Manchester Airport

The newspaper for employees of Manchester Airport
No 174 APRIL 2002
New services provide welcome
summer boost for the airport
BY PLANE TALK CORRESPONDENT
New and improved services out of Manchester Airport announced so far
this year are providing clear signs of a resurgence of confidence in air
travel. They also confirm Manchester’s growing role as a strategic hub
airport serving European, North American and Asian destinations.
The first flight of Monarch’s scheduled new three-times-a-week service to Faro in Portugal left Manchester on March 21. This new route
builds on the success Monarch has enjoyed in the last two years since
The voice of youth
THIS MONTH
Pledge to boost
security measures
Airport invests heavily in
new screening technology
– page 2
The cat with
eight lives
Narrow escape for kitten
that strayed onto airfield
– page 3
Airport set for
modelling career
it started scheduled services from Manchester to Malaga and Alicante.
In that time a quarter of a million passengers have used the flights.
In January, LOT Polish Airlines improved the timing of their six flights
a week service to Warsaw and introduced their own aircraft. And it was
strong demand from Asian communities in the region that helped influence the decision by Malaysia Airlines to resume its thrice-weekly service to the nation’s capital, Kuala Lumpur, from April 2.
Kingston and Montego Bay are the destinations of new services to
be operated by Air Jamaica from June and JMC Airlines are due to start
charter flights to Grand Bahama in May. JMC Airlines launched a second Airbus A330-200, which will be based at Manchester and, in addition to the Bahamas, will fly to Cuba, Dominican Republic and Orlando
this summer.
North American destinations, already well served from Manchester,
will be boosted by the reinstatement of Air Canada’s non-stop service
to Toronto four times a week from April 8 and daily from June 1. Four
new flights to Canada are being provided by tour operator Canadian
Affair using Airtours International and JMC Airlines.
At the end of last year Turkmenistan Airlines introduced a weekly
scheduled service to the country’s capital, Ashgabat, from where the
airline offers onward connections to countries in the Indian sub-continent.
There are also encouraging signs of demand returning on other European scheduled routes, including the British Airways service to Zurich
which started in the autumn.
“We are succeeding in attracting new services, new destinations and
new aircraft to the airport” said John Spooner, Manchester Airport managing director. “These developments are evidence of the beginning of a
recovery in public confidence in flying and demonstrate that more airlines are seeing Manchester Airport as a partner in growing their business. Indeed Manchester is one of Europe’s biggest, busiest and most
important airports.”
Last year 19.5 million passengers passed through Manchester Airport. They were carried by 95 airlines to over 170 destinations across
five continents. By 2015 passenger growth is expected to make Manchester second only to London Heathrow in the league table of Britain’s
busiest airports.
Manchester set-up
attracts international
recognition – page 6
JMC’s spectacular
arrival
Airport backs opera workshops
Pupils at Stockport’s Avondale High School were
able to explore the torrid tale of La Boheme with
a visit from Opera North thanks to Manchester
Airport’s sponsorship.
Thirty 12-13 year olds enjoyed a day’s workshop led by a creative team from Opera North –
England’s national opera company. Director
James Atherton and singer Tara Harrison introduced the pupils to opera as an art form and to
the romantic epic – La Boheme – arguably the
world’s most famous opera.
Pupils delved into the exciting bohemian
lifestyle and love affairs of characters Rodolfo
and Mimi, Marcello and Musetta, while examin-
ing the music, drama and design of the production of La Boheme brought to life on stage.
The workshop was one of three taking place at
Greater Manchester schools this term, assisted
by Manchester Airport Group through its partnership with Opera North, as part of its arts sponsorship programme. Councillor Fred Ridley,
leader of Stockport Council and a member of the
Group Board, visited the school to see the pupils
at work.
Baby look at
you now
New budget airline proves
a major success – page 11
The state
of freight
• Avondale High School pupils and Opera
North director James Atherton (left), accompanied by Councillor Fred Ridley on the piano.
Busy traffic over Easter
Easter proved to be as busy as ever at the airport
with 160,000 passengers flying out to destinations
throughout Europe and beyond.
Passenger figures were up around 11 per cent
compared with the 2001 figure and more than
1,200 flights took off and landed over the holiday
weekend – the airport’s busiest period so far this
year.
Despite untypically pleasant bank holiday weather in this country many people opted to take time
out in top holiday sunspots like the Canary Islands,
Spain, the Balearic Islands and Orlando in Florida.
For those not necessarily chasing the sun Dublin,
Amsterdam, Prague and Warsaw proved to be this
Easter’s favourite city break destinations.
Despite industrial action by the TGWU most passengers were left with the impression that it was
Airport welcomes new
Airbus aircraft – page 9
very much ‘business as usual’ at the airport.
Martyn Davies, station manager of Monarch Airlines who chairs the Airline Operators Committee
which represents airlines at Manchester, said :
“Bookings for Easter were good and it was our
busiest week of the year so far.”
Passengers using the airport over the holiday had
the chance to check out various new facilities in
the terminals while waiting for their flights.
New shops included Cotton Traders leisure wear
in T1, the relocated House of Champions memorabilia store in the same terminal and the Virginware
underwear shop in T2.
The duty and tax-free shops in T2 and T3 also
opened in time for Easter complete with their new
eye-catching ‘pink coat’ staff who were on hand to
help passengers with their purchases.
All the latest news on the
airport cargo scene
– page 15
Adventure
in Peru
A trek following in the
tracks of the Incas
– page 19
Join the Plane
Talk winners
Flights to Malta up for
grabs in our competition
– page 23
Page 2
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Six new directors
for Airport Group
Manchester Airport Group has announced six new non-executive director appointments to its Group and subsidiary Boards.
Recruiting additional non-executive directors was a key part of the
company’s restructuring last June when the Manchester Airport Group
and its trading subsidiaries were formed. Five airport businesses now
operate under the ‘umbrella’ of the Manchester Airport Group.
The non-executives’ role will be to scrutinise the running of the trading companies and to add value by bringing additional skills from relevant business fields such as retail, property development and facilities
management; broadening the expertise of the Boards and ensuring
best value for shareholders.
Chair of the Shareholders’ Forum, Councillor Richard Leese, commented: “We are very pleased to welcome the new non-executive
directors to the Group and subsidiary Boards of the Manchester Airport
Group. We are confident that they will make a significant contribution
to the commercial focus of the businesses, promote the interests of the
shareholders and bring strategic skills from their particular sectors.”
The appointments to the boards are:
Airport Group:
John Hancock – chief executive officer, MFI Furniture Group plc
Margaret Salmon – chair, Sector Skills Development Agency
Manchester Airport:
Andy Meehan – managing director Europe, Gordon Brothers Ltd
(formerly CEO for Co-operative Retail Services Ltd)
Manchester Airport Aviation Services:
Brenda Smith – managing director, Granada Television
Mike Gooddie – human resources director, Great North Eastern
Railway
Manchester Airport Developments:
Tom Marshall – formerly deputy chairman of Lambert Smith
Hampton
Councillor Richard Leese added ‘Since our acquisition of East Midlands and Bournemouth Airports last year, we are now the second
largest airport operator in the country. We want to ensure that the
Group can maximise its competitive position in order to grow its businesses. These appointments, a new initiative for the organisation, will
help us fully exploit our commercial potential.”
The non-executive directors took up their appointments in the New
Year. Each board meets once a month.
There will be one more appointment to Group Board and other nonexecutive director appointments will be made to the Boards for Regional Airports and Airport Ventures. These will be made over the coming
months.
757 for reliability
The Boeing 757-300 recorded a 99.7 per cent reliability rate during
2001, which means flights departed as scheduled and airlines delivered passengers to their destinations on time.
After several years of proven, reliable service with European tour
operators, the sleek, efficient 757-300 successfully debuted in North
America with American Trans Air (ATA) in August 2001.
JMC Airlines, which is part of Thomas Cook AG, is experiencing the
same success with the 757-300. Since premiering in the United Kingdom in April 2001 with Manchester-based charter operator JMC Airlines, the 757-300 has achieved a 99.5 per cent reliability rate.
Schedule reliability is an aviation standard defined by several factors.
Achieving 100 per cent schedule reliability means no flight can be canceled, turned back in the air, diverted to another airport or delayed
longer than 15 minutes due to mechanical problems with an aircraft.
WHY
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Air France organised a reception
in London to bid farewell to Marc
Benedetti, the outgoing general
manager for UK and Ireland, and
to welcome Christian Herzog to
the UK as the new general manager for UK and Ireland.
To convey their thanks and
appreciation for Marc’s friendship
and close relationship with Manchester Airport during his tenure
in the UK, Tim McDermott (right)
and Talat Mahmud MBE (left) are
pictured presenting Marc with a
gift on behalf of Manchester Airport.
Marc has been promoted to a
senior position in the airline as
vice president operations for Asia
Pacific region, and is now based
at the Air France headquarters in
Paris.
Airport invests
£16 million in latest
screening technology
Manchester Airport is showing the world how technology
can help beat terrorism. The
airport’s highly sophisticated
£40 million hold baggage
scanning system is currently
the subject of intense interest from aviation security
experts, other airport operators and the US media. This
has resulted in a number of
high-powered visits to see
the system in action.
A delegation from the US
Congressional Sub-committee on Aviation Security travelled to Manchester in January, to learn how our
advanced InVision Technologies CTX 5000 scanners –
which use high tech imaging
technology – detect explosives, drugs and money, however well concealed. Next
month it’s the turn of security experts from Jacksonville
Airport in Alabama who want
to see how this American
made equipment helps Manchester Airport ensure the
FULL
SERVICE
safety of its 100,000 flights
and millions of passengers
each year.
As part of the continuing
interest in aviation security
following the events of September 11, the American
media is also showing a keen
interest in airline security.
Television crews have been at
Manchester in recent weeks
from the Los Angeles based
KCBS-TV, part of the CBS network, and from Washington
station Belo Capital Bureau.
Manchester Airport is currently spending £16 million,
on top of the £25 million
invested in the past five
years, on this highly sophisticated equipment. As a result,
the airport will soon have a
total of 14 of these advanced
CTX 5000 scanners – more
than any other airport in the
world.
The scanners are used in
all three terminals at Manchester and between them
can handle up to 3,500 items
Traffic update
Feb 2002
Aircraft Movements
12,833
Total Passengers 1,094,288
(Inc Transit)
VALUE FOR MONEY…
MOTs
Farewell
to Marc
Freight Tonnes
Feb 2001
This financial
year to date
(2002)
14,624
181,528
179,142
1,189,820 18,120,396
17,789,465
7,920
9,230
Last financial
year to date
(2001)
101,264
113,116
(inc Mail)
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Editorial
Editor
Editorial Assistant
Out of hours
JANICE BONNER
0161-489
TONY RICKARD
0161-489
Ansaphone
0161-489
Editorial Fax:
0161-489
e-mail: [email protected]
Advertising
Advertising Co-ordinator LINDA TOY
Advertising Fax:
3662
2024
2024
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0161-489 2844
0161 489 5849
Manchester Airport website: www.manairport.co.uk
No part of this publication may be reproduced in hard copy or electronic form without the written consent of the editor.
Subscriptions: 12 issues of Plane Talk by post, £10.
of baggage an hour. The
equipment is so sensitive
that it can even be set to
detect particular currencies,
such as US dollars or Japanese yen.
The CTX 5000 works like a
hospital CT scanner with an xray head mounted on a rotating drum that carries out a
360 degree imaging scan of
the baggage in slices. Images
are passed to five computers,
each of which analyses a particular aspect of the image
based on the density and
composition of detected
objects. If the aggregated
results from the five computers is over a certain level, the
control room is alerted and
the baggage is examined
manually by the security officers.
As well as providing better
security, the new equipment
will improve the speed and
reliability of handling outbound baggage which will
help reduce check-in times
and the incidence of luggage
missing flights.
John Spooner said: “We
have always set the highest
standards of security for the
passengers who choose to
travel through Manchester
Airport.
This
continued
investment in high technology equipment should help to
reassure them that we regard
their safety as paramount
and that we are using worldclass systems to maintain
our vigilance.”
Allport
arrives
Allport has opened a
dedicated facility at the
airport’s World Freight
Terminal in Unit 3, Building
311. For more information
call 0161 498 6831.
Allport is one of the
largest independent freight
forwarders in the UK and has
representation worldwide.
See next month’s issue for
a special feature.
Roger is
new chief
of AOA
Roger Cato has been appointed
chairman of the Airport Operators
Association. The AOA is the trade
body that speaks for British airports.
Roger Cato was appointed
managing director of BAA
Heathrow on November 1, 1997.
Roger joined Heathrow as an
engineer graduate trainee in
1969 after gaining a first class
hours degree from Salford University. Over the last 30 years a
variety of engineering posts have
taken Roger to every BAA airport,
terminal and airfield.
He has worked overseas for
BAA in Barbados, Belize and
Sweden while his work in Britain
has included setting up the telephone exchanges for both
Heathrow and Gatwick. Roger
spent nine months as head of
engineering at British Airport Services Ltd near Gatwick and then
in 1988 was appointed head of
engineering at Heathrow.
In November 1990 he
branched out from his engineering background when he became
general manager of Terminal 1.
After an eventful year of terminal
management, he was appointed
operations director of Heathrow
Airport Limited in November
1991.
In this role, Roger proved his
commitment to constantly looking for ways to improve security
standards with safety, security
and productivity top of his agenda.
Roger is an amateur radio
enthusiast and is involved with
amateur dramatics, writing, and
performing sketches and plays.
Roger also holds a Private Pilots
Licence and occasionally flies a
Cessna 172. He is a Fellow of the
Institute of Electrical Engineers
and a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
WIN TWO TICKETS
TO MALTA
See page 23
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 3
Fond farewell to PR chief
About 100 colleagues and friends joined Sally
Sykes in the Lancaster Brasserie in Manchester
Airports’s Terminal 1 to wish her ‘bon voyage’
before she travelled on to her next job as Communications Director at Astra Zeneca, the pharmaceuticals group.
Rowena Burns, director of corporate affairs,
recalled some of the dramatic moments during
Sally’s six years as head of press and public
relations. There had been a number of high profile news events during the Runway 2 protests,
including the antics of “Swampy” in his tunnel
and the unscheduled dancing on diners’ tables
at the Piccadilly Hotel by “eco-warrior” young
ladies disguised as waitresses – which Rowena
likened to “a soccer pitch invasion”.
Rowena said that Sally would be “missed very
much.” She had led “a wonderful team where,
more than in any other part of the airport, people turned out at any time of day when they
were needed. That is a rare quality.”
Rowena presented Sally with cards and a
piece of handcrafted glass from her colleagues
in the airport company.
Sally described how much she had enjoyed
her time at the airport and said: “I have worked
with some tremendous colleagues on some
great projects like Runway 2 and Terminal 3. We
have had some tremendously good times and
some difficult times, but never lost our sense of
humour.”
She added that due to the nature of her new
job and its sites worldwide it was likely that she
would be returning to the airport as a customer
– “when at least I will know why I am queuing to
go through security!”
• Sally Sykes with some of the PR team (L to R) Sharon Hulse-Cottle, Sue Jones, Dave Sanders and
Jeanette Bates.
Rob appointed new
Humberside director
IN BRIEF
Referring to certain news items
regarding a possible suspension
of Olympic Airways, the management
of
the
company
announced that:
‘The tragic events of September 11, 2001 in New York resulted in a serious disruption to the
world airline industry. Olympic
Airways, like all other airlines,
was adversely affected. However, thanks to a series of operational and administrative measures, the airline continues to
look to the future with optimism.
‘Consequently any report of
alleged dysfunction in the airline,
especially during the privatisation process, has nothing to do
with the truth.
‘Olympic Airways will continue
its flight programme with maximum safety and reliability as the
only strong connection between
Greece and the rest of the
world.’
––––––––––––––
SWISS, with its fleet of 128
aircraft, started services to
123 destinations in 60 countries, with the launch of their
summer timetable on March
31. With this, the new Swiss
airline, in keeping with its
business plan, will be offering
an attractive route network
during the new season. Following the timetable changes,
all flights will be allocated an
LX flight number.
The summer timetable
shows few changes from the
current winter timetable. In
Europe, 86 destinations will
be served in 34 countries.
The international route network covers 37 destinations
in 26 countries, including
Switzerland.
Compared with last year’s
Crossair and Swissair summer timetables, the offer has
been reduced by about 30 per
cent, in line with the business
plan. The optimisation of
flight operations led to a
reduced joint route network in
early October 2001, whereby
services to ten intercontinental and 12 European destinations were discontinued. The
Crossair route network had
previously been reduced in
the 2001 summer timetable
Eight lives left
for Runway cat!
BY PLANE TALK CORRESPONDENT
Runway the daredevil cat who had a near-miss with
a 737 at Manchester Airport has found a new home.
The cat was found cowering in terror on Runway 1
moments after a Ryanair flight from Dublin had landed. The 737 aircraft missed the cat’s head by inches, but it escaped unhurt.
Operations duty manager Rory McLoughlin found
the terrified cat on the centreline of the runway, after
the pilot of the Ryanair flight radioed to say an animal was on the runway. He said: “There’s no doubt
that the cat has had a lucky escape. It could easily
have been killed by the plane’s wheels as it came in
to land.”
Despite where “Runway” was found, airport man-
agers said that the cat did not pose any danger to
the plane and its passengers.
Runway was taken to the operations tower for the
night where it was soothed with a bowl of milk, a tin
of food and put in a cat basket to rest. Airport staff
nicknamed the mystery cat “Runway”.
