So just what is wrong with Ryanair?

So as a family we have just been to Dublin – for the first time ever we have managed to fly from East Midlands Airport. Now that shouldn’t be a major achievement, but our experience as a family has been that cheap flights and school holiday time just don’t translate into cheap flights from EMA (especially with BMI Baby). I am somewhat of a cheap flight ‘tart’, I will drive to another airport if it saves us money – frequently we have flown from Luton, Stansted or Birmingham, and in all cases the saving over EMA has been significant. So we were off to a good start this time with the location for our flights and the fact that they were cheap!

I am also a fan of the budget airlines, we have never had a bad experience! At one time I would have thought that this was the kiss of death – but not now. Every holiday in recent years (apart from two trips to the USA) have been via either EasyJet or Ryanair. Now if you believe the popular press travelling by either of these carriers is a torrid affair, with lots of hidden extras. In fact a minefield ready to get you!

Yes when booking there are lots of pages to say no to on the websites (and yes I think Ryanair have the most), but the flights are cheap! If you want to basically pay and fly without any ‘hassle’ fly with BA – just don’t complain about it costing more!

On this visit to Dublin the check in with Ryanair was swift and painless (we had as usual followed the instructions and printed out our documents before leaving home). The plane was modern, clean and on time – the crew were also perfectly civil. We didn’t buy food or drink on board – if you do and then complain about the cost you are an idiot – buy it before flying if you must have food!

So can someone please explain to me the downside of budget airlines? My belief is that many of the people who have ‘issues’ have probably failed to follow the ‘rules’ – and if you don’t then you pay the price – literally!

For once therefore I am not complaining, I actually think budget airlines are much maligned and provide a brilliant service (take note VirginMedia).

 

East Midland Airport turbines have been installed

 Work started on the installation of the East Midland Airport wind turbines last week, the two 45m (148ft) wind turbines, which are the first at an airport in the UK, have been lifted into place next to the airport’s headquarters.

The turbines will aim to generate 5% of the site’s electricity when they are completed and form part of the airports bid to make its operations carbon neutral by 2012.

Planning consent for the turbines, which will be installed for 20 years and will save approximately 300 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, was granted in 2008. As usual there was a level of opposition from the local community, which is to be expected. However having driven past the site today I am surprised by how well hidden the turbines actually are. Yes you can see them from the road (A453), but only briefly.

To my eyes this is an excellent job of installing turbines but not making them too intrusive – I am sure there will be many that disagree with me, but surely this is as good a location as any for turbines? Or are they louder than aircraft movements as well?

Unfortunately I couldn’t stop to take a photo (the road was busy) but I would not be surprised if some people drive past without seeing them!

 

How can this be a problem?

I am all for renewable energy, and when it is by a large local business that can only be a good thing – right?

Well a plan to produce a third of East Midlands Airport’s energy with solar power has run into opposition already from some nearby residents (probably the same ones who were against the wind turbines at the airport) and this is before any planning application has been lodged.

The 10-hectare (25 acre) project is part of plan to make the airport carbon neutral by 2012 – surely a positive thing, good for the environment and the region.

But some locals have complained it would ruin the countryside, use up agricultural land and open the door to further development. Now, the plans are at a very early stage but I fail to see how planning permission for a solar farm ‘opens up the area to other development’.

It is this Nimbyism that has such a negative effect upon progress in renewables in the UK.

I hope the airport manage to get this approved despite the Nimby’s!

 

A wind farm for the East Midlands Airport

It was back in 2008 that planning permission was granted for the erection of wind turbines at East Midlands Airport. At the time the four turbines were considered capable of generating 10% of the site’s energy and produce up to 225 kw of electricity each, enough to power 503 houses a year.

Work has finally started in preparation for the installation of the first two wind turbines to be installed, thought to be the first at a UK airport, and due to be installed in March. Ground clearance and foundation work has started in readiness for the turbines, which will produce about 5% of the airport’s electricity.

They will stand 45m (148 ft) high and the rotor blades will have a radius of about 14m ( 46 ft).

The remaining two turbines will be added at a later date.

This level of investment is good to see and will hopefully further enhance the airports place in UK aviation. It is also interesting to note the lead in time for this scheme, it is 3 years since planning was granted and it will be probably 4 years before the entire scheme is in place. With the required drive for renewables in the UK we need to be aware that nothing happens overnight – even more reason to push ahead with schemes like the Clifton one as soon as possible. If not we have no hope of hitting the targets set by the Government in relation to percentage of renewables in use by 2020.