| Wick Airport | ||
|
Caithness News Index North Highlands -20 minute film |
|
|
| N E W S F E E D S >>> |
| Wick Airport | ||
|
Caithness News Index North Highlands -20 minute film |
|
|
Flying News And Information
|
News
24 August 08
8 July 08 Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK's leading flight price comparison site, has researched how airlines can help keep kids amused en-route to holiday destinations. Visit the website's tips page on flying with children http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/airlines-facilities-for-flying-with-children/ covering everything from pushchairs and facilities to food options for tiny travellers, and turn what can often be a trying time into a triumph. Child friendly travel is on the increase these days with various airport lounges and in-flight activities cropping up to keep both kids and parents happy. Airlines facilitating playful plane rides are plentiful starting with Virgin Atlantic, who offer kids their own seatback TV with its very own kids channel as well as a backpack complete with puzzles, crayons and other goodies. On the food front, they offer a children's meal comprising delectable dishes like pizza and fish fingers. British Airways is masterfully organised in its kiddy perks having arranged them into age groups 3-5 and 6-12 years old. The younger group receive a blue nylon rucksack, a 'going on a plane' storybook, wristband aircraft, activity cards, crayons and stickers. The older group receive a white plastic rucksack, an electronic game, a reading book, travel journal and a pen. Long haul travellers have the added bonus of on screen entertainment from Disney, Cartoon Network and family blockbuster movies that have a parental lock to prevent viewing of unsuitable material. Flying with Emirates will make your child feel extra special, if travelling on their birthday. With advance notice, a cake will be made and if there is time a Polaroid photo can capture the high-flying birthday kid. Low cost carriers on the other hand, have been found to have very limited child-friendly facilities, so pack plenty of snacks, activity books and gadgets to keep them amused and content during the flight. Airports are also doing their bit to create some family fun prior to take off. Gatwick has a play area kitted out with baby-landings, soft play and finger-box play tables (interactive/educational games consoles) and has recently introduced a family lounge, which requires pre-booking. Heathrow also offers a wealth of family catering in the shape of a supervised family lounge catering to kids aged five right through to 14, which is equipped with a TV, DVD player, reading material, toys, non-electronic as well as computer games. Supernanny.com's expert Sarah Siese says, "Without you knowing it, many airlines and tour operators do offer families special provision to make travelling with children easier, so take them up on any assistance offered and ask when booking what else they can help with. My top tips are to take boiled sweets to help with ears popping on the descent, have a new exciting toy or book to offer as a treat and don't forget to take a favourite teddy in your hand luggage." Nadine Hallak, travel expert for Cheapflights.co.uk, comments that "Creating a family friendly environment both prior to as well as in-flight, eases the stress that most parents dread about planning a getaway. Having looked after children en-route to a holiday destination, I can confirm that knowing in advance what to take on-board and where to keep kids entertained at the airport is hugely helpful in getting your break off to a happy start." For more top tips on travelling with children, visit http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/travelling-with-children.html
8 July 08 Responding to safety restrictions and costs involved in travelling by air with young children, Catherine is appealing for EU regulations concerning child safety on aircraft to provide an alternative to the current lap holding loop belts used to restrain the child, which have been proven to place the child and parent in significant danger. Catherine is questioning the current mandatory method for restraining children under the age of two on aircrafts. Loop belts which strap the child to the parents lap are proven to squash children’s intestines, even with pressure from take-off, alongside endangering the child should the adult fall forwards. At present the only safe alternative for parents is to purchase a full price or slightly discounted child seat in which the infant will sit in an airline approved car seat (also purchased by the parents). This is highly costly in comparison to child fares on any other method of transport, discriminatory against parents travelling with children, as well as a clear example of airlines putting sales before safety. Catherine is calling for the European Commission to recognise the dilemma faced by parents when flying with children, and is looking for legislation making it compulsory for airlines to provide a proportionate number of heavily discounted seats per flights for children and infants. As well as providing the necessary equipment to ensure the child’s safety – putting protection before profits. Catherine commented: “European airlines and the European Commission need to consider the options available to parents at present and do the right thing when it comes to infant safety. Having been in contact with various airlines it is clear that the majority will implement the minimum safety standards as required by the EASA and CAA. As this is the case we clearly need to raise the minimum standards.” “Charges for travelling with an infant, sharing a seat or not, are ridiculous. Air travel simply must be accessible to everyone and reductions for children should be consistent in line with other modes of transport.” As an active supporter of children’s rights, Catherine is looking for improvements to child safety regulations on all EU airlines, alongside a more inclusive pricing strategy. Catherine will continue to apply pressure at the European Parliament in her role as Labour MEP for Scotland.
