Sheffield City Airport petition

[JoeC]

I've received an email from a fellow group member regarding a petition set-up by the Federation of Small Businesses to lobby to re-open Sheffield City Airport before the runway is destroyed for good (or should be for bad?)

http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/sheffieldcityairport

[Chiltern Aviator]

Used to drop in there with a friend's C340 for his directors to do business locally.

Very convenient and quite reasonable.

It would be good to have a rethink and re-market.

Petition signed.

CA

[Bathman]

i bet the council won't be able to buy it back for a pound mind you

[johnm]

I have reluctantly driven to meetings in Sheffield and avoided them where possible, would have attended with enthusiasm if City was available

[Dominic]

Signed. I have my medical in the old terminal building. It's a fantastic facility and should still be open. Osts of running may be a factor though

[flybymike]

One of the problems here was the lack of suitable forced landing areas on the climb out in the event of engine failure. I seem to recall that when operational it was limited to twins only?

[PaulB]

There seem to be a few SEPs in these pics...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77641002@N ... 518915765/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77641002@N ... 4518915765

There's a flipping great wind turbine (I'm sure that there used to be two, but could only see one last weekend) quite close to the runway now. I've only seen it from the motorway so don't really know how close it is.

[Jonzarno]

One of the problems here was the lack of suitable forced landing areas on the climb out in the event of engine failure. I seem to recall that when operational it was limited to twins only?

I flew in there in an SR22 about six months before it shut and would certainly use it again if it reopened. Petition signed.

[Dave Phillips]

Sorry to be a killjoy here, but a half dozen pilots saying they would use the airfield on their occasional business trip is not going to present a strong business case. Reading FSB's pitch makes me even more sceptical.

[johnm]

Sorry to be a killjoy here, but a half dozen pilots saying they would use the airfield on their occasional business trip is not going to present a strong business case. Reading FSB's pitch makes me even more sceptical.

We know all that but a petition costs nothing and we're allowed dreams

[Jonzarno]

Sorry to be a killjoy here, but a half dozen pilots saying they would use the airfield on their occasional business trip is not going to present a strong business case. Reading FSB's pitch makes me even more sceptical.

Although I've signed the petition, I think you're right. If there had been a compelling business case for the airport in its own right, the owners wouldn't have taken the decision to shut it in the first place.

It does beg the question as to whether there is a case for it on the basis of Sheffield's own city infrastructure. What I mean by that is the effect on the city economy beyond the P&L account of the airport itself.

[montyyorks]

One of the problems here was the lack of suitable forced landing areas on the climb out in the event of engine failure. I seem to recall that when operational it was limited to twins only?

That was true when it first opened, but the restriction on singles was lifted soon after. I flew from there a couple of times in a Cessna 150 rented from the based flying school.

I thought the lack of radar and Sheffield's not-so-good weather were the primary reasons for its demise. One of which nothing can be done about, and the other requires a significant investment. The scheduled airlines apparently pulled out of Sheffield due to the lack of radar.

Edit: From Wikipedia...
"It also suffered from the intractable problem of not having enough traffic to justify investing in a radar, while many airlines, it is alleged, were refusing to operate into the airport due to its lack of radar."

[Peter Pan]

I used to drop in there for cheap fuel (in a C150 but I think it was once limited to twins). Lovely place - David Williams as I recall organised a Flyer fly-in there some years back - I have some pics somewhere.

EFATO over the built-up area was a concern to me however - worse even then 09 at Barton.

[montyyorks]

Although I've signed the petition, I think you're right. If there had been a compelling business case for the airport in its own right, the owners wouldn't have taken the decision to shut it in the first place.

There's a bit more to it than just the economics of Sheffield City Airport. The owners are Peel Airports, who own Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Having spent £80 million developing DSA it would not have helped DSA's cause by having a small competitor 15 miles away.

[KNT754G]

Which is why Peel bought Sheffield prior to investing all that money in Doncaster.
It was bought with the full intention of closing it down.