OurAirports: Comments on airports in Europe

[EIBR] "Birr Airport (EIBR)" by ddrum

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:04:04 -0400

I visited Birr Ireland in summer of 2005. I was looking on the Internet for a flying club in Ireland for the possiblity of 'stick time' in the various countries that my wife and I visited. The Birr Aero Club was having a fly-in during our vacation so we researched the Birr area, discovering that Birr was a wonderfull base of operations for exploring central Ireland.

Since we had visited the Oshkosh AirVenture fly-in a few weeks earlier, we thought another, much smaller, fly-in was a wonderful idea. There were two small rows of campers (caravans) that looked a little bit like Oshkosh. The Aero Club was doing 'donation flights' so that I was able to view and photograph Birr from the air.

One of the attractions is the Parsons Estate. The Parsons family have been engineers and scientists for literal centuries. One of them invented the steam turbine about 100 years ago -- the heart of modern power plants and steam ships. Another Parsons built an enourmous telescope that is on display; in fact many of the family have been inovators in optics and photography.

[AL-0001] "LAPRAKA AIRFIELD" by rrobledo

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:27 -0400

Lapraka, also known as Tirana Aerodrome, is the former airport of Albania's capital. It used to house an air force regiment with Y-5s, operating from the old runway, and later, from the grass runway. Currently, Lapraka only houses the helicopters of the Albanian government

[EHAM] "Easy airport" by david

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 10:47:02 -0400

I visited Schiphol for the second time in 2006. It was simple, fast, and well-organized, with virtually no waiting time for customs. Easy and inexpensive to get into Amsterdam (or to other parts of Holland) by rail. Coming from North America, you're far better connecting here than Heathrow for visiting the continent.

[EHAM] "Good organised" by PGJS

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 04:37:36 -0400

I often visit this airport, and I always feel comfortable, since everything is well-organised. There has been a period that to passing security check-in took long cueing, but that also seems to be resolved by now.

[LEPA] "re: Change of designator" by david

Fri, 30 May 2008 20:26:28 -0400

For the identifier, I'm sticking with Wikipedia and using LEPA as the primary one. The Wikipedia article also mentions that Son San Joan Airport is the previous name. I have the other code and the older name in keywords, so that they'll still show up for searches.

[LEPA] "re: Change of designator" by ptomblin

Fri, 30 May 2008 18:44:09 -0400

The DAFIF record for this airport shows both ids. I assume it's one for the civil part and one for the military part. It also has "Palma De Mallorca" and "Son San Juan" shown as names.

So which one are you going with?

[LEPA] "re: Change of designator" by david

Fri, 30 May 2008 07:41:06 -0400

Thanks for the corrections, bru25l. We actually had two copies of this airport in the database, one under LESJ and one under LEPA. I removed the old copy and updated the proper one to show that it's a major airport.

[LEPA] "Change of designator" by bru25l

Fri, 30 May 2008 04:07:48 -0400

Shown on map as a light airfield however the parallel runways and major terminal complex show that it is a major internatioanl airport with many millions of passengers transitting each year. The third busiest airport in Spain, after Madrid & Barcelona

[LSGB] "Contact info for Bex" by david

Thu, 29 May 2008 09:16:28 -0400

An anonymous OurAirports visitor who wanted to book a sightseeing flight from Bex airport sent in this information:

"Just in case you ever want to know the number for Bex Airport, it's 024 463 24 40, and when you call that, they give another number: 078 607 97 22 and when you ring that, there's a message that he's flying and he'll get back to me ..."

[EGHF] "Schedule to close in May 2008" by david

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:47:16 -0400

The Royal Navy has abandoned this field, and it is scheduled to close on 14 May 2008; however, the Lee Flying Association is challenging the closure.

[EGXC] "re: Landing at EGXC" by david

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:43:51 -0400

Jean-Paul:

You can find contact info for RAF Coningsby at their official web site:

http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafconingsby/

[EGXC] "Landing at EGXC" by Vaes

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:58:34 -0400

Dear Sirs,

On the 17th. of june I would make a flight with my PA28 (OO-JGA) from EBKT to your field, with a couple of friends who will go for Golf at Woodhall Spa. Return flight would be on the 18th. of june.

Is this possible and wich are the rules at Coningsby Airfield ?

Kind Regards.

Jean-Paul Vaes

Nopstal, 28

B 3202 Rillaar.

jp.vaes@marvel.be

Tel. 0032 479.945.944

[ENKJ] "Norway's oldest airport" by david

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:12:19 -0400

Kjeller opened in 1912. It's mostly military, with a large maintenance facility, but is also open to general aviation.

