Runway talk has gone on too long

I came to Guernsey as an air traffic controller in 1975 and not long after that concerns were being raised about the length of the runway.

That is an awful long time to procrastinate.

It can’t be that I am the only one on this island who is tired of the case being made out for the extension, only to be ignored by those in power over us who claim to know better than anyone else.

I would like to draw your attention to my professional experience as a person directly involved in the airport operations.

In 1975, and for a few years following, BIA operated Heralds for our services and they performed well off the present length of runway, however, when the Fokker 27 was introduced, at times, particularly in periods of high summer temperatures, it struggled to get airborne off the limited length available.

It was not uncommon for these aircraft to take off leaving passengers’ baggage behind because of the weight penalty. I clearly remember one alarming departure when the aircraft finally got airborne within feet of the end of the runway and struggled to climb away.

Over and over again letters have appeared in your columns over the shortness of the runway.

There are facts and figures which may show an aircraft can operate on a certain length, but that is a best case scenario and not necessarily reality.

Guernsey needs good reliable connections and no sane airline is going to commit its fleet to a risky operation.

Who are these people who keep turning down the extension?

Our island is being badly led.

VINCE COCKETT