22 January 2019
Gloucestershire Airport (EGBJ) will become a PPR airport from 1 March. All non-home based visiting aircraft will be required to telephone to book in with the ops team.
James Head, Operations Director at the airport, told FLYER, “In the overwhelming majority of cases pilots contact us though operations to book in as a practice of good airmanship.
“EGBJ has for many years not been a PPR only aerodrome. At the same time, our movement numbers remain amongst the highest in the UK.
“By making PPR mandatory, it is anticipated that the few pilots that elect not to book in at present, will benefit from a detailed briefing on our current operational status. It also enables us to initiate overdue action if required. Approach and departure procedures are unchanged.
“On whether or not it is an aerodrome’s role to accept aircraft, I would say that we at Gloucestershire airport are passionate about [the] customer’s experience.
“We work hard to ensure that our customers, both based and visiting enjoy and benefit from their time with us.
“Our role however is to ensure that safety values and practices are at the heart of our operation.”
17 comments
Well said, Nigel Hitchman.
Gloucestershire Airport: You have did not address those valid points in your 16:22 23 Jan comment. Is that something you could cover in an update to your comment?
What a miserable lot us pilots are. We complain about landing fees, promote a scheme that means if we get into trouble someone gets us out of it free of charge, and rail against the simple act of phoning ahead to say you are coming. People say they don’t have to PPR when they go out in their car. How many times do you go on a car journey without the person you are going to knowing you are coming? I don’t accept visitors walking into my office for a meeting without pre-arranging it so why should an airport?
Sorry but in my opinion this is a non story. Just make sure you keep safe and giving good value Gloucestershire Airport!
I often go on a car journey without anyone knowing I’m coming. I don’t need PPR to go to Sainsburys. The idea that “overdue action” needs to be taken if I don’t turn up is ridiculous in southern England this just makes more inconvenience when I decide not to go for some reason.
An airport exists in order for people to arrive and depart from it, they should be pleased when I turn up unexpectedly.
This is an example of airfields being run for the convenience of the operator and ATC rather than the paying customer.
Chiming in on the general PPR debate rather than Gloucester specifically: Coming from NZ, I found (still find) the UK PPR concept very strange. It’s yet another time pressure in what is usually already a very busy preflight period, and when you can’t get through on the phone, or are turned down, it can be very frustrating.
Having said that, the convoluted UK AIP/NOTAM system, usually plus pages of supplementary airfield rules and T&Cs, means preflight planning between medium GA airfields often turns up hundreds of pages of information to read through. And most of that is operationally irrelevant, especially for VFR flights.
I’ve heard plenty of clueless people on the radio struggling with local procedures, and I’m not surprised some people don’t bother to read or can’t remember it all. I’ve always assumed the main reason for PPR is so ATS can check you sound competent and have briefed the key information, otherwise I can’t see much point at most airfields.
I’ll bet that even if just 5 minutes down the road you’d call your Auntie Maud to put the kettle on and make sure she isn’t goingout to the shops.
If it helps Gloucestershire Airport manage peak flows, staff training, illnesses and other absences, equipment breakdowns – these are all realities for airports just like any other buiness – and if a briefing stops us overflying the guy who is collecting data to get the place shut down, or any other useful information then I don’t think a quick phone call is any inconvenience at all.
But then if you don’t have to PPR Sainsbury’s that’s probably the clincher
Fake news, whats the matter with you all? This is totally normal and makes life easier for aerodromes and helps pilots. Shame on Flyer for perpetuating this rubbish story. Keep up the good work EGBJ – i am surprised they weren’t PPR already with how busy it gets. What difference will it make? you make a phone call, get actual real time information.
How accurate do you need to be ? Are they asking if you intent coming or asking to give a slot time ? If the latter and planning is too difficult go elsewhere if between 11.00 and 14.30 does not suit them. There are other places with equally good cafes.