http://www.sainthelenaaccess.com/news/
Comair (South Africa) dovrebbe assicurare un collegamento settimanale con Johannesburg.
Comair (South Africa) dovrebbe assicurare un collegamento settimanale con Johannesburg.
St Helena airport
- Autore Discussione Renato
- Data d'inizio
Prima sulla BBC era in onda questo documentario: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31945384
Non so se dall'Italia sia visibile, ma comunque l'articolo è altrettanto interessante
Non so se dall'Italia sia visibile, ma comunque l'articolo è altrettanto interessante
Prima sulla BBC era in onda questo documentario: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31945384
Non so se dall'Italia sia visibile, ma comunque l'articolo è altrettanto interessante
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57XP6g_G9xU
St Helena is currently widely regarded as the world's most inaccessible inhabited island, but all this will change in February 2016 with the opening of the first airport on St Helena. The tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean is Britain's second oldest remaining of the British Overseas Territories, after Bermuda, but accessibility has been limited to an almost week long sea journey.
Atlantic Star Airlines will next week open reservations for the start of a series of scheduled charter flights between the UK and St Helena from spring next year, subject to the final certification of the tropical island’s brand new airport. The virtual airline has joined forces with tour operator TUI to serve this market using a Boeing 737-800 of its Dutch division, Arkefly.
The airline confirms that tickets for flights between London Gatwick and St Helena will go on sale at midday on November 2, 2015. These flights, operated initially as charters, will be allocated the flight number ‘OR1502’ for the southbound flight, reflecting the year St Helena was discovered, and ‘OR2002’ for the northbound flight, the year that citizens of the British Overseas Territories became British Citizens.
Total journey time, including a short refuelling stop in Banjul, Gambia for the 737-800, will be under 12 hours. UK originating travellers will be able to depart late evening and arrive in St Helena the following morning. Return flights will leave St Helena early morning to arrive into the UK in the evening of the same day.
"I am thrilled to be at the point where we can finally realise our ambition of creating a service to serve St Helena tourism and Saints the world over. We have received many messages of support for our concept of a direct service to London - now is the time for Saints and tourism providers to back our service by jumping on our historic first flights,” said Andrew Radford, director, Atlantic Star Airlines.
It is understood that the initial flights will be conducted as a pair, with the first round trip operating around the middle of March 2016, and the second a fortnight later in early April 2016, to coincide with the Easter holidays. By choosing this pattern of flights resident Saints will be able to enjoy a two-week stay in England, similarly visitors to St. Helena will be able to enjoy a fortnight on the island.
St Helena is currently widely regarded as the world's most inaccessible inhabited island, but all this will change in February 2016 with the opening of the first airport on St Helena. The tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean is Britain's second oldest remaining of the British Overseas Territories, after Bermuda, but accessibility has been limited to an almost week long sea journey.
Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, more than 2,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass, Saint Helena is one of the most remote places in the world. The nearest port on the continent is Namibe in Southern Angola, and the nearest international airport the Quatro de Fevereiro Airport of Angola's capital Luanda. It is currently linked to the world by RMS St Helena which sails between the island and Cape Town, a five day adventure across, at times, rough seas.
The construction of an international airport is a major development for the island. Long rumoured and discussed, the British Government finally announced its plan to construct the facility in March 2005 for completion in 2010. However, the financial crisis and delays with consultations meant that it was not until November 2011 that an agreement was reached with a South African contractor to build the international lifeline.
The project aims to provide air services to St Helena, fulfilling the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining access to the island, and at the same time providing St Helena with a real opportunity for economic growth through tourism. Both the St Helena Government and the UK Government believe this will lead to eventual financial self-sustainability for St Helena.
The Island’s Government earlier this year announced the appointment of South African carrier Comair as the preferred bidder for the provision of scheduled air services to St Helena. The company operates under its low-fare airline brand, kulula.com, as well as under the British Airways livery as part of its license agreement with British Airways.