Runway spent the next day with the PR department, fulfilling his busy schedule of photo sessions
and filming requests.
Unfortunately Runway was not claimed by his
owner and has been adopted by an airport employee who wishes to remain anonymous. Runway has
had a number of trips to the vets and is said to be
recovering slowly.
To help Runway get over his ordeal, the new owner
has renamed the cat Thomas.
Garage backs local youth
ter of Science degree in transport
management and planning – is a
keen guitarist and songwriter. He
also has a fascination for travel
and has visited 45 countries
worldwide.
Graham Keddie, chairman of
Humberside Airport Board, said:
“We are pleased to welcome
Robert into this new role and are
confident that his previous experience will bring strength and expertise to this challenging position.”
Rob said that he was delighted
to be joining Humberside International Airport at such an exciting
time in its development. He
added, “There is enormous scope
to grow the business at Humberside and I look forward to working
with my new colleagues in developing this potential.”
Parent friendly award
Manchester Airport won the UK Airport category in Tommy’s 10th Parent Friendly Awards for its baby change facilities in the terminals.
The award ceremony held at London Zoo, on March 26, was hosted
by Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen and they were joined by several other well known TV stars.
The Parent Friendly Awards are voted for by parents throughout the
country. The aim is to highlight and praise the organisations that cater
most to their needs, from providing a friendly service and excellent
value for money, to free baby food and clean baby changing facilities.
Tommy’s, the baby charity, was set up in 1992 and through a national programme of research, aims to end the heartache caused by premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth.
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Feysal Nagi has recently been
appointed to the position of
account manager north from his
previous position as sales executive for Qatar Airways. Feysal
joined Qatar Airways in October
2000 as sales support and six
months later was promoted to
sales executive.
Now responsible for existing
distributors based in the north of
England, Scotland and Ireland,
Feysal will be based in Bolton.
Humberside International Airport
has announced a new airport
director.
Robert Goldsmith, 36, has
joined HIA from his current position as general manager business
development for Adelaide and
Gold Coast Airports. He has spent
two years in Australia fulfilling
Manchester Airport’s service contracts won in the second phase of
the Australian airports’ privatisation process.
Married with three children,
Rob started work with Manchester
Airport in 1989 as a market analyst and held various management
roles in sales development,
research, market planning, and
aeronautical pricing.
Rob – who has a Postgraduate
Diploma in marketing and a Mas-
Initial advice is free. Act now –
ring Nigel Johnson or Mike Simister
on Freephone 0808 144 66 11.
Males Garage at Manchester
Airport is showing its support
for the youth of Woodhouse
Park.
Paul Owen, chairman of the
Woodhouse Park Youth Trust
said, “We are very grateful to
Males for their support. The
youth of Woodhouse Park are
gravely suffering through lack of
facilities in the area, and the
Trust raise funds to create
much needed facilities.”
The Trust is supported by the
youth within the area, councillors, the police, Wythenshawe
partnership and local business
in the area.
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PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 5
New ‘robe’ for Monarch
• Captain Peter Martin with stewardesses Clare Size and Liz
McDonald.
Fresh from its paint-shop “make-over” at Norwich, the first of Monarch
Airlines’ aircraft to be resprayed reported for duty at Manchester Airport
during March.
The airline’s Boeing 757 G-MONE was taking 235 passengers to
Tenerife, sporting the first new livery since Monarch started operations
34 years ago.
Away with black and in with indigo blue and a stronger shade of yellow; away with even horizontal bands of colour along the fuselage and
in with a seductive curving pattern that billows along the lower body,
flaring upwards towards the tail.
Most noticeably, Monarch’s familiar royalty connection, the famous
tailplane “M” that looks more like a crown, has been updated and reshaped.
Jonathan Crick, the airline’s commercial director, said: “There is a
particular emphasis on Monarch Scheduled, formerly Monarch Crown,
our network of scheduled services launched in 1986, which is becoming increasingly important. It now produces 20 per cent of our business
and is still growing.
“We operate scheduled services from Manchester to Alicante, Malaga and Faro.
“The addition of the company’s website address
(www.flymonarch.comm) to the fuselage is to assist our customers
using Monarch Scheduled so that they can make online bookings and
to enable our charter users to choose from a wide range of added value
services.”
The new livery is only the start of a virtually total re-vamp. Next January cabin crew will be wearing new uniforms and later phases will
include the refurbishment of aircraft interiors.
The airline, which started with two aircraft and now has a fleet of 21,
carried nearly five million passengers last year.
Monarch’s 757 fleet captain, Peter Martin, a former RAF fighter pilot,
said: “I have been with Monarch for 24 years and, although there have
been minor adjustments to the livery in that time, it will be good to
show off our new look.”
On the
move
Tokyo
flights
resume
Continental Airlines will
resume daily non-stop service
between
New
York/Newark and Narita
International Airport in
Tokyo, Japan from April 18.
Service had been reduced
to five weekly flights after
demand fell late last summer.
TRANSFERS/PROMOTIONS
Vickie Withnell, team technical
officer, Planning and Environment on March 25; Jonathon
Challis, community relations
assistant on March 18; Tim
Walmsley, environment manager
on March 18; Sharon HulseCottle, events organiser on April
1; Martin Shonick, payments
co-ordinator on Feb 25; Martin
Corbishley, systems accountant
on March 25.
WELCOME BACK
To Viv Lomas, Finance, who
returned from maternity leave on
March 11.
FAREWELL FOR THE PRESENT
To: Tracey Thompson, admin
clerk Car Parks, three-year career
break commencing March 29.
FAREWELL
To the following people who have
left the company: Jeff Cottam,
voluntary redundancy on February 28; Ann Manser voluntary
redundancy on March 28; Sally
Sykes, head of Press and PR on
March 28; Jim Longstaffe, coach
driver, retired on March 2; Mark
Thompson,
coach
driver,
resigned on January 31; Eric
Robinson, T2 maintenanace
manager, retired on January 31;
Brendan McGrath, car parks,
medically retired on January 31;
Pete Ford, sub officer, Fire Station, medically retired on March
3; Charlie Ellington, firefighter,
medically retired on March 17.
CONGRATULATIONS
To David Southwell and Ian
Matthews Adcock, Motor Transport, who both received Long
Service Awards in March.
• Back row (L to R): Eleanor Johnson, Sheriff of Chester; John
Spooner, managing director, Manchester Airport; Sue Proctor, Lady
Mayoress of the City of Chester.
Middle row (L to R): Myra Harris, Mayoress of Vale Royal; Jacky
Hope, Mayoress of Macclesfield; Janet Beard, Mayoress of Crewe
and Nantwich.
Front row (L to R): Barbara Shephard, Deputy Mayoress of
Ellesmere Port and Neston; Julie Richards, Mayoress of Warrington
and Celia Grange, Chairman’s Lady.
The heat is on
Mayoresses from across Cheshire swapped their civic cars on March
11, for a ride in a fire engine at Manchester Airport.
The airport has recently put into service two sleek new fire engines,
each costing £320,000. As well as inspecting the appliances and touring the airport’s new £1 million South Fire Station, the ladies watched
the fire teams go through their paces in a practice drill.
The fireman’s lift came as part of the day-long tour designed to give
the ladies a glimpse behind the scenes at Britain’s third busiest airport.
The Mayoresses also saw how up to 20,000 airline meals are prepared each day. Airline catering company LSG Sky Chefs, produces the
meals in state-of-the-art kitchens at the airport, where they employ
350 people.
Every year the Mayoresses from each of the boroughs in the county
get together to visit a place of interest. Past visits have included a salt
mine, Rolls-Royce at Crewe, and a cheese factory – Cheshire, naturally!
Manchester Airport was chosen for this year’s visit because of its
importance to the county. A large proportion of the 20,000 people who
work here live in Cheshire and the airport also provides important international links that help local businesses to prosper.
Managing director John Spooner said that he was delighted that the
Mayoresses had chosen to visit Manchester Airport. He told them that
last year 19.5 million passengers travelled through the airport, carried
by 95 airlines to 180 destinations worldwide. “That’s the equivalent of
taking the entire population of Cheshire on holiday 20 times in a year!”
he said.
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The Plane Talk camera captured this happy picture on March 21 of
Dave Haslam being congratulated on his birthday by cabin crew member Gail Griffiths from British Airways City Express.
Friend and Olympic House receptionist Damian McDermott, commented: “Dave ‘the heat’ Haslam has worked at the airport since
1985, when he started as a general admin clerk in Engineering. He did
his ten years, received his testimonial, and moved on to his current role
as an airport courier in Administration.
“Dave has many interests, but enjoys socialising, and visiting the theatre. He also has his very own suite at one of the top hotels in Torquay,
and counts amongst his many personal friends, Bobby Davro and Jim
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Dave would like to thank his colleagues in Admin and elsewhere in
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Page 6
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Tooth fairy leaves
£1,000 under pillow
• The delegation from South Africa pictured with Steve Kelly, client project liaison manager.
Interchange in the spotlight
A trade mission from South
Africa made a fact-finding visit
to the interchange project at
Manchester Airport on February
28.
Led by Kingsley Smith and
Hilary McKenzie of Trade Partners UK, based in London and
Johannesburg, the delegation
included senior representatives
of the transport industry in
South Africa, including Yasir
Ahmed, chief director of public
transport in Cape Town.
The team were given a guided
tour of the interchange scheme,
followed by a question and
answer session over lunch at
Terminal 2, at which the complexities of the multi-partner,
multi-modal scheme were discussed.
Commenting on the visit, the
delegation was very impressed
with the way in which Manchester Airport had “got to grips”
with the issues, and was delivering this unique project, against
the current difficulties in the
transport industry.
Guest Mr Monderman is presented with a cheque for £1,000 and champagne to celebrate his good
fortune, from tooth-fairy Julie Eaves.
Congratulations are in order to Louise Welson, sales
manager on producing a bouncing baby girl on
March 16. Molly weighed in at 6lb 8oz, with both
mum and daughter doing well.
Welcome to Sharon Hardman who joins the team
as food and beverage manager, here at the Holiday
Inn. Sharon, who previously worked for the Hilton
Leeds, will take over the operation from Debbie
Turner, who is leaving to take some rest and recuperation following a long illness. We wish Debbie a
fond farewell, best wishes and good health for the
future.
Holiday Inn Garden Court, recently handed over
£1,000 to a guest! Yes, as part of a nationwide pillow promotion by Holiday Inn, Mr Monderman found
a £1,000 cheque under his pillow and was duly pre-
sented with this officially by our very own tooth fairy,
Julie Eaves.
Every Holiday Inn in the UK is participating in this
promotion, so take this one in a million opportunity
to claim your £1,000, by booking at a Holiday Inn
near you. Good luck.
• Model handshake…Alvin Christopher, (right) bids farewell to Mel Littler (centre) after a whistle-stop
tour of the ‘model’ airport. Mr Christopher was accompanied by his wife, Doris on the fact-finding
mission.
Manchester set to
be global ‘model’
BY PLANE TALK REPORTER
Manchester Airport is being held up as a role
model to overseas governments looking into
the organisation and operation of their own airports.
The UK’s third busiest airport – which is operated by a local authority-owned private company – is attracting interest from the Caribbean to
the Indian sub continent.
And one government has already signalled its
intention to base the operation of a new £40
million airport on the highly-rated ‘Manchester
Model’.
The operational blueprint is to be used by the
British Virgin Islands for its Beef Island Airport,
currently being redeveloped with a recently
completed new terminal building, to be followed
by a runway extension and new apron later this
year.
The airport – scheduled for completion early
in 2003 – will have a capacity of 380,000 passengers a year.
John Spooner, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “We are delighted that
Manchester is being seen as a model that overseas governments are keen to replicate at airports in their own countries.
“What our visitors appear particularly interested in – and impressed by – are the high standards of safety, security and customer service
that they find here.
“This is another feather in our cap and a cred-
it to our planners, managers and their staff.”
The plan to base the new airport’s organisation and operation on the ‘Manchester Model’
follows management consultancy work carried
out by BAe Systems and visits to the UK airport
by senior BVI government ministers.
The most recent fact finding mission was
made by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of
Communications and Works, Alvin Christopher,
who flew into Manchester earlier in March to
see airport operations at first hand. He was
accompanied on a tour of the airport by the
Manchester Airport Group’s corporate security
advisor, Mel Littler.
Mr Christopher’s stopover was prompted by
favourable reaction from the BVI’s chief minister, Ralph O’Neal, after a similar fact-gathering
visit.
The chief minister returned home with positive impressions of Manchester Airport, the
group’s management and the practical working
relationship it maintains with its 10 local
authority owners.
Both visits involved the Chorley, Lancashirebased Infrastructure Solutions Division of BAe
Systems and were organised through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
The aerospace company provides airport
development consultancy services to overseas
governments and works in partnership with
Manchester Airport on the planning and delivery
of airport management and security training
packages.
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 7
Vintage glider flies in!
Britannia Airways captain Mike Abbott was at the
helm of a Boeing 757 from Turin to Manchester
back in February, carrying some very unusual cargo.
Having worked closely with Bob Pettifer, chairman of
the British Gliding Association’s Instructor Committee, Mike agreed to assist with the transportation of
a fragile perspex canopy needed for the restoration
of a vintage 1960s 2-seater M200 glider.
As an active member of a syndicate that operates an M200, based at the Bowland Forest Gliding Club in Lancashire, Bob began talks with John
Gibson, founder member of the club (est. c.1950),
about locating a replacement canopy. John had
developed regular correspondence with the original
designers of the M200, the Morelli brothers, who
live in Turin.
It transpired that Piero and Alberto Morelli owned
an original M200 replacement canopy, kept in the
original workshop in Turin where the design was
conceived. Although they were glad to see it go to
a grateful home, transporting it to England was not
going to be easy. However, with the help of some
extremely diligent baggage staff at both airports,
Bob Pettifer and his Britannia crew successfully
carried the fragile canopy all the way to England
without so much as a scratch.
“Thanks to the great care and attention of the
Britannia staff and all involved in the journey, the
club’s M200 is up and running again. It’s such a
pleasure to see the old glider in the air again, we
can’t thank Britannia and the Morelli brothers
enough,” said John Gibson, founder member of the
Bowland Forest Gliding Club.
• Baggage handlers unload the fragile glider
canopy from the Britannia aircraft at Manchester.
•Pictured (L to R): Tim Jones operations manager SSP, Francis McKay chair of Compass Group
Worldwide and Ger Graus director Wythenshawe Education Action Zone.
SSP and EAZ unite for
global award win
SSP at Manchester Airport has
followed up its success in the
UK ‘Compass in the Community’
awards by winning the worldwide
‘Compass in the Community’
gold award for their work with
the Wythenshawe Education
Action Zones (WyEAZs). The
award brings a further £10,000
to the project, making SSP’s
total prize money contribution
£20,000 to the Zones, matchfunded by the DfES.
Judged against three other
entries from around the world,
SSP demonstrated exceptional
results, with over £1 million
raised by the WyEAZ in just over
12 months and GCSE results
(5+ A*-C) at schools within the
Wythenshawe area showing
improvement by about 6 per
cent over the year. SSP, as a
core sponsor of the project, contributed to much of this success. Over the last 12 months,
more than 40 SSP employees
have taken part in mentoring
programmes, reading initiatives
and work placements, and the
current project is the placement
of 70 young people aged 14
plus on a work-related learning
programme, a third of whom are
placed with SSP. As a contribution in kind, SSP’s commitment
to WyEAZ is valued at £300,000
plus over the next two years.
On winning the award,
Richard Nieto, SSP managing
• Flashback to success in the UK and Ireland competition in
November. Richard Nieto and Geoff Muirhead.
director said: “This award has
placed the world’s spotlight on a
project that could be replicated
anywhere and is an example of
how communities and businesses can work together to their
mutual benefit. The WyEAZ’s
initiatives provide new opportunities for children. By introducing these pupils to new possible
career opportunities and by
combining that with individual
mentoring and training, we, in
the private sector, can offer
these youngsters a brighter
future.”
Geoff Muirhead, chief executive of Manchester Airport Group
and chairman of the WyEAZ’s
management board, added:
“SSP has supported the WyEAZ
project from the very beginning:
from sponsoring business breakfasts, to providing conference
facilities and involving many of
their own staff in mentoring
schemes. The WyEAZ owes
much of its success to the contribution of local enterprise. We
were delighted when SSP won
the UK award but winning the
world award, not only provides
further funds for the project, but
presents to a world stage the
achievements possible when
businesses and local communities work together.”
Paul Goggins, MP of Wythenshawe, said: “I was delighted to
learn that SSP’s work with EAZs
has gained international recognition. It is an acknowledgement of the role played by SSP,
both in mentoring schemes and
work experience placements.
All these play a vital role in helping the EAZs raise educational
standards in Wythenshawe. I
congratulate all those who have
made this happen.”
Just as the weather turns for the
better, Manchester Airport Cycle
Centre published four leaflets of
recommended cycle routes to the
airport.
Featuring Wilmslow and Handforth, Brooklands Sale & Chorlton, Stockport, East Didsbury &
Cheadle and Altrincham & Timperley each leaflet features
routes away from traffic in the
main and in many cases completely away from traffic.
One employee commented on
seeing editor John Carlile’s survey
photos (over 2,000) that she was
amazed how attractive the routes
were. That of course is one of the
reasons there are three times the
normal number of Manchester
Airport employees riding to work
regularly!
