Weston for Sale

STEVE35

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/commercialproperty/2012/0201/1224311043033.html

Jesus Nut

It will be interesting to see what happens to Weston!
O'Leary would buy it in a heart beat if there was room to extend runway and apron I believe.

xflyer

The 'infamous Darby Kennedy'? If I was him I'd complain, he is far from infamous. In Britain he'd be be Sir Darby Kennedy long since.

As to the sale, hopefully it will be bought by someone who instantly drops the 'executive' title and brings it back to what it was. The best GA field in Ireland.

Plus mend fences with the local councils, get them off it's back.

GoGoGadget

True it lost it's GA charm big time. €20 to land didn't help things!

I think that GA and exec jets can still live in harmony though, perhaps with upgraded facilities to cater for night and instrument operations it can increase exec traffic and still be cheaper than DUB. Sure that Medevac crowd had to move out not so long ago.

But definitely it needs to improve GA relations, brilliant location and there's plenty of scope for clubs moving back.

Irish Steve

Would be a lot better if certain local politicians and NIMBY's moved out.

The airfield was there a long time before they were, so complaining about it now is not being exactly honest, but when has the truth ever stopped a politician:mad:

GoGoGadget

It's amazing, every airfield seems to have a problem with locals.

In Weston they flew kites on the approach!

Erinagh airfield had the ‘Airfield Action Group’ and went to the High Court.

Newcastle had a problem too; http://www.ro2na.com/. Your man John running the show down there is a gent, he had an open day for local residents and showed them around, a few even got a spin and its a good way to help tackle the problem.

I imagine there has been some sort of trouble with all the airfields. Sometimes you can get their point, for example Weston was relatively quiet until some years ago and then it reached 100,000 movements at its peak!! Still, flying kites on approach ain't the answer and I imagine they got a reduced house price when they knowingly bought beside an airport.

pclancy

Why don't they get night lighting and equipment, maybe even an ILS and aim themselves towards that kind of traffic? seems like a sensible business move.

AlekSmart

GoGoGadget wrote: »

It's amazing, every airfield seems to have a problem with locals.

I imagine there has been some sort of trouble with all the airfields. Sometimes you can get their point, for example Weston was relatively quiet until some years ago and then it reached 100,000 movements at its peak!! Still, flying kites on approach ain't the answer and I imagine they got a reduced house price when they knowingly bought beside an airport.

Some years ago now,I attended a Public Meeting in what was then a much smaller Citywest Hotel organized by AFAIR Ryanair.

The topic was Ryanairs proposal to take over Baldonnel and operate it as their Dub base .

The late Tony Ryan himself was in attendance along with senior staff and some local Politicians and Business folk.

I recall thinking thet the Ryanair proposal was a no-brainer from a County Development pov.

As Tony Ryan spoke he outlined and detailed how the Company would approach it from the broad spectrum end.

The original proposal entailed :

Ryanair constructing and providing a new operating base Free of Charge to the Aer Corps .

Ryanair designing and constructing a network of new access roads to and from Baldonnel linking it to the (then proposed) M3,M4 and M7 motorway network.

The company also promised to utilize as far as possible Local Labour and expertise in the construction of the new facilities (there was a high level of local unemployment at that time....as now)

However,as the meeting progressed it became clear that the notion of GIANT low-flying aircraft pasing over "Their Houses" was a bridge too far for most of the attendees who,as one speaker asserted "Owned the air-space over their own houses" ( )

I was hugely impressed by Tony Ryan,his plan and his reasoned responses to,what appeared to be a mass meeting of the Flat Earth Society,but only myself and two other speakers from the floor expressed a level of support for the project.

Like much else in modern Irish history,we let it slip away,but I often wonder if Tony Ryan's vision for Baldonnel might have left us with a more viable Aviation setup than we currently have vis a vis T1 T2 etc etc...?

xflyer

The Baldonnel proposal while good had a big flaw. The approach path was over one of the most expensive parts of the country then and now, South Dublin. Worse the the ground is high around there, giving the residents and excellent close up view of passing aircraft. There would always have been a serious campaign against it backed up with plenty of money.

