Archive for the ‘Cambridge airport’ CategoryJersey-based C. I. Travel Group has announced a new service between Jersey and Cambridge Airport. Flights will operate weekly (Saturdays) from 12 May to 15 September 2012 using a 48 seat ATR-42 aircraft. ExecuJet Cambridge, the company’s first full-service UK FBO, has appointed Karen Hein-Jones to the position of FBO Manager. Karen joins from another FBO company at Stansted Airport where she held the position of Operations Controller for five years having started her career in aviation as cabin crew with Monarch Airlines in 1986. In her new role, Karen will report to Nicole Gut, Director European FBOs working alongside a strong team committed to maintaining ExecuJet’s prestigious world class business aviation FBO brand. “I feel very privileged and excited to be part of the highly respected ExecuJet team and look forward to using my knowledge and experience to play a key role in developing business aviation at Cambridge,” Karen commented. “We are delighted to welcome Karen to the team at our new state-of-the-art FBO at Cambridge,” said Nicole Gut. “We are looking forward to developing business aviation at our first full-service FBO in the UK to make it an internationally renowned, dedicated business and VIP centre of choice. Having someone with Karen’s experience and knowledge will help us tremendously in realising our plans, especially as London will host the Olympics this year and we anticipate an extremely busy summer at Cambridge.” Cambridge Airport is one of just five regional airports in the UK capable of accepting business and passenger services with a 24/7 slot allocation during the 2012 Olympics period. ExecuJet will be able to support Cambridge Airport’s ambitious Olympic traffic plans, by bringing its experience of the South African World Cup and – with its extended FBO network – will be able to help with the additional temporary roles which the Airport will need to maintain levels of service during the extended traffic and opening hours of the 2012 London Summer Olympics. ExecuJet Cambridge is already taking bookings for the Olympic period. Cambridge Airport-based Pilot Training College (PTC) has confirmed it has received CAA approval on its Boeing 737 simulator. Approval of the remaining professional pilot training courses is expected shortly. The recent installation of the Boeing 737 NGW simulator in hangar one took eight weeks to complete. Constructed from an actual 737 cockpit, the simulator is fitted with a CFM-56-7B26 Engine Simulation Model and certified to a FNPTII-MCC level. With high definition visuals and the latest image generation software, the new generation simulator will enhance the learning experience for student pilots. The SIM is fitted with TCAS-27.0, Weather Radar, EGPWS, DEU, Dual FMC, Dual GPS, plus many pre-programmed system faults and failures for training. The simulator represents a substantial investment for Pilot Training College in the United Kingdom bringing another level of training experience to the airport. Pilot Training College will also base a fleet of Piper Seminole aircraft at the airport that will enable training up to Multi-engine Instrument Rating Standard and it expects to receive delivery of a FNPTII procedural trainer which it will use to train to MEIR standard. The Boeing 737 simulator at Cambridge will be used to train to Multi-Crew Co-operation and Jet Orientation standard which is necessary in helping students transition to larger multi-crew turboprop and jet aircraft. The training period for the Multi-Crew Cooperation Course is approximately eight days. Pilot Training College expects to train up to 300 pilots next year; a significant proportion of which will be streamed through the Cambridge Training Centre. PTC operates other Training Centres in Ireland at Waterford and Dublin, and in Florida, USA and holds contracts with leading airlines from around the world such as Flybe, Nasair, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines and Air Astana. Effective 2 January, Cambridge Aero Club will take over all the handling of most private General Aviation and helicopters at Cambridge Airport. The move follows the arrival of ExecuJet Europe, which takes over the Marshall Business Aviation FBO in an exclusive arrangement from 1 January to take responsibility for all arriving and departing business jets. The Aero Club is preparing for the responsibility with a recent refurbishment of the existing flying school facilities said Luke Hall, Chief Flying Instructor, Examiner and Aero Club Manager. Cambridge Airport has always offered a full handling service even though this is not compulsory for general aviation aircraft under four metric tonnes. Also new for 2012, the Aero Club will have a direct report to Cambridge Airport and Managing Director Archie Garden. “These are exciting times for the airport and we look forward to providing an attractive environment for both regular Club users and valued GA customers,” said Luke Hall. He also noted that during the time of the Olympics, private flyer students will not be affected by the slot restrictions, being three miles north of the restricted zone. Cambridge Aero Club is one of the longest established flight training schools in the world and it has been training pilots for more than 80 years. Currently it has more than 150 members, approximately half of which hold flying licences. The Club runs four Cessna 172 SP touring aircraft and an Extra EA200/300 high performance aerobatic aircraft. The school is also unique in offering full tail wheel and aerobatic flying on high performance aircraft, which it pioneered in the UK five years ago. “Our highly experienced instructor team has an infectious enthusiasm