PX figs to SCY

The PX numbers (dropping) to SCY are only one part of the equation.
There is a finite charge that any business can pass on and still make an operating profit.
Helicopters really only do this with oil related work, where the alternatives are limited.
As the S61 service started off on a subsidised basis the fare structure was always going to be difficult to rise to cover the real operating (including replacing equipment) cost.
You then have to accept the ‘seasonal’ nature of the business model which really see’s any summer profit evaporating during the winter.
Having got used to what was essentially a ‘walk on flying train’ that could operate in most weathers,the users accepted that as the ‘norm’ and of course it prooved very popular.
In its heyday the airfield was still utilising grass runways therefore there was little incentive to upgrade its fixed wing situation.
The fixed winged operators (such as they were) basically operated on the crumbs that BEA left, and found that the route was not paved with aviation gold due to the fixed costs that were only really utilised for a few months.
As previously mentioned, a substantial transport report some time ago made this point,and it has prooved to be correct.
Wether a smaller bespoke service to Tresco comes along will be interesting to see,or even will Tresco seek to have their own STOL strip for the current fixed wing types.
Some of the most enjoyable (fixed wing) flying i ever had for years, but of course in the real financial world the numbers have to add up for it to be sustainable.

Penzance air link.

Quite a while ago there was a report into the transport situation with relation to the Isles of Scilly.
This projected that the helicopter service would prove to be unsustainable for the long term,and therefore a ‘fixed wing’ option would have to prevail.
Skybus had to fight to get a licence for a scheduled service as their original service was ‘charter’ based,and only Brymon supplied the other limited operation to the Isles.
In fact business was good in those days and the helicopter flew with high % payloads.
Even so they had the advantage of a machine that was specifically modified for the route with baggage hatches slotted into the hull to reduce turnaround times.
As the company advanced through BEA, BA,Maxwell.and then being part of commercial companies, so it lost the protection of a subsidised offshoot and back up equipment.The S61 has been a faithful servant,but only at an increasing operating cost that would never match the fares.
The main problem is that passengers (local & tourists) have got used to a service that was always going to have a problem funding new equipment (even if it existed) and therefore it comes down to ‘who pays’!!.
In fact; the Islands do have a comprehensive fixed wing service,and emergency coverage from the local air ambulance plus Culdrose.
Skybus are organising extra coverage to fill the ‘air-gap’,but they will have the added ongoing problem of having excess capacity in the low months which reduces the operating profit.
My idea of a giant hydraulic catapault (with computer prediction) seems almost plausible now.

Penzance HP ‘final PT movement’

Nice shot L-Shot,and i popped in this evening to see the final flight come in and say goodbye to some of the team (including former ones who turned up).
The last flight came in late,no doubt due to a tearful departure event,and was greeted by many wellwishers.FJ took a rotors running refuel and eventually departed to NQY.
Standing in the front of an (empty of aircraft) hangar i enquired what was to happen with the structure and the answer seemed to indicate it will be rapidly demolished !!,thereby ensuring the site is deemed as abandoned for aviation use,and clearing the decks for a s-mkt.
A sad day for PZ and also a warning that the all powerful s-mkts continue to erode us of facilities that are unfortunate enough to be located on ‘development land'(former rubbish tip).This sorry tale has seen a valuable transport facility sacrificed to the God of retail !!!! RIP.

BoB footage

Amazing act of vandalism demolishing that perfectly good Belfast shed !!!!

Airpark

There is no reason why some of our disused airfields could not have been used as ‘airparks’ for those wishing to buy into that type of living.
Not only would it have provided employment, but it would clear up derilict ‘eyesores’ that abound in the UK and provide nil employment or purpose.
On the basis that they are for ‘residential’ use the lack of training movements gives the nimby lobby no ammunition re enviromental issues.
Unfortunatley this is the Uk, which means there is more encouragement for the benefit society rather than promoting a ‘can do’ attitude to create real employment opportuities.
The other real scandal are those abandoned’ MOD sites that fall into decay along with hundreds of what were perfectly good homes and facilities.
Good old UK; won the Battle of Britain,but lost the war of economy.
Having said that i had several pleasant ‘work’ trips this week including The Isles of Scilly, Perranporth in Cornwall, and Dunkeswell in Devon, it was a pleasure to go to all of them, and the ATC at Newquay do a great job.

Kenley Raid

One of the reasons that the low level Kenley raid is well documented is that war correspondents were on board the Dorniers,and consequently there is a detailed record (and photographs) of the raid. This was also an occaision when our Observer Corps were able to track a small individual raid with great detail,and record its progress.
The fact that all the Dorniers completed their attack as planned has to be seen as a success; that the overall plan failed to ‘eliminate’ Kenley is well covered in Alfred Prices book. At the time Kenley lacked proper defences, and its facilities were vunerable to any attack. That the op’s room survived was pure luck, no doubt its ‘bungalow’ appearance did little to highlight its importance.The subsequent ‘flack tower’ built to improve its low level protection still stands in a field about a mile to the south (Brooklands also had one added).
It has to be remembered that like so many of our sector stations Kenley was a ‘peace time’ station not constructed with the ‘bunker’ theme,the facilities were grouped together (not dispersed) and thanks to pre war ‘Lufthansa’ flights their locations and appearance well recorded.

Cat Rebuild

I suppose they know about the one ‘scrapped’ at Weston recently.