The leaflets, with colour photos
and maps, have proved popular
with even the regular cyclists to
the airport. They can be collected
from the Cycle Centre without
charge. So get “on your bike” to
the Cycle Centre right away.
John Carlile
Cycle maps to airport
• Cyclist superintendent Tim Burgess and John Carlisle discuss the
new maps.
MANCHESTER AIRPORT
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SPECIAL CAR CLUB RATES FOR AIRPORT EMPLOYEES
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Weekday Rate
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PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 9
Essential repairs to Runway 1
Manchester Airport’s runway one closed for
essential maintenance for three nights only in
March, to keep disruption to customers and
local residents to an absolute minimum.
The work was programmed during the airport’s quieter time so there were 38 aircraft
movements during the runway closure – most
of which were landings. These operated from
runway two which is not normally used at
night.
The work started on Sunday March 17. Runway one closed at 9.00pm for nine hours.
There were a further two closures for three
hours on Tuesday and Wednesday March 1920.
These exceptional circumstances are
allowed for within the planning permission for
runway two, which enable it to be brought into
operation when essential maintenance is carried out on runway one. The arrangement,
which had been carefully planned with airlines, also had the full agreement of National
Air Traffic Services.
The maintenance project involved resurfacing some sections of runway one and re-painting.
Obituary – Robert Tunnicliffe (1920-2002)
• John Spooner, managing director Manchester Airport and Mohamed El Borai managing director JMC
Airlines in the cockpit of the Airbus A330-200.
JMC welcomes new
addition to fleet
BY CHARLES HENN
The latest and largest addition to the JMC fleet was
paraded at Manchester Airport for the benefit of
more than 100 guests, including staff from other
companies in the Thomas Cook-AG group.
The new Airbus A.330-200 had lost no time in
starting work and when it went on show at Gate
214 in Terminal 2, the aircraft had just completed a
hard weekend’s schedule of return trips to Sanford,
Florida, and Cancun in Mexico.
JMC took delivery of its order for two A330-200s
during March; one based at Manchester Airport and
the other at Gatwick. The Manchester jet’s operation will be totally transatlantic and, in addition to
Florida and Mexico, will fly to Cuba, Vancouver and
Calgary.
Each jet will carry 354 passengers, with 45 in
‘JMC-plus class’ – managers reported that it was
“selling very well” – and the remainder in ‘Comfort
class’
JMC came into being only two years ago after the
‘marriage’ of the Flying Colours airline – formed
three years earlier – and Caledonian.
Manchester Airport managing director John
Spooner said: “The airport is very grateful to JMC for
showing their faith in Manchester Airport. We recognize the enormity of this investment in what is
one of the world’s best aeroplanes, without doubt.
“Everything possible would be done to ensure
that the aircraft’s stay at Manchester would be “a
great success” he said.
Chris Buckley, senior vice-president of Airbus said
that they were delighted to have their new A330 at
Manchester, “along with our friends, Rolls-Royce,
who power the aircraft.”
He added: “Although the aircraft out there is a little bit German, a little bit French and a little bit
Spanish, it is more than 50 per cent British content…which says something for the British aircraft
industry.”
Alan Stewart, of Thomas Cook AG, who is responsible for the airline’s operations across Europe, said
that there had been problems affecting on-time performance. But he added: “Thanks to the efforts of
Manchester Airport and our ground handling agents
we have had a very great improvement in terms of
on-time departures in the last three-four months
and look forward to continuing that trend this summer.”.
JMC managing director Mohamed El Borai said
that their airline was the only one in the UK that had
its HQ at Manchester Airport. “This is our first longhaul aircraft out of Manchester” and he asked
everyone present to “spare a thought” for all the
others who had contributed to the achievement.
He added that the airline’s punctuality was now
very good “thanks to everybody’s efforts. We are
going for less than 15 per cent of flights being
delayed for more than 15 minutes.”
Bob, as he was known by many
of his colleagues, joined the airport staff as a buildings supervisor in the early 1960s. He had
been one of many loyal young
men who were old enough to join
the British Army early in World
War II and serve throughout the
war. He was posted to the
famous Durham Light Infantry
and landed in Normandy on DDay plus one; he was wounded in
the bitter fighting around Caen.
After demobilisation he worked
for English Steel for a number of
years.
At Manchester Airport he was
one of three men who were
recruited for their experience of
the structure and maintenance of
buildings, who were required to
monitor the workings of all buildings in the airport complex; and
report on faults in the operation
of the public areas, offices etc.
He was an extremely diligent and
loyal person, always being punctilious and prompt to seek out
faults and call for remedial
action.
Bob possessed an extremely
pleasant personality and was on
• Robert Tunnicliffe
good terms with all those with
whom he worked. However, his
training and sense of the correct
was such that he was not afraid
to demand immediate action, nor
to accept second best.
A very important aspect of
Bob’s personality was his love of
acting and dancing. He was a
member of a number of dramatic
and operatic societies and was
much in demand for his skills, for
which he received a number of
prestigious awards. I have lasting
memories of his performance in
“Half a Sixpence”, presented by
the North Manchester Operatic
Society at the Royal Northern
College of Music.
Bob retired in 1984 and
became a very active member of
MARSA. He attended almost
every social evening and dance,
usually with his sister Alicia and
his niece Joan. He was continually “on the floor” and on at least
one occasion he used his dancing and miming skills to entertain
those present. For a number of
years he organised an annual
winter holiday for MARSA members to warmer climes, which
became extremely popular.
Many of Bob’s friends and former colleagues were distressed
to hear of his illness. After a
major abdominal operation in
1997, he suffered long periods of
disablement and for most of his
final years was in the dedicated
care of his sister Alicia. Bob was
a proud and hardworking man
who made his mark in work, play
and retirement, and will be greatly missed.
Charles Bowers
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Page 10
PLANE TALK MARCH 2002
Coins benefit
ChildFlight
Steve Sefton, the treasurer of ChildFlight (left)
is pictured being presented with a cheque for
£6,168 by Lisa Murray, operations manager and
Tim Alexander north west airports manager, on
behalf of Travelex.
The cheque was the proceeds of unwanted
foreign currency collected and changed into
sterling by Travelex. Customers and employees
donated foreign notes and coins they could no
longer use because of the advent of the Euro in
12 European countries.
Hotel set to go
sports crazy!
The award winning Radisson SAS Hotel Manchester Airport,
voted Hotel of the Year by the North West Tourist Board, is
going sports crazy, with an itinerary that will appeal to all
members of the family.
The Grand National on April 6 will be shown live on the big
screen in the Runway Brasserie. The World Cup takes place
throughout June and whether you support England, Ireland
or one of the other contending countries the best view-point
will be from the Runway Brasserie, where you can take in
the atmosphere of the match and dine from one of the
themed buffets or a la carte menu.
Watch the Commonwealth Games, the biggest sporting
event in the UK since 1966, which will be broadcast on the
big screen with informal dining available.
Wimbledon is another sporting experience, where you can
take in the tournament whilst indulging yourself in the English tradition of strawberries and cream, with a glass of bubbly.
For information on dates, availability, etc please contact
the Radisson SAS Hotel on 0161 490 5000.
New road layout
Drivers travelling to Terminals 1 and 3 at Manchester Airport
are being urged to take extra care following the introduction
of a new traffic system on the final approach to the airport.
A new set of traffic lights has been installed at the end of
the recently widened airport spur, off the M56. In addition,
airport traffic now follows a new traffic management system
that replaces the former roundabout.
“This new traffic management system has been introduced
to help cope with the expected increase in the number of
vehicles using this stretch of road to access the new
Manchester Business Park.” said John Twigg, Manchester
Airport’s head of planning and environment.
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Why not come and check in at the delicious Deli Bar where you can have a of bacon with a
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Airport
acts to
combat
strike
action
BY PLANE TALK REPORTER
The TGWU has agreed to end further strike action while they
return to the negotiating table with new proposals on rosters and
pay.
Airport chiefs have welcomed the union’s offer to put forward
new proposals to management next Wednesday (April 10.)
As Plane Talk went to press, the union’s 24-hour strike action
planned for Friday (April 5) was still going ahead though.
The union’s industrial action over Easter failed to disrupt
flights and force management to back down over plans to move
security workers to new contracts with Manchester Airport Aviation Services.
TGWU members went on strike for 96 hours from Good Friday
through to Easter Monday. The union also held a mass picket on
Easter Saturday morning. The action was organised at the airport’s busiest time of the year so far, but airport chiefs said it
was business as usual.
This Easter, more than 164,000 passengers travelled through
the airport. Some were on their way to top holiday sunspots like
the Canaries, Orlando, Spain and the Balearic Islands and others were on favourite city breaks like Dublin, Prague, Warsaw
and Amsterdam.
There were no flight delays caused by the industrial dispute.
A meeting between airport management and the TGWU on
Wednesday March 27 to resolve the security dispute failed to
make progress because the union’s roster and pay proposals
were incomplete.
Airport chiefs said the union rosters did not improve productivity and required more staff than the rosters drawn up by management. Management also rejected a union proposal for pay
rates that are 58 per cent higher than those in the airport’s business case.
David Teale, managing director of Manchester Airport Aviation
Services, said: “After 71 days of the consultation period, the
union has finally realised that talking and negotiating is better
than striking. They have realised that the industrial action is having no effect. The airport is continuing to run efficiently and it is
only the strikers who are suffering by losing pay on strike days.”
Check in on the web
Singapore Airlines (SIA) has launched a new Internet check-in service
that allows customers to choose their seats up to two days before
departure from a real-time seating plan.
Said Yap Kim Wah, SIA’s senior vice president for product and services: “We hope to offer our customers a more convenient pre-flight
experience and save them some precious time. In fact, if you have
checked-in online, you only need to arrive 45 minutes before the flight,
or an hour for flights to and from the United States.”
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 11
Improving quality of surface
Resurfacing work on the M56 around Manchester Airport will involve overnight and
weekend restrictions for 10 days after Easter
– and greatly cut traffic noise levels for the
motorway’s neighbours in Wythenshawe.
The £900,000 scheme starts on Friday April
5, to replace worn-out road surfaces with a
new quieter material between Junction 4 at
Wythenshawe and Junction 6 (A538 Wilmslow
Road and World Freight Terminal).
During the 10-day project there will be
occasional closures of both eastbound and
westbound carriageways with hard-shoulder
running. Entry and exit sliproads at Junctions
5 and 6 will also be closed overnight on various dates. Clearly signed diversions will oper-
ate via adjacent junctions.
Travellers using Manchester Airport for
evening, early morning and weekend flights
are advised to allow extra time for their journeys. However, all night-time restrictions will
be removed by 4.30am.
Highways Agency project manager Graeme
Freeman said: “We are carrying out this work
at times when traffic flows are at their lightest, but there may be delays and drivers
should allow more time for their journeys.
“The work will bring major benefits for people living alongside the motorway – installing
low-noise surfaces is equivalent to a halving
of traffic flows.”
Health club offer
• Tony Davis, managing director bmibaby with the airline staff in their new uniform.
Baby look
at you now!
It’s just seven weeks since bmibaby arrived on the scene at East Midlands Airport and managing director, Tony Davis is beaming with pride
at the overwhelming positive reaction his protégé is receiving. To date,
Tiny has sold nearly 160,000 seats, more than 30 per cent of its entire
summer 2002 capacity.
bmibaby, Europe’s newest low cost airline started daily services from
East Midlands Airport to Malaga on March 20. This was immediately
followed by the launch of services to Prague on March 22 and services
to Dublin, Faro, Palma, Nice, Murcia (for Alicante) and Barcelona on
Saturday March 23.
bmibaby has announced its ninth international destination from East
Midlands Airport to Ibiza, the party capital of the Balearic Islands.
The new destination will be served five times a week from May 15,
with daily services except Tuesdays and Saturdays. Fares will be from
£25 one way and can be booked on line by logging on to www.bmibaby.com.
Tony Davis, said: “As well as this great news we can also report that
more cheap deals will be available to Faro as due to overwhelming
demand we will be increasing services from five to six a week with an
additional Tuesday flight. This will again come into effect from May 15.”
This represents a total of 122 flights with bmibaby a week.
Tony Davis added: “Booking patterns lead us to believe we are in for
a bumper summer. We are now looking at extending the range of
bmibaby destinations from October and will be announcing shortly
some exciting new winter holiday spots for bmibaby.”
The first aircraft in the fleet has been named golden jubilee baby, the
winning competition entry from Awsworth Infant School in Nottingham.
bmibaby unveiled its new cabin crew uniforms at East Midlands Airport on March 13.
The uniform, initially to be worn by 33 airline staff, has been
designed by the bmi uniform department with input from the airline’s
marketing team.
The casual style outfit consists of unisex navy chino style trousers
and a choice of three t-shirts, either navy, sky blue or white, all of
which have the name of the new airline on. Staff will be issued with
striking red puffer jackets with the bmibaby logo embroidered on the
shoulder and a standard rucksack with fashionable reflective white
strips.
Manchester Airport Marriott’s
Health Club has introduced a no
joining fee for all Manchester Airport employees, membership for
the off peak rate starts from £33
per month and peak membership
at £51 per month.
The Health Club opened two
years ago and boasts a luxurious
indoor swimming pool with its
relaxing spa bath. The 85 station
gym will give you anything from a
gentle workout to a personal programme, all with the help of the
leisure team who help you
achieve your goals. In addition
there are 47 exercise classes a
week, from kick boxing to yoga
and aerobics.
The Four Seasons Spa offers,
at additional cost, a wide range of
treatments for you to unwind and
relax using E’spa aromatherapy
products. Treat yourself to a St
Tropaz tanning treatment or a luxurious hand and nail treatment.
For further details on this
exclusive offer and terms and
conditions contact Ian Wakefield,
health club manager on 0161
904 5050.
Read of the Month
If you only read one thing this month, this is our recommendation.
Read of the Month is our choice of the latest, most relevant reading material for you this month.
The titles we choose will be the most exciting new books available, keeping you up to date with
current affairs and hot issues.
So if you don’t have time to browse, pick up Read of the Month – a guaranteed good read.
Year of Wonders – Geraldine Brooks
‘Geraldine Brook’s impressive first novel goes well
beyond chronicling the devastation of a plagueridden village. It leaves us with the memory of vivid
characters struggling in timeless human ways with
the hardships confronting them’ Arthur Golden,
author of Memoirs of a Geisha.
Number 9 Dream – David Mitchell
‘Unique: clever, unusual, gripping and beautifully
written’ Literary Review. ‘The novel’s imaginative
power re-energises everything it touches’ The Face.
‘Captures aspects of modern Japan with a
compelling authenticity and beauty’ Daily Telegraph.
P is for Peril – Sue Grafton
‘One of the more human and empathic
sleuths on the block, Grafton’s heroine is
so genuinely believable, full of quirks
and all too human foibles…Absolute
top form’ Time Out.
Aberyswyth, Mon Amour –
Malcom Price
‘Promises to do for Aberystwyth
what Irvine Welsh has done for
Non-Fiction Book
of the Month
Fast Food Nation
– E Schossler
‘Startling…Junk food, we
learn, is just that…left this
reader vowing never to set
foot in one of these outlets
again’ Daily Mail
Edinburgh. I wish that all first
novels could be written with such
cadence, such panache and such
abundant comic talent’ Daily
Telegraph. ‘Not just a supremely
accomplished pulp fichtion
pastiche but a gloriously funny
and scabrous satire on the kind
of malevolent kitsch that too
often passes for Welsh culture’
John Williams.
OTHER KEY
PROMOTIONS RUNNING
THROUGH OUR STORES DURING APRIL
➤ 3 for 2 on all Panasonic batteries
valid between 04/04/02 – 22/05/02
➤ Great New Reads – Non Fiction
valid between 04/04/02 – 17/04/02
➤ 2 for £10 on selected paperbacks
valid between 04/04/02 – 17/04/02
Offer applies to sticked stock only, subject to availability – this offer runs all year
although on a different range of books each month!
➤ Milky Bar Munchies – New Product Launch
To highlight this fantastic new product launch from the makers of Milky Bar, seems
that 2002 is the year for White Chocolate!a
➤ 3 for 2 March Chocolate Hanging Bags
Maltesers - 175g, Minstrels - 225g, Revels - 175g, M&Ms Peanut - 250g
Page 12
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Cooking
up success
Year 10 Food Technology students from The Kingsway
School, Cheadle gave outstanding presentations when they
were challenged by the Posthouse Manchester Airport to
create a new children’s menu.
The challenge, supported by
Springboard, a government initiative aimed at promoting
careers in the hotel and catering industry, gave the students
the opportunity to use their
organisational and creative
skills to the full.
The winning team of Luke
Williams, Nathaniel Hall, Vanessa Hayes and Leah Watts were
selected thanks to their overall
approach to the task, superb
teamwork and highly creative
ideas.
The students and their parents all won a morning in the
Spirit Health & Leisure Spa in
recognition of their hard work.
• Winning
students from
The Kingsway
School,
Cheadle, with
Fiona
Lockyer,
general
manager
Posthouse
Manchester
Airport and
Adrian
Deamer,
executive
chef.
Business Club for Posthouse
The Posthouse Manchester Airport was one of the first hotels in
the north west to become a
member of the Commonwealth
Games Business Club which was
launched last week in London by
Roger Black, Olympic medal winner and TV presenter; Digby
Jones, director general of the
CBI; Richard Caborn, Minister for
Sport; and Peter Budd, chairman
of the club.
