Please see the notes on
the "Unofficial"
page for further info on who, what, how, where the info comes from etc etc
News & Rumours
·
2/7/08 G-BFLI PA28R wreck left for AAIB OY-PPP PC12 1/7/08 G-BXNS B206 G-OZAC B407 OO-ROB RC690 OY-PPP PC12
The
new wreck in the compound is G-BFLI PA28R. It crash landed in a lake in Wiltshire after engine
failure. Newspaper report here http://tinyurl.com/6cwxaw. As you can see, the pilot got out ok,
great landing by all accounts. Update: G-BFLI left Fairoaks on 2 July and is now
at the AAIB compound.
Recent Visitors
·
28 June
There are 2 wrecks at Fairoaks that
need identifying – the first, a fuselage and wings, is parked south of the
runway near the blister hangar. A
public footpath runs down the west side of the airport and past the
runway. This may, with bins or a
pole, provide a good view to ID the fuselage. The second is a new addition to the compound, a PA28 or
similar. Most of the reg is taped
over – the G- is visible, as is part of the last letter which suggest it is a
‘J’.
·
Still no fuel at Fairoaks, though nice to see the number of
visitors is increasing again.
·
Wreck update
I can confirm this is G-TAAA SR20. They helpfully parked the tail next to
the fence, from where I read the c/n plate. Upon sending emails to Fairoaks and FAG groups confirming
the reg, the c/n plate was taped over – we have a leak, and they are watching!
·
12 June 08
The wreck of an SR20 has arrived at the
compound and is due to stay for a few days. The reg has been taped over – can someone please advise its
identity?
·
Synergy have placed an order for a Very Light Jet (VLJ), believed
to be an Eclipse 500. They are due
to take delivery of it late June-early July and will base it at Fairoaks. It is also believed that this is the
first of several jets to operate under OneCharter company as air taxis.
·
G-BDKV PA28 marked ‘G-OOAT’ has gone from the compound. When did it leave and where did it go
please?
·
23 May 08 – Fuel Update
Latest NOTAM ending 29 May 08 states Jet A1
and AVGAS are still not available.
·
17 May 08 G-BHBF S76A arrived by road with
registration partially taped over, and was put in the Bristow hangar. It’s here for a D check and a respray
in the new Bristow scheme. With
thanks to Jeremy Parkin for the info and Mark Worsdell for the info and photo.
·
15 May 08 – Fuel Update
Latest NOTAM ending 22
May 08 states Jet A1 and AVGAS are still not available. This will continue for at least 3-4
more weeks.
·
15 May 08 – New resident G-BOGO PA32 first noted 4 May 08
·
15 May 08 – Recent press release:
Aircraft broker and management
company One Charter has become what is
believed to be the first company in the UK to offer a Cirrus SR22 G3 light
aircraft for commercial operations. The Fairoaks, southern England-based operator
plans to expand its services later this year with the addition of an Eclipse
500 very light jet. Operations
began earlier this month under the banner One Air Taxi, which is offering the
SR22 for ad hoc charter within the UK, targeting business and leisure
travellers. One Air Taxi also
offers a 25h block charter card for which it charges £850 ($1,600) per occupied
hour. One Charter chief executive Mike
Ryan says: "The granting of the air operator's certificate means that we
can attract other Cirrus owners and operate their aircraft under a management
contract for charter when the aircraft is not being used by the
owner." One Charter is also planning to offer a
similar service for owners of Eclipse 500 VLJs. The company has one aircraft on
order for delivery in 2009 and plans to expand its fleet through management
contracts to more than 10 aircraft.
Ryan says: "There are 16 people with positions on Eclipse 500s in
the UK and we are in serious discussions with a number of them. This will
complement our Cirrus operation in the UK and expand to the European market,
taking us closer to our goal of being a major player in the dawning age of
European air taxi services."
Ryan says the Eclipse will bridge the gap between business class and
light jet travel. "There will be no frills with this service," he
adds. "It's a taxi and we plan to introduce new passengers to the benefits
of business aircraft for the first time." With thanks to Paul Dopson on F-A-G.
·
8 May 08 – Fuel Update
Latest NOTAM ending 15 May 08 states neither
Jet A1 and AVGAS are available now.
Both Odiham and Blackbushe are now PPR for non-resident aircraft. Odiham can no longer accept short
notice requests for fuel and requires at least 24 hours notice.
·
24 April 08 – Fuel Update
Since Thursday 17 April, NOTAMS have been
issued stating Jet A1 fuel not available, the latest one expires 1 May 08. It is believed that the people running
Longmint, owners of Alan Mann and (unconfirmed) owners of the airport, have
told them they can’t make any expenditures apart from wages, as they are still
sorting the mess left behind by Erinaceous. The Jet A1 fuel left is only for use by the Police
Helicopter, any aircraft requiring A1 fuel (i.e. helicopters and Beech 200s)
are having to go to Blackbushe, where the landing fees are being waived. This includes G-SYGA, which has a
long-standing contract to ferry emergency donor parts around the country. And, there is a rapidly decreasing
supply of AvGas left.
·
An Egan Lawson shell company has recently been renamed Albemarle
Fairoaks Airport Limited. This is
a strong indication that they will be the new owners of Fairoaks Airport. No price has been mentioned yet, but
although Shoreham was bought for a nominal fee, and the Alan Mann companies for
just £1, the Fairoaks deal will involve a payment, albeit less than the £42m
paid by Erinaceous. There was also
2 bids for the airport made by companies based at Fairoaks, one being
Synergy. The unsuccessful bids
were £10m and £11m.
·
Rumoured to be joining the Synergy fleet in the future are 2
Cirrus’, making 5 resident at Fairoaks.
The Cirrus’ are certainly very popular around the UK. Synergy are sending one of their pilots
to the US for conversion before buying the new aircraft.
·
Joining based Cirrus’ G-ONEC and N160SR (both live in the GA
hangar) is G-PHEW. Arriving in
March as N107CT, it was re-registered and flown to Staverton for checks.
·
There has been a recent influx of the various types of Cirrus into
Fairoaks, SR22, GT3 etc. It would
seem Alan Mann have a contract, possibly for maintenance as they are seen
parked in the hangar minus body work or on the grass opposite the hangar, near
the fuel bowser.
·
After seeing a lot of Army and Navy Lynxes in and out on a fairly
quick turn round over the last couple of months, none have been sighted. Possibly the contract has been
completed.
·
As this hasn’t been updated for a while, let me bring you up to
speed. Fairoaks Airport was bought
out by Erinaceous Group (who also owned Shoreham Airport) some time ago, but
this deal did not include the based companies like Alan Mann. The Alan Mann companies were bought by
a separate group, Longmint, that was run by the same people out of the same
offices as Erinaceous, but were not affected by Erinaceous’ financial
situation. However AM were bought
for just £1. Erinaceous recently went
into administration and Shoreham Airport was forced to close. It opened again a day later. Fairoaks was unaffected during this
time. Albemarle Shoreham Airport
Limited have bought Shoreham Airport outright, thus saving all jobs and
allowing flying to continue. It is
not known if they have also bought Fairoaks Airport.