Comair is proposing a weekly flight between Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and St Helena using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flight time from Johannesburg to St Helena will be about four and a half hours. Through Comair’s partnerships with numerous international airlines, the St Helena air service will offer connections to the international route network, via Johannesburg, to destinations such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong.
Air links to St Helena will be a very niche market and a study by The Journey Tourism and Enterprise St Helena, a body set up by the St Helena Government to drive forward tourism and economic development, for the air service tender suggests that through organic growth visitor numbers to the island should rise from around 1,400 to 2,000 a year between 2016 and 2020. However, a medium growth scenario and the development of a single 45 bedroom hotel on the island could see visitor numbers grow as high as 7,700 by 2020.
Atlantic Star Airlines will next week open reservations for the start of a series of scheduled charter flights between the UK and St Helena from spring next year, subject to the final certification of the tropical island’s brand new airport. The virtual airline has joined forces with tour operator TUI to serve this market using a Boeing 737-800 of its Dutch division, Arkefly.
The airline confirms that tickets for flights between London Gatwick and St Helena will go on sale at midday on November 2, 2015. These flights, operated initially as charters, will be allocated the flight number ‘OR1502’ for the southbound flight, reflecting the year St Helena was discovered, and ‘OR2002’ for the northbound flight, the year that citizens of the British Overseas Territories became British Citizens.
Total journey time, including a short refuelling stop in Banjul, Gambia for the 737-800, will be under 12 hours. UK originating travellers will be able to depart late evening and arrive in St Helena the following morning. Return flights will leave St Helena early morning to arrive into the UK in the evening of the same day.
"I am thrilled to be at the point where we can finally realise our ambition of creating a service to serve St Helena tourism and Saints the world over. We have received many messages of support for our concept of a direct service to London - now is the time for Saints and tourism providers to back our service by jumping on our historic first flights,” said Andrew Radford, director, Atlantic Star Airlines.
It is understood that the initial flights will be conducted as a pair, with the first round trip operating around the middle of March 2016, and the second a fortnight later in early April 2016, to coincide with the Easter holidays. By choosing this pattern of flights resident Saints will be able to enjoy a two-week stay in England, similarly visitors to St. Helena will be able to enjoy a fortnight on the island.
St Helena is currently widely regarded as the world's most inaccessible inhabited island, but all this will change in February 2016 with the opening of the first airport on St Helena. The tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean is Britain's second oldest remaining of the British Overseas Territories, after Bermuda, but accessibility has been limited to an almost week long sea journey.
Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, more than 2,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass, Saint Helena is one of the most remote places in the world. The nearest port on the continent is Namibe in Southern Angola, and the nearest international airport the Quatro de Fevereiro Airport of Angola's capital Luanda. It is currently linked to the world by RMS St Helena which sails between the island and Cape Town, a five day adventure across, at times, rough seas.
The construction of an international airport is a major development for the island. Long rumoured and discussed, the British Government finally announced its plan to construct the facility in March 2005 for completion in 2010. However, the financial crisis and delays with consultations meant that it was not until November 2011 that an agreement was reached with a South African contractor to build the international lifeline.
The project aims to provide air services to St Helena, fulfilling the UK Government’s commitment to maintaining access to the island, and at the same time providing St Helena with a real opportunity for economic growth through tourism. Both the St Helena Government and the UK Government believe this will lead to eventual financial self-sustainability for St Helena.
The Island’s Government earlier this year announced the appointment of South African carrier Comair as the preferred bidder for the provision of scheduled air services to St Helena. The company operates under its low-fare airline brand, kulula.com, as well as under the British Airways livery as part of its license agreement with British Airways.
Comair is proposing a weekly flight between Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport and St Helena using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The flight time from Johannesburg to St Helena will be about four and a half hours. Through Comair’s partnerships with numerous international airlines, the St Helena air service will offer connections to the international route network, via Johannesburg, to destinations such as London, Amsterdam, Paris, Sydney and Hong Kong.
