30/05/2014
In the May 2014 of the award-winning Flaps Podcast we’re addressing a really important issue: airfields at risk.
Long Marston, Panshanger and Wellesbourne are at risk. Manston Airport in Kent has closed down in the past couple of weeks. So we’ve got an in-depth report into what’s going on and why.
We bring you the thoughts of aviation planning consultant and pilot Peter Kember. He gives us the inside line on what planners and government think. From Wellesbourne, we speak to Duncan Mackillop, chairman of Wellesbourne Matters. He tells us the latest on the situation involving this popular central England airfield.
Manston has been an airfield for nearly 100 years. It’s survived enemy bombings and airshow accidents, but it was closed on May 15 with the direct loss of 144 jobs and many more indirectly.
We hear from Keith Churcher, the chairman of Save Manston Airport. He tells us about the closure, its effect on local aviation, and on the support they’re getting from the community. He’s just about audible over the t***s of car horns offering support!
And what happens if the airfield at which you’re based does actually close down? We speak to Marshall Cligman, Head of Training at Flynqy Pilot Training.
To keep our spirits up, Elliott speaks Matt Jones, Joint Founder and Owner of Boultbee Flight Academy at Goodwood. What’s it like to fly a Spitfire? In an amazing and revealing interview we find out. It’s an aircraft that makes grown men cry, and makes us very jealous of those who’ve flown one.
In an enlightening Minute, Pablo Mason talks about the day he got his pilots’ wings – the proudest moment of his life to that point. And he also talks about what (and who) has made him proud since.
And as another summer of sport approaches, including the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, we hear from the CAA about the temporary airspace restrictions around these events.
An in-depth report into airfield closures, how to learn to fly a Spitfire, Pablo on his proudest moments, and the CAA on sporting airspace restrictions
