Flying has enough dangers without the worry of taking the sensible course of action in an emergency and then finding your wood and fabric aircraft surrounded by concrete blocks while the jobsworths and the greedy developers do everything they can to stop you simply flying out again
For Twitterers #FreeTheJodel
If you’re a regular reader of the famous FLYER forum, you’ll have seen the thread about a flying instructor who made an emergency precautionary landing at closed Plymouth Airport because of bad weather. The leaseholders of Plymouth Airport, property developers Sutton Harbour Holdings, are refusing to let him fly his aircraft out and a high-tension stand-off is the result with the Jodel as hostage.
The instructor had been visiting Bodmin Airfield in Cornwall to carry out biennual reviews for two pilots. When he checked the weather for his flight home to Farthing Corner, Kent, it wasn’t brilliant but VFR all the way… or so he thought. Passing Plymouth the weather suddenly deteriorated and the only safe option was the precautionary landing – and a nice big hard runway on the outskirts of Plymouth beckoned.
Security guards at the defunct site, closed by SHH four years ago, were initially OK for the pilot to return two days later when the weather forecast was good to fly it out. However, then SHH bosses got involved and said the Jodel would have to be taken out by road, and also demanded recompense for the security guards costs and legal fees. Concrete blocks were placed around the aircraft to stop it being moved. It’s in the open, behind locked gates.
FLYER contacted SHH who issued this statement: “A light aircraft landed at the former airport site last weekend and we are in contact with the pilot/owner to enable its safe removal.” The company has nothing to add, said the spokesman.
FLYER understands that SHH has insisted upon a media blackout, with the flight instructor unable to speak to the press.
The current situation, so far as we understand, is that Plymouth Council councillors are meeting this week to apply some pressure on SHH to let the pilot fly out his aircraft. It was the council who granted SHH a lease on the airport in the first place. We also understand that Sir Gerald Howarth MP, a member of the government and a private pilot, has been in touch with SHH.
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 28th August 2015 at 23:17
If there is one thing SHH have patently demonstrated overwhelming incompetence at, it is PR.
Moggy
By: John Green - 28th August 2015 at 22:38
It was intended that SHH – in their mind – link their extravagantly clever PR to a declining stock value as investors expressed their shock/horror in the best possible way.
It wasn’t intended to be an ‘issue’ as you dismissively suggest.
By: Bruce - 28th August 2015 at 20:34
As of todays date, SHH share price is 30. 75 pence. If my memory is correct, then this week there has been a drop of about 2 pence per share.
Considering that the exchange has lost 600 points over the last couple of weeks, it doesn’t look like an issue to me!
By: Moggy C - 28th August 2015 at 16:46
The LAA and AOPA negotiated the release it is understood, but social media applied a lot of pressure.
The next stop is to use that same pressure on behalf of reopening the airport, which of course has a BoB pedigree.
Well done all who helped
Moggy
By: Wokka Bob - 28th August 2015 at 16:16
Jodel FREED! 11.30 ish today and on his way home.
By: John Green - 26th August 2015 at 20:11
For those members who hold Sutton Harbour stock, SHH is a quoted company with its shares currently valued at around 32 pence. Perhaps it is the right time for stockholders to consider their options ?
SHH have, via Natasha Gadsdon, been reminded that action of this kind might follow.
As of todays date, SHH share price is 30. 75 pence. If my memory is correct, then this week there has been a drop of about 2 pence per share.
By: low'n'slow - 26th August 2015 at 19:17
LAA STATEMENT ON JODEL AIRCRAFT AT FORMER PLYMOUTH AIRPORT
The Light Aircraft Association is delighted to confirm that the Jodel 120 aircraft which was held by the owners of the now-closed Plymouth Airport following a precautionary landing to avoid bad weather on Sunday 9th August, has now been given permission to leave. It is hoped that weather permitting it will leave on Friday morning, 28th August.
The aircraft, flown by LAA member Martin Ferid, made the landing in fast deteriorating weather conditions and it has generally been agreed across the aviation community that his actions were the correct course of action. Once it became clear that there was an impasse between the pilot and the owners of site, many fellow pilots began a high-profile campaign to publicise the issue.
At the same time Charles Strasser, Vice-President of AOPA and Brian Davies, Chairman of the LAA began direct discussions with Sutton Harbour Holdings chairman Graham Miller. It was Mr. Miller’s personal intervention which led to the decision being taken to allow the aircraft to depart.
“There were two key conditions” said Brian Davies. “The first was an assurance regarding the airworthiness of the aircraft. We confirmed that an LAA inspector can provide this by inspecting the aircraft and making an appropriate entry in the aircraft log book. The second was satisfying SHH’s concerns on there being sufficient liability insurance. We are grateful to Haywards and their underwriter Russell Mason of Antares, for working with us to provide those assurances.”
“Sutton Harbour Holdings now understands the importance of allowing pilots to land at Plymouth in an emergency and will be issuing instructions to their staff accordingly” said Brian Davies. “That said, it should be emphasised that this site is no longer a functioning airport.”
By: charliehunt - 26th August 2015 at 13:20
Purely as an interested observer – well done to everyone who made this happen!!:applause: Yet without those efforts and publicity I suspect said Jodel would still be languishing at Plymouth.
