Airport under fire for ‘appalling service’
Thursday 2nd December 2010, 2:30PM GMT.
AIRPORT staff should start work clearing the runway as early as necessary to get it open on time and it is appalling that management deems it satisfactory not to do so, the president of the Chamber of Commerce has said.
Julian Winser responded yesterday after snow and ice again caused delays at the airport, which opened at 11am once workers had cleared the runway.
‘I have no views as to what time they should start work but the attitude is “we will open the runway at nine or 10 o’clock when it is clear” and that is absolutely appalling,’ he said. ‘You start when you need to to get it open on time. It’s disgraceful. Yes, you might have to deal with overtime issues but the public expect a service.’
But airport director Colin Le Ray (pictured) hit back, saying staff had started clearing the runway at about 4.45am and were working 12-hour days trying to deal with the conditions.
- Read the full story in the Guernsey Press. See below for subscription details.
- To read Guernsey Press stories in full click here for subscription details. Individual editions are now available online.
Campaigns
Voice For Victims
Voice for Victims is a campaign aimed at promoting the rights of those affected by child sexual abuse.
This is Guernsey
Guernsey Press
Even if they had opened, where would we go? Everywhere else is shut…
Report abuse
Mr Winser will be running for Mayor next
Report abuse
Oh dear, the whinging poms are standing up to be counted again,contrary to what mr winser thinks, the world does not revolve around the business community,who on a good day are appearing less and less frequently on flights from the uk .there are locals trying to get to england for shopping trips (note going TO england) the chamber needs to address that one ,also people are trying to get away for holidays,medical trips etc .
As for the airport snow clearance programme they did exactly what was required of them on all occasions ,they cleared the runway ,i dont expect that mr winser would comprehend any further than this, being as office types are not in the least bit practical ,(i have even heard big business people arrive at the airport and ask what currency we use here, so much for a centre of excellence)so after clearing the runway the airport authorities wait for the airlines to start moving ,which is totally out of their control .
It generally takes airlines at least 3 hours to get organised from flights being cancelled to getting them back in the system again ,this, on a practical basis is presumably because the pilots and crew are not sitting in an already warmed up aircraft having a fag and a coffee with the plane already stuffed to the gunwales with eager biz types all set to come and make guernsey residents rich beyond their dreams.
Theres a bit more to it than that mr winser, like revised flight plans ,weather reports etc all have to be gone through again,oh hang on though, guernsey have succeeded in winning the battle against the weather but the mighty gatwick has had a blizzard of epic proportions and have all but given up till the weather gets better .
You see mr winser in the real world ,the practical world ,some things cant be solved by sitting round a table and scribbling a couple of numbers off a spreadsheet or “thinking out side the box or being on the same page as roderick in geneva”in fact you could equate this to the antics of one of your other arrogant ancestors old king canute ,i’m sure one of his lackeys got a roasting for getting the bosses feet wet,one suggestion is to ask mr le ray (nicely) if he will take you out to the centre of the runway, and you can see how big it is (even for guernsey). make this appointment at 5 in the morning and try to ensure that its in a howling blizzard ,be kitted out with a yard broom and shovel and get on with it ,safe in the knowlege that as soon as you finish its not going to freeze and start all over again.
Report abuse
At the risk of have vitriol poured upon me for defending civil servants I just wonder where Mr Winser wished to fly as today both our main UK destinations, Gatwick and Southampton, were closed because of snow! I am sure that the airport staff do a good job with the eqyuipment they have available and I as a taxpayer am prepared to put up with occassional inconvience rather than payout thousands of pounds for knobs, bells and whistles snow clearing equipment which will spend most of it’s life unused. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce would like to buy it for us.
Report abuse
Next the’re be telling us that’s why the need to lengthen the runway, as its easier to clean whens its twice the size!
Report abuse
you can understand if we had the snow the rest of uk have had!! but as usual we grind to a halt we need proper plans in place to get the airport open.have to agree with julian on his comments.
airport director thanked the states work guy who worked last who almostly kept the airport runway clear by himself last night.!! we need manpower in place to deal with these weather conditions.peoiple should have worked all night so at least airport could have opened on time.
i am sure members of the public would even have helped . come on guernsey move with the times where is the can do spirit !!!!!!
