Airport.

[LooseChange]

19 hours ago, Omobono said:

Plenty of small white vans lying at Ellerslie hardy ever used , could have been adapted with bird scaring equipment  could also  have carried  garden  shears a brush and shovel  to be utilised at the front of the building  to try to keep the place tidy especially when there are so few  aircraft movements   for most of the day , time the whole place was properly reviewed  with a time and motion and value for money  study , 

Exactly this.  There are undoubtedly many vehicles already in possession of the Department of Transport that could have had the equipment fitted and repurposed. 

I am all for the Isle of Man Airport being given funding where appropriate as it is an important lifeline for the Island.  But common sense appears to have gone completely out of the window on this one. 

Edited September 12 by LooseChange
Typos

[IOM]

The Gatwick flight has been cancelled again tonight due to the EasyJet flight being too late to make ATC restrictions . Note it’s the delay of the previous flight going into Gatwick causing the problem before people start having an go at the isle of Man ATC . So that’s another 300 or so people majorly inconvenienced. On their website they have posted the sentence below which is something of an understatement I would suggest if you are one of those 300 people who need to wait about 18 hours for the flight ! 

‘ We understand that this will be disappointing news ‘ 

[Banker]

16 minutes ago, IOM said:

The Gatwick flight has been cancelled again tonight due to the EasyJet flight being too late to make ATC restrictions . Note it’s the delay of the previous flight going into Gatwick causing the problem before people start having an go at the isle of Man ATC . So that’s another 300 or so people majorly inconvenienced. On their website they have posted the sentence below which is something of an understatement I would suggest if you are one of those 300 people who need to wait about 18 hours for the flight ! 

‘ We understand that this will be disappointing news ‘ 

All over Facebook, IOM airport, Alf and ATC getting the blame rather than EasyJet as they have blamed airport as usual 

[TheTeapot]

It was a little after 10 that it took off last night, so they stayed open late yesterday. Maybe 'don't take the piss' is the message.

[Nellie]

25 minutes ago, IOM said:

The Gatwick flight has been cancelled again tonight due to the EasyJet flight being too late to make ATC restrictions . Note it’s the delay of the previous flight going into Gatwick causing the problem before people start having an go at the isle of Man ATC . So that’s another 300 or so people majorly inconvenienced. On their website they have posted the sentence below which is something of an understatement I would suggest if you are one of those 300 people who need to wait about 18 hours for the flight ! 

‘ We understand that this will be disappointing news ‘ 

According to 'Manx News' which I think is Juan Turner, passengers on the inbound flight said they were ready to leave LGW at 19.15 which is around 70 minutes late, but the IOM 'refused point blank to an extension'  which the captain would have needed to be able to get back to Gatwick.

https://manx.news/iom-airport-refuses-point-blank-to-remain-open/?feed_id=19060&_unique_id=66e349b460c72

Obviously easyJet are responsible for being 70 minutes late, the IOM Airport are responsible for the ATC issues here. But, to be fair to IOM Airport, easyJet have needed an extension every evening this week, so they may have run out of options to work late, 

Edited September 12 by Nellie

[lcd]

EasyJet and others have preyed upon the goodwill of airport workers for years. The airport managers have happily passed on the burden to staff of working way beyond what is fair for years despite not taking the decisions required for years to provide appropriate staffing. I have been informed by someone in those groups that tolerance with working extra hours and the strain that causes has become too much. 

It's been known about for more than 10 years. And this is the result. 

[Numbnuts]

Easyjet are the main issue. If there flights were on time they wouldn’t be an issue . Yes am sure there can be fingers pointed at Ronaldsway but until Easyjet sort themselves out it’s not fair to jump on our airport and ATC .

[mai wei]

11 hours ago, lcd said:

EasyJet and others have preyed upon the goodwill of airport workers for years. The airport managers have happily passed on the burden to staff of working way beyond what is fair for years despite not taking the decisions required for years to provide appropriate staffing. I have been informed by someone in those groups that tolerance with working extra hours and the strain that causes has become too much. 

It's been known about for more than 10 years. And this is the result. 

We await with interest the responses to the written questions awaiting answer in Tynwald:

"Further to the answers he gave to Question 13 in Tynwald on 16th April 2024 how many trained Air Traffic Controllers there were at that time; how many were in training; how many are currently trained and in training; when the target number of 18 Air Traffic Controllers will be achieved; what regulatory breaks are rostered; and when Airport closures due to air traffic control issues will cease" (Clare Christian)

"What progress has been made with the long term strategic approach to air traffic control Council of Ministers announced in July 2023; what additional investment has been made in staff and other resources to increase airport resilience; and when he expects an end to the need for airport closures to accommodate mandatory rest breaks." (Chris Thomas)

"What the membership and terms of reference are of the Airport Shadow Board formed in December 2022; whether any functions are delegated to it, and if so, which functions; what resources it manages; when it has met; and when he expects it to make a recommendation regarding the potential for a change of airport operating model." (Chris Thomas) All are relevant to the ongoing situation and due for answer by the 24th September.

[RoundTheCourse]

It'll be interesting to see if Easyjet carry on with services to the Island, when the airline next reviews internally.

[WTF]

1 hour ago, RoundTheCourse said:

It'll be interesting to see if Easyjet carry on with services to the Island, when the airline next reviews internally.

services you say ?????

[Utah 01]

2 hours ago, WTF said:

services you say ?????

Spot on.....................it isn't and suits only easyjet. Going into stuck record mode but this is the price being paid for no longer having an Island based, and when I say Island based I mean headquartered here, airline. And for that I lay the blame firmly on the vacuous skulls of our parish councilors.

[Fred the shred]

One of the passengers said on FB that the flight last night was only 90 minutes late I would say an hour and a half is unacceptable not an only situation.    EasyJet are noted for their late departures and ultimately the later the flight the problem is the knock on scenario.    It must cost a lot of money to keep an airport open after it’s official close down time apart from the ATC situation also cooperation from essential staff.

[lfc84]

20 minutes ago, Utah 01 said:

Spot on.....................it isn't and suits only easyjet. Going into stuck record mode but this is the price being paid for no longer having an Island based, and when I say Island based I mean headquartered here, airline. And for that I lay the blame firmly on the vacuous skulls of our parish councilors.

Loganair had a similar issue recently and they're based on the island. No idea why hq would make any difference 

[Nellie]

25 minutes ago, Fred the shred said:

One of the passengers said on FB that the flight last night was only 90 minutes late I would say an hour and a half is unacceptable not an only situation.    EasyJet are noted for their late departures and ultimately the later the flight the problem is the knock on scenario.    It must cost a lot of money to keep an airport open after it’s official close down time apart from the ATC situation also cooperation from essential staff.

If the Airport stays open beyond it's scheduled time, the airine(s) requesting the extension have to pay. The fees are on the Airport website. There are different fees for based and non-based airlines. Staying open until 22.30 costs easyJet £1365+VAT.

It is a lot less though, than paying for 150 hotel rooms! There was an FoI last year which gave details of how much airlines had paid, and which confirmed that easyJet do pay such fees, when they incur them. 

[VikingRaider]

12 hours ago, lfc84 said:

Loganair had a similar issue recently and they're based on the island. No idea why hq would make any difference 

Makes a massive difference as long as the planes are stabled here. Easyjet's main problem is they want their planes and crew back in the UK that night so even if the airport is open for them to land it sometimes isn't for them to take off again which means they abort the flight if they can't get an extension. However, if they didn't continually schedule flights to here at the end of the day knowing full well that the build up of delays during the day would cause a problem life would be so much better.