It's no longer needed now anyway, Dublin isn't exactly overutilised.

As for Weston, many of the objectors, including the kite flyers were living in the estate under the approach. I remember the sales brochure for the estate actually mentioned Weston. So no one should have been under any illusions. The kite flying stopping when the Gardai arrived and pointed out that they were subject to arrest. The main problem with Weston was with the councils both Dublin and Kildare. They are so actively hostile to the airfield that they won't even allow roadsigns directing people to Weston. Yes Mom and Pop's B&B has a sign but not the busiest GA airfield in the country. Now this may be down to Mansfield's attitude to planning regulations, although to be fair his actions highlighted the petty attitude of local officials.

There was an attempt to put in night lighting, PcClancy but again that was blocked by the council.

I didn't know Newcastle had a problem. I suspect it's often down to one crankly individual mobilising others. That was certainly the case with another airfield, where a certain individual with a personal grudge raised fears in local people which were entirely unfounded and engaged in a nasty campaign, which included intimidation and vandalism.

If Weston is lucky the new owner can start with a clean sheet.

emo72

just a bit of balance to the thread. i live directly under the flightpath. i bought my house over 20 years ago when it was only mainly used by the small aircraft. these planes were never an issue to me, and were actually quite enjoyable. the planes were generally quiet and tbh i never really noticed them. never heard any neighbours moaning about the airfield back then. Yes, we knew what we were buying into!

fast forward to mansfield. serious escalation in jets and much bigger planes. THINGS REALLY CHANGED. mansfield started making developments without planning. totally disregarded laws that apply to everybody. i got worried that he was going to escalate to a major airport. this really impacted on the quality of life of the locals. nobody would buy a house under the flight path of a major airport. we are really only a couple of hundred meters from the runway, so the noise was deafening.

personally, i could live with a plane taking off in the morning and coming back in the evening, 60 seconds inconvenience, not the end of the world. however things came to a head for me when the WW2 plane was doing the dummy landings? it went over my house every 10 minutes non stop every evening during daylight hours. this was all summer, it was an absolute nightmare, you could not sit outside, or inside for that matter. you could not put kids to sleep. I would have loved it if you guys could have come to my house during this period for a barbecue, just to experience it. it would help you guys understand.

now im in this forum as i have an interest in aviation, i was delighted to live beside the airfield when i moved here. im delighted that its an airfield once again. i dont mind the odd executive jet taking off in the morning and returning in the evening. its not intrusive.

locals around here would like it to remain an airfield. mansfield was creating an airport and his neighbours objected. Aviation enthusiasts that live in quieter areas, how would you feel if an airport runway was developed a couple of hundred meters from your house?

its grand to go to an airport and watch planes for a couple of hours, at least you can get into your car and go home and forget about it. it was becoming a nightmare for me. and im an enthusiast!

Crey86

I often wondered how there was never any interest in developing Gormanstown. Seems ideal, you've motorway/train to Dublin and Belfast, the prevailing runway has an approach path is over the sea. And there's a large enough site to develop, I'm sure you could squeeze a 2000m runway in there somewhere. As well as that the DF were always on about getting rid of it.

Good post emo. As you say yourself it brings a bit of balance to the tread and a better understanding of the issues involved.

xflyer

Sorry Emo, zero sympathy. You should never had any illusions about any airfield. It was there since the 1930s. You could not be surprised about what you would experience.

I have no idea which WW2 aircraft you are talking about for a start. They are rare and ridiculously expensive. I cannot recall which aircraft you are talking about. On top of that Weston bent over backwards to avoid noise to the extent that there are ridiculous procedures in place to avoid upsetting local residents but which was potentially dangerous to the pilots involved.

Also jets, I operated out of there long enough. They were comparitively rare and always flew away almost immediately. There were no jets doing circuits.

In reality most people who live near airports get used to the noise to the extent that it no longer impinges on them.

Mansfield's attitude to planning regulations in neither here nor there.

