Roger Mexico Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 1 hour ago, IOM said: [...] Yes you are right that the Airport director does not have direct responsibility for any of Menzies activities I have never disputed that- I get it . But and this is the but they all come together as one team to provide a service to the customer ( passengers) . What i am saying is I would expect all three parties ( airlines , Menzies and government) to be working together not constantly looking across the table and finger pointing. It’s called collaboration my friend and I can assure you it happens a lot in the best large organisations across the world to ensure the customer gets a seamless end to end experience. I wouldn't be surprised if Cobb had asked the local Menzies people if they were prepared for the predicted cold weather and he'd been told "Yes, everything's fine, Gary". But that's the limit of what he can do and if it all goes wrong he has no real comeback. The only people who can take action are the airlines. We are not talking about one "best organisation" large or small. We are talking about different organisations in contractual relationships. And their aim isn't to "ensure the customer gets a seamless end to end experience". It's to make money. It's quite possible that someone at Menzies head office (which may not even be on the same continent) has decided that certain airports don't even need to keep de-icer in stock. Whether this is a financially optimal decision is another matter, but the locals may not have the choice. The only way to get round this is for the airport to provide its own ground-handling services. And when they did, the same people who are now complaining about poor service were incandescent about the pay of baggage handlers and demanding privatisation immediately. So they've really only got themselves to blame. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanxpilot Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 16 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: The only way to get round this is for the airport to provide its own ground-handling services. And when they did, the same people who are now complaining about poor service were incandescent about the pay of baggage handlers and demanding privatisation immediately. So they've really only got themselves to blame. Exactly. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Wright Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 22 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: I wouldn't be surprised if Cobb had asked the local Menzies people if they were prepared for the predicted cold weather and he'd been told "Yes, everything's fine, Gary". But that's the limit of what he can do and if it all goes wrong he has no real comeback. The only people who can take action are the airlines. We are not talking about one "best organisation" large or small. We are talking about different organisations in contractual relationships. And their aim isn't to "ensure the customer gets a seamless end to end experience". It's to make money. It's quite possible that someone at Menzies head office (which may not even be on the same continent) has decided that certain airports don't even need to keep de-icer in stock. Whether this is a financially optimal decision is another matter, but the locals may not have the choice. The only way to get round this is for the airport to provide its own ground-handling services. And when they did, the same people who are now complaining about poor service were incandescent about the pay of baggage handlers and demanding privatisation immediately. So they've really only got themselves to blame. 5 minutes ago, madmanxpilot said: Exactly. in the last week I’ve flown into, or out of, Barcelona ( twice ), Gatwick and Stansted. Barcelona services are operated, mainly, by the airport authority. The other two have everything contracted out, privatised, minimum wage. Barcelona was seamless, from check in to plane. Efficient. Friendly. Checked in. They retrieved my chair info from the booking system, I went to the PRM desk airside, greeted enthusiastically by the girl who has dealt with me virtually every time I’ve passed through for 5 years, agreed to meet at gate, that was it. Gatwick, EasyJet booking computer doesn’t talk to EasyJet check in staff computer, doesn’t talk to the airport computer, doesn’t talk to the PRM handling computer. The check in staff are always new, everyone was sacked during Covid, few returned, they have staff retention issues, and don’t have a clue how to check in a power wheelchair. Quite often the supervisor doesn’t, either. By the time I get to the plane I’ve had to give the chair info, make, model, weight, type batteries, power of batteries, how to isolate/remove them, four times. I have it on a note on my phone, so I can show. Check in staff tagged my chair before my hold bag. When I tried to check in the hold bag I couldn’t because I’d used my booked baggage allowance. Wanted £40 extra. Took 15 mins to resolve that. Airside, I reported to the PRM desk. They insisted I had to have a bleeper and return to the desk and be escorted to gate. I’m apparently not trusted to get to a gate on my own. They are trained all airlines insist on removal of lithium ion batteries. EasyJet T&C state clearly that if isolated they can be carried in the hold attached to the chair. It’s a pain to remove 3 house bricks, carry on board, and reinstall on arrival, 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newaccount Posted January 19 Share Posted January 19 https://www.britishairways.com/travel/low-price-finder/public/en_gb?region=EUK No wonder people don't want to visit the IOM 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two-lane Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/over-ps285000-related-to-non-operational-rescue-boat-662022 It is all the fault of the Royal Yachting Association. If an aircraft lands short, passengers will be expected to make their own way to shore. £1.6 million for a lightbulb for The Gaiety? Essential. Meanwhile the assets will be transferred to another division - i.e. stored in the same place as a big, green, diesel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 1/19/2024 at 6:13 PM, newaccount said: https://www.britishairways.com/travel/low-price-finder/public/en_gb?region=EUK No wonder people don't want to visit the IOM ...and they still haven't even fixed the roof on Peel Castle. DOI...a thousand years of incompetence (even going back to when they were the Department of Invasions). 