Fiona Lockyer, general manag-
Manchester Airport
er said, “The Commonwealth
Games Business Club is an ideal
forum for us to profile our business internationally, nationally
and regionally. It is completely
free of charge to join as are the
benefits and we are delighted to
• Pictured (L
to R): Spirit
Health and
Leisure Club
manager
Tonya Evison,
Bob Greaves
and Gilda
Roberts
present the
cheque to Ian
Bailey of
Greater
Manchester
Fire Service.
offer special rates in Sampans
restaurant to membership card
holders.”
Any business wishing to join up
or find out more should visit the
website: www.nwbusinessclub.
com.
Spirit reach their goal
Spirit Health & Leisure Club at
the Posthouse Manchester Airport enlisted the support of TV
presenter Bob Greaves and
member Gilda Roberts, to present a £603 cheque for the New
York firefighters dependants’ fund
to Ian Bailey of Greater Manchester Fire Service. Spirit’s monthlong promotion involved members and non-members collectively, running, cycling, swimming
or rowing the distance between
Manchester Airport and New
York. Gilda, who covered the
most miles during the promotion
(462), was invited to help Bob
with the presentation as a thank
you for all her efforts.
Airport
hosts fire
training
summit
Britain’s senior airport fire chiefs were at Manchester Airport in March
to hold a top-level meeting on training of fire officers.
Senior fire officers from 37 airports around the country met to discuss new Civil Aviation Authority legislation on training and other operational matters.
The meeting of the Airport Fire Services Association UK was held at
the airport’s new £1 million state-of-the-art South Fire Station which
boasts the latest fire engines armed with the latest equipment. The fire
station was built as part of the second runway development.
Among the issues discussed were improvements in the training of fire
officers, assessing their competence at work and addressing any shortcomings. A new CAA document, CAP 699, which measures standards
of training, was one of the key areas of discussion.
Nigel Moore, Manchester Airport’s deputy senior fire officer, said:
“The meeting was aimed at improving the training of fire officers. We
are always striving for excellence and these regular discussions are a
major contribution towards achieving that goal.
“Getting together with other airports helps us benchmark what we
are doing to ensure that Manchester stays at the forefront of airport
safety and also helps us find out what other airports are doing.”
The talks attracted officers from the largest airport fire service, the
British Airports Authority, through to the smallest airport fire service at
Shoreham, Sussex.
The fire service provides round-the-clock cover at Manchester Airport
with the help of 130 firefighters who work in rotas of four watches covering both runways.
New style of
cruise on offer
These days it’s important to keep your car running efficiently and
safely. It’s kinder on the environment and kinder on your wallet.
Our technicians are factory trained and have access to the latest
computer diagnostic equipment.
Compare our fixed price servicing and MOT prices against the competition, especially the franchised dealers!
SPECIAL OFFER
MOT+Servicing
Special price combining both an
MOT and Service including all parts, labour & VAT
All servicing is carried out to the
manufacturers schedule or better,
using only original equipment parts
or of equivalent quality
We guarantee that no work will be
carried out without your approval
and a full cost being given.
Local when it matters
10%
Manchester Airport
Employee Discount
Please show ID badge. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
£99
. 00
MOT Test .............£25
Includes FREE RE-TEST within 14 days
Fixed Price Servicing ..£82
Includes Semi-Synthetic Oil, Oil Filter, Air Filter & Spark Plugs
(most makes and models). Including all parts, labour & VAT.
• Air conditioning service & repair
• Tyres & Exhausts
• Bodywork Repairs
.00
ZERO rated for VAT
• Courtesy cars
(by prior arrangement).
• Free pick up
and delivery
Prices shown inclusive of VAT at 17.5%
FREEPHONE:
08000 191 600
w w w. w a y n e c o n n o l l y m o t o r s . c o m
.25
Travellers flying from Manchester Airport are now being offered a new
style of informal four star cruising thanks to Island Cruises – a new joint
venture from First Choice and Royal Caribbean International.
Island Cruises operate from Manchester Airport and offer holidaymakers both seven and 14 night cruises enabling “cruise” or “cruise
and stay options” using one of two Mediterranean itineraries. Sailings
are from Palma, Mallorca.
The cruise ship can accommodate 1,700 passengers. On board
there are three restaurants offering passengers a choice of international cuisine; a fully equipped cyber café and a dedicated gym and spa.
On-board entertainment includes stand up comedy; shows; a piano
bar; deck parties and dancing. Dress code on board is informal.
There are also many excursions including visits to vineyards, trips to
areas of scenic beauty, mountain biking, scuba diving and guided tours
of historic cities and sights.
Island Cruises hosted a three day familiarisation trip for over 700
Manchester-based travel agents to show them the facilities and destinations that Island Cruises visit.
Island Cruises are offering a special introductory saving of £250 per
person on either of their Mediterranean cruises during 2002, subject to
availability. Half price cabin upgrades are also available. Four flights
depart from Manchester Airport every Tuesday.
For further information or to book, please contact Island Cruises
Reservations team on 08707 500414.
Austrian Airlines boosts
links with Japan
Austrian Airlines has announced an increase in flights to Japan in time
for this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament. From March 28 the airline
is reintroducing its Osaka service, flying five times a week – and the
existing Tokyo service goes up from two to three flights a week. UK passengers can depart from Manchester or London Heathrow with a one
hour connection through the airline’s hub in Vienna.
Flights are aboard modern A340 aircraft. In business ‘Grand Class’
Japanese meals and delicacies – prepared by master chefs – are
served on traditional Japanese porcelain.
General manager (UK and Ireland) Roger Johnson said: “We are
delighted to announce our increased service to Japan. Osaka is back
by popular demand while our Tokyo route, which has always been busy,
is going from strength to strength. We anticipate increasing this service
further still before the end of the year.”
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 13
Award for new child seat
Glasgow School of Art student Joanna Shaw has
been awarded a £1,875 Audi Design Foundation
grant. Joanna, 22, has designed a child restraint
system for commercial aircraft.
Joanna, from Teddington, south west London, is in
her fourth and final year of a product design engineering course run jointly by Glasgow University and
the School of Art in the city.
She can now construct a prototype of the child
restraint for commercial airlines, thanks to the grant.
Joanna said, “The child restraint can be used for
children from birth up to six-years-old. It will not only
act as a ‘restraint’ which increases the safety of the
child, but also provides a more comfortable environment for both the child and the parents, making flying with a family far less traumatic!
“Receiving the Audi Design Foundation grant
means I can now prototype my final concept to a
high standard so that it can be professionally tested
and presented.”
The child seat would fit onto a normal aircraft seat
by means of the conventional seat belt. Proposed
new legislation will outlaw the dual occupancy seating arrangement using lap belts currently used by
adults with children under two.
Joanna added: “Currently most child car seats are
approved for air travel but in many instances are just
not practical. Individual airlines would provide these
new child seats – not the parents.
“I can call on the expertise of the lecturers at the
University as well as its computer labs and mechanical engineering testing facilities,” she added. “At the
Art School, I have full studio facilities and workshops
available throughout the year.
“It may become necessary to carry out research
at airports and airline seat manufacturer, Britax, and
British Airways have offered me use of their facilities,
while the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire
has agreed to test my prototype.”
The Audi Design Foundation, a non-profit-making
subsidiary of Audi UK, has awarded around 50
grants totalling £200,000 since 1998.
Airport gears up
for new review
BY PLANE TALK REPORTER
Manchester Airport’s charges to airlines will be
under the spotlight for the next six months as the
Competition Commission moves in to begin its five
yearly review of the airport’s costs and pricing to
customers.
The review has been kicked off by a Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA) report which highlights the fact that
airline charges are higher at Manchester than at all
other regulated airports.
In its role of reporting to the CAA, the Competition Commission will now spend six months reviewing Manchester and the other designated airports’
internal and external trading contracts. This is to
ensure that the contracts are in the public interest
and are competitive within the aviation market.
Rowena Burns, Manchester Airport Group strategy director, said “One area the review will
undoubtedly focus on is the in-house services at
Manchester Airport to ensure they are cost effective. The Competition Commission will examine in
detail Manchester Airport’s relationships with its
trading subsidiaries, especially Manchester Airport
Aviation Services, to ensure complete transparency and rigorous management of client/contract
relationships between the companies.
“We have to demonstrate to the Competition
Commission that the services provided to airlines
at Manchester Airport are efficient and competitive
in the market place. As well as a regulatory
requirement, it is good business sense enabling us
to boost our traffic by reducing charges to airlines.
There is still scope for us to be more competitive
here.”
Rowena Burns warned: “If the Competition Commission finds that in-house services at Manchester
Airport are not being provided cost effectively, the
airport could be instructed by the Civil Aviation
Authority to put the services out to tender”.
As far as airline prices are concerned, Manchester Airport has had a consistent policy of reducing
its aviation charges year-on-year: the equivalent of
more than 30 per cent over the last decade. It is
essential that the airport can reduce charges further to ensure that Manchester remains an attractive and viable airport for existing and future airline
operations.
• Manchester is one of four designated airports
in the UK and as such its business is subject to
detailed regulation by the CAA. Its charges are
controlled by a price cap which is set for a five year
period. The other designated airports are
Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. The Competition
Commission is the successor to the Monopolies
and Mergers Commission.
• Charges per passenger for 2000-2001 were:
Heathrow £5.23; Gatwick £4.06; Stansted £4.36:
Manchester £6.73 (Source: CAA Press Release
6/3/02).
Investment
boost from
the games
The 2002 Commonwealth
Games has helped Manchester
to secure more than £600 million of public and private investment, according to independent
consultants.
The Games will generate
6,100 full-time-equivalent jobs –
an achievement comparable to
the successful Olympics hosted
by Sydney in 2000 and
Barcelona in 1992.
Every year from now on, an
extra 300,000 visitors will spend
an extra £12 million in the
region thanks to the multi-million pound sports and cultural
extravaganza.
And nearly 30 million people
will now consider Manchester as
a possible business and visitor
destination because of its
improved image around the
world.
The stunning range of economic benefits are spelled out in
a detailed report by Cambridge
Policy Consultants, an economic
consultancy commissioned by
Manchester City Council to
investigate the long-term effects
of the Commonwealth Games on
the city and the region.
PM leads stadium
handover event
The Prime Minister The Rt
Hon Tony Blair MP led celebrations at the completed
City of Manchester stadium
as it was handed over to
organisers of Manchester’s
2002 Commonwealth Games
on March 21.
The Prime Minister said the
stunning £110 million stadium was excellent for sport,
excellent for the country and
excellent for the long-term
benefits to the region.
He said: “The Games are
the most visible celebration
of the Commonwealth. They
embody its shared values of
friendship
and
mutual
respect. Hosting the Games
is valuable and exciting to
Britain and Manchester for
other reasons too. From this
summer the people of Manchester will be able to enjoy
lots of brand new sporting
facilities
including
this
superb stadium sitting in the
heart of Sportcity.
“But sport has a much
greater value than just
medals. It encourages us to
aspire to be the best we can,
to work hard and to make
sacrifices in pursuit of our
goals. It teaches us respect
for one another, teamwork
and leadership.”
Funded by Manchester City
Council and Sport England,
the 38,000-seat stadium is
the centrepiece of the XVll
Commonwealth Games, the
largest multi-sport event to
take place in this country,
and is the catalyst for the
multi-million pound regeneration of East Manchester.
Major construction work at
the stadium is finished. In
the next three months, fixtures and fittings will be completed and test events held
before the opening ceremony
on July 25.
Plane Talk on tour
Plane Talk on Tour says ‘G’day’ to ADX favourite Pat Molloy pictured with the airport newspaper in front of the famous Sydney
Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
Pat enjoyed a fantastic four weeks in Australia with husband
Harry visiting his brother, flying out via Singapore and back via
Hong Kong.
Pat says the highlight of the trip was the three-hour climb up
the famous Harbour Bridge, kitted out in mountaineering gear
and clamped on to the structure.
But there were many other things to enjoy down under including the Barrier Reef at Cairns, the Blue Mountains and Manley
and Bondi beaches.
Pat enjoyed the seven-flight extravaganza so much that she
can’t wait to return to Australia as soon as possible.
Ongoing consolidation of operations within the Austrian Airlines
Group took a step up with the
announcement that Rheintalflug
will replace fellow group member
Lauda Air on the Manchester to
Vienna route. Effective April 8,
the move underpins the group’s
new strategy for its four brands
Austrian Airlines, Lauda Air,
Rheintalflug and Tyrolean Airways.
Roger Johnson, general manager (UK&Ireland) said: “There
has been a careful overview of
the group’s four products and
the worldwide network and, as a
result each member carrier will
now specialise in a particular
Austrian Airline’s change on Vienna service
area of operations.”
Rheintalflug and Tyrolean will
assume joint responsibility for
scheduled short haul flights of
up to 80 passengers within the
European market, servicing a
number of key regional airports.
The Lauda Air brand, which has
become well known for its innovation and style, will fly key long
-haul leisure routes, such as the
very successful Australia route
and charter services.
Austrian Airlines itself will con-
tinue to offer a traditional service
operating short, medium and
long haul routes across the
worldwide network, with a frequency that meets the needs of
the business traveller.
All flights will operate under
the Austrian Airlines prefix ‘OS’.
Mr Johnson said: “Rheintalflug
taking over the Manchester
Vienna route is a stage of the
integration process and illustrates how the group will optimise its strengths and eliminate
duplication”.
The new Rheintalflug service
ex MAN-VIE will offer an
improved flight schedule, offering passengers from the UK
excellent connections to the Far
East, Australia and Europe.
Passengers travelling to Vienna depart at 06.10hrs from
Manchester and return from
Vienna at 20.00hrs. Rheintalflug
will operate Embraer ERJ145jets
with 50-seat capacity on the
MAN-VIE route.
What’s on – Bollin Vallley
‘You are Here’ – display boards official opening. Mon Apr 15, 2pm.
Oldfield Brow, Cinderland Crossing (small carpark at old level crossing
on Seamons Road). Join us for a walk along the Trans Pennine Trail
when the Mayor of Trafford cuts the ribbons on the new display boards
and Millennium seats.
Early Spring Migrant Birds. Wed Apr 17, 10am-12 noon. Macclesfield Riverside Park, Beechwood Mews off A538 Manchester Rd,
Tytherington. A ‘Showing Birds to People’ event with Peter Kirk.
The Botanical Noah’s Ark. Wed Apr 24, 7.45pm. Sale, St Mary’s
Church Parlour, Moss Lane, junction with Harboro Rd
John Edmondson gives an illustrated talk on New Caledonia to CWT
North Group. All welcome.
Waterways Wanderer. Sun Apr 28, 10am. Macclesfield Riverside
Park, Beechwood Mews off A538 Manchester Rd, Tytherington
Malcolm Bower (Macc.Canal Soc.) leads a circular walk via Prestbury, Bollington & the canal. Waterproofs, sensible footwear, packed
lunch needed. Finish about 3 pm.
Page 14
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Ad Infinitum Classified 0161 489 2844
ACCOMMODATION FOR SALE AND TO LET
CATERING SERVICES
Northern Counties Housing Association
◆ Family house in Wythenshawe, close to
airport etc.
◆ Room in shared flat in Didsbury.
◆ One bedroom apartment in Gorton for
over 45s.
◆ Warden-support flats for elderly persons
in east Mcr and Longsight.
Call our marketing team quoting ‘Plane Talk’ for
our latest vacancies and a chance to view our
new show flats
0161 244 6850
Northern Counties Housing Association
We currently have the following
properties available for rent:
Northern Counties Housing Association
Looking to rent?
Mosscare Housing Association have a
number of one bedroom self-contained flats
for rent which are close to Manchester
Airport in Benchill, Wythenshawe.
The flats are for people aged 18 and over and the rents are
from £53 per week.
Quality Sandwich &
Catering Service
www.freshmade.co.uk
Freshmade offer a daily sandwich service for Manchester
Airport at the following sites:
● Tower Block ● Olympic House
● Commonwealth House ● Terminal 2
● Outlying Offices and Training Centres
If you wish us to call at your site please ring Terry or Dianne
on 0161 928 9950
We also cater for Business and Training Lunches. Free Delivery!
Mosscare Housing Limited
101 Great Western Street, Moss Side
Manchester M14 4AA
Tel: 0161 226 4211 Fax: 0161 226 8752
E-mail: [email protected]
HALE 2/3 bed apart, U/F
.......................................£1,250pcm
HALE Mod 4 bed det, F/F
..........................................£895pcm
TIMP 2 bed Cottage, F/F
..........................................£650pcm
ALT 2 bed house near Metro, F/F
......................................... £625pcm
ALT 3 bed semi, F/F ...... £495pcm
ALT 1 bed loft apart, F/F
..........................................£440pcm
Superb brand new luxury 2
bed apartment located right
in the centre, very easy
access to station and local
amenities. Very secure intercom entry system. Secure
parking.
The flat is well appointed and
fully furnished to a very high
standard with all mod cons.
Must be viewed! Refs and
Deposit.
LANDLORDS:
£950pcm
Phone Mr Curran on
0161 928 9185
www.morrisonpropertyservices.co.uk
CLOSE TO
AIRPORT
2 Bridgewater Street, Lymm,
Cheshire WA13 0AB
Tel/Fax 01925 756449
www.cheshire-housing.co.uk
LYMM Professional person for large
bedroom in shared house in secluded
location yet handy for centre.
£560pcm inc bills except phone. Tel
01925 756473.
CHEADLE Room in house share with
owner, situated in quiet drive yet close
to all amenities and only 6 miles airport. £200 pcm inc bills except phone.
