I've landed at a DESERTED airport terminal

I land my aeroplane at an airport that has been closed for 3 years.
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[@janmoons1958]

These are very brave people who try to keep such a beautiful airport open. Well done Jon for bringing this to our attention!

[@paulmatley8818]

How sad, I hadn't realised what difficult times Carlisle is currently in. I remember enjoying an airshow there a long time ago but in recent times I 've shared elbow space at a Cumbrian village pub where one of the aerodrome controllers drinks occasionally. His bar banter had the same intonations you'd expect from ATC! I've not seen him for a while to ask how it's been going. Now I know.

[@doug3d109]

visited carlisle a few weeks ago, everyone there is very helpful and professional its a shame its not as busy as it should be.

[@peterseddon8363]

No Gliding at Walney anymore as BAe Systems can no longer accommodate the Lakes Gliding Club. Unfortunately the club has had to close permanently.

[@mikesarling4002]

That’s a good idea Jon, a fly out and tour of part of the wall plus an overnight stay.

[@stephenbuckle6180]

That's a perfect stopover when travelling to the Scottish Highlands and onto the Shetlands. Or if one just wants to hang around The Lakes, Lancashire Fells, Yorkshire Dales, Morecambe Bay, I.o.M. I do hope they can survive there. Carlisle, the excellent accommodation at The Fleece, and air museum, all add value.

[@richardweldon2062]

Am doing my flying training there at the moment. Great airport and a lovely bunch of people.

[@kevchilton908]

What a fantastic looking venue to visit. I hope the airfield starts to flourish again, it has so much going for it 👌🏻🤞🏻✈️

[@123mikeyd321]

Cheese XL crisps, as well as Solway aviation museum next door must be good enough for a visit.

[@jim4165]

I flew in to there with a friend from Fishburn and it was deserted - no radio - it was spooky! not a soul around - completely deserted and locked up. Fantastic facilities - good luck to them...

[@allaboutkalergi5012]

Such an amazing RAF museum complete with its own Avro Vulcan!

[@richardkaberry8790]

Brilliant video Jon. Carlisle Airport has had a chequered history but deserves to do well in the future.

[@flytoinspire7772]

Another fantastic video, Carlisle has been on my radar to visit for quite sometime. It's fantastic that they are opening for GA and have some incredibly modern facilities.

[@bigglestheflyboy]

I flew my Arrow into Carlisle from Peterborough Conington only the other day and was impressed with the condition of the place. But I had no idea that they we in trouble, and that is really sad, because everyone I met there, and there were very few, were extremely welcoming. BUT... if they do wan't to get GA back there, they absolutely MUST get some catering facilities into the place in double quick time!! I was flying, with my friend and co-owner up to Perth, and had planned on a lunch stop and Pilot changeover, whilst there, but there is very little, to no choice of food, and the Coffee machine produces very poor drinks indeed. Carlisle is a natural GA stop to all those pilots heading for Scotland and in particular, the Western islands and could become a very popular airport if they get cracking on the facilities. The area is lovely to fly around and it's not difficult to navigate. I will be going back there to see how they're doing and hopefully, have a decent lunch and a proper cup of tea or coffee!!

[@musoseven8218]

I didn't know Carlisle AP had been hit so hard, great museum, digs, airport and environs, more power to their elbows ✌️👍💜😊

[@acaciaTF]

Great video and I have been 3 times now - the Grumman UK group are having a fly-in there on the 1st June 2024 - any aircraft type welcome of course!!!

[@guys7645]

John you are doing such a great job ! Well done, this was very interesting indeed. 😊

[@Heneling]

this is great! I often stay in the lake district but have never flown there, so this will definitely be something to try!

[@joshtemple-cox9962]

Nice to see you at my local airport hopefully you'll be back soon maybe we might see some logan air operation out of carlisle again

[@hxmiii]

will we ever get to see The Flying Reporter do an Aerodrome Review at Leeds East Airport?

[@comeflywithlee433]

These are very useful and interesting videos which give GA pilots food for thought of places to visit knowing what facilities are available. The availability / space and any cost for overnight hangar usage is of particular interest to me with an open cockpit aircraft. Would SkyDemon consider a Flying Reporter airfield video review button under their info tab like they do for pilot notes ? Keep up the great work Jon !

[@stellahighton74]

You should pay a visit to Kirkbride just west of Carlisle on a Wednesday or Sunday to enjoy a meal at the White Heather hotel. You can park the plane right outside the hotel.