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Phantom Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 26 minutes ago, Two-lane said: https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/over-ps285000-related-to-non-operational-rescue-boat-662022 It is all the fault of the Royal Yachting Association. If an aircraft lands short, passengers will be expected to make their own way to shore. £1.6 million for a lightbulb for The Gaiety? Essential. Meanwhile the assets will be transferred to another division - i.e. stored in the same place as a big, green, diesel. I'm still massively baffled by this. I did my RYA Advanced Powerboat cert in Southampton a few years ago. It took 2 days and was about £300. There is Chill Marine over here now that will also train you up to this level. Or, I'm sure the the RNLI could be persuaded to train up some Airport Firemen at the same time as they're training up some new recruits. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistercee Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 8 hours ago, Two-lane said: https://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/over-ps285000-related-to-non-operational-rescue-boat-662022 It is all the fault of the Royal Yachting Association. If an aircraft lands short, passengers will be expected to make their own way to shore. £1.6 million for a lightbulb for The Gaiety? Essential. Meanwhile the assets will be transferred to another division - i.e. stored in the same place as a big, green, diesel. But why do they have to be trained to RYA certification levels? If our Government wanted to they could introduce a certification / qualification that meets the needs of the Island. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banker Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 On 1/19/2024 at 6:13 PM, newaccount said: https://www.britishairways.com/travel/low-price-finder/public/en_gb?region=EUK No wonder people don't want to visit the IOM Well anyone with common sense would know that’s only BA affiliate, simple search on easyJet shows return t from Liverpool or Bristol for around £40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Mexico Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 8 hours ago, The Phantom said: I'm still massively baffled by this. I did my RYA Advanced Powerboat cert in Southampton a few years ago. It took 2 days and was about £300. There is Chill Marine over here now that will also train you up to this level. Or, I'm sure the the RNLI could be persuaded to train up some Airport Firemen at the same time as they're training up some new recruits. I can't find the actual FoI response - it may have been held back from being published if it's an IOMN request and they want an exclusive. Alternatively the DoI may be hiding it. However looking at the requirements for the RYA exam you can see why it would be fairly onerous on any fire crew wanting to take it, especially the requirement for days at sea for those who weren't already active amateur seagoers. But why do they need all this anyway? The only time they will be using the boat 'in anger' will be in the immediate vicinity of the Bay. Not only is the vast majority of what RYA certification covers irrelevant, there will be all sorts of things that the situations they would be dealing with could require that aren't included. What seems to be happening is that current civil service obsession - the desire to outsource. Whether this saves money or not is not the issue, it seems. What they really want to get rid of is responsibility. Whether this is the right solution in this case - response will be much slower if relying on the RNLI than a launch from the Airport, but the likelihood of an incident may be very low. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Non-Believer Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 There's no end to what's coming out though, £90k for the boat, £60k for a new slipway, £100k for the tractor (is that the one they drowned?) £20k in previous training, £26k in wetsuits and all useless because the airport firefighters can't be given enough "boat time" to remain "current" (no pun intended) in the qualification to actually use it. It beggars belief. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CallMeCurious Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 33 minutes ago, Roger Mexico said: I can't find the actual FoI response - it may have been held back from being published if it's an IOMN request and they want an exclusive. Alternatively the DoI may be hiding it. However looking at the requirements for the RYA exam you can see why it would be fairly onerous on any fire crew wanting to take it, especially the requirement for days at sea for those who weren't already active amateur seagoers. But why do they need all this anyway? The only time they will be using the boat 'in anger' will be in the immediate vicinity of the Bay. Not only is the vast majority of what RYA certification covers irrelevant, there will be all sorts of things that the situations they would be dealing with could require that aren't included. What seems to be happening is that current civil service obsession - the desire to outsource. Whether this saves money or not is not the issue, it seems. What they really want to get rid of is responsibility. Whether this is the right solution in this case - response will be much slower if relying on the RNLI than a launch from the Airport, but the likelihood of an incident may be very low. It seems that 'arms length' is the new cult in government. That way, as you say, they get to keep their jobs and have zero accountability. The Steamracket is a wonderful example. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nellie Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Bristol has now been removed from sale, after September. Looks like it's going 'Summer only' if we're lucky, or gone altogether, if we're not! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newaccount Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 13 hours ago, Nellie said: Bristol has now been removed from sale, after September. Looks like it's going 'Summer only' if we're lucky, or gone altogether, if we're not! In the current climate.... Too few people travelling. Too small IOM population. Not enough visiting friends and family. Not enough businesses to support it. easyjet seeking to cut their winter losses 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IOM Posted January 24 Share Posted January 24 43 minutes ago, newaccount said: In the current climate.... Too few people travelling. Too small IOM population. Not enough visiting friends and family. Not enough businesses to support it. easyjet seeking to cut their winter losses I think all these points are right . But it shows the folly of placing too much emphasis on EasyJet for servicing the island - loads of 156/180 passengers each way is in most cases too many . There is in my opinion no problem with having EasyJet as a casual operator but the island needs regular and consistent connectivity all year round. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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