Professional people only. Tel 0161 491
1585.
GATLEY Room to let for young profess female. F/F in comfortable house,
lounge, kitchen, morning room, bathroom. Easy access for bus and rail
links and airport. GCH. Parking. £250
per month plus bills. Tel 01758 713170
or 07810 544087.
BOWDEN/Altrincham. Very spacious
luxury 2 bed, F/F apartment. £895
pcm. Service or unserviced. Fully
equipped inc bedding, crockery, etc.
Secure Parking. Prestigious location
and walking distance to Altrincham.
Tel 0161 928 4323.
WILMSLOW 3 rooms available in
modern, F/F, C/H house. Close to centre and airport. All mod cons. From
£59, £72, £80 per week respectively.
Deposit and refs required. www.wilm
slow.homestead.com or tel 0783 185
0025.
POYNTON Brand new, luxury Bellway
Show home. Large, first floor, 2 bed
apartment. Fully fitted kitchen, washer/dryer, fridge freezer. C/H. Alarm
system. Private parking £650 pcm plus
bills. Tel 01477 571264.
●
Airport Staff
To let, two and three bed
flats, houses and
bungalows.
Majority have GC/H,
Dble-glazed, parking or
garage.
Deposit and refs required.
From £350 per month
Tel: 0161 437 0711
Email: carole@rwdean.
freeserve.co.uk
SINGLE room with own lounge in
house share. All mod cons. Situated
Warrington, close to rail and motorway. £275 pcm. Good parking. Tel
0795 000 3325.
HALE/Altrincham. Room to let in
shared house very near airport and
close to all amenities: shops, tram,
bus, rail. £190 pcm inc bill except
phone. Tel 0161 928 8904.
TIMPERLEY Room for rent in two bed
flat. 5 mins airport. £295 inc all bills.
Call Ben 07989 347494.
HANDFORTH Share luxury, 2 bed flat.
Suit NS, professional female. All mod
cons. Ideally sited for public transport,
motorway and airport. £300 pcm inc
bills except phone. Tel 01625 522355
or 07747 842124.
WINDERMERE PARK Wythenshawe.
2 bed, mid mews, F/F house in quiet
location. GCH, F/F kitchen, 2 double
beds, bathroom with shower. Very
convenient airport and hospital.
Alarmed, off road parking, small garden. Deps and refs required. £480
pcm. Tel 0161 485 6017 or 07773
556371.
HANDFORTH Well maintained, 3 bed
house (house-share). F/F. Off road
parking, close local amenities, motorway links and airport. From £60 per
week inc bills (except phone). Tel
07976 770191 or 01625 533577.
FLORIDA plus rest of USA & CANADA
ALGARVE • CYPRUS • COSTA DEL SOL
COSTA BLANCA • MAJORCA
MENORCA • MALTA • THE CANARIES
Tel: Richard
0161 980 7084
Until 7.30 pm 6 days
BREAKDOWN RECOVERY
(Don’t miss our larger advert with the
privilege rates in Plane Talk)
PAY FOR your season travel ticket
through an interest free loan from the
Credit Union. For more details phone
0161 489 2350.
PROFITABLE Part-time home business with growing ethical nutritional
company, few hours per week on
proven system. More details call 01625
250580 (24 hours).
ALTRINCHAM
CENTRE
We offer quality properties, situated
within 20 minutes of the Airport in
Lymm village and surrounding areas.
Ideally suited to professionals.
For more information or a current
listing of properties available for rental,
please telephone Pete or call into our
Lymm office.
Handling
Phone Direct: 0161 969 6996 or 0800
800 227 (quote SUMACCC)
AIRPORT TOURS
Tel: 0161 929 8880
●
Employee Car Club
EMPLOYMENT
The Lettings Team
Houses/flats urgently needed
Airline
CAR RENTAL
If you are interested in one of these vacancies please contact:
HOMES TO RENT
SPECIAL OFFERS TO ALL
Accommodation only
Northern Counties Housing Association
HOMES TO RENT
TRAVEL
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Debt problems?
Business
difficulties?
For a professional solution
telephone: Freephone
08081 44 66 11
Licensed Insolvency
Practitioners
CHILDREN’S PARTIES
INDIVIDUAL
GUIDED TOURS
OF MANCHESTER
AIRPORT
Available on:
Monday, May 6
Sunday, June 9
Saturday, July 6
Saturday, July 27
Saturday, Aug 31
Sunday, Sept 22
at 1pm
Prices:
Adults/Seniors
£5 per person
Children, 5 years and
above £3
For a booking form
telephone 489 2442 during
normal office hours
BED AND BREAKFAST
BED AND BREAKFAST
at
TREGANNA HOUSE
STOCKPORT
Spacious, detached house
in Bredbury, Adjacent to
M60. 15 mins to Airport.
Ample Parking. Singles,
Doubles etc. Employed only
All day breakfast
from 7am-10pm
£70 per week
To our long term clients:
We now offer
RESERVATION SLOTS
where we will keep your bed
while you are on holiday
– AT A SPECIAL RATE
Call 0161
406 7681
CHILDREN’S
FOOTBALL
PARTIES
Something different for
your child’s special day!
All equipment provided
Portable goals included
Special Prize for the child
Full party package
including:
• Birthday Cake
• Catering
• Medals for the children
FA qualified coaches
6 years experience
Parties from 4 years of age
Outside venue available
For complete package
details please contact
Tony or Colin on
0161 718 0883 or
0161 283 8497
SERVICES
FIRST AID
CENTRAL
TRAINING
SERVICES
We offer 4-day First Aid at
Work courses with HSE
approved certificate – at £95
2-day First Aid at Work
Refresher Courses – at £65
Courses held monthly at the
‘Carousel’ Stockport
Appointed person one-day
courses £25
ON-SITE
DISCOUNT 10%
Call
0161-428 8368
or
FOOD AND DRINK
Welcome to
The
Hale Barns
Tandoori
Indian Restaurant
5% DISCOUNT WITH AIRPORT ID
ALWAYS LOW
PRICE
TAKEAWAY
MEALS
14 THE SQUARE,
HALE BARNS
0161-904 9909
5pm-Midnight Mon-Sat
3pm-11.30pm Sun
Open all bank holidays
Welcome to
Hygiene Award Winners
Gatley Tandoori
Indian Take Away
Open Plan Kitchen • Every Meal
freshly cooked • Open all
Holidays
5 NORTHENDEN ROAD,
GATLEY
(Opp Horse & Farrier)
TEL. 0161-491 5859 & 4808
Open Mon - Thurs 5 - 11.30
Weekend 5 - 12
Mcr Airport Staff with ID
■ 5% DISCOUNT ■
FREE OFFER
A month’s free trial*
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for Plane Talk readers.
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that rehydrates your skin and
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visit our website at
firstaidcourses.net
(01625) 250580[24hrs)
Call Susie on
ARTICLES FOR SALE
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Tel/Fax: 0161 437 6715
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email:
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PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 15
Positive signs for recovery
of airport cargo business
There have been positive signs
that Manchester Airport’s cargo
business is lining up for take off
towards recovery.
Among several welcome
pointers are the all-round
improvement in freight being
carried on existing all-cargo and
passenger routes, the start-up of
China Airlines after the Easter
holiday and the return of
Malaysian Airways on April 2.
Figures for February, the latest
month available, show a marked
improvement with the total of
7,958 tonnes reflecting a loss of
just 25 tonnes – or 0.3 per cent
down – compared to the total for
the same month last year.
The February result is the best
monthly performance, in percentage terms, during the financial year 2001-2002. The moving annual total of 111,229
tonnes shows a reduction that
has been trimmed to 9.5 per
cent.
Locally, the air cargo industry
has drawn encouragement from
the result because, despite the
traditional Chinese New Year
slump in traffic in mid-February,
the anticipated reduction in Far
East freighter traffic did not
materialize.
Both of Manchester’s Boeing
747 all-freighter operators, Air
Hong Kong and Dragonair,
recorded improved figures compared to last year. Indeed, six of
the airport’s top ten carriers
returned better totals for the
month than in February last year
and nine of the ten carried more
than in the previous month, January.
On the transatlantic routes,
outstanding and consistent performances were returned by two
airlines. bmi british midland’s
record breaking month totalled
778 tonnes to Chicago and
Washington – contributing 10
per cent to the Manchester total
– reaching an export load on one
day of 29,909 kg. carried jointly
to both destinations on the airline’s A330 Airbus.
Meanwhile, the 591 tonnes
carried by US Airways to
Philadelphia was 148 per cent
higher than in February last year.
At the end of February Manchester Airport’s year-to-date
total was 101,192 tonnes and
members of the freight community are hoping that the recent
improvement could mark the
long-awaited turnround in the
industry.
• February was not as encouraging a month for BAA’s seven
UK airports, according to Reed
Business Information. All seven
together handled 9.4 per cent
less cargo than in the corresponding month in 2001.
Cargo at Heathrow, which
contributes about three-quarters
of the group’s freight tonnage,
was 6.6 per cent down on February 2001 and at a sharper
reduction at London Gatwick, of
27 per cent.
the leading players, while in the
UK, Manchester, Stansted and
Heathrow figure large. The ideal
situation is for the goods to be
loaded straight into the back of
the road vehicle in their aircraft
containers for onward transmission to their destination.
This has previously proved to
be a problem for those shifting
temperature sensitive goods,
such as fruit and flowers, as the
individual Q7 containers are 3m
high and need an extra high
trailer to accommodate them.
The problem is that there is a
4.2m running height restriction
throughout Europe, which
makes life difficult.
Now Klege has come up with
the answer: a purpose built trailer with a low height deck, which
can accept industry standard Q7
containers, keep them at the
right temperature and yet keep
well within the limit.
For ease of loading and
unloading, roller bearing flooring
is used and the internal space
available is vast.
CARGO COLUMN
Trailer
tales
A temperature-controlled, semitrailer, designed to meet the
specific needs of air freight carriers, has been launched by
body builder, Klege Europ (UK)
Ltd.
The Cargoway Q7 is unique in
that it has been purposely built
to accommodate the industry
standard Q7 air freight container, yet remain within the European overall height restriction.
It’s a fact that nearly 80 per
cent of air freight actually travels
by road and more and more
European airports are simply
becoming hubs to which time
sensitive goods are delivered for
onward distribution by road.
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, for example, is now one of
New GSA
for bmi
Airspace Aviation Solutions
(AAS) has been chosen as
cargo GSA for bmi british
midland’s
transatlantic
operation at Manchester
Airport.
The airline said that
AAS’s role as a partner
GSA, working with their own
in-house cargo organisation, would enable maximum use of cargo space on
the
airline’s
routes
between Manchester and
Chicago and Washington
DC.
AAS’s Steve Davidson
said that, because they
were operating at Manchester “and because of
our background in the
transatlantic market and
our helping in cargo sales
throughout the UK we shall
be able to improve utilisation of cargo space.”
The GSA company looks
set to build success on
success. As mentioned on
this page, bmi had a record
breaking month in February
for cargo uplift on their
Chicago and Washington
routes.
China Airlines
chose Manchester
Manchester Airport is the choice of cargo carrier China Airlines to be
the UK end of its new Asia-Middle East-Europe service which started on April 1, the carrier’s first scheduled service into the UK.
Flights are operated by a Boeing 747 all-cargo aircraft out of
China Airlines’ Taipei hub. The service into Manchester operates on
Mondays (via Luxembourg), Thursdays and Saturdays (via Amsterdam), with the inbound aircraft also landing at Bangkok and Abu
Dhabi en route from Taipei. The aircraft lands at Manchester at
1740 hours. Outbound flights return to Taipei via Abu Dhabi and
Bangkok.
“We are delighted that Manchester was chosen by China Airlines
for their new, three-times-a-week, scheduled service,” says airport
managing director John Spooner. “Manchester’s strategic location
at the heart of one of the UK’s most important industrial and business regions and our first-class cargo handling facilities were key
factors in their decision.
“This is also great news for the 100 specialist air freight forwarding companies operating out of our World Freight Terminal. It opens
up to them and their business customers throughout the UK, a new
range of destinations in a region of the world that is experiencing
considerable economic growth with huge potential for trade development.”
China Airlines’ general manager cargo sales and services Europe,
Fred Feng said, “I am pleased that we are opening this new route
between Taipei and Manchester. We were impressed by the cargo
handling facilities and expertise available at Manchester Airport and
look forward to working with the airport to provide local businesses
with a first-class cargo service to key destinations in the Far East.”
China Airlines is among the world’s top ten cargo airlines with a
fleet of 15 Boeing 747 aircraft. The B747F aircraft they are using
on the new service has a payload in excess of 100 tonnes. Among
the expected cargoes both inbound and outbound will be electronic goods and a range of luxury and manufactured goods.
Jean Parsons bids farewell
Jean Parsons – sales and marketing manager for Plane Handling Ltd is to leave after five
and a half years with the company. Jean joined in November
1996 and set up the Manchester operation for Plane Handling.
Jean has been employed at
Manchester Airport for 24 years
in varied environments including
forwarding, airline and transit
shed. She has also been a very
active member of the community working closely with Manchester Airport’s marketing
teams over the years. Jean has
twice been chairman of Manchester Air Cargo Executive Club
and worked for Air Express,
Benair and BOC before joining
Plane Handling.
In April, she will join Peel Air-
ports as general manager cargo.
Jean said that her new job
would be “a challenge and a
change of direction. I love aviation the most and it is the only
part of the business that I have
not had any time in before and
it will be exciting working for
Martin Short, managing director of Air Liaison Ltd, cargo
sales and marketing agent for Air Canada, Alitalia, Continental and Finnair, has announced the appointment of
James Lee as sales executive for the north of England.
James has several years’ experience in the freight forwarding industry, having worked for several freight forwarders in both an operational and sales capacity in the
Manchester Area.
__________________
Air Canada has returned, as promised, to Manchester Airport after the suspension of their flight postSeptember 11 last year. The resumption of the airline’s flight AC841 from Manchester to Toronto on
April 8 has delighted many in the freight forwarding
community in the north of England.
three airports.
“I look forward to keeping in
contact with Manchester Airport
and I hope that there will be
areas where we can do business
together. I am looking forward to
some of the airports in the two
groups working together to
develop business for the
region.”
Jean would like to thank all
her colleagues and staff for their
support and also Plane Talk for
its excellent coverage of cargo
issues.
She can be contacted on
home email at jeanparsons@uk
online.co.uk.
“Plane Handling’s Manchester
facility will continue to operate
under the control of cargo business manager, Gary Reczkowski.”
Cargo is loaded onto a Pakistani International Airlines Boeing
747 bound for Karachi, watched by Dave Phoenix, regional manager of Airline Cargo Management Ltd, who are sales agents for
PIA.
Dave is pictured with Lynda Whitfield, supervisor within the PIA
dedicated operations department of Servisair Cargo.
During the past 12 months Dave has obtained more than 400
tonnes of business for the airline, including such items as textiles, machinery and chocolate making equipment, pharmaceuticals, generating turbines and many other commodities.
He said that although the operating environment is tough at
the moment, PIA’s extensive route network to the Middle and Far
East, the United States and Pakistan helps him to offer a wide
selection of destinations at very competitive prices.
Dave is also the general sales agent for two more operators at
Manchester Airport, Monarch Airlines and Aer Lingus.
Cargo In Brief
The flight is operating initially four times weekly,
departing Manchester at 1045 hours and arriving
Toronto 1320 hours local, and will be increased to
daily frequency from June 2.
Martin Short, managing director of Air Liaison,
said; “This news is welcomed by freight forwarding
companies because the service has a long established history of operating from Manchester with
northern shippers preferring to utilise these direct
flights.”
For cargo reservations call 0161 498 9800.
__________________
Swiss Air Lines, formerly Crossair, has nominated Plane
Handling Limited to manage all the airline’s cargo handling requirements at Manchester Airport, Heathrow and
Glasgow Airport.
This major business gain will involve some 15,000
tonnes of cargo over the next 12 months and represents
a significant boost to Plane Handling’s ground handling
revenues and tonnages handled. Plane Handling has been
providing cargo-handling services for Crossair at London
Heathrow since September last year and at both Manchester and Glasgow since Plane Handling began their
operations here in 1997 and 2000 respectively.
Page 16
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Your letters
Dear Editor
I arrived at Manchester Airport today (March 19) on Flight JMC 848L
from Malta.
Earlier in the day I had injured my ankle and, although it was not a
problem at the time, the pain increased during the flight and I needed
a wheelchair to take me from the aircraft. A wheelchair arrived and the
porter suggested I receive treatment at the NHS Walk-In Centre where
he took me. I received treatment and was then wheeled to meet up with
my family.
Can you please pass on my thanks to all concerned both with the
wheelchair transport and the treatment at the NHS Centre. The system
is brilliant and all involved were a credit to your airport management.
Well done Manchester Airport!
Alan Merrick, BEM
Derrington, Stafford, Staffs
Dear Editor
The airport proudly boasts of its Investors in People status but there
is something that makes me wonder whether or not I’m missing the
point of the title. I work in the plumbing section and I have often wondered about the lack of toilet facilities for our disabled passengers on
the piers. C pier is by far the worst!
Since the September 11 occurrences, the security of the piers has
been redefined and although I can appreciate the need for this, I question the design people when somebody has erected all these glass panels and now halved the facilities available to people in wheelchairs.