If you don't like noise don't live near an airport or a motorway. It's really as simple as that.

emo72

xflyer wrote: »

If you don't like noise don't live near an airport or a motorway. It's really as simple as that.

not looking for sympathy. dont need any. i moved beside an airfield, not an airport. i lived beside it for years in harmony. no issues. mansfield wanted to change things. it affected us. we objected, we won.

love watching the planes fly over now, WW2 plane was/is parked up there for a long time. it hasnt flown for a long time, some of the guys on here can tell you what it is, its been mentioned in threads on this forum. its a beautiful plane. i think mansfield was trying to get the "touch and gos" classed as a landing so he could get the figures up. it was very loud .

you are right there are no jets doing circuits. there never was. i was refering to the WW2 plane. that did circuits, lots of them.

residents went through the planning process. observed the law. An Bord Pleannala agreed with us.

i am basically posting here to give an alternative viewpoint. so people understand. it wasnt nimbyism. I lived in peace with the airfield. didnt fancy an airport. then it was most definitely nimbyism.

Suits

xflyer wrote: »

Sorry Emo, zero sympathy. You should never had any illusions about any airfield. It was there since the 1930s. You could not be surprised about what you would experience.

I have no idea which WW2 aircraft you are talking about for a start. They are rare and ridiculously expensive. I cannot recall which aircraft you are talking about. On top of that Weston bent over backwards to avoid noise to the extent that there are ridiculous procedures in place to avoid upsetting local residents but which was potentially dangerous to the pilots involved.

Also jets, I operated out of there long enough. They were comparitively rare and always flew away almost immediately. There were no jets doing circuits.

In reality most people who live near airports get used to the noise to the extent that it no longer impinges on them.

Mansfield's attitude to planning regulations in neither here nor there.

If you don't like noise don't live near an airport or a motorway. It's really as simple as that.

He means the DC-3 I'd imagine xflyer...tis a big bit of kit up close!

I fly out of weston a lot and I agree that it's noise procedures bend over backward. I mean a right turn at 300ft on the QNH off 25 is pretty dogey on a mucky day, not to mention flying right to fly a left circuit and vice versa.

If I was buying a house near and airport.....well actually...thats it...I wouldnt! I'd never risk it, it could always expand and if I bought the lovely cheap house and risked it I'd take my medicine.

The kite issue was too far...I should hope had an aircraft gone down due to that the person who put it up would be correctly tried for murder/attempted murder and put away for a long time.

I recall having a chat with someone who is pretty long in the business over Ryanair bunking in and extending the runway and he made a strange point. He said that Mansfield is a motorcycle, but Ryanair is a cross continental freight train that would smash through the local council and residents without a second thought. He likened it to the film "Blazing Saddles" where the people are driven off their land.
The reality however is practicality. If Ryanair were going off 25 at weston the people in weston park would have to be evicted as on a 3 degree GS you'd have a 737NG at what 300 feet AGL going over them?? If anyone has ever had the thrill up at Dublin on the end of RW16 as they go over...I'd imagine something similer?? The house foundations would crumble...and they'd be showered in jet fuel every 5 mins. The extended centreline lights would be more of less in weston park and they'd have a middle marker stuck in there too. In truth "the noise" would be the least of their problems. I'd imagine too that Celbridge would be a bit of a ghost town....

So...

Q: Would MOL evict a few hundred people to save money?
A: Yes, of course he would

Q: Can MOL evict a few hundred people to save money?
A: This isnt China....

emo72

thanks suits, yea it was the DC3, dunno if they were flying in WW2. but its big, loud and noisy. if it took off in the morning and came back in the evening, then fine. it was haunting me!

the ryanair rumours haunted me. my home would have been ruined and i love where i live.

i think everyone is happy with the current movements at weston. i wouldnt like to see it sold either. what would new owners do with it? build houses? build factories? nah, best to leave it as is.

oh and the kite issue was pushing it.

Suits

emo72 wrote: »

thanks suits, yea it was the DC3, dunno if they were flying in WW2. but its big, loud and noisy. if it took off in the morning and came back in the evening, then fine. it was haunting me!

the ryanair rumours haunted me. my home would have been ruined and i love where i live.

i think everyone is happy with the current movements at weston. i wouldnt like to see it sold either. what would new owners do with it? build houses? build factories? nah, best to leave it as is.

