sludgegulper Posted April 14, 2007 Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 Seems to be getting rather boring this thread. Bit like a never ending game of tennis where the ball constantly goes from one end to the other. It's done, it's dusted. Let's move on eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMe Posted April 14, 2007 Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 As I see it Shetland needs a second airport for diverted flights and I do hope that Loganair can make more use of Scatsta when needed. But having Scatsta available also means we have a back up airport to cover the whole of Shetland in an emergency. Just think what disruption the Braer would have caused if it had come ashore at the end of the short runway. Probably weeks without fixed wing flights in and out of Sumburgh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breeksy Posted April 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 There is definitely an anti-Scatsta vibe at Sumburgh, which is a shame. The two work well in combination - Scatsta using Sumburgh when needed, and vice versa. Personally I think it's great that people are not stranded on the mainland and instead are at least on the right land body. Yesterday is the second time that high profile people have had to move through Scatsta due to weather at Sumburgh - the first was when Sakchai was going down to his hearing. On both occasions, not getting to or from Shetland would have been awful for the people involved. It's a shame that people think it should be an 'either or' - if it is viable to have both, which it is at the moment, then we should use both for the benefit of Shetland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sludgegulper Posted April 14, 2007 Report Share Posted April 14, 2007 There is definitely an anti-Scatsta vibe at Sumburgh, which is a shame. The two work well in combination - Scatsta using Sumburgh when needed, and vice versa. Personally I think it's great that people are not stranded on the mainland and instead are at least on the right land body. Yesterday is the second time that high profile people have had to move through Scatsta due to weather at Sumburgh - the first was when Sakchai was going down to his hearing. On both occasions, not getting to or from Shetland would have been awful for the people involved. It's a shame that people think it should be an 'either or' - if it is viable to have both, which it is at the moment, then we should use both for the benefit of Shetland. Yup, agree with you. It's a shame though that one or two others will continue the "south vs north" slanging match. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMagnie Posted April 15, 2007 Report Share Posted April 15, 2007 Yup, agree with you. It's a shame though that one or two others will continue the "south vs north" slanging match. Aaaah, the old north vs south thang - I seem to mind the day when that was Unst against Sumburgh - but I suppose I'm showing my age (not to mention my partisan preferences) It's worth throwing into the mix, for what it's worth that having one airport (or council ward) vying against another for their business suits the oil companies very well indeed. Keeps both running scared. For that reason alone, Scatsta should never have been allowed to open again. At least with Unst against Sumburgh the SIC could have been justified in supporting their wholly owned concern against that of HIAL. Except that they didn't....... hold on a minute....... Anybody got Slim Jims phone number?.... B@astards..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themole Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 There was only one airport opened friday and saturday now which one could that have been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breeksy Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 NewMagnie - Scatsta was never closed. It increased it's operation ten years ago, but it didn't reopen. As far as I understand though, Sumburgh did get a couple of flights landed later on Friday - not sure about Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Stop Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 I think they're taking turns. Scatsta was closed this morning for running runway repairs. It must be about time that Tingwall pulled it's weight and supported the Island for a day! C'mon Tingwall, you've got room for a 146 and a Saab (maybe not at the same time, of course) don't you?? Lets share the fun... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themole Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 That's correct alot of traffic over the weekend didn't do the runway any favours.I'm sure when they extend the runway they will resurface it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sudden Stop Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 That's correct alot of traffic over the weekend didn't do the runway any favours.I'm sure when they extend the runway they will resurface it as well. Hmmm, yeah. I think an extention would be good but I can't see it happening. Perhaps, they could resurface the original runway when they are building the new crosswind runway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasmie Posted April 17, 2007 Report Share Posted April 17, 2007 The status quo is probably the best solution for the workers. I understand tha the majority of current workers at Sumburgh are mightily reli3eved also. HIA may be feeling like they've been jilted and after being very heavily courted by the oil companies. Thought they were pregnant but it was just a bad case of wind! This may well cause some worries to filter down to the firemen and controllers. But I would imagine that the Scottish exec will prevent them from reducing their services too far- we hope. See Stornoway closed yesterday afternoon cancelling 5 scheduled flights due to sickness and staff shortage. Seems to be a mighty sick airport. Hope we manage to avoid that syndrome here. of course the SIC were also a but huffy the exec wouldn't give them Sumburgh.................................................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewMagnie Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 NewMagnie - Scatsta was never closed. It increased it's operation ten years ago, but it didn't reopen. I'm not sure about that. There was a bit of a spell between the end of the SVT flights and the consortium setting up shop there. I'm not sure how they'd have held on to their operating licence with no operations. Still, bit of a moot point I suppose. I don't really mean Scatsta Airport though, I mean the current IAC operation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HonestJohnDoe Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Why don't the SIC spend some money at Tingwall. I am sure they could find enough money in the coffers to give Tingwall a nice long runway. It would be central for Shetland and if they had put money into Tingwall instead of Scatsta we wouldn't have to drive to Scatsta at 5 am to get our free flights, find out they'd diverted to Sumburgh and get on another bus journey. If they put all our resources into Tingwall it would the best possible solution for everybody. Herrislea could become the Tingwall International Airport Hilton and the Lerwegians could walk out saving them a fortune in bus fares. It could be called the Sandy Cluness Interntional Airport of Gott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seaflech Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Tingwall would be an ideal location for Shetland's main airport, but it would be pretty unfeasible for a number of reasons. The runway would need to be more than twice the current length and a lot wider to be able to support the existing aircraft serving the Isles, let alone any future types. Along with that there would need to be taxiways, aprons, a new terminal, fire station and fire ground, control tower, fuel farm etc etc, which all take up a lot of room. Most of the area round about Tingwall airport is pretty boggy, so it would be a massive job to build all that on it. The other problem is the obstacle clearance height round the airport. What with all the hilly bits and spinny windmilly things around it, its likely that the minimum descent altitudes for instrument approaches would be so high that there would be far more cancellations than there currently are at Sumburgh. Granted Tingwall doesn't suffer from fog quite as bad as the sooth end, but it wouldn't even have to be foggy to stop planes making instrument approaches with so many obstacles round about it, just lowish cloud. Unless they dig away all the hills to make a big flat area to build on....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted April 18, 2007 Report Share Posted April 18, 2007 Unless they dig away all the hills to make a big flat area to build on....... Just keep the Scord and Brindister going heading towards each other, they should have cleared almost enough by around 2525 I'd estimate.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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