Consider a family leaving at gate 29 and their disabled son or daughter needs to use the toilet. Firstly, they would need to battle against all
the other outbound passengers travelling up the pier in a now very narrow channel, from the end of the original C pier to the satellite. Once
they have done this, they would only have one toilet to use because the
other is now partitioned off and their only way of getting to it would be
to stop a member of staff and ask them to take them through the coded
door. Imagine all this happening in July or August! If no one could be
found they would then have to walk back down the pier, still against
oncoming traffic, with a wheelchair, to the departure lounge. Their journey still not over, they would have to walk back towards outbound control and to the toilets facing the north entry to the Duty Free Shop before
finding a disabled toilet. Given the time that they have from being called
to gate to actually boarding, I think even some of our soon to arrive
Commonwealth athletes, would fail!
I would appreciate your comments on this problem and ask if you
could draw it to the attention of the powers that be, and attempt to correct this oversight of the services and requirements of those who are our
most important consideration, our passengers!
Due to the withdrawal of the suggestion scheme, I feel that you may
be a route to a happy conclusion to the problem.
Name and address supplied.
Editor: Thank you very much for identifying this important problem at
the airport. Our disabled passengers are as important to us as our ablebodied ones. They have the right to be afforded the same standard of
facilities as everyone else.
I asked Bob Ryder who works in Design and has special responsibility for disabled facilities at the airport for his comments:
“The scheme to segregate the piers, which was necessary through
recent security legislation, was developed with Manchester Airport Division. I will certainly take up the points the reader has raised with those
involved and come back to you on this.”
Dear Editor
You and your colleagues at the airport are invited to participate in the
Anthony Nolan Trust’s fundraising events this summer.
For example, for a great team event look no further than Dragon Boat
Racing at Sale Water Park. Last year nearly 30 teams battled it out with
friends and family looking on – will you take up the challenge?
Or for those with a head for heights, why not sign up for the Manchester University Maths Tower abseil. At over 200ft high – that’s 18
storeys – this will certainly test your nerve. For those who want to stay
on terra firm – there are a whole series of runs, walks and bike rides,
something for all ages and abilities. Why not get a corporate team
together and support each other all the way round.
The Anthony Nolan Trust exists solely to save the lives of adults and
children who are suffering from leukaemia and related diseases. The
charity operates a register of over 300,000 volunteers willing to donate
some of their blood stem cells should their tissue type match that of a
patient desperately in need. It costs the Trust £50 to fully tissue type
each new volunteer and we receive no government or lottery funding.
There are currently over 4,000 people in the UK alone who need a transplant. Each new volunteer added to the register could be a life saver.
Please help us to save lives by participating in one of our events…
simply call 01423 879510 or e-mail: [email protected]
Ruth Carter
Area manager for Cheshire, Manchester and Merseyside
The Anthony Nolan Trust, Harrogate, HG3 1EQ
Dear Editor
I live local to the airport and yet although I flew six times last year, not
one of them was from Manchester. Five were from Liverpool and the
other was from Stansted – I shall probably be doing the same this year.
Now I have no difficulty in flying from Liverpool but I would prefer to fly
from my local airport.
What puzzles me is that each time I see these airlines advertising in
the national press, they appear to offer flights from every other airport in
the country except Manchester which leaves me to believe that the airport must have some perverse and deliberate policy to keep them out!
God knows what though, but if I were you I would start rethinking your
policy towards budget airlines, and quickly.
Eric Royle
Via e-mail
Editor: Thank you for your letter. I asked Aidan Mooney our aviation
development manager for his comments: “we operate on a level playing field with all airlines and don’t differentiate charges. Low cost carriers won’t pay the standard charges. As we are regulated by the Competition Commission we cannot discount our cost structure.
Festive
fundraising
16a
direct from Airport
The raffle organised at the
Servisair Christmas Dinner
Dance raised £800 for ChildFlight.
Julie Littlewood, the chair of
the social committee, and
Denise Howard, a committee
member are pictured presenting
the cheque to Steve Sefton,
ChildFlight treasurer. Suzanne
Walsh, a passenger services
supervisor is also in the picture.
Steve thanked the committee
members for choosing ChildFlight as the beneficiary.
Industry faces ‘critical’
year says new AOA boss
The UK aviation industry faces a critically important year ahead,
according to the new chairman of the Airport Operators Association. The coming year will not only be crucial in determining the
success of airports and airlines in recovering from the devastation caused to air travel by September 11, but also in determining the future direction of UK aviation policy for the next 30
years.
Roger Cato, managing director of London Gatwick Airport,
assumes the AOA chairmanship just six months after the US terrorist attacks which sparked a global downturn in air travel and
led to difficult times for many airports and airlines. The signs
are, however, that confidence in air travel is beginning to return
and all eyes are now on the Government which is reaching the
final stages of plans to develop a new aviation policy for the UK.
Mr Cato gave his first address as the new chairman of the Airport Operators Association at its annual dinner on March 5.
In his address, Mr Cato argued that the coming year should
see decisions made which will determine the future direction of
air travel and that British airports must ensure that their voice
is heard in the run up to the anticipated Aviation Policy White
Paper later this year.
He stressed the Association’s blueprint for the sustainable
growth of air travel, a document launched in the House of Commons in January, which sets out five principles to underpin the
Government’s aviation policy.
Mr Cato commented: “I am delighted to be taking over the
chairmanship of the AOA at such a momentous time for the
industry. The last six months have been challenging in the
extreme for airports across the country and we are still weathering the storm which began with the tragic events in the United States last September. But I am confident that the continued
resilience of British airports will shine through and that full
recovery will come over the next year or so.
“As an industry we must now focus our attention on securing
the right framework for air transport policy looking 30 years
hence. We firmly believe that aviation policy must be able to
deliver three things: sustainable growth of the industry to support British jobs and trade; a dynamic market providing choice
Due to their overwhelming popularity, Singapore Airlines (SIA) is
pleased to announce the extension of certain special offers:
£1 Singapore Stopover – has
now been extended to September 30. Passengers who travel on
SIA and SilkAir to a city in South
East Asia, Australia or New
Zealand can stay in a top Singapore hotel from just £1
Fly to Australia and get a free
flight to Europe (via KrisFlyer Frequent Flyer Programme), which
was due to expire on June 29,
will now end on December 31.
to consumers; and effective measures to protect the environment”.
At the AGM Donal Dowds, managing director BAA Scottish Airports, was elected to serve as AOA deputy chairman for the
forthcoming year.
• The Airport Operators Association is the trade association
that speaks for British airports. The membership of 73 airports
and 150 associate companies includes all the UK’s international hub and major regional airports as well as many of those serving community, business and leisure aviation.
• The AOA’s five principles for a sustainable aviation policy
are:
Principle 1 – Maximising economic and employment benefits
– Aviation policy must support and promote the contribution
made by aviation to UK employment, trade and the economy in
general.
Principle 2 – Delivering airport capacity – Aviation policy must
ensure the effective provision and use of airport and airspace
capacity in all regions of the UK, including a decision on where
and when additional runway capacity is to be provided in southeast England.
Principle 3 – Addressing environmental impact – Aviation policy must include a comprehensive package of measures to
address environmental impact including steps to tackle aircraft
noise, emissions at source and further promote the proactive
approach by airports and airlines to mitigating the effect of their
operations.
Principle 4 – Reforming the planning process – Aviation policy
must be supported by a more modern, effective and swifter system for determining major airport development in the national
interest and promote an approach characterised by consensus
rather than confrontation.
Principle 5 – Meeting consumer needs – Aviation policy must
protect and enhance the interests of consumers by ensuring the
effective use and provision of airport and airspace capacity,
minimising delays, improving customer service to air passengers and maintaining a dynamic and competitive air transport
market.
Special offers
For all Economy Class fares
(excluding group fares) booked
with Singapore Airlines to Australia and New Zealand, just one
Economy Class return trip can
earn enough miles for a free ticket to Europe with bmi british midland. For example a trip to Sydney will earn enough miles for a
free economy class trip from
Heathrow to Palma, Nice or
Dublin.
Strike it Lucky
Passengers on all SIA flights to
Australia can win two free economy class return tickets to any of
five Australian cities, from any
SIA destination world-wide, in a
daily lucky draw, which is part of
the Great Aussie Strike it Lucky
promotion. The draws are taking
place until April 23.
At the end of the promotion,
all entries will be snowballed into
a Grand Draw for the top two
prizes: a pair of First or Raffles
(Business Class) tickets to Australia on SIA. Together with five
nights’ accommodation in a five
star hotel, plus spending money
of US$5000 and US$3,000
respectively. To enter the free
prize draw on line visit:
http//oz.singaporeair.co.uk/oz
SIA has three daily flights from
London to Singapore and a daily
flight from Manchester to Singapore.
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
IN BRIEF
The Boeing Company, through its
FlightSafety Boeing Training International joint venture, has
teamed up with Advanced Interactive Systems Inc of Seattle to
offer airlines new cabin and flightcrew training programmes.
The training programmes are
designed to meet new U.S. Federal Aviation Administration rules
requiring cabin and flight crews to
be trained in identifying, handling
and defending against threatening passengers.
Boeing and AIS, a leader in
interactive simulated training
systems, are creating a comprehensive course that will meet
FAA’s eight guidelines for
enhanced crew training which
include: appropriate self-defense
response; use of protective
devices provided to crews; psychology of terrorism, for coping
with hijackers and passengers;
flight deck procedures or aircraft
manoeuvres to defend the aircraft.
AIS will supply its judgmentsimulation technology for the programme. It includes a multiscreen computer simulator that
simultaneously portrays, fore and
aft, passengers and threats using
broadcast-quality video. Trainees
are subjected to multiple threats,
both lethal and non-lethal. A variety of scenarios are available
which change in response to
trainee reactions, providing a full
scope of possible outcomes to
every situation. The system also
captures trainee responses for
immediate playback and critique.
–––––––––
Continental
Airlines
has
announced details of its investment in a specially engineered
seat for its Business First cabin
which took two years to develop.
It is the widest business class
seat in the world measuring 22
inches between the armrest, an
increase of one inch per seat
over Continental’s existing Business First seat. The seats offer a
deeper recline, measuring 170
degrees from seat cushion to
seat back and provide two metres
of sleeping space in the fully
extended position.
Other improvements include
the addition of hoods and large
seat wings for better privacy, individual dual level reading lights
and more storage space for personal items.
–––––––––
Racheline Garston’s latest ball
sponsored by Airtours, raised a
record £73,000 for Christie’s.
Racheline, from Hale, has
boosted Christie’s coffers by an
amazing £260,000 with the four
balls she has organised at Mere
Golf and Country Club.
The most recent had the
theme ‘Sequins and Sapphires’
and was attended by about 500
people. It featured a sumptuous
meal, a charity casino, an auction conducted by media celebrity Stuart Hall, plus dancing to a
band and a trio called the Singing
Waiters.
–––––––––
Collect your spare foreign currency for Christie’s and the cancer
centre will get its equivalent in
sterling – plus a bonus.
Twelve top holiday countries
are now using only euros, so
spare notes and coins could
make a real difference to cancer
research and care.
Charities can now claim a 28
per cent tax top-up for former
currencies converted to sterling,
so every £100 worth of currency
donated will mean £128 to
Christie’s.
If you would like a donation box
to collect unwanted foreign currenty in your department or company, please contact Plane Talk
who will be delighted to pass one
on.
Page 17
New York support
When news of the Twin Towers disaster broke, Christine
Dearden who works at RHSL decided she wanted to do
something practical to help.
She set about organising a benefit night at Terminal 2 for
airport employees and friends.
A great time was had by all and when the proceeds from the
ticket sales, auction and raffle were counted a tremendous
£1,270 was achieved.
Christine would like to thank everyone for their support, in
particular those who donated prizes.
Pictured here receiving a cheque on behalf of the New York
Fire Department from Christine and two of her helpers, Alan
Crabtree (RHSL) and Jason Coughlan (Eurest Corporate), is
Victor Wright, the GMC airport liaison officer, along with station
officer John Varey and his crew from Bromley Road Fire Station,
Wythenshawe and members of the airport fire service.
In recognition of her fundraising efforts Victor presented
Christine with an engraved GMC Fire Service plaque with the
best wishes of the New York Fire Department.
New test facility launched
The official opening of the new test bench
facility at Airspares Management Limited
(AML) took place at the unit in the World
Freight Terminal on Thursday March 20. Representatives from airlines and airport companies were there to hear Alain Vassil president
of Air France Industries, give his welcoming
speech.
AML is a joint venture company between Air
France Industries (AFI) and Aviation Management Partnership, located in Southampton.
The establishment of the test bench facility
at Manchester, the only one at a UK airport,
underlines AFI’s commitment to their airline
customers in the UK.
The facility acts as an extension of AFI’s
comprehensive workshops in Paris, using an
ATEC 5000 test bench. It is operated by a
fully qualified and experienced technician
recruited from the UK, Robert Hoakley.. The
test facility uses AFI supplied adaptors which
are capable of testing a range of avionic and
electronic equipment fitted to Airbus airframe
products.
The purpose of Air France establishing this
unit in the UK is to provide an enhanced service and improved level of performance to its
contracted customers: Airtours Group, British
Airways, Monarch Airlines, timco and Virgin
Atlantic. Subject to market demand the service will be extended to other airlines on a
commercial basis.
• Technician Robert Hoakley explains the system to Debbie Riley, airfield policy and
planning manager.
Air France Industries is a leading provider of
component support for Airbus A320s, A330s
and A340s, and intends to consolidate this
position through a policy of commitment to
airline customers. Large-scale investment in
facilities and equipment in Paris have already
been approved and will lead to total flexibility
of its repair and overhaul services.
Further information can be found at
www.airfranceindustries.com
East Midlands welcomes ‘flying fanatics’
Aircraft fanatics from around the country are expected to land
at East Midlands Airport on April 14 for the airport’s seventh
annual Aviation Enthusiasts Fair, held from 10am to 5pm in the
departure hall.
There will be around 80 exhibitors at the event, some travelling from as far as Sweden and the USA. They will be offering
everything from aviation books and videos to paintings and
models, and demonstrations of specialist computer programmes, telescopes and photographic equipment.
For many, the highlight of the day will be the chance to take
to the skies for a short pleasure trip. For just £38 you can
climb on board a bmi british midland A321 for a flight of at
least 30 minutes around the region.
Talk4All
Event organiser and owner of EMA’s gift and hobby shop –
Airtrans Steve Gensler, said: “Over the past seven years, the
Fair has established itself as one of the largest of its kind and
each year it continues to attract more people.
“This year there will be a huge range of collectibles on offer
ranging from small items like stamps and stickers, to large
diecast aircraft.
“The pleasure flights are always a big attraction, both with
first-time fliers and enthusiasts who enjoy the experience of
flying in different aircraft.”
Admission to the event is free and an event car park is available for just £1 per car. Pleasure flights must be pre-booked
and reservations can be made by contacting 01332 852915.
Plane Talk/Talk 4 All Competition
Question: Which networks does Talk 4 All offer advice on?
Answer: ________________________________________________
Talk 4 All mobile phone stores operate throughout the
UK, with your nearest store at 60 School Road, Sale.
With free advice on One 2 One, Orange, BT Cellnet
and Vodafone networks, a great range of handsets and
accessories too, there’s something for everyone, from
business users to teenagers and off-peak callers.
Name: _________________________________________________
We’ve teamed up with Plane Talk to give you the
chance to win some fabulous prizes. Just answer the
question below and drop your coupon into Talk 4 All
in Sale, or post your entry for a chance to win.
______________________ Poscode: ________________________
1st Prize is a great mountain bike or high-tech
Siemens palm top; 2nd Prize a pay as you go mobile
worth up to £100 – and every entrant will receive a 50
per cent discount card* for mobile accessories of their
choice.
Address: ________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Tel no: _________________ Mobile: ________________________
Call in with your entry, or post it to: The Manager, Talk 4 All, 60
School Road, Sale M33 7XE.
* Terms and conditions apply – maximum of two packaged items
per person, offer excludes fixed and plug-in car kits.
European
airports aim
for better
service
Over 90 per cent of European airports have agreed to a programme of improving services
provided to air passengers. The
Airport Voluntary Commitment on
Air Passenger Service was
launched in September 2000 as
an initiative between the European Civil Aviation Conference
(ECAC) and the EU to enhance
quality of service to air travellers.
The official signing of the document at The Council of Europe,
Strasbourg on February 14,
reflects considerable efforts from
all stakeholders including the
European Commission, ECAC,
airports, airlines and consumer
groups.
Claudio Boccardo, president,
ACI EUROPE, said; “Launching
the Airport Voluntary Commitment on Air Passenger Service is
a major achievement. Airports
from 32 ECAC member states,
including all EU members states,
are already on board. The quality
of service offered by airport operators is increasingly important to
air passengers. A more competitive environment means that
improved quality and service levels have been to a large extent
adopted by European airports.
The agreement will help to ensure
high standards.”
The commitments focus on 11
important areas which directly
impact a passenger’s journey
including: assistance during periods of significant delays,
improved passenger information
provision, cleanliness and customer feedback management,
provision of infrastructure for
check-in baggage and security. A
special protocol to meet the
needs of persons with reduced
mobility ensures that there are no
additional charges and that these
services are clearly displayed at
each airport.
ACI EUROPE members are in
the process of completing the
implementation of the Air Passenger Service Commitments.
For more information or a copy of
the Airport Voluntary Commitment please contact Ronan
Anderson,
Communications
Manager, ACI EUROPE at e-mail:
[email protected],
tel: +32 (0)2 552 09 82,
mobile: +32 (0)486 54 14 71.