Air links to St Helena will be a very niche market and a study by The Journey Tourism and Enterprise St Helena, a body set up by the St Helena Government to drive forward tourism and economic development, for the air service tender suggests that through organic growth visitor numbers to the island should rise from around 1,400 to 2,000 a year between 2016 and 2020. However, a medium growth scenario and the development of a single 45 bedroom hotel on the island could see visitor numbers grow as high as 7,700 by 2020.
The opening of St. Helena Airport in the south Atlantic Ocean has been delayed from February 2016 to May 2016 to allow for additional refinement of the aerodrome's infrastructure.
Earlier this month, the island's government announced that runway ILS calibration tests, carried out in September by a team from Flight Calibration Services Limited (FCSL) and TAB Charters(Lanseria), had been unsuccessful. As a result, redesign and relocation of the airfield's Localiser and DVOR would have to be carried out.
"FCSL will return to the Island, possibly in the latter part of 2015 or early 2016, to recalibrate the NavAids following the rectification work," the government said.
Atlantic Star Airlines (London Luton) has already deferred its planned London Gatwick-St Helena flights, operated in conjunction with TUIfly (Netherlands) (OR, Amsterdam), until May. The weekly flights will operate via Banjul, Gambia on both legs using B737-800 equipment.
Comair (South Africa) (MN, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), which will operate scheduled flights to the island from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo with a fortnightly onward sector to Georgetown Wideawake, has also been affected by the delay. It will only be able to commence ticket sales once Air Safety Support International has given St. Helena Airport the official nod.
Earlier this month, the island's government announced that runway ILS calibration tests, carried out in September by a team from Flight Calibration Services Limited (FCSL) and TAB Charters(Lanseria), had been unsuccessful. As a result, redesign and relocation of the airfield's Localiser and DVOR would have to be carried out.
"FCSL will return to the Island, possibly in the latter part of 2015 or early 2016, to recalibrate the NavAids following the rectification work," the government said.
Atlantic Star Airlines (London Luton) has already deferred its planned London Gatwick-St Helena flights, operated in conjunction with TUIfly (Netherlands) (OR, Amsterdam), until May. The weekly flights will operate via Banjul, Gambia on both legs using B737-800 equipment.
Comair (South Africa) (MN, Johannesburg O.R. Tambo), which will operate scheduled flights to the island from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo with a fortnightly onward sector to Georgetown Wideawake, has also been affected by the delay. It will only be able to commence ticket sales once Air Safety Support International has given St. Helena Airport the official nod.
https://youtu.be/yjuo35HZayY video e Tweet di @flightradar24: https://twitter.com/flightradar24/status/722869926210465792?s=09
Inviato dal mio KFFOWI utilizzando Tapatalk
Inviato dal mio KFFOWI utilizzando Tapatalk
Authorities in St Helena are hoping to welcome commercial flights to the island’s new airport within the “next few months” following wind problems.
Authorities in St Helena are hoping to welcome commercial flights to the island’s new airport within the “next few months” following wind problems. It had originally been hoped commercial operations would commence in May but they were halted after significant windshear was reported by aircraft coming in to land.
National newspapers leapt on the story with many reporting over the weekend that the £250 million facility, funded by the British government, would never open. However, Chris Pickard, the island’s director of tourism, said data was being collected by aircraft that are still landing at the facility which can be used to mitigate the windshear problem.
He said the more that is known about it and can be fed into flight and simulation systems, the more likely commercial operations will resume. However, he added one solution might be to use smaller aircraft with 40 to 50 seats than the originally intended 100 seat aircraft, which could then land further up the runway.
Pickard said: “We are getting all the data in place. That’s going to take a bit of time and nobody is sure how long. At the moment about four or five planes have landed on the island. It is not make or break for the island, we’re hoping to have something ready so we can give the right product for our visitors. I would hope in the next few months (commercial operations will resume).”
The new airport was set to completely revolutionise not only travel for the residents of St Helena, but also boost tourism. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, more than 2,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass, the island's only link to the world has been by RMS St Helena which sails between the island and Cape Town, a five day adventure across, at times, rough seas, but which was due to retire from service in July.
