Isle of Man Airport

Isle of Man Airport
Purt Aer Vannin
IATA: IOM – ICAO: EGNS
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Department of Infrastructure
Serves Isle of Man
Location Ronaldsway, Malew, Isle of Man
Elevation AMSL 52 ft / 16 m
Coordinates 54°05′00″N 004°37′24″W / 54.08333°N 4.62333°W / 54.08333; -4.62333Coordinates: 54°05′00″N 004°37′24″W / 54.08333°N 4.62333°W / 54.08333; -4.62333
Website iom-airport.com
Map
EGNS

Location on the Isle of Man

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
08/26 2,110 6,923 Asphalt/Concrete
03/21 1,255 4,117 Asphalt
Statistics (2015 - provisional)
Passengers 780,587
Passenger change 14–15 Increase7.0%
Aircraft movements (2014) 27,645
Movements change 13–14 Decrease7.4%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Isle of Man Airport (also known as Ronaldsway Airport, Manx: Purt Aer Vannin) (IATA: IOM, ICAO: EGNS), is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, 6 nautical miles (11 km; 6.9 mi) southwest of Douglas,[1] the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is one of the two main gateways to the island. The airport has scheduled services to the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and Jersey, as well as seasonal routes to Switzerland and upcoming seasonal routes to Spain.

History

Ronaldsway was first used as an airfield in 1928[3] 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.

Second World War

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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[5] The nominal depot ship from 21 June 1944 was a 32' cutter named XXII, which itself was constructed in 1937.[5]

Post-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.[6]

Citywing has its head office in Hangar 9 at the airport.[7]

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 baggage loading and transport vehicle drives on the ramp at Ronaldsway Airport.
Manx Airlines Vickers Viscount taxiing past the airport control tower in 1988
Front facade of the modern passenger terminal
Sculpture by Bryan Kneale called "The Legs of Man" at the terminal entrance.

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 245 m (804 ft) out into the Irish Sea by the construction of a rock-armoured promontory. It is part of a £44m 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[8] 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.[9] 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[10] when he stated in his 2009 Budget speech that the Isle of Man could no longer afford "Rolls Royce" projects.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Aer Lingus Regional
operated by Stobart Air 		Dublin
British Airways
operated by BA CityFlyer 		Seasonal: London-City[11]
British Airways
operated by Eastern Airways for BA CityFlyer 		London-City
Citywing
operated by Van Air Europe		 Belfast-City, Blackpool, Glasgow, Gloucestershire, Newcastle
Seasonal: Jersey
easyJet Bristol, Liverpool, London-Gatwick
Flybe Seasonal: Geneva
Flybe
operated by Stobart Air 		Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Isle of Man Post Office
operated by West Atlantic 		East Midlands
Woodgate Aviation Dublin
RVL Aviation East Midlands

Statistics

Busiest routes to and from Isle of Man Airport (2015)
Rank Airport Passengers handled % change
2014 / 15
1 Liverpool 200,784 Increase 1
2 Manchester158,896 Decrease 3
3 London-Gatwick 144,653 Decrease 4
4 London-City58,709 Decrease 6
5 London-Stansted45,973 Increase ∞
6 Birmingham42,602 Decrease 3
7 Dublin36,578 Increase 5
8 Bristol23,512 Increase ∞
9 Belfast-City20,029 Decrease 24
10 Gloucestershire 11,718 Decrease 20
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority

In 2014, 729,703 passengers travelled through the airport, a 1.3% reduction compared with 2013.

Ground transport

Ronaldsway railway halt with a train arriving from Douglas.

Bus services are provided by Bus Vannin, formerly Isle of Man Transport. Bus Vannin routes 1, 1A, 2, 10, 10A, 11, 11A, 12 & 12A serve Douglas, Castletown, Colby, Port Erin and Port St Mary. Buses operate every 20 minutes Monday – Saturday daytime (Services 1, 1A & 2) and every 30 minutes during evenings and Sunday (Services 10, 10A, 11, 11A, 12 & 12A). Routes 8 & 8A also connect the Airport with Peel – St John's – Foxdale and Castletown.[12]

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.

Airport emergency services

Fire and rescue service

In common with most international airports, the Isle of Man Airport maintains its own fire service. This service cooperates closely with the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, although it is independent, with its own management and chief officer. For joint operational purposes, and for the assigning of radio call signs to appliances, the airport fire station is known as "station 9", in a common series with the IoM Fire & Rescue Service, whose seven fire stations are numbered from "station 1" to "station 7" inclusive. The airport fire station is a large five-bay purpose-built structure with duty rooms and offices. The service operates a fleet including two Carmichael Cobra 2 major foam tenders, a third (smaller) major foam tender, a standard duty pump (principally for building fires), and a 4x4 Land Rover. A further major appliance (Iturri Torro) is on order.

Police and security service

The Isle of Man Airport Police is a small independent police service providing security and policing at the airport site, with warranted constables, known as "aviation security officers" (ASO). Under Manx law ASOs have full police powers, including the power of arrest, whilst on airport property. For major crimes the airport police is supported by the Isle of Man Constabulary.

Accidents and incidents

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "NATS - AIS - Home". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  2. ↑ "PROVISIONAL CAA AIRPORT STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 2015" (PDF). UK Civil Aviation Authority. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. ↑ "Isle of Man Government - Isle of Man Airport". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  4. ↑ Ritchie, p. 102
  5. 1 2 3 Warlow, Ben (2000). Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy. Maritime Books. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-907771-74-6.
  6. ↑ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 March-1 April 1997. 86. "Isle of Man (Ronaldsway) Airport, Ballasalla, Isle of Man, IM9 2JE, UK"
  7. ↑ http://www.citywing.com/speak-to-the-team/
  8. ↑ "Hansard 2006-2007" (PDF). Tynwald.
  9. ↑ "BBC NEWS - Europe - Isle of Man - Tynwald approves runway project". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  10. ↑ "TYNWALD GO-AHEAD SOUGHT FOR NEW AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER BUILDING". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/102275/ba-to-increase-flights-between-london-city-and-
  12. ↑ "Isle of Man Government - Bus and Rail". Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Poole 1999, p. 12.
  14. ↑ Poole 1999, pp. 13–14.
  15. ↑ Poole 1999, pp. 14–15.
  16. ↑ Poole 1999, p. 15.

Bibliography

Media related to Isle of Man Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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