Cleggan Airport Open Day
The unused Cleggan Airport, close to Clifden, County Galway was opened to PPR traffic from 1100 – 1800 local on Saturday 15th June as one of many the events celebrating the Alcock & Brown Vickers Vimy First Transatlantic Crossing 100th anniversary.
A lot of work locally went into getting the facility “up to code” with much of the energy coming from local hoteliers Brian & Paul Hughes of the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden. This included getting agreement from Heathrow Airport for the temporary relocation of their Alcock & Brown statue (in storage at the airport) to be transported to & put on display at the Abbeyglen. Both the Irish Coast Guard & Galway Fire Service made their equipment & skills available. Dave Scully of Aviation Event Management undertook the required aerodrome regulatory preparations with the IAA and acted as site manager, while National Flight Centre co-ordinated PPR requests and sent in no less than ten of their training aircraft. Ronnie McGoldrick assisted with Air / Ground Communications. Follow Me – Aircraft Marshallers had a four man team on the ground to co-ordinate aircraft movements on the ramp with only limited space for such an event but at one point held 17 aircraft, one marshaller saying “they may not be in pretty lines but it is a safe ramp”
It would be a great pity indeed if this facility was to remain unused going forward. It seems that the local community is very keen to have it open, even on a part time basis, as it could offer important opportunities for the region, not just for the vital tourism industry. In plain language, the concrete is there, it’s costing quite a lot of public money to “maintain & secure” it so why not have at the very least a flying club operate from Cleggan?
Cleggan Fly-in – 15th June 2019 – Cleggan, Clifden, Co Galway – In association with Alcock and Brown Flight Centenary Celebrations (with thanks to Paddy Kilduff)
| EI-AII Cessna 150F – Liam Bagnell |
| EI-BBV Piper Cub J3C-65 – Neil Johnston (marked 480762) |
| EI-BCK Cessna F172N – NFC (2 landings) |
| EI-BJM Cessna A152 – NFC |
| EI-BJO Cessna R172K – The XP Group (First Arrival at 11:10 local) |
| EI-EDB Cessna 152 – NFC |
| EI-EDC Cessna FA152 – NFC |
| EI-EMU Cessna F152 – NFC |
| EI-FBC Cessna 172N – NFC |
| EI-CFY Cessna 172N – NFC |
| EI-FAD Vans RV-7A – Jonathan Lynes & others |
| RI-FII Cessna 172RG – NFC |
| EI-FXL Robinson R44 – NFC (2 landings) |
| EI-MCF Cessna 172R – NFC |
| EI-SAC Cessna 172P – Sligo Aero Club |
| EI-SKP Cessna F172P – NFC |
| EI-SMK CH-701 – Seamus King |
| EI-SYM Vans RV-7 – Edwin Symes |
| EI-VII Vans RV-7 – Bryan Sheane |
| G-AVIC Cessna F172H – Leeside Flying Ltd |
| G-BZXK Robin HR200/120B – Edghill Aviation Services (2 landings) |
| G-LAVE Cessna 172R – Trim Flying Club |
| G-OABR AG-5B – Frank Hopper |
| N30VT Beech V35B Bonanza |
| N840CD Cirrus SR-20 |
About the Author
Joe McDermott Joe has worked in operations & business development with a number of Fixed Based Operators (FBO) including USA based companies Landmark Aviation & Universal Aviation. As founder of business airport/FBO focused consultancy Global FBO Consult he has worked on projects in Bahrain, France, India, Ireland, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Tanzania, UAE, United Kingdom & USA. The company specializes in providing cost effective solutions to assist airports, FBOs & ground handling companies grow efficiently & deal with the competition head on, allowing them to attract new customers, keep existing customers & generate maximum revenue. He is a contributor to many BizAv magazines including Business Airport International, Bluesky Business Aviation News, Globalair.com & has written feature articles for P1, historic aircraft magazine FlyPast and a regular contributor to Flying In Ireland. He is a founding member & CEO of the Irish Business Aviation Association (IrBAA), Honorary President of Runway Aviation Club Ghana, founder of Follow Me-Aircraft Marshallers & a “patched” member of the Commemorative Air Force Marshallers-Detachment in the USA.
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