In WW2 it was called a C47. DC3 is the civilian version. Same thing really but just with seats not military kit.

Ryanair rumours are not fully over with. Still may happen in the future, depends if the govt cave on travel tax and the DAA sorts it's charges.

They cant build houses on the land as it's drenched in avgas and have a large lead content etc and would be largely toxic I'd imagine. They'll most likely keep it as an aerodrome.

Davidth88

If I had 3 million , I would buy Weston in a heart beat ( keep wishing David ! )

I am a Celbridge resident , my view of Weston , I love it ! , I love the fact we have not got another bunch of faceless estates on that land , because believe me that's what would have happened if it was at all possible.

Now as for the noise , Celbridge does not suffer a lot , although I cursed the Citation that took off at 8am one Sunday morning and screamed over my house. We get the chatter of hele's and GA going off to what I assume is a training area to the west , but they are North of us following the M4 . If I lived in Kew Park I think I would find it a bit intrusive , but TBH the airfield was there way long before they were built.

It's like the American who said when touring Windsor Castle , ' If I was the Queen I would never have built the castle here , it's too noisy ! '

I hope who ever purchases this develops the GA , and allows it to florish.

Ohh BTW Emo , people ( inc me ) would kill to have seen the DC3/C47 up close like that , I was playing pitch and putt when it departed on that Sunday morning for the last time , and it came over me at about 6-700 ft, great stuff .

Potchumkin

xflyer wrote: »

The 'infamous Darby Kennedy'? If I was him I'd complain, he is far from infamous. In Britain he'd be be Sir Darby Kennedy long since.

As to the sale, hopefully it will be bought by someone who instantly drops the 'executive' title and brings it back to what it was. The best GA field in Ireland.

Plus mend fences with the local councils, get them off it's back.

'Infamous' Darby Kennedy !! Perhaps it was a misprint. As 'xflyer' speculates - in Britain Darby would have long ago been knighted.
The link to the Irish Times has timed out. Is there anyone with the text of the article?

Capri86

I live in Weston park and the noise as it stands does not bother me. Rarely do I hear the likes of a citation overhead, its 90% small cessnas that come by and its quite a sight seeing them coming over my house. I used to live in a place where the road traffic was unbearable but this makes a change, and I don't think my neighbours mind too much either. as long as it stays the way It is...

Joe 90

The fact is that if Weston did cease to exist as a GA field Dublin as whole would suffer given the attitude of DAA to GA. People do fly themselves to Dublin to do business.

Suits

I was just having a think and I looked up the aerodrome requirements for Class A aircraft and I also consulted google Earth!:P Apperantly(and I'm half working on guesswork) if weston bought that Horse field and put up centreline lights that would meet the safety standards...the houses are far enough away to not be classed under the law as a dangerous obstacle.....

I'd be interested to see if Ryanair offered Kildare CC 50 squillion euros to let them develop weston....if it could go ahead!
While the laws of the air may not prohibit it the residents would most likely go insane...I mean a 152 goes over weston park at 500 approx on the QNH...on a 3 degree that would have an NG at 300 agl at most...unless they put in a steeper GS.
Stopping Mansfield was one thing....but stopping Ryanair and the other carriers who may want to dive in would be harder....I wonder if the residents would pull that off.
It's unlikely it would happen as Ryanair have no said anything.... but I wonder

tippilot

Guys, if Ryanair were to acquire Weston they would have to build an entire airport from scratch. Its nothing to do with lighting.

The runway and taxiways can not take an aircraft of the 737's weight, let alone landing distance requirements.

There are practically zero navaids-a VOR wont get you down in CAT III weather.

Ryanair operates circa 20 aircraft from Dublin in the summer months, there is no ramp capable of handling anything like that at Weston.

Then there's the ancilliaries like a terminal, customs and the fact that Dublin is a major engineering base complete with a large hangar.

Fantasy land gentlemen. Fantasy land.