3 July 08 In July 1935, the first Boeing B17 was launched. It was an all-metal four-engine bomber, weighing in at 15 tons. Its specifications were well above those laid down by the US Army Air Corps. The plane first flew in Seattle and one watching journalist is said to have commented that the plane, when in the air, was a flying fortress due to the number of machine guns it carried. The nickname stuck. The B17 was the main bomber used by the American Air Force in Europe during World War Two. It was deployed in thousands of missions over occupied Europe. In total, over 12,000 B17s were built in the war and nearly 250,000 Americans experienced flying in them. The privately owned, USA based B17 will arrive at Islay on Thursday (3rd July) and depart for Duxford on Saturday. Local residents are being offered the opportunity to take short flights in the aircraft while it is on the island. Duncan MacGillvray, Islay Airport manager said: “We’ve had a number of vintage aircraft at Islay over the years but never a B17. It’s a fantastic opportunity for local people to see this aircraft, and even to fly in it, before it travels on to Duxford. “At HIAL we are very happy to have been able to accommodate the visit and waive the landing fees for the B17.” The B17’s arrival at Islay is the latest chapter in the airport’s long and distinguished history. Islay received its first recorded flight in July 1928. Midland Scottish Air Ferries operated the island’s first scheduled flight on 16th May 1933, arriving from Renfrew via Campbeltown. Two days earlier, on 14th May 1933, the island’s first air ambulance flight, using a De Havilland Dragon aircraft, landed on the beach at the head of Lochindaal to collect a local fisherman suffering from abdominal pains. The airport at Gelegadale opened for business in 1935 and was taken over by the RAF during World War Two. The hard runways that exist today at Islay originally date from 1940. The Avro Ansons of 48 Squadron, Beaufighter and Beaufort aircraft of 304 Ferry Training Unit used the new runways while flying boats of 119 Squadron landed in nearby Laggan Bay. By 1944 the airfield was under the control of Coastal Command and included three runways and six hangars. Personnel stationed there included 266 WAAF and 1,113 RAF servicemen. Many different aircraft have used Islay Airport over the decades, ranging from a Hercules and a BAE 146 jet of the Royal Flight to the smallest microlights. Loganair now uses Saab 340s for scheduled flights to Glasgow and many charter aircraft from the UK and overseas land at the airport. Scottish Air Ambulance Service planes and helicopters are regular visitors along with a variety of military and private aircraft. Islay Airport handled 30,000 passengers and 2,700 aircraft movements in the year ending 31 March 2008.
14 June 08 The news came following local discussions between airport management and members of the Airport Fire Service. This means that the majority of the airport’s traffic can operate as normal on the days of industrial action. However, flights between Inverness and Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh airports may be disrupted due to strike action at the island airports. HIAL also said that it would prefer all fire fighters, leading fire fighters and engineers at its other nine airports to work as normal and to take a collaborative approach to future pay settlements. The spokesman said: “The 2% settlement was the maximum offer we could make for 2007/08 within the public sector pay remit. However, we had approval from our shareholder to look at internal efficiency savings and use these to potentially increase the award. “This was a real opportunity to be able to gain greater flexibility in future awards and recognise the work of employees across the company. The offer to conclude this work was turned down by the union. “It is the personal decision of individual members of staff represented by Unite whether or not they take the action. Some have already decided not to. The ballot for action was by no means unanimous and we would urge them to think hard about what a strike will achieve and what could be achieved by working together on the issue of pay. “A strike will not increase the 2% award but working together on efficiencies and smarter working practices may do in the future,” he said. HIAL has advised airlines and flight operators of the potential disruption at its other nine airports on 23 June and 4 July. The company will not be deploying Airport Fire Service personnel not represented by Unite in a bid to break the strike. The spokesman added: “It would not be practical to seek to open some airports by deploying officers. Nor would it be desirable in terms of future working relationships within the Airport Fire Service. The ability of our airports to operate on the strike days will be down to the decisions of the staff represented by Unite.”
