No immediate plans for MIA-Gozo link

Roy Perry

Nov 6th 2008, 09:46

May I be permitted to answer.

Firstly, I have not made these suggestions for my benefit, nor do I stand to gain anything.

The road mentioned, (Triq il-Bwier/Triq Cordina is not staright but more like a donkey's hind leg. Alongside the road are Greenhouses, phone and power lines and a Fuel storage depot. If it were straight and with nothing alongside and could be widened it would be suitable for an airstrip since the smsll aircraft can use a sandy track.

We carried out a thorough survey of the area to loacate all the possible archaeogical sites. Apart from Cart Ruts to the south of the area and scattered prehistoric remains there are no known sites. If you know of any I invite you to show me.

We do not want to EXTEND the existing helipad but to provide an additional strip between roads to the south. Go to http://gozoairlink.blogspot.com for details.

Thank yo all for your comments.

l Galea

Nov 5th 2008, 23:12

"3. There is more harm to the environment by road trucks than a small plane."

What about the extension to the runway and the destruction of Roman and other architectural heritage?

"4. If the Government will not build a strip, how about leasing the area to a qualified, licensed airfield operator?"

And extend the runway to continue to rape the Gozo environment? It seems that you have a personal interest Mr Perry.

Forget it Roy Perry.

Charles Portelli

Nov 5th 2008, 21:57

@ George Cremona

For the sake of the ferry traffic, I pray you are right, Sir.

Roger Cauchi Inglott

Nov 5th 2008, 21:20

The road in question is not the main artery from Ghansielem to Xewkija but a parallel stretch of road between the two villages but further south, behind the Heliport. It is a wide stretch, unsurfaced and barely used by any traffic. It should be quite suitable as a runway doubling up as a road should the necessary safety precautions be put in place.

What I would really like to know is whether there are plans to scrap the seaplane service. It would be such a pity to lose this interesting way to travel between the islands. Has it been feasible to date? When the former helicopter service was introduced I remember the operators mentioned they were expecting to ferry a few thousand passengers per annum however they never reached their goal, and consequently scrapped the service. Are the plans for a new airstrip an indication that the sea-air service will soon cease operations?

Fabien Sant Fournier

Nov 5th 2008, 21:19

Oh I suppose it could workout if it's not a heavily used road. Though as a private pilot I would not be too fond of having cars on the runway especially in case of a forced landing.

Roy Perry

Nov 5th 2008, 19:19

A couple of points.

1. The floatplane service is not suitable for use by those wishing to travel from Gozo by air via MIA. The baggage limit is 10 Kgs. Disabled and elderly are discouraged. Journey time from Rabat Gozo to MIA is around 2 hours and the cost (inc taxi in Gozo) is 113 Euros one way. It does not operate during hours of darkness.

2. Small passenger aircraft are quieter, easier to board, less expensive and faster than any other form of transfer. The aircraft used will be of absolutely no interest to 'spotters'

3. There is more harm to the environment by road trucks than a small plane.

4. If the Government will not build a strip, how about leasing the area to a qualified, licensed airfield operator?

It is not possible for all readers to know enough about the subject so it is natural for you to express a 'gut' feeling. I am sure the Ministers will seek advice from specialists, some of whom actually live here.

Charles J Buttigieg

Nov 5th 2008, 18:54

The suggestion to land aircraft on a road is by no means a mad idea; many airliners in different part of the world use that system. The mad notion is to have an aerial service to Gozo. Stop wasting your time because that can’t be commercially viable. The size of the government subsidy will have to be so big that it won’t make the operation viable.

George Cremona

Nov 5th 2008, 18:37

Charles Portelli, you don't even know what you are talking about. The road referred to by Mr. Joe Muscat has nothing to do with the one you pointed to. It's a secondary road which is in a depleted and shabby state.

l Galea

Nov 5th 2008, 18:06

Environmental rapists.
Haven't you raped Malta enough?
Why do you now want to rape Gozo?
Do you think that wherever they fly tourists just go straight out of the plane and into a hotel?
STOP GOZO FROM BEING RAPED BY ENVIRONMENT RAPISTS

Charles Micallef

Nov 5th 2008, 17:59

Just a few short years ago and a new and expensive air terminal was built in Gozo and trumpeted with all the usual fanfare and hysteria, now it is not only empty but it is still costing the taxpayers money in wages to guard this building which only a few years ago was described a high tech terminal of international standards................

