat the experience.

They fact is Mansfield made the locals nervous and they remain nervous. I don't know if that damage can be repaired in Weston.

The simple fact is that like Galway Airport, Weston was trying to be something it's not. Instead of sticking with it's real purpose, flight training and GA. They tried to make it an executive jet airport. Even without the objectors that one was doomed in this economic climate.

The NFC is keeping it open but what's keeping the NFC open? If Weston is to survive it needs to go back to basics.

FWVT

Nice Phenom 100 there yesterday.

airbusa320

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83304124@N07/13626993593/

M-PREI Premier 1 at Weston airport today

Davidth88

airbusa320 wrote: »

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83304124@N07/13626993593/

M-PREI Premier 1 at Weston airport today

Mmmm just saw that leave

Kenny2012

M-PREI is still present, it was probably G-CHUI C560XL you seen departing.

N7777G

A busy Friday @ Weston

D-ALEO PA-46 Malibu - arr 1100

EI-ABI DH.84 Dragon Aer Lingus Charitable Foundation (local flights)

G-CHUI Citation 560XLS - dep 1825

G-FFWD Cessna 310 - dep 1740

G-JAJK PA-31 Navajo - dep 1227

M-PREI Premier 1 - arr 1440

N129SC PA-32 Cherokee Six - arr 1800

some photos:-
https://www.flickr.com/search/?q=040414&ss=0&ct=0&mt=all&w=32190379%40N02&adv=1

Davidth88

Kenny2012 wrote: »

M-PREI is still present, it was probably G-CHUI C560XL you seen departing.

I thought it was a g- I only saw the underneath as it climbed over celbridge.

Johnny901

Can anyone tell me if the two CHC S61s that were being parted out in Weston are still there ? Or where they ended up ?

Kenny2012

2 S-61's are still there
Picture of EI-SAR taken yesterday https://flic.kr/p/mMQrj4

Kenny2012

Belated log, unfortunately I have to go to work occasionally.

D-ELAO PA-46 Natenco
EI-ABI DH-84 Aer Lingus crew training
EI-SAR S-61 CHC Helicopters
G-CHUI C560XLS Air Charter Scotland
G-FFWD C310 T S Courtman
M-PREI Premier I Craft Air

Pictures
D-ELAO https://flic.kr/p/mMN6BV
D-ELAO https://flic.kr/p/mMPptn
EI-ABI https://flic.kr/p/mMT7as
EI-SAR https://flic.kr/p/mMQrj4
G-CHUI https://flic.kr/p/mMLpKv
G-FFWD https://flic.kr/p/mMVArH
M-PREI https://flic.kr/p/mMVArH
M-PREI https://flic.kr/p/mMVAvF
Aerial View https://flic.kr/p/mN2bWf

Oscar Bravo

What is Weston closed for this Thursday and Friday?. NFC moving some aircraft to EIAB for the 2 days.