MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
St Helena airport “too dangerous to use” opens prospect of £285m compensation claim
Britain faces the prospect of compensation claims over a disastrous overseas aid project to build an airport on the remote island of St Helena, according to reports in the UK media. The £285million flop became a symbol of Britain’s aid waste this year after experts warned it might never open because of severe problems with wind conditions on the British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesOne just couldn't make this sh!t up....
Sep 22nd, 2016 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Well its back basics then, it will have to be extended ,
Sep 22nd, 2016 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0or whatever it takes to do the thing properly.
I don't think there is anything that can be done. The site was chosen and the work started in 2011. It was only 2014 that someone thought “let's do some weather an wind tests” at which point it was found that a runway on top of a 300m cliff was probably not the best location.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 09:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0The issue is wind shear: basically the winds hit the cliff, rise up it and then hit the plane as it is about to land. Very often this is travelling in a different direction from the 'general' wind at this altitude and so the planes are caught in a heavy crosswind, which is pretty dangerous when you're coming in to land.
Also can happen on an apparently clear day with no obvious wind - I live in Gibraltar and we see it a lot here (our runway is at sea level but there's a big Rock very close on one side so it's a similar effect) - though not as bad.
Ludicrous idea to build this without a proper survey first. I can't see how it can ever be used.
WELL BLOW ME DOWN!
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0Want to fly to St Helena?
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 12:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Not tonight Josephine...
And who in St Helena has mentioned compensation ???? Another Daily Express bunch of stirring.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 12:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0At 6, Believe nothing you read in the UK headlines.
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Apparently a possible option is blasting and bulldozing the top off as large nearby hill - to reduce side wind gusts and provide material for in fill to extend runway over a valley to planes can come in further down. quite a few more millions but maybe only way?
Sep 23rd, 2016 - 03:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Also there was some suggestion that weather studies were suggested right at the start- but a or some silly plonkers in Dept of Oseas Aid would not agree to fund it!
Those are the guys responsible for the **** up - but will no doubt get off scot free and a good pension from poor old Br Taxpayer who funds it.
(6) Mr. GALlamosa
Sep 24th, 2016 - 08:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0You ask...:
“And who in St Helena has mentioned compensation ????”
I say...:
For an answer... What about reading some of the latest issues of the St. Helena Independent?
http://independent.saint.fm/latest-issues/
Inform yourself..., Kelper.
@9. Some of us have better things to do than trawl through every possible website in order to find some snippet with which one can try to wind up others. If your “comments” were actually aimed at promoting debate or discussion......... But they aren't.
Sep 25th, 2016 - 02:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Incidentally, what's happening on the investigation into the Nisman murder? Swept under the carpet by Kirchnerites?
(8) Mr Islander1
Sep 25th, 2016 - 04:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You say...:
“...... provide material for in fill to extend runway over a valley so planes can come.....”
I say...:
“Over a valley” you say......... What valley...???
http://sainthelenaisland.info/flyherealmostcompletesep15.jpg
Interesting this seems to be being kept quiet at home. Our overseas aid budget of 12 billion pounds is seen by many, including me, to be way too big and would be better being spent at home.
Sep 26th, 2016 - 07:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have absolutely no objection to it being used for this project which had strategic military benefits, but the fact that they have screwed it up is infuriating.
I'm sure ways will be being thought to rectify the issue, an argentine wouldn't understand as they have never invented or created anything for the good of mankind other than being world class losers.
British engineering?
Sep 28th, 2016 - 12:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0Bwhaahahahahahahahahaha!
Story of the year... A useless airport, leading to a useless tourist infraestructure!
That would be a scandal in a banana republic... UK can proudly be one now!
@13
Sep 29th, 2016 - 10:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0No we can't, we'd have to actually get round to ditching the Monarchy first.
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