19 February 08
4 January 08 The Department for Transport has approved new security arrangements at a number of airports in the UK. This means that at these airports the restriction previously imposed limiting hand baggage to one item per person will no longer apply with effect from 7 January 2008. However, airlines apply their own operational policies governing the number of items of hand baggage which may be taken in to the aircraft cabin. It is therefore essential that passengers arrive at their departure airport aware of their airline's policy on hand luggage.
HIAL airports where the one bag restriction
no longer applies are: Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: "Before departing we strongly suggest that passengers check with their airline on the cabin baggage arrangements for their particular journey. "While all but our smallest airports can process more than one piece of hand baggage per passenger with effect from Monday 7 January this does not necessarily mean that airlines will accept multiple pieces of hand luggage. Passengers must therefore make themselves aware of the airlines' policies on this before embarking on their journey. "Equally, the current security restriction on the carriage of liquids in hand luggage remains unaltered and passengers should continue to follow these to ensure a swift passage through departure security screening at our airports."
4 January 08 Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: "Discussions are ongoing with airlines regarding new operators for both the Belfast and Birmingham routes formally operated by Flywhoosh and new services at Dundee. "We believe that there is potential for the development of air links at Dundee and are actively pursuing these. "Clearly the success of these discussions will depend upon the airlines' own plans and the availability of aircraft capacity within their fleets but we hope that our work will bear fruit this year."
3 January 08 Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL, said: “We have worked very hard with bmi to maintain the Heathrow link which is an important one for our region. It’s disappointing that it will stop but not surprising given the pressure on slots at Heathrow. “Regaining a Heathrow link at Inverness was a real coup in 2004 and bucked the industry trend of regional air access to the UK’s busiest airport steadily reducing. However, increasing congestion at Heathrow and the value of slots has now taken its toll and the economics of the situation make long haul services a far more attractive bet for airlines. “This news strengthens the case for our region and other UK regions to support the current expansion plans at Heathrow since additional runway capacity will be essential if regional links are ever to be reinstated. “Fortunately, at Inverness, we are still well served with links to Gatwick (Flybe and easyJet) and Luton (easyJet). We are also talking to operators regarding potential new London services with London City a target for development,” said Mr Lyon.
3 December 07 Work to resurface the main runway started in September and posed a considerable logistical challenge to the main contractor Colas. Some 20,000 tonnes of aggregates and 1,000 tonnes of bitumen were transported to the island to resurface the 72,000m2 runway during the project. Aggregates were transported by barge while the bitumen reached the island on the regular CalMac ferry service. During the initial project mobilisation phase a ferry was chartered to move plant to the site which included paving machinery, tippers, on-site testing laboratory and one of the largest mobile asphalt plans in the UK with a production capacity of 225 tonnes per hour. Completion of the project provides a more suitable runway surface for the increasing use of Saab 340 aircraft for scheduled flights. The project formed part of HIAL's rolling capital programme which aims to maintain fit for purpose infrastructure at its 10 airports. The works were programmed to avoid any interruption to the scheduled flights. HIAL's Infrastructure Services manager Grant Dudgeon said: "The runway infrastructure at Tiree is more than 60 years old but now provides a more even surface, better drainage and improved braking action for aircraft as result of our investment."
20 August 07 Highlands and Islands Enterprise – agencja rozwoju regionalnego na region Szkocji Północnej – przeprowadza badanie zapotrzebowania na bezpośrednie połączenia lotnicze pomiędzy Polską i Inverness. Celem badania jest zebranie informacji na temat ilości potencjalnych pasażerów oraz częstotliwości planowanych podróży. While a significant number of Polish people are located in Inverness, they are also distributed across the wider Highlands and Islands around key manufacturing and tourism employers. The Polish community in the Highlands and Islands regularly take trips home, as well as friends and family coming over to visit them throughout the year. Equally many Scots from the Highlands and Islands are expressing growing interest in that part of Europe in relation to tourist visits as well as business expansion. The information gathered from the online survey will be passed on to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and to airlines who may be interested in developing new routes and services. Anna Kociolek, HIE's Eastern European officer said: "HIE is keen to develop enhanced links with Eastern European countries as part of our strategic objectives to develop global connections and population growth. We want to encourage people to fill in the online form and pass on the information to friends and family so we can make this a success."
