Isle of Man Airport
| Isle of Man Airport | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | IATA: IOM, ICAO: EGNS |
| Territory | Isle of Man |
| Public | |
| Operator | Department of Infrastructure |
| Location | SC284685 54°4’60"N, 4°37’24"W |
| Website | Isle of Man Airport |
Isle of Man Airport, also known as Ronaldsway Airport, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, six nautical miles southwest of the capital, Douglas, the island's capital.
Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, Ronaldsway is one of the two main gateways to the island. The airport has scheduled services to the United Kingdom, Ireland and Jersey.
History
Ronaldsway was first used as an airfield in 1928[1] with passenger services to the UK starting in 1933, operated by Blackpool and West Coast Air Services (later West Coast Air Services). Further services were established by Aer Lingus and Railway Air Services (RAS) from 1934. From 1937 RAS operations from Ronaldsway to the mainland UK were transferred to Isle of Man Air Services. In a 1936 expansion of the Ronaldsway Airport, workers discovered a mass grave believed to hold the remains of soldiers who died during the Battle of Ronaldsway in 1275.
RAF Ronaldsway
The airfield came under Royal Air Force control at the outbreak of the Second World War. Known as RAF Ronaldsway, it was one of the few airfields that continued operating civilian flights throughout the wartime period.
The airfield was used by № 1 GDGS (Ground Defence and Gunnery School) operating Westland Wallace aircraft, the drogues from these aircraft being fired on from gun emplacements on St Michael's Isle (Fort Island) and Santon Head. An expansion of the airport during the War led to the discovery of the archaeological remains of a Neolithic settlement belonging to what is now called the Ronaldsway culture, in honour of this site.
RAF operations continued until 1943 when the airfield was handed over to the Admiralty for further development as a Fleet Air Arm training station.
HMS Urley
Now a naval air station, RNAS Ronaldsway, the airport was taken out of commission in 1943 for almost twelve months of extensive development undertaken by John Laing & Son.[2] By the summer of 1944 the airfield had evolved from a grass landing area with a few hangars to a four runway airfield with the infrastructure to house and operate three training squadrons using Barracuda torpedo bombers.
Commissioned as HMS Urley (Manx for Eagle) by the Admiralty on 21 June 1944, with accounts handled by HMS Valkyrie, flying recommenced on 15 July 1944.[3] The airfield's main role was that of a torpedo working-up station. No. 1 OTU consisted of 710, 713 and 747 Squadrons (Fleet Air Arm) and these operated until the cessation of hostilities in 1945. The base was paid off on 14 January 1946, and transferred to 'Care and Maintenance' under HMS Blackcap.[3] The nominal depot ship from 21 June 1944 was a 32' cutter named XXII, which itself was constructed in 1937.[3]
After the war
The airport reverted to solely civilian flying almost immediately after the war, but the airfield remained in Admiralty possession until sold to the Isle of Man Government for £200,000 in 1948, far short of the £1 million that the UK Government had spent on constructing the airport buildings and runways, plus the £105,000 that was paid by the Admiralty in 1943 to purchase the site.
Several Manx-based airlines were formed in the early postwar years to operate scheduled and charter services to the UK mainland. When Manx Airlines existed, its head office was on the airport property.[4]
Citywing has its head office in Hangar 9 at the airport.[5]
The Manx Military and Aviation Museum is situated next to the airport and has exhibits and information about the history of aviation on the island.
Extension
A project by Ellis Brown Architects began in November 1998 to extend the airport and improve the facilities available to passengers. In March 2000 the new extension was opened, providing a new landside catering outlet, arrivals area, baggage hall and departure lounge. The existing part of the airport was refurbished during this time to provide improved check-in facilities and offices, linked to the extension with a new airport entrance. During the extension and renovation period the iconic Three Legs of Man sculpture adorning the airport's façade was also refurbished.
In March 2006 funding for a further extension was granted by Tynwald to increase the number of departure gates, with work due for completion in summer 2007.
In April 2008 Tynwald granted a major runway extension and resurfacing project at the airport. The runway will be extended by 804 feet out into the Irish Sea by the construction of a rock-armoured promontory. It is part of a £44 million plan which will also include resurfacing of the runway during summer 2008 and the extension programme that will commence in spring 2008 and is due to be completed by December 2009. It has emerged[6] that the actual runway take-off length was underestimated by 160 metres in the £1.5 million feasibility study. Whilst the study originally looked into the aviation marketing implication of runway length, airport management have now denied that the extension is for the use of heavier aircraft in the future, stating that the resurfacing and extension are to comply with the latest international safety standards.[7] There has been a significant overspend on the project due to poor forex management of the Euro denominated components of the costs. It is thought that the Manx treasury minister may have been referring to the expense of the runway and the additional £6,515,000 control tower project[8] when he stated in his 2009 Budget speech that the Isle of Man could no longer afford "Rolls Royce" projects.
Ground transport
Bus services are provided by Bus Vannin, with routes serving Douglas, Castletown, Colby, Port Erin and Port St Mary.
The Isle of Man Railway also stops at the nearby Ronaldsway request stop, making possible a unique opportunity in the British Isles to travel to or from an airport aboard a steam locomotive hauled regular passenger service.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Isle of Man Airport) |
References
- ↑ "Isle of Man Government - Isle of Man Airport". http://www.iom-airport.com/virtual/history/1920/1920.xml. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ Ritchie, p. 102
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Warlow, Ben (2000). Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy. Maritime Books. pp. 93. ISBN 978-0-907771-74-6.
- ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 March-1 April 1997. 86. "Isle of Man (Ronaldsway) Airport, Ballasalla, Isle of Man, IM9 2JE, UK"
- ↑ "Speak to the team" (Archive) Citywing. Retrieved on 7 February 2014. "Our head office is located at: Citywing Aviation Services Hangar 9 Isle of Man Airport Ballasalla, Isle Of Man IM9 2AY"
- ↑ "Hansard 2006-2007". Tynwald. http://www.tynwald.org.im/papers/hansards/2006-2007/kh03042007.pdf.
- ↑ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Isle of Man - Tynwald approves runway project". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/isle_of_man/7349569.stm. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- ↑ "Tynwald Go-Ahead Sought For New Airport Control Tower Building". http://www.gov.im/lib/news/airport/tynwaldgoaheadso.xml. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
Books
- Poole, Stephen (1999). Rough Landing or Fatal Flight. Douglas: Amulree Publications. ISBN 1-901508-03-X.
- Ritchie, Berry (1997). The Good Builder: The John Laing Story. James & James.