for flying and teaching. Between them, they have amassed an unrivalled level of instructing expertise and have become renowned for delivering expert basic flight instruction to advanced aerobatics,” said Hall. GA flying is permissible between 0700 and 2100 Monday to Friday and 0800 to 1900 at weekends. Movements at other times can be arranged. Cambridge Airport has announced that it is one of the first UK airports to introduce the new GPS enabled (APV Baro RNAV Instrument Approach) procedure to supplement its existing SRA/ILS/NDB and modifiable PAPI facilities. The approach has been validated for its principal runways, 23 and 05 making Cambridge one of the few airports in the UK that can offer the complete spectrum of commercial pilot training capabilities outside of the major London Airports. The airport is regularly used by military aircraft, commercial aircraft up to Boeing 757 or Airbus320 capacity, as well as business and general aviation and the instrument approach system can now be utilised by all aircraft with the relevant certification. The APV Baro RNAV Instrument approach procedure, known colloquially as a “GPS Approach” is a pilot interpreted navigation aid that provides an extremely accurate airfield approach in all weather conditions. “We are extremely pleased to have had this system validated,” says Archie Garden, Cambridge Airport Director. “Safety and Customer Service is at the forefront of everything we do Cambridge Airport, and this new facility will provide easier access in all weather conditions. We are already recognised as being a real alternative airport for the London region and as the East of England aviation hub. We are constantly seeking to upgrade our services offering to clients and this is just another milestone in our ongoing strategy of infrastructure development.” Cambridge Airport has announced the appointment of David Surley as Senior Business Development Manager. He joined the airport’s management team on 14 November in this newly created role which will see David take responsibility for developing Cambridge Airport as the airport of choice for niche premier and business short haul airline operations accessing the East of England. He will report to Archie Garden, Airport Director. David joins the dynamic Cambridge management team from London Oxford Airport where he held the position of Head of Customer Services & Route Development responsible for the airport’s handling proposition and commercial aviation strategy. His experience as Sales and Marketing Manager at Air Mauritius where he looked after the airline’s UK and Ireland market development; combined with highly relevant management positions held at major organisations including Star Alliance, ANA (All Nippon Airways), Helios Airways and STA Travel makes him well positioned to advance Cambridge’s ambitions of developing niche scheduled flights. David’s first foray into aviation was in sales with British Airways. Archie Garden, Director of Cambridge Airport commented: “We are delighted to welcome David with his extensive experience in airline sales, marketing and customer relations. Recent research from the CAA demonstrates that the residents of the greater Cambridgeshire area have a significantly above average propensity to travel by air. We are keen to support their requirements and are are truly excited for the future development of regional airline business at Cambridge Airport.” David Surley adds: “With its high-tech industry and as one of the UK’s most famous and academically acclaimed cities, I can’t think of a more exciting regional airport to be part of than Cambridge. I’m looking forward to helping develop Cambridge Airport’s future and capitalizing on the opportunity for regional airline growth.” ExecuJet Europe has been awarded the tender to manage Cambridge Airport’s FBO business. Effective 1 January 2012, ExecuJet Europe will take over the management of the former Marshall Business Aviation Fixed Based Operation (FBO). Cambridge Airport will be ExecuJet’s ninth European FBO and its first full service FBO in the UK. ExecuJet obtained a UK Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) more than four years ago and currently manages over 10 aircraft based in the UK, with a total of 50 throughout Europe. Business aviation at Cambridge Airport has grown significantly over the last year with movements year on year up by 15% and fuel sales up by 37%. ExecuJet’s arrival will bring both a strong brand and extensive worldwide network to the airport, and airport management will be able to call on its immense experience next summer as Cambridge Airport operates 24/7 during the 2012 Olympics. Cambridge Airport is reporting a significant growth in business since the beginning of 2011 when it implemented its new commercial strategy. The new dedicated airport management team, led by Airport Director Archie Garden, has grown its business aviation movements year on year by 15%, fuel sales are up by 37% and it has seen a jump in airport parking fee revenue of 90%. Instrument approach training flights have also grown – now currently showing a 5% rise year on year. Currently operators and private owners are driving the new business movements and many charters are originating in France and Germany. A growth in Air Ambulance flights with patients heading to renowned local hospitals, Addenbrookes which recently opened a new trauma unit, and Papworth has also been seen. It is anticipated that within the first 18 months of operation the Airport will have added another 100 jobs to the area through the addition of companies like the Pilot Training Company and other various aviation brokers and managed aircraft companies that are in the pipeline to move to Cambridge.