Pickard noted that the ship had originally been scheduled to make its last run to the island this month before its retirement from service. However, a further three sailings into September have now been added to its itinerary. Pickard believes this gives some indication as to when the authorities hope to resume flights to the island.
A recent series of test flights from African carrier Comair raised concerns over potential turbulence and windshear on the approach to Runway 20 (from the North) at the new St Helena International Airport. This initial arrival was an implementation service aimed at ensuring readiness for the commencement of scheduled weekly air services to/from Johannesburg, and included route assessments and checks on airside operations, passenger and cargo handling, training etc ahead of the full commercial certification of the airport.
However, the St Helena Government confirmed that as a result of these tests “further safety and operational work” is required prior to the official opening of the Island’s new airport. “While this means that the Airport will not officially open on May 21, 2016 as originally planned, the safety of aircraft and passengers is of course paramount,” it said in a statement.
If they get up and running, air links to St Helena will remain a very niche market and a study by The Journey Tourism and Enterprise St Helena, a body set up by the St Helena Government to drive forward tourism and economic development for the air service tender, suggests that through organic growth visitor numbers to the island should rise from around 1,400 to 2,000 a year between 2016 and 2020. However, a medium growth scenario and the development of a single 45 bedroom hotel on the island could see visitor numbers grow as high as 7,700 by 2020.
Authorities in St Helena are hoping to welcome commercial flights to the island’s new airport within the “next few months” following wind problems. It had originally been hoped commercial operations would commence in May but they were halted after significant windshear was reported by aircraft coming in to land.
National newspapers leapt on the story with many reporting over the weekend that the £250 million facility, funded by the British government, would never open. However, Chris Pickard, the island’s director of tourism, said data was being collected by aircraft that are still landing at the facility which can be used to mitigate the windshear problem.
He said the more that is known about it and can be fed into flight and simulation systems, the more likely commercial operations will resume. However, he added one solution might be to use smaller aircraft with 40 to 50 seats than the originally intended 100 seat aircraft, which could then land further up the runway.
Pickard said: “We are getting all the data in place. That’s going to take a bit of time and nobody is sure how long. At the moment about four or five planes have landed on the island. It is not make or break for the island, we’re hoping to have something ready so we can give the right product for our visitors. I would hope in the next few months (commercial operations will resume).”
The new airport was set to completely revolutionise not only travel for the residents of St Helena, but also boost tourism. Located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, more than 2,000 kilometres from the nearest major landmass, the island's only link to the world has been by RMS St Helena which sails between the island and Cape Town, a five day adventure across, at times, rough seas, but which was due to retire from service in July.
Pickard noted that the ship had originally been scheduled to make its last run to the island this month before its retirement from service. However, a further three sailings into September have now been added to its itinerary. Pickard believes this gives some indication as to when the authorities hope to resume flights to the island.
A recent series of test flights from African carrier Comair raised concerns over potential turbulence and windshear on the approach to Runway 20 (from the North) at the new St Helena International Airport. This initial arrival was an implementation service aimed at ensuring readiness for the commencement of scheduled weekly air services to/from Johannesburg, and included route assessments and checks on airside operations, passenger and cargo handling, training etc ahead of the full commercial certification of the airport.
However, the St Helena Government confirmed that as a result of these tests “further safety and operational work” is required prior to the official opening of the Island’s new airport. “While this means that the Airport will not officially open on May 21, 2016 as originally planned, the safety of aircraft and passengers is of course paramount,” it said in a statement.
If they get up and running, air links to St Helena will remain a very niche market and a study by The Journey Tourism and Enterprise St Helena, a body set up by the St Helena Government to drive forward tourism and economic development for the air service tender, suggests that through organic growth visitor numbers to the island should rise from around 1,400 to 2,000 a year between 2016 and 2020. However, a medium growth scenario and the development of a single 45 bedroom hotel on the island could see visitor numbers grow as high as 7,700 by 2020.