[@aureliomarsili3902]

Great review, a real pleasure to view ... thanks !!!

[@vincentworrall4822]

Glad to see they are now welcoming GA again although I do remember before covid and it was a commercial airport and priced GA out with over priced landing fees and handling. Let’s hope as they get busier they don’t turn their backs on us GA again.

[@buzzukfiftythree]

We have so many unused or under utilised airports in the UK e.g. Carlisle, Doncaster, Southend and yet overcrowded main airports. It's such a shame. I'd much rather take a commercial flight from a smaller airport. We desperately need a transport strategy. If the infrastructure and transport links are there, people will use it.

[@gordslater]

I recall some advanced rotary training was being done out of Carlisle in the 80s. One of the students plonked a Gazelle in a local angling lake (Talkin Tarn) rather hard after buzzing it at very low level a few times and was promptly sent home. SInce the Iranian revolution was in 79 I have a hunch it may have been an Iraqi - grey matyter is failing me a bit on this one though. I think I remember 206's out and about from there too in a similar era, though that may be purely misremeberizationizing on my part.

[@CharlieLamdin]

Fantastic. Can't wait to visit. Might be able to use the OneWheel to get from the airport to the hotel! The kids would love the museum...

[@stewartwilkinsonsnr]

Another great video, I hope like you that the new owners allow the airport to continue and build it back up to pre COVID and the GA community visit. The Fleece Hotel looked amazing. 👍👏

[@owencarlstrand1945]

I landed at Le Mans once. Utter radio silence on first contact, continuing silence at the join, downwind, base and final. Once parked we found a note on the terminal saying (in French obviously) gone to lunch back at 14:00.

[@john07973]

Good stuff 👍

[@thomasdalton1508]

Did it say the mini bar was complimentary? You might be in for a shock when you check out!

[@evanscm3]

unfortunate change of fortunes for them. were pretty unfriendly to GA in the stobart days

[@alijaved9410]

I;d love to come in for a flyin and history tour! Nice airfield.

[@geoffmatthews8302]

that deserves a trip to get my hours up

[@_alienblood]

Ryanair would love to fly there I imagine cost effective.

[@auspilot6119]

Wow. Did the Council/Shire completely overcapitalise on the facilities, making the assumption that there’d be a RPT service permanently? Surely air travel has recovered to the point now where if the route to/from there was viable it’d be scheduled again?

[@iot-portal4806]

That looks just like a V2 turbopump in the rocket section.

[@stevepennell8008]

When I learnt it was 95 pounds an hour dread how much now

[@fletcherchristian1611]

When I learned to fly it was £8-00 dual and £7-00 solo,needless to say that was in the halcyon days of my "Yoof" !!

[@openbabel]

what will an ai controller sound like ?

[@smsfrancis]

Jon, with all the flying that you do across the UK, do you find your IR(R) to be useful or do you simply find clear, VFR days?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Very useful. But has to be deployed carefully. It’s harder to fly on an IRR and more work and skill involved I would argue, than flying in airways on a full IR.

[@smsfrancis]

@@TheFlyingReporter thank you for the reply. Yes, agreed, though a much bigger commitment of course (hours & cost). I am 90 hrs, and based at Redhill too, so thinking of the next step to open up more opportunities albeit a VFR landing on return to Redhill 😊

[@andrewrtbaron69]

Is the UK particularly GA friendly?

[@mattmartinuk]

Depends who you ask and where you are.

[@evanleebodies]

This is the airfield that Guy Ritchie should have bought, it has so much potential.

[@ghoflyer]

What a sad story. We want GA back, no tie downs, no AG at the weekend, self serve coffee with no cafe, and nothing to do in local area. Sadly, sounds like the mismanagement continues if they want to attract GA. That said, likely to be on my list for a fuel and toilet break stop.

[@sazzal1990]

Lol declare airport back open.... Closes a month later?

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Where did you get that from?

[@sazzal1990]

@@TheFlyingReporter local news. Putting it back to just a cargo airport

[@TheFlyingReporter]

@jackwhiting3587 it is still operating as an unlicensed airfield which is very common for non commercial operations. So still open for general aviation. Not closed.

[@jackwhiting3587]

@@TheFlyingReporterapologies Jon, commented in haste. Just rewatched and figured my mistake.

[@johnbishop6667]

Weirdly the last time I flew into Luton Airport there wasn't a sole queueing at passport control about 12 -30 am as I remember , last March. But the suitcase carousel went pear shaped no staff around and waited about 90 mins for cases .