Why is only in Malta that no inquiry is held to identify who got the sums wrong and wasted all that taxpayers money down the drain?

I think I know the answer, it is because no one takes responsability for cock - ups in this country.....and all is hidden under the carpet with the rest of the wasted taxpayers money!

J Farrugia

Nov 5th 2008, 16:19

I would love to see the look on the pilot's face after he's asked to land the plane on one of our pothole-ridden roads!!!

Phil Press

Nov 5th 2008, 15:19

I hope the road, does not take as long as St Paul's Bypass, to be completed.

George Cremona

Nov 5th 2008, 15:10

Sant Fournier why wonder? The only runway in Gibraltar is exactly a road used by cars. That same road is used not only by small but also by big, commercial planes such as Boeing ones.

Franco Farrugia

Nov 5th 2008, 15:04

Fixed wing aircraft in Gozo would spell disaster to that island. It would be the end of Gozo as we know it.

Charles Portelli

Nov 5th 2008, 14:55

Government would be happy to avoid (yet another) massive capital expenditure.

Plane spotters and aviation photographers from all around the globe will love it, and in no time at all they will start flocking to our island to see this "only in Gozo" attraction! I can't wait to see pictures of this road/part-time runway in operation on airliners.net.

GTA will have their occupancy rates shoot overwhelmingly upwards.

If this was a fairitale, everyone would have lived happily ever after. In real life, though, I don't even want to think about the environmentalists' woes, not to mention the traffic disruption that would follow by the closure of Gozo's A1 road for yet another landing.

Cutting a long story short. It would have been perfect as a dream, but really, the idea per se is purely pathetic.

Michael A. vella

Nov 5th 2008, 14:37

"Joe Muscat, secretary of the Gozo Tourism Association said that for the association, the link between Grand Harbour and Mgarr was not a substitute to an air link between the airport and Gozo, which, he said, was what was needed for more tourists to fly to Gozo."

Why all these complicated and costly solutions to a non-existent 'distance' problem? Why on earth should tourists 'fly' to Gozo?

Tourists staying at Cefalu find no problem with landing some 200 km away at Palermo and taking a bus to their destination, similarly, those visiting Taormina happily land at Catania again a good 80km away and do the same thing.

Running an 'Airport - Victoria' through-coach service, where the coach used would have guaranteed priority access onto ferry in both directions, would be cheaper, more efficient, more flexible, need no expensive infrastructure and, above all, allow tourists to be no longer dependent on the taxi service where they are prone to be over-charged and to being subjected to abuse should they not comply - is it not there that the root of the problem really lies?

Matthew Azzopardi

Nov 5th 2008, 14:09

While I do not necesairy agree with the arguments stated within this article, please note that roads are/can be used as air strips. I suggest Mr. Sant Fournier to have a look at the Gibraltar runway

David Stephen Ganado

Nov 5th 2008, 14:09

It would not be the first time a public road or part of it is used as a runway. The main runway of the International airport in Gibraltar cuts through the main highway into the enclave. If they can do it with a lot of air & vehicle traffic, there is no reason why we can't do it with the much reduced traffic this road/runway would see..........except for the propensity of local drivers to loose control of their vehicles!

John R. Gatt

Nov 5th 2008, 13:58

In many countries there are roads that double for traffic,as well as, airstrips for use in emergencies. I do not see why developing this idea (with traffic lights?) for a secondary road should not hold water. That way the enroachment on good land would be definitely reduced, whilst obtaining the requirements for fixed wing.

Charles Grech

Nov 5th 2008, 13:38

Yes, a road used normally for traffic, can be used for landing small aircraft.
This I have seen in other countries; safety and security have to be maintained.

Charles sammut

Nov 5th 2008, 13:36

Vehicular traffic crosses the runway at Gibraltar. It is controlled by barriers and traffic lights. No big deal.

There are aircraft which can easily land and take off from 300 metre runways and grass strips. I suppose it's a decision for the Gozitans. But they seem to want to eat their cake and keep it too.

Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Nov 5th 2008, 13:31

what's wrong with that given all safety measures are taken and catered for?

Fabien Sant Fournier

Nov 5th 2008, 12:51

'The road would continue be used for ordinary traffic but be closed for vehicles while aircraft were operating.'

....I don't get it...are they suggesting using a road used by cars as a runway?!?