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‘INVEST IN DONCASTER’ Give Presentation at FODSA Meeting.

At the FODSA open meeting on 3rd March members were given a presentation by two of the ‘Invest in Doncaster’ team, Chris Dungworth, Manager of Investment, and Kevin Ellis, Aviation Business Manager.

Chris and Kevin provided a ‘PowerPoint’ presentation illustrating the work that ‘Invest in Doncaster’ has done and currently is doing at the airport site. Their work has been ongoing from when the airport was in the planning stage and has included securing financial grants toward many projects relating to the airport and its infrastructure.

The ‘Invest in Doncaster’ team travel widely to airport related ‘shows’ not only in the UK but also worldwide. They advertise Robin Hood Airport and its facilities and they report receiving massive interest.

Companies that have ‘come aboard’ as a result of ‘Invest in Doncaster’ efforts include:
• Directions Finningley (Business jet centre of excellence having one of Europe’s most advanced centres for maintenance repair and overall of private jets.
• BJAC International Ltd, (Business Jet aircraft Completions)
• Redline Aviation Security Ltd including NSTC (National Security Training Centre),
• Kinch Aviation Services (Business and Private Jet maintenance and support services)
• Bae Systems aided by Lufthansa Technik (aircraft maintenance academy)
• Bespoke training systems
• Renaissance International Completions Centre (service, maintenance and kitting out of private jets)

The above list is by no means the full number of companies attracted. ‘Invest in Doncaster’ continue to promote the RHADS site and will no doubt be securing further interested business for the airport site.

FODSA members thanked Chris and Kevin for providing a very interesting and informative presentation.

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An evening with Nick Smillie and Kate Waiton.

Nick Smillie Peel Airports Aviation Sales Director along with Kate Waiton, Group Sales Manager addressed the FODSA open meeting 20th January 2010.
Although there were several apologies on the night there was still a good number of members present. 
                                                                                        

                                                                                                   Nick Smillie Peel Airports Aviation Sales Director.

Nick and Kate provided a PowerPoint presentation illustrating the airlines and destinations at present available from RHADS along with those they are looking to get. They also illustrated the difficult task of getting an airline to use RHADS having to satisfy up to nine separate functions before there is any likelihood of success. The presentation provided some facts and figures relating to the airport set up costs and road infrastructure etc. and discussed the 1.75 million-population living within a 45-minute drive of the airport.

Throughout the presentation there was an ongoing Q & A session that, as was to be expected, was very well used.

A very good presentation and very well received by the FODSA members present.

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FODSA Chair's Comments

It was not without a tinge of regret and more than a little sadness that nearly four years ago, the last EasyJet flight left Doncaster, on its return to Geneva.

At that time, there was little if any prospect of the airline returning to Robin Hood Airport, and this despite a sizable presence at sister Airport John Lennon in Liverpool.

However, I bargained without the dogged determination of the Management team responsible for New Business, and it was mainly for this reason, and the prospects that EasyJet regional General Manager UK – Paul Simmons – has spotted what he sees as a gap in the market, that I was one of a limited number of people to witness the return of the airline to Yorkshire after a prolonged absence.

Thursday 10th December was a precursor to an aircraft being stationed at Doncaster Sheffield Airport on a permanent basis (subject to a commercial agreement) and an exciting prospect of daily rotations to Amsterdam and less frequent but nonetheless welcome services to Prague, Faro, Palma De Majorca and Barcelona.

Crucially the airline is happy to re-instate Amsterdam and Prague to the DSA schedules especially since the previous services by Thomsonfly were extremely popular. Barcelona is also welcome because the service is to El Prat International close to the centre of Spain’s second City and much more convenient than Reus or Girona.

Having conversed at length with Mr Simmons on the day, he saw no reason why, after an initial (undefined) period, that operations could be stepped up, and new destinations such as Paris De Gaulle, Rome, perhaps even Lyon, Toulouse, Geneva and other destinations in Europe, could be served, which would ultimately mean more aircraft being drafted into Doncaster.

This is excellent news and should be celebrated – doubly so – considering Easyjet cease all operations from East Midlands in early January.

I, however, cannot see this as the last major announcement for the airport going forward and I am confident of further route and airline gains as we move into 2010.

Andrew Bosmans
Chair - FODSA

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FOLA MEMBERS VISIT DONCASTER MUSEUM & AEROVENTURE

Report by Keith Stones.

On Friday 13th November 2009 three FoLA members, Keith Hardwick, Graham Ward (FoLA Newsletter editor) and Don Wilson made a pre-arranged visit to Doncaster Museum and the Aeroventure Park on Lakeside. FODSA members who have read the two-part article on Samuel Franklin Cody in the FODSA Newsletters (issues 14 and 15) will recall that they were researched and written by Keith Hardwick.

From L to R, Don Wilson, Graham Ward, Keith Stones and Keith Hardwick.