By: Moggy C - 26th August 2015 at 12:44
Today’s update
Wed 26 Aug 2015
The Jodel 120 trapped at closed Plymouth Airport has been cleared to fly out as soon as the weather permits – possibly this Friday. Sutton Harbour Holdings, leaseholder of the airport, has agreed to let Martin Ferid, the aircraft owner and pilot who made the landing, to return and fly the aircraft out.
In a letter to Charles Strasser of AOPA, Sutton Harbour Holdings (SHH) chairman Graham Miller, says, “I very much hope he [Martin Ferid] will be able to take off again from the airfield this Friday weather permitting and be safely on his way. I completely agree with you that a precautionary landing was his best course of action in what sounds like an emergency situation.”
Mr Miller went on to say it took longer than SHH or Mr Ferid would have liked to get the Jodel’s airworthiness and insurance indemnities properly documented – finalised yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon. Mr Miller also confirmed no fees whatsoever will be charged by SHH.
Finally, Mr Miller confirmed that SHH will be updating its protocols for emergency landings “and we will be far better prepared for such an eventuality on a future occasion. That said, we have to emphasise that this site is no longer a functioning airport.”
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 25th August 2015 at 07:23
Well a report in the awful local rag (yes you Plymouth Herald) states that SHH will graciously allow the Jodel to fly out on Friday without ATC, fire engines, marshals, customs, duty free shop or Burger King.
The pilot only learned of this from the article, nobody bothered to contact him.
Believe it when we see air under the Jodel’s wheels?
Moggy
By: John Green - 24th August 2015 at 21:21
What a gal ! Managed to open the link.
By: John Green - 24th August 2015 at 17:49
Can’t open that link. I’m not at my own PC at the moment which might have something to do with it.
Anyway, I’m now betrothed to the hirsute but delicately arranged Jeremy Corbyn.
By: Moggy C - 24th August 2015 at 16:02
John, you’ll love this.
A UKIP heroine!
https://twitter.com/MaddiBridgeman
Moggy 😀
By: Moggy C - 24th August 2015 at 13:29
AGM is next month I believe
Moggy
By: John Green - 24th August 2015 at 13:27
For those members who hold Sutton Harbour stock, SHH is a quoted company with its shares currently valued at around 32 pence. Perhaps it is the right time for stockholders to consider their options ?
SHH have, via Natasha Gadsdon, been reminded that action of this kind might follow.
By: Moggy C - 24th August 2015 at 12:35
Well done John, thanks. It turns out the Daily Mail City News Editor is a Chipmunk pilot, hence the article.
Meanwhile if you want to comment on the Plymouth Herald censoring criticism of Sutton Harbour Holdiungs (presumably an advertiser) there exists a fine opportunity here:
https://plus.google.com/+PlymouthheraldCoUk1/about
Moggy
By: John Green - 24th August 2015 at 12:11
My contribution on TripAdvisor done.
It might be quicker for the Jodel owner to apply to to a District Judge at Plymouth County Court for an order to release the aircraft. This, he/she can do themselves at next to no cost, apart from the Court fees.
If any damage has been done to the Jodel as a result of its illegal detention, then an option exits to sue for recompense.
By: Moggy C - 24th August 2015 at 08:34
Updates?
It is believed that some weather protection has been allowed to be put in place, this regardless of the fact that the airfield is covered in empty, dry, hangars. Plastic sheeting is hardly a medium term solution.
The Plymouth Herald have started censoring any anti-SHH comments on their web page. Patently some kind of financial tie up there.
Currently there are a lot of social media targets on offer. The SHH Harbour Trip Advisor page http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186258-d5123381-Reviews-Sutton_Harbour-Plymouth_Devon_England.html is receving some attention. On Twitter there is:
@SHHplc – The lessees of the airfield and the ones obstructing the aircraft’s departure
@DCA_PR – The SHH PR company responsible for “crisis management” Obviously they suppress any comment directly on their site but you can always add a Google review or similar
@PlymouthHerald – The local newspaper now suppressing any comments as above
Then there’s the e-mail route: [email]c.malcolm@sutton-harbour.co.uk[/email] – The SHH Marketing Manager. Other company addresses are formed in the same way so you can select your target from their who’s who list on their website.
As with all social media campaigns it is fast moving. To be kept up to the minute updated I suggest you follow this thread
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=96512
The Daily Mail aren’t censoring comments. Fill your boots! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-3206462/Plane-silly-SHH-flies-turbulence-impounding-vintage-aircraft-emergency-landing-disused-airport.html?login&base_fe_url=http%3A%2F%2Fdailymail.co.uk%2F&validation_fe_uri=%2Fregistration%2Fp%2Fapi%2Ffield%2Fvalidation%2F&check_user_fe_uri=registration%2Fp%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fuser_check%2F&isMobile=false#readerCommentsCommand-message-field
By all means join in, but keep it civil. Restrained language and sensible arguments. Name calling however tempting, could be counter productive, making it easier for them to justify removal of reviews and ratings.
Moggy
#FreeTheJodel
By: Wokka Bob - 23rd August 2015 at 21:03
Absolutely timeless and to the point Video.
Are there any further updates to this debacle? Hopefully their shares are plummeting through the floor.
Even made the Sunday Times finance page. Corporate lawyers should s***t.!!!!!!!!!
By: AlanR - 22nd August 2015 at 19:16
This video has now made it into the public domain
http://captiongenerator.com/55706/Hitler-and-the-Jodel
Moggy
Brilliant !!
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August 19, 2015 at 8:45 am