Rugged Islander the solution to Aurigny’s problems

To follow on from Tony Grange’s fine letter:

I have lived in the Channel Islands (Alderney 10 years, Brecqhou 18 years, Guernsey four years so far) and flown on Aurigny countless times. My entire career has been in aviation, both helicopters and fixed wing, operating across the world as a pilot, an aircraft engineer and in the management of such operations. Aurigny has much to be proud of operationally but, in my view and having watched it closely for the last 32 years, has lost its way in the business model it chooses to follow. Aurigny, first given life in Alderney, based in Alderney, for the benefit of Alderney, has morphed into another beast entirely. Alderney’s has been the greatest loss, but so has Jersey and Guernsey with the demise of cheap, frequent, no frills connectivity. With Alderney’s continued economic decline, Guernsey’s political and financial responsibility (via 1948 settlement) ever increases. What to do?

The requirement is the same as in 1967 at Aurigny’s start. The Islander aircraft provided the solution then. Its bigger development, the Trislander, is no longer a viable option . . . but the Islander very much still is. With an increasing fleet of this rugged aircraft in the Falkland Islands and its successful use in Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles, the Scilly Isles, Channel Isles and, in fact, on every continent in the world, the Islander continues to provide the simple, cheap, reliable and safe solution to this requirement. What is to stop its successful use now? Nothing, that’s what. Nothing. The Islander remains a very attractive solution.

I am keen to hear from those with skills and ideas to offer, be they financiers, hoteliers, ground crew, pilots or aircraft engineers. The plan is an eight-aircraft operation. Three will be based in Alderney, one in Jersey, one in Guernsey and one in Southampton. The last two will be on maintenance in Guernsey. Service level will be as we all remember Aurigny in its inter-island heyday – basic, noisy and cramped . . . but on time, flexible, affordable, simple, friendly and fun. Just what is needed and no more.

Anyone with something to offer, who is desperate to work very, very hard and fancies joining in on lifting Alderney out of the doldrums, improving inter-island connectivity and reducing States of Guernsey losses, please contact me at my below email. This can be done. It can be done affordably, reliably, frequently, robustly and simply. We just need to focus on it. We know the idea works and works well. I look forward to hearing from you.

MARK HARRISSON,

Harrisson Aviation,

2, Sausmarez Place,

Les Gravees,

St Peter Port,

GY1 1RL.

harrissonaviation@gmail.com

mark.harrisson@cwgsy.net