The survey takes less than five minutes to complete,
and is open to anyone who would use a new air service, whether they are
currently living in Poland or the UK. Both Polish and English-language
versions are available. It is available online for four weeks until 14
September at
www.hie.co.uk/poland-flights
The results of the survey will be published
afterwards at the same web address.
20 August 07 In July 2006 London was ranked the 7th most popular destination for which deals were sought on Cheapflights US site. In July 2007, that ranking dropped sharply out of the top ten destinations to number 15. This follows the US dollar's significant decline against the Pound year on year. According to the US Federal Reserve's monthly average exchange rate for July 2006 the Dollar stood at 1.8433: In July 2007, the average exchange rate was 2.0355 which has clearly deterred potential US tourists from coming to the UK. Normally the top main destinations sought by Cheapflights' US users are seasonally stable with little variation. Predictably these are the leisure destinations of Las Vegas (1), Orlando (2) and Atlanta (6) and the business destinations of New York (3), Chicago (4), and Los Angeles (6). London's drop from its normal 7th position to 15th is very unusual and likely linked to the increased expense of travel driven by rising exchange rates against the Dollar.
Commenting, Chris Cuddy, Cheapflights' Group Managing Director said: "Cheapflights' record traffic last year reflects the fact that travellers are able find and compare more flights deals from more flights providers than anywhere else on the web. When our users search for cheap flight deals, tourist destinations are a major component as our table shows. London is a perennial favourite destination for US citizens; however the unfavourable exchange rate has made the UK an expensive choice as the current comparative rankings clearly show!" Francesca Ecsery, General Manager, Cheapflights.co.uk added: "For our UK users, New York is consistently the number one destination searched for on our UK site, Cheapflights.co.uk. With the cheap Dollar, it is therefore not surprising that the Dollar's weakness has caused a 38% surge in traffic searching for deals to America's first city compared to July 2006 a year ago. Similarly the Pound's relative strength against the Euro has seen interest by price sensitive Brits for flights to Alicante, Malaga and Tenerife up from a year ago by between 50 and 60%." In April 2007, Cheapflights launched in Canada
www.cheapflights.ca
3 August 07 The master plan sets out how future growth can be accommodated on the airport site through infrastructure investment including an expansion to the existing terminal building and the development of additional apron capacity. Highlands and Islands Airports Limited has already made multi-million pound investment in the past two years to increase aircraft parking capacity and car parking on the Dalcross site. The airport is also developing its own radar facility which will be completed in autumn next year. HIAL's long term aim is to ensure that scheduled and general aviation activity can continue to grow at the airport alongside possible increases in air freight activity. Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL said: "The airport is a key wealth generator for the region. Access to more direct air services in recent years has been important to making our area a more attractive place in which to live, work and invest. "Our aim is to continue to develop new routes to UK and international destinations in the years ahead and the master plan sets out how this will be accommodated at Inverness with investment in infrastructure. "With appropriate phasing and investment there is no reason why we cannot both develop the airport for the benefit of the region and improve its performance as a business. "With significant population growth and economic activity at Inverness Airport Business Park forecast for the coming years it is clear that the airport is going to be an increasingly important transport asset for the Highlands and Inner Moray Firth," said Mr Lyon. Copies of the master plan can be downloaded from the Inverness Airport HERE The Future of Air Transport - Published in 2003
18
July 07
9 July 07 The completion of phase one of the radar project sees HIAL's own radar controllers providing air traffic services to flights at Inverness using radar data supplied by RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Kinloss. Last month HIAL awarded a seven figure contract for the development of the airport's own radar head which will become operational in autumn 2008 and see the airport completely self sufficient in local radar provision. Since 1999, local radar services have been provided by controllers at RAF Lossiemouth via an agreement between National Air Traffic Services and the MoD. The HIAL service now operating will continue to use data feeds from the RAF radars until the airport's own radar is operational. James Walton, Inverness Airport manager said: "Having our own radar controllers handling aircraft movements is a major step forward for us and reflects the increases in traffic at the airport since 1999. "The RAF controllers have provided us with an excellent service over the years and we thank them for their work with us since 1999. The RAF's ongoing support