Vento killer, l'aeroporto di Napoleone da 370 milioni di euro non può aprire
Non c'è pace per lo scalo di Sant'Elena nel cuore dell'oceano Atlantico: dopo investimenti milionari e due inaugurazioni rinviate ora si scopre che il nemico che attenta alle operazioni di volo è difficile da battere. Il pesante "wind shear" da Nord e forti raffiche da Sud, possono essere letali per gli aerei passeggeri di medie dimensioni. Ora si studiano alternative per evitare una figuraccia
di LUCIO CILLIS
ROMA - La vendetta dell'empereur francese è servita. A 195 esatti dalla sua morte, avvenuta nel 1821 a Sant'Elena, isola sperduta nel Sud dell'Oceano Atlantico, Napoleone Bonaparte dalla sua tomba nel Dome des Invalides a Parigi sorride delle disgrazie degli "odiati" inglesi che lo avevano spedito laggiù. Non sono bastati ai sudditi di Sua Maestà 370 milioni di euro per la costruzione di un piccolo ma (sulla carta) efficiente aeroporto che avrebbe messo fine al semi isolamento dell'isola vulcanica dove il condottiero corso terminò i suoi giorni da esiliato. Per giungere qui c'era (anzi c'è ancora) un solo modo: imbarcarsi come nell'Ottocento e sfidare le acque non proprio amiche dell'Oceano per giorni.
Come il Generale Inverno per i francesi, ora è il Generale Vento a far battere in ritirata l'odiato nemico britannico. I tecnici dello scalo che doveva essere inaugurato in pompa magna il mese scorso si stanno arrovellando il cervello su come battere il wind shear (raffiche di vento con cambiamenti improvvisi e imprevedibili di velocità e direzione) che impazza sui dintorni della pista per i velivoli passeggeri che atterrano da Nord. Ma non era certo una sorpresa quella di trovarsi a fronteggiare un antagonista duro da battere e, anzi, di casa da quelle parti. Non solo. Anche il piano B, che prevedeva l'atterraggio da Sud e quindi dalla parte opposta della pista, sembrerebbe impraticabile perchè l'area è preda di vento in coda, anche questo un rischio per gli aerei passeggeri.
Insomma non c'è per ora una soluzione all'enigma del vento che poi, tanto misterioso e imprevisto non era visti i mezzi e il denaro (tanto) investito dalla Gran Bretagna per costruire lo scalo di Sant'Elena che doveva essere servito, almeno nelle prime fasi, da British Airways-Comair. A forza di rinvii per evitare ulteriori brutte figure si è preferito soprassedere e rimandare l'inaugurazione a data da destinarsi. Anche se un dubbio comincia ad assillare gestori e tecnici: chi batterà il wind shear in questo angolo sperduto di mondo? E' vero, anche lo scalo nel cuore di Londra, il City Airport, è battuto da venti pericolosi che non impediscono le normali operazioni di volo. Ma le cose cambiano quando le condizioni meteo di instabilità e di ventosità battono un'isolotto sperduto.
Un pasticcio all'inglese quindi? Lisa Phillips, governatrice di Sant'Elena mette le mani avanti e tiene duro anche se è stata costretta a spiegare dopo una caterva di polemiche "che sì, ci sono delle difficoltà" che impediscono l'apertura del costosissimo scalo. Ma nel contempo nega che le piste possano restare orfane di aerei per sempre: "Stiamo raccogliendo i dati sul wind shear - che fino ad oggi ha impedito in diverse occasioni l'atterraggio ad un aeroplano utilizzato per le prove - e riusciremo a inaugurare la struttura". Al momento, però, il 737-800 destinato a servire questo collegamento tra Sud Africa e isola, dovrà restare a digiuno di passeggeri. La dieta ferrea imposta dai tecnici (solo 120 passeggeri e carico ridotto per diminuirne il peso) non è stata sufficiente a garantirne l'atteraggio e ora si guarda a jet molto più piccoli.