ACI EUROPE represents over
450 airports from 48 countries
across Europe. Member airports
handle 90 per cent of commercial air traffic in Europe, welcoming over a billion passengers each
year.
Page 18
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Summer schedule boost from Air Malta
BY CHARLES HENN
Air Malta provided a bright foretaste of summer
2002 with a boost to Manchester Airport’s schedules – increasing last year’s peak frequency from
seven to 10 flights a week this summer.
The airline will use a mix of Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s – the latter introduced in last winter’s
schedules from Manchester. A total of more than
5,000 seats will be available on flights this summer
linking the north west with Malta.
Dave Keller, Air Malta’s northern sales manager,
told a 200-strong gathering of travel agents and
tour operators in Manchester Airport’s Atlantic
Suite: “Our ambition is to have a daily service 12
months of the year from Manchester.
“The increased frequency makes Malta a realistic short break destination and enhances its reputation as a conference centre, enabling visits for
three, five, seven or ten nights. We believe that the
new schedule will make a big difference to the
north of England, giving travel agents a totally flexible product to offer.
“There is a wealth of accommodation in Malta,
ranging from self-catering to four or five star hotels.
The island has retained its traditional Mediter-
ranean feel and there are four or five storey hotels,
apart form one high-rise.”
Joe Capello, Air Malta’s group general manager,
recalled: “Manchester was one of the first UK airports we flew to 27 years ago and the north of England has always been a very important market for
Malta and this airline.
“There has been spectacular growth over the last
two to three years in traffic from the Manchester
area – and I am very pleased to say that this has
been our largest growth area.”
He added that this year had seen a record promotion effort targeted at Malta and paid tribute to
the prominent role played by Manchester United
star defender Gary Neville.
“We have been very lucky to have the services of
Gary – he is a wonderful ambassador for Malta” he
said. “For such a very frequent visitor, it is not difficult for him to speak well of the island.”
John Mostaque, director of Malta’s Tourism
Authority for UK and Ireland, said that statistics
showed that one person of every five travelling from
the UK to Malta came from Manchester. “Your city
is key to us and we will continue to push it” he
added. We are here to inaugurate our expanded
services – now 10 per week – and to note that our
services have doubled in the last few years.”
Gary lends a helping hand
When Gary Neville is not busy with his “day
job” as a Manchester United defender, he is
helping the little island of Malta to make a
bigger impact on the Mediterranean holiday
scene. He stars in the latest advertising campaign promoting Malta and also featured in
Granada’s ‘Wish You Were Here?’ holiday
show with his celebrity guide to the island.
Gary is pictured at the Air Malta reception
at Manchester Airport, after meeting (L to R)
Gemma Wilding, Stephanie Bratt and Kerry
Valentine, all from Headwater Holidays,
Northwich, a tour operator specialising in
walking holidays.
Stephanie has reported “a rush of bookings” since walking holidays on Malta’s neighbouring island of Gozo were featured on TV
last December. “After the programme we
noticed a tremendous increase in requests
for brochures. In only the first two months of
this year we took 101 bookings – half of the
total we sold for Gozo for the entire summer
last year.”
She said that, as in other countries, they
had organised an independent programme for
walking holidays in Gozo. “We supply clients
with maps and details of the various walks
and they choose the ones they prefer, taking
from two to six hours.
“The countryside is wonderful, unspoiled
and easy to get to on foot. The base is the
splendid five star Hotel Tacenc on the south
of the island.”
Gary Neville who has started a two year role
as Malta’s Tourism Ambassador, said: “I love
the place. I have been going there for the last
eight or nine years – the first time I was 18
and went with three other young United footballers.
“Since then I have bought a house there
and often make two or three visits a year. I
keep in touch with the Manchester United
supporters club, which is the oldest in the
world outside the UK.
“Manchester is my first home and Malta is
my second. i have been amazed at the hospitality and it is somewhere I shall be going for
the rest of my life.”
Malta
memories
from airport
chairman
The Maltese reception brought
back nostalgic memories for
Manchester Airport Division
board chairman Councillor Brian
Harrison – thanks to a foreign
posting during his National Service.
Almost half a century ago, during ‘square-bashing’ basic training at RAF Wilmslow, he made his
first flight from Manchester Airport in a twin-engined RAF
Anson.
A few months later, as a wireless telegraphist, he set off by air
for Malta, the island-cum-fortress
that had been awarded the
George Cross for the population’s
courage and fortitude in the face
of continued air attacks from
enemy bombers during World
War II.
“I flew to Malta on a chartered
Vickers Viking aircraft and –
shades of the three and a half
hour journey today – we had to
break our flight at Nice to refuel
and stretch our legs” he recalled.
“My 15 months there were very
happy, with plenty of sea and sun
and the ultra-friendliness of the
local people. I remember the
friendship and charm of several
Maltese who were employed with
us at the RAF base at Luqa.
“One of the office cleaners was
a man who had lost an eye during the enemy attacks and he
described how they had stayed
cheerful and determined during
the war, despite all the problems
that they had to endure.”
Councillor Harrison said that, in
the years since, he had planned
several times to holiday in Malta
and had once been forced to
cancel a booking at the last
minute. “Now, with so many old
memories coming back to me I
am determined to spend time on
the island soon” he added.
Continental Airlines has been ranked number 30, the highest ranking commercial airline, on the Top 50 ‘All Stars’ list of the World’s
Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine, up from its previous
rank of 48. Executives, boards of directors and analysts from 26
industries ranked the companies for the All Stars list.
Fortune also ranked companies within their own industries. On the
airline industry list of the World’s Most Admired Companies, Continental was the top-ranked US airline, ranking number 2 behind Singapore Airlines.
_________________________
airplane in the market. The new airplanes will be purchased directly
from Boeing. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2004.
_________________________
The Boeing Company has confirmed an order from Kenya Airways for
three 777-200ER (Extended Range) aircraft. The airline becomes
the newest carrier in Africa to operate the fastest selling widebody
Icelandair became the first carrier in the world to operate all models
of the 757 simultaneously when Boeing delivered a Boeing 757-300
to the airline on March 18.
News in brief
Icelandair also became the first airline to operate a dual-class
757-300 in the European market. The aircraft carries between 215
and 228 passengers, depending on configuration.
_________________________
ATC Maastricht, Europe’s premier ATC business event was a resounding success. Launched 12 years ago to provide a European focus for
the ATC industry, an indicator of the rise in influence of ATC Maastricht was the international scope of the audience with visitors from
over 70 countries.
Over 2,000 industry professionals attended the three-day event
with 130 exhibitors representing over 20 countries, with 3,600
square metres of exhibition space.
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 19
Arthur follows Inca trail for charity
Arthur Thornily who worked
at the airport for many
years tells us about his latest exploit – following the
Inca Trail in Peru – in aid of
CHAT – the children’s charity.
In 1532, Francisco Pizzaro
landed in Peru with a force of
about 180 men and conquered
the Incan Empire.
In 1911, Hiram Bingham an
American explorer discovered the
ancient Incan city of Macchu Picchu (literally “Old Mountain”).
In September 2001, I landed
in Peru with a force of 46 others
from the Children’s Hospitals
Appeal Trust and conquered the
Inca Trail.
Everybody said it would be a
relatively easy trek but, believe
me, it wasn’t… Three hours or
more descending uneven rock
stops plays havoc with your
knees! The whole trek at between
3,000 and 4,200 metres above
sea level means that you will
almost certainly be affected if you
are prone to altitude sickness.
First, a bit of history…
The Incas empire centred in
Peru and stretched over half of
the western side of South America. They governed without the
use of iron, the wheel and writing.
Like the Romans, the Incas left
behind tremendous stone buildings which were made to withstand the forces of nature and
were built without the use of mortar. They were also prolific road
builders which were paved and
drained and covered some
20,000 miles. Communication
was by relay runners (chasquis).
The Inca trail is a mere 26 miles
of their amazing road network.
The origins of the Incas remain
a mystery in the absence of any
historical writings.
The Inca was the sovereign
ruler, head of state, religion and a
direct descendant of the Sun.
Over 3,400 miles in length the
empire had Cusco as its capital.
The Inca people were not a violent lot, their only weapons were
slings, clubs and javelins and
they preferred to conquer by
threat, together with force of
numbers and it seemed to work.
In 1532 Pizzaro arrived and
with his army of about 180 men
and a few horses easily overcame
the greatest empire of the day. It
may be that the empire was
weakened by the ravages of disease and civil war, making Pizzaro’s conquest that much easier
in his search for gold and silver.
The Incas had never seen horses before and they fell into Pizzaro’s trap and were massacred.
The Inca Trail.
The journey started on a Friday
night by coach from Manchester
Royal Infirmary to Heathrow to
join Iberia’s flight to Madrid, and
transfer to the 11 hour flight to
Lima. There we spent the night in
a rather splendid hotel in a very
seedy area. A 5am reveille and
we were coached to the airport
where we joined a Tans Peru flight
to Cusco. The flight itself was
quite exciting, the aircraft (737200) climbs up the steep slopes
of the Andes, over the top and
then descends and weaves its
way through the mountains to
land in Cusco which is situated in
a hollow surrounded by huge
Andean mountains.
We spent two days in Cusco to
acclimatise because it is 3,300m
above sea level. Cusco itself is a
lovely city with a magnificent
cathedral with some splendid
gold and silver altars. Whilst in
the city we did a couple of guided
tours. One to see the Inca ruins in
the city, some local craftwork of
traditional panpipe making and
stringed instruments and were
introduced to some guinea pigs
which are bred by 90 per cent of
Peruvians as a delicacy for the
table.
Our second tour was into the
surrounding mountains to see the
remains of the Inca buildings in
the area. Our guide on both the
tours was Herbert (a good old
Peruvian name) who was most
informative and a very good
musician. He was able to play
panpipes, mandolin, guitar etc,
often at the same time.
Souvenirs are plentiful in
Cusco, hand made woollens,
panpipes,
alpaca
woollen
jumpers in traditional Peruvian
patterns are cheap (and even
cheaper if you are prepared to
barter).
The next day we were again up
at the crack of dawn to weigh our
bags, as the porters are not
allowed to carry more than 8kg of
trekkers’ baggage, in addition to
their normal load. We took the
transport to Ollantaytambo which
is the last place to purchase coca
leaf hats, bottle holder, magic
sticks etc, before the actual trail
begins.
A further coach ride, this time
over very rough tracks, brought us
to Kilometre 82 which is about
2,600m above sea level. After
checking in with our trail passes
we split into groups of 16 and
stated to walk the Inca Trail.
We crossed the Urabamba on
a very wobble swing bridge and
set off between the mountains on
the first leg of 10km. The views
all along the trail are awesome
and to see Mount Veronica at
5,750m with its head covered in
snow is breathtaking. By now
some of the group were beginning to show signs of altitude
sickness but everyone kept going.
Lunch had to be seen to be
believed. We picnicked in the
Andes, sitting at tables eating a
very good meal, basking in the
afternoon sunshine. How the
porters climbed to such dizzy
heights carrying tables, chairs,
camping stoves etc was amazing.
After lunch we continued to
Patallacta, another Inca ruin.
A further trek took us to Wayllabamba which is where we were
to sample our first night under
canvas. The porters had arrived
earlier and set up the food tents
and Nellie (another good old
Peruvian name) had prepared
another excellent evening meal.
Facilities were primitive to say
the least, you could bathe in an
icy cold stream being careful to
avoid the porters washing the
dinner pots and use the toilet
facilities (a hole dug in the
ground surrounded by canvas).
Next day was reputedly the
hardest of the trek. After breakfast we set off along Llullucha
stream and began the ascent.
This was probably the most interesting part as we saw dozens of
tiny hummingbirds, flocks of
beautiful butterflies, a flock of
green parakeets and high in the
sky a condor. All the time the
scenery was awesome, snow
capped mountains and deep valleys. Lunch was again a superb
picnic after which we started the
• Macchu
Picchu, Lost
City of the
Incas,
discovered in
1912 by
Hiram
Bingham.
• Llaqtapata (Town on the
Hillside).
very long climb to Warmiwanusca
(Dead Woman’s Pass) at
4,200m.
The altitude was beginning to
take its toll, several people were
having difficulties with the rarefied air, sickness and dehydration and the doctor had a full
time job administering oxygen.
This was the highest point of the
trek and the views were magnificent.
After team photographs, we
started on the long downward
stretch, a lot of very steep rock
steps were involved and these
are the worst possible thing for
anyone with dodgy knees –
which I have – and it made this
part of the trek a very long one.
That evening we camped at
Pacaymayu. The evening meal
• We conquered Mount Kenya and now the Inca Trail:
Warmiwanuscca (Dead Woman’s Pass) 4,200m.
After Sayacamarca we passed
through a tunnel carved through
solid rock about 16 metres long
and arrived at the lunchtime picnic area. From here we could
see Aguas Calientes (Hot
Springs) where we were to eventually stay for the night.
Yet another steep descent
down to Phuyupatamarca which
was probably built in the reign of
Pachacutec or Tupac Yupanqui,
• Friendly native Alpacca.
was again superb and was
accompanied by a hot alcoholic
drink, popcorn and marshmallows to replace some of the salts
lost during our exertions.
Another early rise and we were
on our way to Runcu Raccay
which had been discovered by
Hiram Bingham in 1915 and
was thought to be a fortress or
resting place for the Incas on the
road to Macchu Picchu.
We continued to climb until
reaching Runquraqay Pass at
3,950m. Down again, a steep
descent to Sayacmarca a
remarkably well preserved small
Inca town overlooking the
Aobamba Valley. An interesting
aquaduct on the side of the
mountain seemed to have been
a place for ritual bathing. The
higher in rank you were meant
that you bathed upstream of the
lower ranks!
late in the 15th century.
Next along the route was
Intipata, reached by climbing
very steep steps carved into the
side of a 500m slope but the
views from the top of the last
night’s campsite at Winya Wayna
made the effort worthwhile.
At last the day we had been
waiting for, a very early start,
again in the dark with torches, to
one of the control stations to
book in for our trek to the Sungate in time for sunrise.
Up an almost vertical flight of
stone steps to the Sungate and
we were able to sit and take in
the beauty of the scenery and
glimpse Macchu Picchu through
the clouds. It was made even
more beautiful by the fact that
one of the party had carried a
box of wine all through the trek
and we toasted and hugged
each other at the joy of having
achieved the summit.
Continuing the trek down to
Macchu Picchu was relatively
easier and the arrival there is
something I will remember all
my life. Wild llamas roam the
ruins and it was here that we
had a decent view of a condor
high in the skies.
An extensive tour of Macchu
Picchu makes you appreciate
how advanced the Incas were
and how lucky they were that
the city was never found by the
Spaniards. They were essentially agriculturalists who liked the
Sun and who made full use of
the land available to them. Their
extensive use of terracing in
order to cultivate the land and
grow several varieties of potato
and corn and their use of
aquaducts and ritual bathing
sites are amazing.
A coach ride down a mountain side negotiating 16 very
tight hairpin bends brought us
into Aguas Calientes, a fascinating town where the railway runs
along the main street and where
all types of Peruvian craft products are on sale. We found our
hotel and after cleaning ourselves up went for a well earned
beer in the local hostelry and
then on to explore the town and
market.
Some of the group went on to
sample the hot springs and we
watched a local folk dancing
competition in the square. The
competitors did not agree with
the judges’ verdict and a real
South American punch up
ensued!
A train journey, pulled by an
antique diesel engine, brought
us back to Cusco where we had
our celebration dinner, serenaded by a Peruvian panpipe band.
Then a fitful night’s sleep and an
early flight back to Lima with virtually a full day to explore,
before our trip back to the airport for the overnight flight to
Madrid. Then on to LHR and the
final leg, a coach trip back to
Manchester Royal Infirmary.
Can I take this opportunity to
thank all those who sponsored
me in the past and present to
make these trips possible and to
provide much needed support
for the Children’s Hospitals
Appeal Trust. I might add that
this year I am going to walk the
Great Wall of China in aid of the
same charity and look forward to
your continued support.
Page 20
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Carl is chef of the month
April’s chef of the month is Carl Neilson, the chef at Delicious,
the staff restaurant in Terminal 1.
Carl has worked there since Eurest, the catering company
opened the facility in December 1999. Prior to that, he was a
mobile chef/manager for 18 months and worked all over the
north west providing sickness and holiday cover.
“It was quite a difficult job”, said Carl, “as you arrived in the
morning and knew no-one, nor where anything was. Then after
a week, when you got into the swing of things, you were moved
on.”
So he was pleased to be offered the position at the airport
and stay in one place.
Carl likes working at the airport as the atmosphere is busy
and there’s the chance to meet all sorts of people from different companies. Although he works alone preparing food in the
kitchens in the morning, in the afternoons he helps out serving so he can talk to his customers face to face, canvass opinion on his dishes and find out what employees want.
Of course, one of the limitations of working as a chef for a
staff restaurant is the tight budget he has to work to, on average £3 for a main course. A constraint that would certainly tax
hotel and restaurant chefs.
Carl did work as a second chef in a restaurant for three
years in Halton Village, outside Warrington. It was a 50 seat a
la carte restaurant with a menu which changed monthly. The
head chef encouraged his team of six to experiment and try
out new ideas, so that made it interesting.
Asked where his interest in cooking developed, he seems
uncertain, although both his mum and dad did catering at college but never pursued it as a career. Carl said he chose cooking at school as an option for two years; it was very popular
with the boys it seems, as there were only three girls in the
class.