[EGMD] "London Ashford Airport" by david

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:42:03 -0400

This airport has been officially renamed to "London Ashford", which is a bit of a stretch, since it's 60 miles from Charing Cross. There are plans to expand it and bring in airline service, with lots of local opposition.

[EBLG] "cargo carriers" by an-148

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:23:00 -0400

http://www.liegeairport.com/liege-airport-belgique/business/business-g/operateurs/cargo.php

[LIRS] "grosseto italy" by wells

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 07:04:52 -0400

it is military airport, but there are some flyth from scandinavian tour operator

hello

[EDLS] "Nice airport" by PH-SAB

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:08:04 -0500

Nice little airport, with a gentle service of the airfield operators.

[EBOS] "The city Oostende" by PH-SAB

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 07:05:56 -0500

This airport is the first one where I had to stay the night over (gladly enough in a hotel down-town). Together with a pilot-friend we had a superb night with oisters and mussels, despite our disappointment of staying over.

The airport itself is not so special, but the city of Oostende is worth another visit.

[UUEE] "Under construction" by david

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:12:44 -0500

There is a lot of construction underway at Sheremetyevo, including a new terminal and a new runway:

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2006/04/25/040.html/

http://www.russia-ic.com/news/show/5816/

[EGKK] "Living in the South Terminal" by david

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:21:39 -0500

An unemployed chef managed to live in Gatwick's South Terminal for almost four years before he was finally arrested:

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/open_thread/2008/02/grounded_at_gatwick.html

[ETOU] "History: Berlin Air Lift" by david

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:22:46 -0500

The Berlin Air Lift, "Operation Vittles", started here in 1948 with USAAF C-47 and C-54 cargo planes flying supplies into the now-closed Berlin-Templehof airport. Rhein-Main Air Base joined as the main C-54 depot, and the British flew missions from several bases in the Hamburg area. France joined the airlift later.

[EDDF] "History: Rhein-Main Air Base" by david

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:01:56 -0500

The southern half of the field was originally the Rhein-Main Air Base, which was the main hub for U.S. military airlifts in and out of Europe (it closed in 2005). It was also one of the main departure points for the Berlin Airlift, serving as the principal C-54 depot.

[EDMO] "Dornier and German Aerospace Centre" by david

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:01:55 -0500

The aircraft manufacturer Dornier Flugzeugwerke (later Fairchild-Dornier) was located at Oberpfaffenhofen from the 1950s until 2002, when Fairchild-Dornier went bankrupt. This is still a major location for the German Aerospace Centre (DLR):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberpfaffenhofen

[EGXB] "Filming location for Memphis Belle" by david

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:35:06 -0500

In 1989, Binbrook -- a retired RAF field -- was used for the filming of "Memphis Belle".

[ETSF] "History" by david

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:02:32 -0500

This base figured prominently in 20th-century history. It was the primary pilot training centre for the Luftwaffe during World War II, and later, the site of the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympic games:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_massacre

[DE-XMUC] "Munich Air Disaster, 1958" by david

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:41:24 -0500

It's just about the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, when 8 members of the British Manchester United football (soccer) team and 15 other people died during a failed takeoff from this airport on a slushy runway:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich_air_disaster

The airport closed in 1992 and has been redeveloped, with only the control tower and a terminal building left.

[LFLJ] "Photo" by david

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:04:30 -0500

There's a nice photo of this strip online:

http://www.airliners.net/photos/photos/8/8/3/1221388.jpg

[EDJA] "Flying EDJA" by Pfaffenwinkel

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 10:59:07 -0500

Beautifull location in southern Germany, friendly relaxed ATC

[EPMI] "CASA C-295M crash" by david

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:59:37 -0500

On Wednesday January 23, 2008, a CASA C-295M military transport crashed on approach to the 12th Air Base north of Mirosławiec, Poland, killing at least 7 of the 18 people on board:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080123/ap_on_re_eu/poland_plane_crash

[ENFY] "Landing fee" by david

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:41:37 -0500

The landing fee is NOK 100.00 (EUR 12.50), waived with an overnight hotel stay. Prior permission is required for landing.