GoGoGadget

I think Weston's loss has been a gain to the other smaller airfields around. Trevet housing the Leinster Aero Club is a great spot, lots of aircraft there but never really seems that busy. Newcastle on the other is buzzing and has a real GA airfield feel. Weston lost this big time, especially when you had to go through security!!

If they are going to survive they'll need to focus not just on being a good place for executive jets to go (already 90% cheaper than Dublin so I read) but also as a genuinely GA friendly airfield. They have everything going for them, great facilities, great runways, great flight schools. I'd say it'll go for a lot more than the €3m reserve at auction but it'll still be a relatively cheap price allowing Weston to lower GA fees (€20 landing fees are a bit steep!) and focus on attracting more business.

Galway Airport is another hot topic now, they scared off GA with high fees, odd opening hours and a generally unwelcome attitude, you'd avoid even going near their airspace for fear of a bill coming in the door.. then they made an attempt to bring them back by having a GA day, no landing fees etc but the damage was done.

Suits

tippilot wrote: »

Guys, if Ryanair were to acquire Weston they would have to build an entire airport from scratch. Its nothing to do with lighting.

The runway and taxiways can not take an aircraft of the 737's weight, let alone landing distance requirements.

There are practically zero navaids-a VOR wont get you down in CAT III weather.

Ryanair operates circa 20 aircraft from Dublin in the summer months, there is no ramp capable of handling anything like that at Weston.

Then there's the ancilliaries like a terminal, customs and the fact that Dublin is a major engineering base complete with a large hangar.

Fantasy land gentlemen. Fantasy land.

Some of the fields they operate out of in Eastern Europe would not be too much different. I agree that a lot of development would be needed to make it a viable airport from the point of view of logistics, but it could be done. It would also in a way foster a "Ryanair facility" given that a certain nameless flight school there is in effect a Ryanair Academy.

I know it's far fetched, but I'm just what ifing and trying to establish what would have to be done to create a 2nd airport for Dublin.

GoGoGadget

Dublin airport is under utilised at the moment and will continue to be for the next few years. Best thing to do is extend Dublin’s runway to accommodate the A380, attract more operators and make use of the US customs clearance; even 747′s can’t take off at max weight in Dublin airport. Not much money in the kitty to do that but Dublin will eventually get busier and best time to complete a project as it's not too busy and costs will be lower.

We’re not like London where we need lots of satellite airports to take the strain off others. London Metropolitan Area has nearly 14 million yet Dublin’s population is around 1.2 million. London has 11 times the population yet only 5 airports; going by that 1 international airport is more than enough for us.

In fairness I do see logic in the Ryanair thing but maybe not in Weston. I heard talk of a potential site in Arklow, I didn't look into it and for all I know it's BS but it does have a decent rail link and I'm sure they'd have no problems calling it Dublin South!

Ryanair will be around for a long time and they're paying a lot to be in Dublin. They could base their offices and a major maintenance facility there, do all their base training there, eliminate landing fees, rents, parking fees etc and perhaps nab business from Dublin by attracting other users and charging them plus there wouldn't be any threat from ATC strikes. Also they park up a lot of aircraft over the winter so it'd save on parking fees there. Over 20 years they could save/make a substantial amount of money. Maybe it's all BS but they had already seriously considered using Baldonnell years ago.

bk

Looking at it from a national economic perspective, it makes no sense for Ryanair to buy and operate out of Weston.

Dublin Airport is under capacity and has plenty of room for expansion. It is also a very good location, relatively close to the city with pretty excellent transport links.

The only problem with DUB is the high DAA charges. Only Ryanair would benefit from moving to Weston, the people of Ireland and government certainly wouldn't benefit, as DUB without Ryanair would mean the government and therefore the taxpayers of Ireland pumping even more money into DUB to subsidise it.

So I'm pretty certain the government would use whatever tools they could (planning, licensing, taxation, etc.) to keep Ryanair in DUB.

The future of Ireland is less, but more sustainable airports, not more.

tippilot

Suits wrote: »

Some of the fields they operate out of in Eastern Europe would not be too much different.