Report abuse
It never ceases to amaze me how the whingers on this island are always ready to be critical of those in authority who have to make difficult decisions eg. (Education closing the schools and getting it in the neck) People get with the real world snow is an act of god and despite the best efforts of those at the Airport they are only human after all and from what I,ve seen have tried to make the best of an impossible situation so give them a break and i,d like to see the fianacial genuises at the Chamber of Commerce do a better job! well done toMr Le Ray and his dedicated team for trying to resolve the situation as efficentley and effectivley as will permit!
Report abuse
Perfectly said Mr Rich
Report abuse
Beggars belief
For supporters of the exodus you know were we meet tomorrow,come hail rain or snow
We will be there
Report abuse
arapaho
Very good post and well put.
Mr Rich
Well said also.
Angela
Dont you mean YOU want more manpower as i`m sure you wouldnt have been anywhere near the place working all night in those conditions? but you expect others to do so.
Report abuse
The airport should run perfectly all of the time.
Whatever it takes. Whatever. It. Takes.
Report abuse
I live about 200 yards from the runway & I think that before Mr Winsor flaps his gums – he should have come up here at 5am & seen the weather. Flat out snowing & about -1… The reason they started at 5.30 was thats when the snow eased off & the temp started going up… Whats the point in clearing snow in the middle of a blizzard?!
Besides – we could have had the cleanest runway in the UK – the only place we could have flown was Dinan!!
Mr Winsor – I know the Press are in the habit of publising stories with no real purpose at the moment, but next time it snows – you pop round for a coffee at 4.30am to my place & we can have a walk to the airport & then you can apologise to the guys working flat out whilst most are in bed!!
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
Report abuse
You can’t fly anywhere anyway, so what would be the point?
His time should be spent doing something far more productive. I bet he’s getting paid a load of our tax money just sitting down wondering whether the airport staff are lazy or not.
Report abuse
From what I read Mr Winser’s approach seems to be “Here’s a deadline – meet it and I don’t care how you do it”. This can do approach can work in some situations where staff can be motivated to achieve a goal. Nevertheless the task still has to be achievable with the resources that can be summoned whatever the motivation of the team. I imagine clearing a runway is an operation that is more complex that simply being a project goal on a piece of paper.
Mr Winser appears to provide no suggested plan (resources, timeframes etc) for the job. I know nothing about clearing runways but I can at least understand that too many resources may not be effective and starting earlier may just mean cleared areas are soon covered again by early morning snow.
Mr Le Ray points out that workers would become tired if the job went on for too long. He notes the responsibility needed when working airside and I imagine there would be the potential for an accident should a tired worker accidentally leave a piece of equipment behind. (Angela please note – would you want members of the public using shovels on the runway? – “Oh dear I think I may have left my shovel behind!”)
We also have to note that Gatwick – a major UK airport – has been shut now for two whole days. So how come they haven’t “coped”? A government minister said last night that Britain just cannot expect to be in the same position as countries such as Scandinavian ones, where snow is a feature, and that disruption is inevitable.
I am not saying that we just sit back and let it happen but we have to balance the risk to travelers with over-provision of resources that are redundant for most of the year. Perhaps we do need to have more resources available – I don’t know but I don’t think Mr Winser has a detailed plan!
Perhaps Mr Winser could provide his own risk management strategy and resource plan for the airport? He should include a cost-benefit analysis and should highlight what increased taxes the travelling public would suffer to have a few snow ploughs sitting around. It would be good to see an actual plan rather than vague comments, or lack of comments such as when workers should start clearing.
Mr Winser notes the executives prevented from travelling but surely much business could be done by video conferencing, remote systems access etc. Is our business community so behind that we still have to rely on physical travel? What about contingency planning?
Report abuse
typical chamber of commerce who rant and rave against states not cutting back on expenditure … except when they want to make their money meetings quick, and then the likes of julian whinger demands the states pay whatever overtime necessary to get him and his mates where they want to be and get them there now! you live on a little island mr whingey remember? travel delay goes with the territory.