[EGLL] "Boeing 777 runway undershoot" by david

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 14:52:35 -0500

On Thursday 17 January 2008, British Airways flight 38, a Boeing 777 inbound from Beijing, landed short of the runway at Heathrow with its gear not fully deployed -- there's some indication that the plane had a power loss. There were only minor injuries, and the airport continued operations using its other runway. Wikipedia is already on top of the story:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_BA38

[EGLL] "New terminal" by david

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 13:55:14 -0500

In March 2008, Heathrow will be opening its new Terminal 5, with 112 stores and restaurants (designed to handle traffic at the 2012 Olympics). There's a virtual tour at the airport's web site:

http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/site/default/menuitem.d8b3e9cee80c57c1077c4e5d9328c1a0/

[EGLC] "Compass anomalies" by david

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 09:26:50 -0500

Metal buried under the runways at London City airport is causing serious anomalies for magnetic compasses:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080114/sc_nm/britain_airport_magnetism_dc_1

[ESSA] "Decommissioned 747 hostel planned" by david

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 10:24:26 -0500

Stockholm Arlanda Airport has approved plans for converting a decommissioned Boeing 747 into a hostel with 80 beds and a suite in the cockpit:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/sky/2008/01/airport-check-7.html

[EGHH] "Vickers-Armstrong" by david

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:34:47 -0500

This is where Vickers-Armstrong manufactured several of its planes, including the Vickers Viscount (I took my first flights as a baby in Viscounts and Vanguards).

[EGHH] "Ryanair coming" by david

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:29:50 -0500

Ryanair plans to base a Boeing 737 here and fly additional routes to Malaga, Murcia, Nantes, Palma and Wroclaw:

http://www.uk-airport-news.info/bournemouth-airport-news-090108.htm

[LOLK] "World Rally and Precision Flying Championships, July 2008" by david

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:21:03 -0500

The 18th World Rally Flying Championship and the 16th World Precision Flying Championship will be held here from 13-26 July 2008. Here's the site, in German:

http://www.ried2008.at/

And here are the rules, in English (PDF):

http://www.ried2008.at/fileadmin/downloads/LOCAL_RULES.pdf

[EDDR] "never been" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:31:12 -0500

never been

[LIPH] "Treviso-Venice Airport" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 08:17:03 -0500

Finally one quiet, dissent and possitive airport in Europe. Espresso is just amazing. Staff busy but smiling. Weather always sunny even when is raining. Thank you Treviso we will come again, indeed.

[EBLG] "cargo airlines" by Anonymous Flier

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 10:46:21 -0500

It would be of interrest to have a list with all cargo-carriers

represented at Liege Airport

Regards

Pegasus

[LHFM] "Kaposvar airfield" by Anonymous Flier

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:57:52 -0500

Kaposvar airfield -civil aviation use

[EDFH] "Middle of flippin nowhere" by yaello

Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:43:41 -0500

I flew Ryanair out of this airport once. You have to take a bus from Frankfurt to get here -- it's about a two-hour ride -- and it leaves at 5am. I slept on a bench in the train station. Good times.

[ENSB] "family" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:33:09 -0500

My ancestor was whom this airport was named. I am proud.

[BIAR] "Akureryi" by Tanya

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 19:11:34 -0400

Beautiful scenery!

[EPMM] "Civilian Flights" by Anonymous Flier

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:59:22 -0400

When can I fly in from London?

Patrick

[EGGP] "liverpool jla airport" by Anonymous Flier

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:17:57 -0400

best low cost airport in uk

[LFLU] "EastJet?" by Anonymous Flier

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 08:38:15 -0400

Does anyone know of any airline that uses this airport? I think it would be great for someone like EasyJet to open up this route.

[EHRD] "Former workplace" by MathFox

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 10:42:41 -0400

I used to work here (landside, at a business totally unrelated to aviation). As an airport it's nice (much smaller than Schiphol) and pretty efficient; while working flight crew members walking by the window and the smell of jet fuel were the biggest reminders of being at an airport.

[LFPN] "Toussus le Noble" by frac

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:42:26 -0400

This is one of the BIG General Aviation Airport in Paris for Pistons and Small Jets. Airport of Entry 7 days a week. No public transportation available to Paris, a better option if you dont mind grass strips is LFPZ 6NM north with two parallel runways

[LQMO] "Medugorje Mostar Airport" by Anonymous Flier

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 18:01:01 -0400

Mostar airport is the closest destination to Medugorje. I was travelling from Ireland to Mostar (via Zagreb). It takes me only 30 minutes from Mostar Airport to Medugorje.

I was travel via Split before, but it takes me more than 3.5 hours. Mostar Airport is much more better solution.