Time to revisit options for Alderney aviation

1. Obviously the Dornier has always been the wrong choice. It has difficulties with crosswinds (for which Alderney is famous) and cannot use the two alternative grass runways which were used for years for that purpose. Also it needs two crew, who I notice always use the Instrument Landing System when landing in Guernsey, which starts over Sark, thus lengthening the 10-minute flight time. Alderney does not have ILS so they seem to manage that visual approach perfectly well. Trislanders always came in via Guernsey’s north-east corner and only ever used the ILS when visibility was below limits. Also Dorniers have the unique bizarre requirement for a half-million cost wing change after so many hours – did that come as a complete surprise?

2. Obviously the answer as we all know is the Islander, Twin Otter, or even Cessna Caravan. Visitors would love the exciting aspect of flying in small prop planes, just like they do in the Maldives. Then we really wouldn’t need to spend £50m. on airport upgrade costs so as to facilitate the equally bizarre idea of landing a half-loaded ATR in such a small island.

3. Also may I suggest – which will irritate some of my Alderney friends – that a Southampton direct flight is not needed when a major hub airport that can take you virtually anywhere is just 10 minutes’ flight time away. On the mainland they would be dancing in the streets if any of their major airports were only 10 minutes away. Also, if when you got there parking was free, and you could easily walk the distance if it was a nice day.

4. Concerning the practicalities, Alderney has say 2,000 residents, a small proportion of whom will want to fly at any given time, and when this increases with summer visitors, charter for that time. So just say the resident aircraft did the flight three times a day or more depending on demand. Also that it could operate on a cost cover basis, at least then it would cost little except the purchase cost of the (considerably cheaper than a Dornier) aircraft. But even then I am sure there would be suitability for contracted private companies that would be only too keen to take on the task.

As for myself I have no experience, as a commercial pilot, of airport administration, but have acquired over 6,000 hours over the course of 49 years based entirely on flying out of Guernsey. So my observations are not completely without a little accumulated knowledge and observation.

TONY RIX

Seagull Cottage

Calais

St Martin’s