Annual Review
2024 Preview
Our community is restless for new routes, if we don't gain two or more new passenger routes during the year, that impatience will become well justified.
In 2014, we were visited by the Around Britain Air Rally. Research at the time revealed that this was the second such visit following a previous ABAR event in 2004, therefore if a pattern is followed, it is reasonable to assume a third visit could happen in 2024. It would be a good way for the airport to discredit the anti-GA reputation that has formed.
Not sure how long such a facility takes to build, but it is presumably likely that by the end of the year we should have a brand new Jet Centre that rivals the best of them, and at least two new hangars both of which will come with desperately needed new apron space, plus a functional southside business park.
Hopes and Dreams (2024)
To briefly recap the purpose of this, given it could be misconstrued as conjecture. We altered the title last year, previously called "Targets", "Goals" then "Reasonable Expectations". It's not our place to be setting the airport objectives, or making demands, and that was never the intention. This title better reflects the harmless fun nature and comes across as non-assertive.
• Expand Leisure
Offering
A rolling expectation until such a time
we match the previous 2006 peak, which equates to 3x based
aircraft and the equivalent of 0.66 aircraft in non-based
w-patterns.
• Achieve Cargo
It's only a matter of time until we get
something - let's make it sooner rather than later!
• Enthusiasts
Provisions
With so many building projects
on-going, we are pushing to have some enthusiast provisions
included - a trail here, a mound there etc. We have
submitted proposals to management.
• History
Preservation
Also relating to the
above, we understand certain parts of the site will succumb to
progression and that's fine, but what we are keen to avoid is
the blanket demolition of historical buildings/infrastructure
for no reason other than it is an eyesore. Towards the end of
the year, the old "Battle HQ" near the 23 threshold along the
new access road was demolished because a gatehouse "might" be
get built there. Never
again must a piece of historical significance be demolished
for a "might" - only a "definite". FOTIA are lobbying to ensure it doesn't
happen again, and Chris has already
begun work on various preservation projects including reclaiming old hard surfaces from nature,
such as the cross-runways and bomber pads etc.