Report abuse
I cannot believe the residents of this island sometimes. If it is not the airport it’s the schools, shock horror none of these places actually want to close for the day! Everybody has encouraged and backed this safety ruled society that the world operates around so please don’t complain when safety measures are put in place. If the airport did open and a plane crashed or slid off the runway, what would you be saying then? Just enjoy the snow people
Report abuse
Seems the past week, we have been at the mercy of Mother Nature. A few disrupted trips maybe, a few cancelled flights, but hell.. thats life!
Mr Winser (Winger) needs to grow up a bit and realise even in our modern day and age, some things are beyond our control.
Well done to Mr Le Ray and his team for doing the best they can.
Perhaps Mr Wincer needs to don a florescent jacket and go out with our boys who try to get everything done. After all, a clear runway is good for business isnt it??
Not all champers and caviar now is it??
Report abuse
BREAKING NEWS!! GATWICK AIRPORT CLOSED, APPALLING SERVICE.
Oh yeah, this isn’t just Guernsey’s airport closed.
Report abuse
Dear Mr Winser
Look to your own!
Get that pathetic VAT excuse off prices in shops here instead
Internet shopping is cheaper even with delivery and if shopping locally all I get is a blank stare when I ask when will the stock arrive?
Today (Thurs) the gritters & airport staff did their best. Congratulations both, a steep uphill learning curve. The Buses were able to do a sterling service too, more roads open allowed them to operate
You must live in town or lower parishes with no idea of what its like to live in the upper ones with steep hills & windy lanes!
PS anyone know where I can buy this new salt from? Love to know
Report abuse
Perhaps Mr Winser and Mr Digard could go up to the airport at 4am tomorrow morning and give them a hand, I’m sure the rest of the airport workers would appreciate their management experience and willingness to muck in when necessary.
Report abuse
I totally disagree with this article. It seems people are criticising everyone and everything who have to make decisions that are difficult to call. You are never going to be able to please everyone all of the time.
I wish people would stop whinging and just accept it. The whole of the Uk has shut down, there is not much that can be done until the weather pattern changes. They have been trying to clear the runways all day! and in my opinion those in authority have done their upmost to make people happy by trying to sort it out.
The airport staff have been very friendly and helpful, informing people as and when new bits of information were available. This is a small Island and it will never be properly equipped for severe weather, that is the price that people pay when living on this Island. Just accept it, or move.
Report abuse
If the likes of Gatwick and Southampton airports are unable to cope with snowy conditions how is Guernsey supposed to manage any better?
I’d bet they have much more suitable equipment for snow and ice clearing than we do.
What a stupid comment from a (supposedly) intelligent individual!
Maybe if he had got off his a–e at 4 o’clock in the morning and gone to see what the airport staff were up against he would have engaged his brain before opening his mouth.
Take no notice Mr Le Ray, this guy Julian Winser obviously has very little idea about life in real world!
Report abuse
I am furious with Mr Winser, what a cheek, give the Chamber of Commerce members all a shovel and let them help out instead of whinging, I cannot believe what he said.
Report abuse
This really is a futile argument to say the least!!!! Where on earth did he want to fly to??? What a silly man!
Report abuse
Mr Whinger had better start getting used to using the exemplary winter ferry services to the UK from now on. I’m pretty sure he won’t be welcome at our airport anymore after this unnecessary
petty tirade.
Report abuse
I thought it was just me who wasn’t a fan of Mr Winser from this and previous articles.
I’m sure if Mr Winser wants to go and live in the UK with 40% and 50% tax rates then he can go. No one is indispensable despite what some in financial services and associated business’ seem to think.
We know Guernsey needs to remain competitive but some people and business’ should pay their way Mr Winser.
Report abuse
Good effort, Julian!!!
Not many articles receive such universal condemnation as your comments have. Perhaps the members of our most excellent Chamber of Commerce should consider whether they really want such a blinkered individual at their helm. If they do, he may keep on steering them towards icebergs!!!
Report abuse
I totally agree with Mr Rich’s post. Even if the Runway was clear and the Airport was open, where would they fly to?
Some people just like to whinge!
Report abuse
Chamber of Commerce are a bunch of know-it-all poke noses.