Consultant Martin Hill brings 30 years’ experience as an air traffic controller and supervisor at the London Air Traffic Control centre to Gama. He is now in situ at the company’s Farnborough Airport HQ and is advising Gama’s operations and charter teams as they communicate to clients about their air travel to London coinciding with next year’s big event. Gama’s Director of Client Relations Trevor Jones was participating as a panellist at BGAD 2011’s Practicalities of the Olympics Panel at Cambridge Airport on Tuesday, 20th September. “We are advising our customers and charter brokers to book their slots early in order to avoid disappointment. For international clients coming to London between 21 July and 15 August we urge them to contact us as soon as possible so we can make the slot applications accordingly. This is because there will be capacity constraints in the airspace over the London area, affecting a total of 40 airports in the South of the UK.” Slots will be required for all flights arriving or departing the London area during the period from 21st July to 15th August 2012, inclusive – this covers the Olympic Games only, there are no extra slot restrictions for the Paralympic Games. Flights will also be subjected to security screening, even at small airports/airfields. Martin Hill explains: “Slots will be issued on a first come, first served basis and where the requested slot time is not available, the closest match will be offered as an alternative. Airports will be charging a non-refundable fee for the booking of the slots, which will be added to the cost of the flight, and in some cases, requiring payment of landing and handling fees in advance.” Gama is advising its clients and charter brokers that once a slot is issued, changing the time of the flight will invalidate that original slot. There will be no guarantee that a slot will be available for the revised time, on the day concerned. If the slot is not adhered to the flight will not be able to depart until a new slot time is granted, which could be many hours away. The slot system is now operational to take bookings at Farnborough Airport, and will become active at other London area airports over the coming months. The following airports, all subject to slot co-ordination, have confirmed their available capacity and effective September 5th it is possible to make a reservation at those highlighted in bold: Slot co-ordinated airports during the period of the Olympics
The following airports are yet to confirm their capacity so slot bookings are not yet available:
* slot reservations available 30th November 2011 ** slot reservations available 1st February 2012 *** slot reservations available as soon as capacity determined Cambridge Airport announced it will be one of just five regional airports in the UK capable of accepting 24/7 business and passenger services during the 2012 Olympics period. Olympic slot allocations will operate between the 21 July 2012 and 15 August 2012 during which time Cambridge Airport will be able to accommodate over 200 movements per day. As one of only five civilian airports with a 24/7 capability, Cambridge Airport has the capacity to accept aircraft throughout the day and permit the airport to take up to 30% of regional slot controlled airport traffic during the early morning and late evenings. Cambridge already boasts an established 24/7 operating capability with no noise restrictions and this status was recognised by Airport Co-ordination Limited (ACL), which manages the slot allocation system. ACL has created a booking system, which has now gone live, introduced to ensure UK airport capacity meets the expected increase in demand. Cambridge is offering charter operators, government fleets and private owners the opportunity to pre-purchase guaranteed parking slots with a one time fee that also includes all landing and take off costs. Richard Knight, Airport Manager at Cambridge said, “The 24/7 capacity, combined with our special events offering, gives our customers exceptional flexibility, particularly as we have a generous allocation of early morning and late evening slots. With hotels fully booked and events running into the evening, a day trip to the Olympics becomes a viable option”. Cambridge operates up to Fire Category 7 and has full ATC cover, with ILS and soon to be published GPS approaches, and can handle intercontinental business jets and passenger aircraft up to Boeing 757 and Airbus 320 size. Cambridge expects the majority of its flights to be derived from private charter and business aviation who will maximise the services provided at the new stylish new FBO facility. |