in providing radar data is also very important to us until our own radar is installed next year. "The radar project team at HIAL has done an excellent job in getting us to this point and we have also worked closely with the industry regulator to bring the service into use." Last year HIAL signed a contract with Marshall Aviation Services to develop the radar project and continues to work closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority's Safety Regulation Group on the roll out of the scheme. The contract to provide the airport's own radar head was awarded to Thales ATM Ltd in June. Over the past year the project has involved feeding data from the RAF radar heads into a new radar control room which has been installed at Inverness air traffic control tower. The six figure capital cost of this phase included a £50,000 grant from the regional transport partnership Hitrans. The project has also involved HIAL recruiting radar controllers and training its own staff at Inverness to radar standard. Mr Walton said: "Our provision of local radar will enhance the service provided to airlines at the airport and allow new approach procedures to be designed which should reduce noise and cut down on fuel burn by aircraft as they land at Inverness. It will also reduce delays to inbound aircraft and increase the number of aircraft movements the airport can handle in an hour. The project will also facilitate the development of controlled airspace at the airport." Passenger numbers at Inverness have increased by 100% since 2000 as a result of the introduction of new air routes and aircraft movements have risen by 60% over the same period. Inverness handled 41% of the total 93,000 aircraft movements at HIAL's 10 airports last year. The airport will handle more than 700,000 passengers this year.
3 July 07 "We are working with them and our partners to help ensure that contingency plans are in place for any eventuality. "We also aim to provide the right balance between maintaining awareness of the continuing terrorist threat, and providing the right level of support to re-assure all communities that they are being protected. He added: "The Force will be putting additional resources in place to reassure the public, including additional resources at Dalcross Airport, Inverness. "The additional measures will incorporate increased security and vigilance. We will endeavour to minimise disruption to day to day activity, but would ask members of the public to remain patient at this time. "The Force's response is in line with that of Scotland's other forces and appropriate measures are being taken." Northern Constabulary would urge anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity to contact Police on 08456 033388. Measures being taken
at Inverness Airport
12 June 07 The airline launched flights to Liverpool in October 2006 and flights to Nottingham East Midlands in February this year. Both services operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Tomorrow's inbound flight from Liverpool, scheduled to arrive at 10.10am, will carry the 50,000th Ryanair passenger to use the Highland routes. The milestone will be marked with the lucky passenger receiving two return flights and accommodation for two nights in Inverness courtesy of the airline and airport. Inverness is the most northerly UK airport that Ryanair flies to and its services are providing a major boost for inbound tourism in the Highlands. Highlands and Islands Airports expect Ryanair's Liverpool and Nottingham East Midlands services to contribute up to 100,000 passengers to the airport in the current 2007/08 operating year which is on target to be the airport's busiest ever. Inverness handled a record 700,000 passengers in the year ending March 2007 and has seen its passenger throughput double since 1999. The airport generates an annual economic output for the region of more than £130 million and air connections support more than 2,300 jobs in the area, 750 of which are based at the airport. James Walton, Inverness Airport manager said: "We were delighted to gain Ryanair as a new airline customer last November and are pleased to see that the airline has handled its first 50,000 passengers on its Liverpool and Nottingham East Midlands routes to the Highlands. "These services are important for inbound tourism - especially during the Year of Highland Culture - and for businesses based in our region to access two important UK regions by air. The services also provide people from the Highlands with a host of onward connections to mainland Europe with Ryanair from Liverpool and Nottingham. "The success of the routes to date show that the airport and airlines continue to play a central role in the development of our region and we look forward to marking Ryanair's 100,000th passenger in due course," said Mr Walton. Earlier News |
More Flying Pages
Airports Information
Airlines Flying Lessons & Trips
Refuelling Services
Aerial Photography
History Government Organisations Weather Freight
Organisations
Aircraft For Sale Flight Equipment Aviation and Flying News
Airshows Aircraft Museums & Information Aircraft Museums In The UK Scotland
Northern Ireland Northumbria Isle of Man North West
Yorkshire
Wales West Midlands
East Midlands
East Anglia
Devon & Cornwall South West
South
Greater London
South East
UK Military Message Boards Others |