This might bruise their egos a bit but I wonder if they realise how insignificant they are.
Report abuse
As an expat Guern and former airport worker at Toronto Int. I read all the posts regarding the airport with a smile.
If there had been somewhere to go then yes the service was disgraceful but since there wasn’t it was a “no brainer”.
Arapaho,
thanks for the detail explanation of what’s involved and Mr. Winser, hold that thought before you press SEND in future.
Report abuse
Boats were running. We were hardly marooned.
Angela –
I should imagine the conversation would go something like this.
Boss: “hmmm…say Bob I know you’ve worked 10hrs already in freezing conditions to clear the runway which has frozen up again but do you mind working another 8?…would give you double time…”
Bob: “%&$£ off, you %$&*n *&££*!”
Boss: “…take that as a no then?”
:) :) :)
Report abuse
I am very concerned that Julian Winser has issued such an ignorant statement. Unless, of course, GP have misquoted orquoted out of context which would not be a surprise.
If, however, the quote is correct Mr Winser should be ashamed and we should all be concerned at the fact that he represents the local business community.
We have a few days of snow a year at best. these were unusual circumstances. most other airports were closed so even if Guernsey airport were open where were the planes going to go to?
I think the staff at theairport do an excellent task. Theirs is a thankless existence. If everything runs smoothly nobody congratulates then but a bit of snow and Mr Winser is immediately criticising them.
Report abuse
Julian Winser says what he wants and then says he doesn’t know how to achieve it.
Winser clearly fails to understand that the aiport staff would have calculated how they could open the arport at a particular time.
Report abuse
So, there you go Mr Winser, I think the above comments are in accord and pretty condemning of your remarks.
Still, look on the bright side!
Report abuse
Mr Winser and the rest of The Chamber of Commerce start doing something useful get a shovel and go to the Airport and clear the snow.
Report abuse
Never mind the runway, its debatable whether the aprons were workable on Wed afternoon,they were extremely icy and stand 21 22 has a slope on it. If 18 tonnes of ATR started to slide I don’t think it would stop till it hit the Technical block.
I’ve seen A Tristar slide at Heathrow, it travelled about sixty feet, taking a huge tug with it and only stopped when it hit a grass verge. And Heathrow looks pretty flat. It can’t be emphasised enough how dangerous it is to operate heavy aircraft in icy conditions, you need a good uninterrupted breaking surface on runways and aprons.
Hats off to all at the airport who worked tirelessly to try to get the airport open. I can only liken their task to some trying to sweep the water off their patio in the rain. There were times on Thurs afternoon when it was just about a white out
Report abuse
Its obviously a plan to try and stop the exodus.
It wont deter the masses
Report abuse
P B Falla, please go on your fantasy exodus..and dont come back, very poor troll..zzzzzzzzz ;0)
Report abuse
dave
just because you have been exposed there is no need to be bitter regarding the facts
Report abuse
@PBFalla – if this ‘mass exodus’ is so extensive, why is the island’s population still up around 65,000?
Report abuse
P B Falla, I think you have been exposed? and has affected your thoughts, get help!! oh and please lead the way for the exodus, sad case. very immature.
Report abuse
Donkeys Wotsits
Thas simples
There are a large number of non locals now living in the island
But fewer locals as they are unhappy and leaving to live in a alternative place
You will also see a lower figure when the next official stats are published and thats a fact
Report abuse
P B Falla
You reel them in on your own personal crusade.
Superb!
Report abuse
Paul
Multumesc
Report abuse
Last time I was home and snowed the airport staff were very friendly and helpful. I was frustrated to be missing my connections, I was philosphical about it. I dealt with it.
Mr Windser should take this time to kick back and chill out. He really needs to reassess what is truly important.
Report abuse
This is a non debate in my opinion, all airports were shut so you couldnt fly anywhere anyway. I believe its called life, things go wrong, sometimes you can influence what has happened others you cant. In this case you cant, there was alot of snow, nobody did it purposely. Its called weather.
Take it on the chin and get on with it, and maybe some of the posters above should practice what they preach and when we have another weather pattern like we had recently we will see you on the runway at 5am freezing your **** off.
Report abuse