http://www.repubblica.it/economia/2..._di_euro_non_puo_aprire-141983726/?ref=HRLV-5
Non c'è pace per lo scalo di Sant'Elena nel cuore dell'oceano Atlantico: dopo investimenti milionari e due inaugurazioni rinviate ora si scopre che il nemico che attenta alle operazioni di volo è difficile da battere. Il pesante "wind shear" da Nord e forti raffiche da Sud, possono essere letali per gli aerei passeggeri di medie dimensioni. Ora si studiano alternative per evitare una figuraccia
di LUCIO CILLIS
ROMA - La vendetta dell'empereur francese è servita. A 195 esatti dalla sua morte, avvenuta nel 1821 a Sant'Elena, isola sperduta nel Sud dell'Oceano Atlantico, Napoleone Bonaparte dalla sua tomba nel Dome des Invalides a Parigi sorride delle disgrazie degli "odiati" inglesi che lo avevano spedito laggiù. Non sono bastati ai sudditi di Sua Maestà 370 milioni di euro per la costruzione di un piccolo ma (sulla carta) efficiente aeroporto che avrebbe messo fine al semi isolamento dell'isola vulcanica dove il condottiero corso terminò i suoi giorni da esiliato. Per giungere qui c'era (anzi c'è ancora) un solo modo: imbarcarsi come nell'Ottocento e sfidare le acque non proprio amiche dell'Oceano per giorni.
Come il Generale Inverno per i francesi, ora è il Generale Vento a far battere in ritirata l'odiato nemico britannico. I tecnici dello scalo che doveva essere inaugurato in pompa magna il mese scorso si stanno arrovellando il cervello su come battere il wind shear (raffiche di vento con cambiamenti improvvisi e imprevedibili di velocità e direzione) che impazza sui dintorni della pista per i velivoli passeggeri che atterrano da Nord. Ma non era certo una sorpresa quella di trovarsi a fronteggiare un antagonista duro da battere e, anzi, di casa da quelle parti. Non solo. Anche il piano B, che prevedeva l'atterraggio da Sud e quindi dalla parte opposta della pista, sembrerebbe impraticabile perchè l'area è preda di vento in coda, anche questo un rischio per gli aerei passeggeri.
Insomma non c'è per ora una soluzione all'enigma del vento che poi, tanto misterioso e imprevisto non era visti i mezzi e il denaro (tanto) investito dalla Gran Bretagna per costruire lo scalo di Sant'Elena che doveva essere servito, almeno nelle prime fasi, da British Airways-Comair. A forza di rinvii per evitare ulteriori brutte figure si è preferito soprassedere e rimandare l'inaugurazione a data da destinarsi. Anche se un dubbio comincia ad assillare gestori e tecnici: chi batterà il wind shear in questo angolo sperduto di mondo? E' vero, anche lo scalo nel cuore di Londra, il City Airport, è battuto da venti pericolosi che non impediscono le normali operazioni di volo. Ma le cose cambiano quando le condizioni meteo di instabilità e di ventosità battono un'isolotto sperduto.
Un pasticcio all'inglese quindi? Lisa Phillips, governatrice di Sant'Elena mette le mani avanti e tiene duro anche se è stata costretta a spiegare dopo una caterva di polemiche "che sì, ci sono delle difficoltà" che impediscono l'apertura del costosissimo scalo. Ma nel contempo nega che le piste possano restare orfane di aerei per sempre: "Stiamo raccogliendo i dati sul wind shear - che fino ad oggi ha impedito in diverse occasioni l'atterraggio ad un aeroplano utilizzato per le prove - e riusciremo a inaugurare la struttura". Al momento, però, il 737-800 destinato a servire questo collegamento tra Sud Africa e isola, dovrà restare a digiuno di passeggeri. La dieta ferrea imposta dai tecnici (solo 120 passeggeri e carico ridotto per diminuirne il peso) non è stata sufficiente a garantirne l'atteraggio e ora si guarda a jet molto più piccoli.
http://www.repubblica.it/economia/2..._di_euro_non_puo_aprire-141983726/?ref=HRLV-5