Given that new Eastern European airports that have appeared in the last 20 years are without exception ex Soviet Air Force Bases with 2500 x 60m East/West hardened runways and taxiways you couldnt be any further from the truth.

I know it's far fetched, but I'm just what ifing and trying to establish what would have to be done to create a 2nd airport for Dublin.

Forget about Weston as a starting point and you're on the right track.

Kumsheen

Even if Ryanair bought Weston they would never be able to develop it to the required standard. It would be easier to buy a green field site and start from scratch.

Weston will hopefully find a buyer to continue to develop it as a GA/BIZ airfield.

Teddy Edward

You need not worry about Weston attracting Ryanair or any Civil airliners.

1. DAA would never allow it ( who will ever pay for T2 )
2. Weston is a 900 metre strip with no navaids, lighting or taxiway width to accommodate 737 size aircraft.

phonypony

Teddy Edward wrote: »

Weston is a 900 metre strip with no navaids, lighting or taxiway width to accommodate 737 size aircraft.

Except a VOR/DME of course...

Teddy Edward

yeah and a curved approach with a hand brake turn on to finals!!

Not EU-OPS compliant i am afraid so useless...hence the reason DUB has all the biz jets:)

Su Campu

Just a (stupid) question. The Dublin-Kildare border goes right through Weston. It is the dotted line running along the Liffey resevoir, crossing the field at the VOR towards the old buildings. Which Planning Authority would be involved in any developments? Both Kildare and SDCC??

http://maps.osi.ie/publicviewer/#V1,700481,735058,4,1

Teddy Edward

yes the dotted line represents the borders of both SDCC & KCC!

Any planning on the runway & taxiway requires 2 planning applications and double the cost!!

xflyer

And both councils are actively hostile to the Weston.

Xpro

I belive a few potentials were in today viewing the airport.

Also spotted the Buccaneer being moved

Suits

Xpro wrote: »

I belive a few potentials were in today viewing the airport.

Also spotted the Buccaneer being moved

That has flat tires does it not? Wonder if they were grinding metal?

I really hope that th place keeps going...not least because I go to school there!:cool:

N7777G

The Buccaneer has been moved to the southside of the airfield

http://flic.kr/p/bu9C4t

http://flic.kr/p/bu9C9t

roundymac

Could it be made airworthy again?

cumulus

If all the land in Weston is contaminated? as you say, then why have Farmers being planting Crops there for years? Does this mean all the Petrol Stations in the Country are contaminating 246 acres of land all around them. Are you an expert in this field?

Weston Industrial Estate? Very possible. You better all fight for Weston Airport.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know.

xflyer

roundymac wrote: »

Could it be made airworthy again?

No, too far gone.

Weston industrial estate? Houses? Lucan shopping mall? No chance. Those days are gone. It's only viable use is as an airfield. All the new owner has to do is return to the days of Weston Aerodrome. No airport pretensions. You don't need fancy facilities to land bizjets.

Suits

cumulus wrote: »

If all the land in Weston is contaminated? as you say, then why have Farmers being planting Crops there for years? Does this mean all the Petrol Stations in the Country are contaminating 246 acres of land all around them. Are you an expert in this field?

Weston Industrial Estate? Very possible. You better all fight for Weston Airport.
The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know.

I wouldnt want to build a house on a former petrol station forecourt....and if I did I wouldnt have the kiddies out the back digging holes....

You'd never get permission to build houses on land like this...planning authorities dont take risks. The only thing that is cost effective in this climate is an aerodrome.

Teddy Edward

You don't need fancy facilities to land bizjets.
Xflyer,
It has 924M licensed...way too short for biz jet operations, the VOR/DME is offset and not compliant to EU-OPS safety standards. ILS would be needed and min 1350M runway.

I was in Dublin Airport last week and park bravo had 12-14 biz jets parked up...the above is the reason they dont visit Weston!

Re the future, i would hate to see it closing but flight training wont pay the bills as ATC alone i believe costs couple of hundred grand. Its zoned green field so Intel or HP could build a new plant on it so dont rule that out!!

Nforce

roundymac wrote: »

Could it be made airworthy again?