The trio are involved in celebrating Cody’s 100th anniversary flight between Liverpool and Manchester in December 1909 and so the object of the visit was to take in the ‘Chocks Away’ exhibition at Doncaster Museum, which celebrates the first ever air display in Great Britain in October 1909, and to call at Aeroventure to see the replica of the historic ‘Bleriot’ X1 monoplane which took part in the 1909 event and, piloted by Leon Delegrange, won a prize for reaching the then incredible speed of 50mph. As always though Keith’s main interest was in Cody. Don’s interest was to photograph the various photographs, models and drawings etc of Cody’s aircraft with the purpose of creating a painting of the aircraft for the Mayor of St Helens. Whilst Graham was adding to his knowledge of aircraft history and also doing what Newsletter editors do - looking for a story?

The visit necessitated working to a very tight timetable with no allowance for a lunch break. The trio arrived at Doncaster railway station on time at 12.17pm to be met by FODSA Vice Chairman Paul Maddison and myself. Following a brisk walk to the Chequer Road Museum we arrived at the pre-arranged time of 12.30 and was met by the Assistant Curator (pre-arranged by Keith Hardwick who was hoping to borrow some of the exhibits for the Liverpool exhibition). The tour of the exhibition took up approx’ one and quarter hours. At this point Paul had to leave us. The trio thanked Paul for his time and hospitality and I then ferried them down to Aeroventure. We arrived there around 2.00pm where Andrew Bosmans FODSA Chairman joined the group.

We found the Bleriot X1 monoplane was partly covered and we were informed that the official unveiling was to take place the following morning. The event was by invitation only. (FODSA had not been invited, because no one at Aeroventure knew whom we were. Ian Kingsnorth Aeroventure Museum treasurer is now aware). Although partly covered, the Bleriot X1 fuselage and wings could be seen. The replica has been built by Ken Fern Aviation using original plans and traditional construction techniques and is fitted with a 1918 Gnome rotary engine and propeller. After viewing what could be seen of the replica the group had an enjoyable tour of Aeroventure.

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Guest Speaker Andy Hudson ATC and Photographic Competition Winners 2009

FODSA members had a double bill at their meeting  4th November. Andy Hudson from Robin Hood Airport Air Traffic Control was guest speaker for the evening and also at this meeting members held their annual photographic competition.

Andy gave members and insight in to all things ATC with his excellent knowledge. Assisted with charts ,diagrams and books, members found Andy's presentation both informal and most interesting.

Also, Andy so kindly volunteered to judge the photographic competition. Afterwards Andy stated, "the standard of photographs was very high and there were some brilliant shots, it was a hard task for me to make my decisions".

The winner of the photographic competition was Dave Early, second spot went to Clive Featherstone and third spot went to FODSA's youngest member Jack Parker.

Air Atlantique Classic Flight at Doncaster Sunday September 14th 2008
Flying on DH89A Dragon Rapide TX310/G-AIDL built in 1946.

   


My Wife Thelma and I should have flown on Saturday 13th, but when we arrived at the airport we were informed that there were no flights until the Sunday. When I got home I emailed Classic Flight telling them we were most disappointed that we had not been informed of the change to our flight. I received a reply saying how sorry they were for their oversight in not informing us. The message also said we would be reimbursed our petrol money and that I could receive something from the gifts stall that would be there.

On Sunday 14th September Thelma & I arrived at the Signature support terminal lounge for our flight, which was due to take off at 14:30. It was much better checking in here than having to go through the main terminal and all the security checks. However the flights were running about an hour late because of earlier weather problems. Will, who was in charge of the flights said we could be moved up the queue to the next departure. The aircraft was already out on a flight, so we waited outside in the sunshine and watched it as it made its landing and taxied onto stand.

  

Then it was our turn, we along with six others we were ferried the short distance out to the aircraft in one of Signature Supports minibuses. After strapping ourselves into the seats we were given a short briefing on what to do in case of an emergency landing etc. We taxied out to make a departure on runway 20. As we approached the hold at alpha 7 we were held for a short time as Thomson’s 737-800 G-FDZP approached on its first visit to DSA. We then entered the runway, power on and at 14.48 we were away into a clear blue sky. 

     

We climbed to around 1500 feet heading out towards the west, passing over the riding school at Rossington, also passing over Bessacarr, Doncaster race course and town centre, the nature reserve at Potteric Carr, Conisbrough Castle, Brodsworth Hall, Sprotborough Flash, and the new Doncaster Rovers Keep Moat stadium and Lakeside area.

  

We then headed back to DSA and landed at 15.07. On taxiing back in, we noted the main ramp was busy with two Ryanair and two Thomson flights. After deplaning, Will informed us that there were spare seats on the last flight of the day and would we like to go again for free, Oh you bet we would!

  

We waited around the Signature lounge and had a coffee while the penultimate flight went out. Then we were on our way again taking off at 16.20 and arriving back at 16.40. This time there were only five people on the flight. We flew roughly over the same area as before so I took a few more photos this time from a seat on the other side of the plane. On the first flight I was at the back on the port side next to the door which had a sliding window which made it better for taking photos without the window glass in the way.

                                                                  

After being ferried back to the Signature lounge we thanked Will and his colleagues for looking after us so well and headed off home, after what was a really memorable day out.

Clive Featherstone.