As has been stated already..sadly,no. Even if it was made airworthy permission to fly by the governing agency would be nigh on impossible. There's one or two examples for sale in SA (ex Thunder City) that could possibly be made airworthy and flown in the US as an "Experimental" class aircraft.

Suits

Teddy Edward wrote: »

You don't need fancy facilities to land bizjets.
Xflyer,
It has 924M licensed...way too short for biz jet operations, the VOR/DME is offset and not compliant to EU-OPS safety standards. ILS would be needed and min 1350M runway.

I was in Dublin Airport last week and park bravo had 12-14 biz jets parked up...the above is the reason they dont visit Weston!

Re the future, i would hate to see it closing but flight training wont pay the bills as ATC alone i believe costs couple of hundred grand. Its zoned green field so Intel or HP could build a new plant on it so dont rule that out!!

Could become uncontrolled like Coonagh or outbound aircraft could call up Dublin on the way out as usual. Weston's traffic pattern doesnt interfere with Dublin too much anyhow.
Dont think Bizjets will be coming in but a good GA base along with flight training would be nice!

xflyer

It's regularly used by Citations based there. I've seen a Bae125 even a GIII. Daylight only of course. So it's not terribly useful for people who need to fly after dark. But it can take bizjets within certain limitations. You don't need ATC either or any navaids quite frankly if you're operating Day VFR. The only reason there is only 924m available goes back to the hostile attitudes of the local council and residents. The 'stopway' is a runway by any other name.

On a fun aside, I googled to see if I could get a picture of bizjet at Weston and this came up. They seem to think it's owned by the government, which it is in a way. But they even offer airliners for charter. It seems the fears of local residents are real!:D

http://www.stratosjets.com/jet-charter-airports/Ireland/WESTON

Su Campu

Sure Padraig Harrington keeps his GIII there. The size of the thing in the hangar, dwarfs everything else!

IrishB.ie

Does anyone know why the west side of Weston on Google Earth is blurred out?

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.35202,-6.497834&spn=0.022773,0.066047&t=w&z=15

L1011

IrishB.ie wrote: »

Does anyone know why the west side of Weston on Google Earth is blurred out?

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&ll=53.35202,-6.497834&spn=0.022773,0.066047&t=w&z=15

The aerial photography ran out.

There's full coverage on the OSI aerial.

Teddy Edward

Yes correct re PH G3....but like most of the other aircraft its N registered and only is stored. It only positions to and from Dub for hangarage.

cumulus

You should come down to Cork's Mahon Point Shopping & Industrial Estate.
It takes about 45min to get into it at the Week-ends. They are still developing Industrial Units there & Hugh Office Buildings. One of which is nearing completion. We can't see into the future.

Weston will never be an Aerodrome again. An Aerodrome is an Airfield where Aircraft take off and land into the direction of where the wind is coming from. Once you have a designated Runway & a Terminal Building it is an Airport.

Who ever buys Weston will have to make it viable. The sooner the new runway is in use the safer for everybody & it will take the flight path away from Weston Park. Bizjets are so quite now some of them are known as Whisper jets.
Avgas is high octane Petrol filtered cleaner than the Petrol you have in your car.
Ok it is still leaded.But that is changing. Up to recently we painted the walls in our houses with lead paint. Times change thank God.

Darby & Mansfield are gone from Weston.Past tense look to the future.

I flew out of Weston for many years & learned to fly there. I now fly out of Cork. I miss Weston in the good old days. God love Darby the hassle he got was awful. Local Councils. IAA. Locals. He told me one day he could not take it anymore & put the place up for sale. He is still alive & well & in great health.
At 98years young in June, the Man is amazing.

xflyer

Cumulus, I don't know if you've been back to Weston lately but it's changed a bit locally. When I started flying there you got to it via country road with sweeping curves. Now the motorway passes the door and Liffey Valley SC is three minutes away with Blanchardstown not too far either. A shopping centre are not a possibility. There are no more big ticket American companies looking to build campuses on any available land. All the developers are in NAMA land.

So an airport/aerodrome/airfield it will remain.