Carl went from school to Halton College in Widnes for two
years full-time where he achieved his BTEC Diploma in Hotel
and Catering Management, and his City and Guilds 7061 and
7062. While studying he worked part time in the busy kitchens
of the Lord Daresbury at Warrington, and later stayed on to
work full time, one of a team of 20 which he enjoyed.
Carl has provided us with his recipe for Oriental Pork
Escalopes which he tells us is very popular when it is on the
menu at Delicious.
ORIENTAL PORK ESCALOPES – SERVES FOUR
3 tbsp white wine vinegar
2oz dark brown sugar
2 tbsp clear honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp chilli sauce
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 bunch spring onions (shredded)
4 good quality pork escalopes
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tsp sunflower oil
For the sauce, mix together vinegar, sugar, honey, soy sauce and
chilli sauce and heat in a small pan until sugar starts to dissolve.
Simmer the mixture for 10 minutes.
Place seasoned pork escalope in a hot griddle pan and cook for
two minutes on each side.
In another pan, heat the sesame and sunflower oils, then add the
sesame seeds and fry until just golden. Add the spring onions and fry
for a further two minutes. When ready to serve, pour the sauce over
the pork and top with the fried spring onions.
This dish should be served with rice or stir fried oriental vegetables.
New SSP team at the airport
Paul Corder has been
appointed as general
manager of the SSP
operation at Manchester
Airport: 27 retail catering
facilities over the three
terminals. This follows on
from Finbarr Casey’s recent
move to the business
development team as
business development
manager.
The SSP operation at
Manchester Airport has the
largest number of units,
operated by SSP, in any one
site in the UK.
Paul Corder, aged 42 from
Huddersfield, is a qualified
chef, and has worked for SSP
for 17 years. Over this time,
Paul has worked at Gatwick
Airport and opened the SSP
operation at Leeds/Bradford
Airport.
Working with Paul to ensure
the operation runs smoothly
are three operations
managers: Simon Flanagan
who has moved from the
Birmingham business and is
responsible for Terminal 1,
Paul McCumisky, who joined
SSP in January is responsible
for Terminal 3 and shares
responsibility for Terminal 2
with Jane Mathers.
Contact numbers
(Manchester Airport shortdial):
Paul Corder – 76091
After curfew
We were Christian and Muslim
Each of us devout in our particular manner
We could not leave the house
After dark
And it was very dark
With the power out
We broke bread together
By the uncertainty of a single candle
Sustained by strong, sweet coffee
And bread home-baked
The candle hissed
Far away the guns pounded
We talked in low whispers
With deference to the night
And the killing close at hand
Wide our discourse ranged
Our families and our peoples
Of war and peace
Christ and Mohammed
We entered the room together
You unrolled your prayer mat and knelt in reverence facing East
I dug my Bible out of my bag and opened it like an old friend
CHAPLAIN’S
CHAT
by
Major Ian Field
I read to myself without moving my lips
With the aid of a dying flashlight
You muttered and moved your lips
Cradled in the darkness
I turned a page
You counted your beads
I scratched an itch
You wiped the sins of the day from your face
I closed first my Bible
Then my eyes
And shot a prayer heavenward
Silent all the while like a lamb
You kissed the cold, hard stone of the floor
With your furrowed brow
Consummated by a flurry of rustling gestures
And muttered mantras
An intensity I could not match
An alien hardness that I was wary of
The room was becoming crowded I felt
Did our prayers mingle in that room?
In that darkness?
Did our respect for each other
Count as regard for each other’s God?
What was in your heart
Your mind
As you prayed?
What was in mine?
Did we pray for or against?
To our Gods
Or at each other?
As the guns blasted away in the night
We prayed away
• SSP operations managers
Simon Flanagan, Jane Mathers
and Paul McCumisky, with SSP
general manager Paul Corder of
Manchester Airport.
Simon Flanagan – 76401
Jane Mathers – 76030
Paul McCumisky – 76221
And would either of us have given an inch to the other
If it had come down to it
If our hands had held guns instead of beads and a Bible?
By Captain Geoff Ryan, a Salvation Army Officer, who worked in
Russia for nine years and wrote this poem while in Chechyna. He
is now working in Canada. (reprinted with permission)
In the difficult and dangerous world in which we live may this be
a prayer which encourages and reminds us to respect each other’s
cultures and beliefs.
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 21
Plane Talk crossword
Here is our April crossword,
once again kindly produced by
our airport correspondent.
Simply do it for fun or send
in your completed copy to
Plane Talk by April 30, for the
chance to win a £15 WH Smith
gift voucher. All correct entries
will be put into a draw. Usual
Plane Talk competition rules
apply, only one entry per reader please.
Number 174
Caption competition
Supply the caption and win £15 in vouchers!
Compiled by Ad Verbum
Across
1 Minstrel reigns wildly. (6)
5 Penniless, or work back
first? (4)
8 Dandy mushroom. (5)
9 Gallery where spasm
enters wild 5. (7)
10 Cabaret for dawdling
golfer? (9)
13 Manchester’s archive
conceals box. (5)
14 One speed raving. (5)
17 Nearly a fight. (5)
18 Matching stewed green
meat. (9)
22 Every grey mess may
cause reaction. (7)
23 Often Nuits St Georges is
somewhat melancholy. (5)
24 Every tortured ache. (4)
25 Plays for time in the Opera
House. (6)
Down
Name: _______________________________________________
Section/Company/Address: ____________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
“Well, if this is Eau de Restructure, it stinks!”
Here is a selection of the best of the rest – sorry,
no runner-up prizes:
them or not.
We hope to get a much better response to this
month’s competition, so get thinking and send us
your caption to go with this photo of a couple of wellknown members of MARSA on a recent trip. £15 of
WH Smith vouchers are on offer to the funniest as
judged by the editor. Send your captions to Plane
Talk, 3rd Floor, Olympic House, Manchester Airport
M90 1QX by April 30. Don’t forget to include your
name and a contact number.
Contact Tel No: _______________________________________
March solution
1 Rising as a quiet band?
(4)
2 Spurs – off-white, we hear.
(7)
3 Inelegant form of wild
rose. (9)
4 Stock of ancient
brotherhood. (5)
6 College window? (5)
7 Shapes Greek character,
doctor and I follow. (6)
11 Happy English in the
wood. (5)
12 Management of
medication? (9)
15 Pass on the Spanish
serviceman. (7)
16 Flask painted by artist in
the bistro. (6)
19 Trace of crazy cleric who
lost his head. (5)
20 Wise men note wizardry.
(5)
21 Maiden error. (4)
The winner of March’s crossword (number 173) was MARSA member Mrs J Mitchell. Congratulations your £15 WH Smith vouchers are
on their way to you.
Plane Talk
competition
winners
Advertorial
Congratulations to the winners of
our March competitions. The
lucky recipient of two tickets to
Philadelphia courtesy of US Airways was Dawn Johnson who
works in Thomas Cook in Terminal 1. The correct answers were
1) From 1790 for 10 years; 2)
23 February (1846); 3) Harley
Davidson motorcycles; 4) The
Amish community; 5) Terminal 2.
Thanks to all who took the
trouble to enter – with around
600 entries, this was one of our
most popular competitions. And
don’t forget to try your luck on
page 23 to win this month’s great
prize – you’ve got to be in it to win
it!
The winners of a full day’s
pampering programme courtesy
of Academy Spa were Jacqui Harrison, Servisair T2 and Barbara
Rayson of MARSA.
All winners will be contacted
soon with details of how to claim
prizes.
In February we asked you to supply a caption for this
photo taken at Ian Sharp’s leaving do. A low turnout
unfortunately, but thanks to those of you who supplied entries. The winner was Adele Gregory from the
Information Desk – congratulations again Adele, and
your vouchers are on their way!
“No, there isn’t any more whisky left ... and NO,
you can’t lick my aftershave!”
“A gottle o’ geer, a gottle o’ geer ...”
Sorry for the lack of a caption comp last month,
but we are in desperate need of amusing photos to
use – send us any you think may be suitable, and we
promise to return all photographs, whether we use
2
0
0
2
2
192
Lancashire
Aero Club
80th Anniversary Celebrations
11th-12th May
Expert advice on
personal finances
Following job losses in the airline and aviation industry, maybe many
of Manchester Airport’s staff and suppliers are taking a nervous look
at their own finances.
“People are quite rightly looking at their own debts and commitments,” says Nigel Johnson of local firm Lines Henry, the Altrinchambased insolvency practitioners and business help specialists.
“The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux reports that
today’s level of debt in the UK is £10,700 a household. We think this
is a conservative figure. But if your credit card balance is sky high,
it’s better to take action now rather than worry about it when redundancies are announced,” he says.
Although many larger airport suppliers have called in professional
advisors to offer counselling and jobsearch help, scores of subcontractors may not have this benefit.
“Individuals and smaller businesses that support Manchester Airport’s main contractors may need advice, and need it now,” warns
Nigel.
Lines Henry has a free Business Recovery Helpline on 08081
446611, which is open 24 hours a day. Initial advice is free and may
include a visit from a member of the Helpline team, if this is requested. Fees will only be charged if, with the agreement of the caller, a
professional ‘rescue’ package is required.
“On a business basis, companies are seeing budgets cut or disappearing. Taking the right action often calls for a dispassionate and
informed outside view. We can provide this.”
Advice sessions on handling personal and business debts are
being arranged locally by Lines Henry. For details contact them on
0161 929 1905 or ring the Helpline.
Light Aircraft on Display
Aircraft Fly-In
Model Aerobatic Displays
Microlites and Helicopters
Military and Classic Vehicles
Static and Flying Model Aircraft
Funfair, Visitor Centre and Museum
FEATUR
ING
2002 MODEL AIRCRAFT CONTROL LINE COMPETITION
All this and more at…
Admission:
Adults £2
Children £1
or Full Car £5
All Children under the age of 14
must be accompanied by an adult.
The organisers reserve the right
to refuse admission.
Barton
Aerodrome
Eccles
Page 22
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Roll up for a great
Sticky Night Out
Calling
all general
knowledge
experts
Are you game enough to
take part in Twenty
Questions at the Atlantic
Suite, T2, Manchester
Airport on Wednesday May
29?
This brand new quiz format
has been designed
especially for ChildFlight,
and invites 100 participants
to take part in a series of
eliminator rounds, resulting
in one eventual winner.
It is the only trivia quiz
that shows you the answers
first, and you can come
along with your friends,
family, colleagues and
supporters. All non-playing
attenders pay only £2 each
towards ChildFlight – they
can even sit with you during
the quiz rounds (apart from
the first round).
All proceeds go to
ChildFlight and players pay
£5 entrance fee. There will
be a private bar for all, free
parking in T2 MSCP, a major
prize raffle, a super prize for
the winner, plus several
consolation prizes – all in all
a great night out in the best
function venue at
Manchester Airport, c/o SSP
(Compass Group).
So, make that call –
telephone Paul Booth on
0161 489 2218 to request a
booking form, and bring your
supporters with you.
Everyone will have a great
night out, and along the way
you might learn some useful
trivia/general knowledge
facts!
And let us remember, it is
all for a good cause!
• The end of show fireworks display from last year.
Sticky Night Out! Platt Fields Park, Wilmslow Rd, Manchester 14.
Sunday May 5, 7.30pm-10.30pm. Entry only £1 by programme at
event.
Spring into summer at a magical festive evening for everyone in
Platt Fields Park, culminating in a spectacular show with fireworks.
The event begins with live music, dance, street performance and
circus around the beautiful lakeside. A magical setting, lit with torches and fairy lights, with an outdoor barbecue at its heart. An evening
for everyone to enjoy as we recreate a Pleasure Garden for the 21st
century!
Watch the comic antics of ‘The Half-Naked Chef’, dance to the
lively punchy sounds of The Brasshoppers, chill out to Chilean panpipes, watch a hilarious grounded punt – or take to the water for real
in decorated canoes!
Once darkness has fallen, Manchester’s 100-strong Samba City
musicians and dancers draw the crowd across the park to the site of
an extraordinary outdoor show. We are delighted to present Manchester’s premiere of Improbable Theatre’s massive thrilling aerial
show ‘Sticky’ – acrobatics, fireworks and a magnificent giant insect
made with miles and miles of sticky tape!
“The first thing you are aware of is the noise. It sounds both familiar and strange, like the effort of 1,000 insect wings flapping. Then
you suddenly realise what it is: the sound of hundreds of feet of
sticky tape being unwound. The sheer scale of this piece is thrilling.
It is like watching someone build the pyramids or the Eiffel Tower ...
It sways against the night sky, ethereal, beautiful and mysterious, its
top looking like an exquisite spun sugar cap” (The Guardian, July 23,
2001)
Sticky Night Out! is sponsored by Manchester Airport, as part of its
policy of supporting high quality arts events accessible to the widest
possible public.
For more information, telephone 0161 274 0600 or visit
www.streetsahead.org.uk or www.contact-theatre.org.uk
Airport supports No Smoking Day
The NHS Walk-In Centre at Manchester Airport joined in the campaign on
National No Smoking Day on March
13. Health promotion co-ordinator
Neil Perris was out and about around
the terminals talking to smokers,
both passengers and employees,
offering help and giving out leaflets.
Those who were keen to give up
were given information packs and a
hotline number to ring for advice or
they could go to the Walk-In Centre
for help.
Neil is pictured chatting to smokers
Muriel Johnson form Macclesfield
(left) and her sister-in-law Christine
Johnson from Bollington who were on
their way to their niece’s wedding in
Canada.
Call our newsdesk on
0161 489 2024
The 11th Annual
ChildFlight Golf Classic
Brookdale Golf Club
Woodhouses, Failsworth
Thursday September 5
4 ball Stableford. 7/8 handicap, max handicap 18. Best
two scores. Entry fee £100 per team of four. 20 tee times
available from 11am to 2pm. Closing date for entries –
August 14.
Entry fee includes green fees and presentation and hot pot in the
clubhouse during the evening, and a donation to ChildFlight. Please
complete entry form below and send it with the entry fee (cheque made
payable to Manchester Airport Golf Society) to Peter Robinson, c/o
Airport Engineering, Terminal 1, Manchester Airport M90 1QX.
Subsidised by the MAplc Sports and Social Committee.
New programme
of outdoor arts
2002 dawned in Manchester with some sadness, with the
cancellation of the immensely popular streetsahead outdoor
festival, the May Bank Holiday extravaganza of colour, music and
street performance.
However, there will be an equally exciting programme of thrilling
outdoor events, spread out over the summer including:
• breathtaking pageants with fireworks, fire and light;
• strolling musicians, stilt walkers and comedy performances;
• strange and unusual appearances of objects, tents and
structures in unexpected places;
• all-inclusive parades that embrace the city’s many cultures;
• live music filling the City’s streets and squares;
• and an assortment of food, drink and children’s activities
always.
Check out Manchester this summer – a bonanza of outdoor
entertainment on the streets ... to rival the Commonwealth Games
in the stadium!
MARSA
looks ahead
to its 20th
anniversary
We had our first round of Brain of
MARSA recently and as it was
Jubilee Year, Peter Worsley, our
quizmaster, decided to carry
everyone who entered on to the
next round. In fact we will have a
further three rounds before the
final, and also there will be a prize
for the winner this year, not just
their name on the trophy as usually happens.
I hope some of our many new
members are going to come
along to some of our events and
enjoy the activities. We always
welcome new ideas for our programme, so do come. If you are
interested in taking a more active
role in the club, please speak to
a member of the committee.
As you saw from our March
newsletter, this year MARSA will
celebrate its 20th anniversary in
October. As a start I would like to
hear of any anecdotes which may
amuse, interest or surprise readers of both Plane Talk and our
newsletter. The May committee
meeeting is to consider how best
to celebrate this event. Watch
this space for further news.
Our trip to Saltaire in June also
takes in Howarth, a lovely place
to visit.
That’s all for now, cheers.
Audrey Stanistreet.
Secretary
MARSA
Diary
dates
April 18, 2pm. Beetle Drive.
British Airways Silver Wings
Club. Don’t forget your dice.
April 25. Day trip to
Harrogate Spring Flower
Show. Contact Theo or
Sheila on 0161 962 2164.
May 2, 12 noon. Walk in
Lime Park. Meet at the Red
Lion, Disley.
May 9, 2pm. Fun Quiz. BA
Club.
May 16, 12 noon. Walk in
the locality. Meet at The
George, Moss Lane,
Altrincham.
May 23, 2pm. A social
afternoon. BA Club.
May 30. Walk in Marbury
Park. Meet in The Birch and
Bottle – Junction 10, M56,
follow signs for Northwich.
Pub on left hand side.
June 6. Day trip to Saltaire.
More details to come later.
June 13, 2pm. Bowling and
strawberries. BA Club.
June 20, 12 noon. Walk on
Lindow Common. Meet at
The Range (the old
Boddington Arms) on
Wilmslow Road.
June 27, 12 noon. Walk
around Lymm Dam. Meet at
The Wheatsheaf, Lymm.
Team Name: ___________________________________________________________
Contact Name: _________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________ Postcode: _______________________________
Tel No: ________________________________________________________________
Preferred Tee Off Time: __________________________________________________
(Actual tee time will be advised on receipt of entry form and fee.
Events include:
‘A Feast of Delights’ Jubilee parade, street festival and
party. June 3, 2pm-10.30pm. Manchester City Centre. Free
admission.
Legs on the Wall (Australia) in ‘Homeland’. Extraordinary
show performed as an aerial ballet on the side of the 25-storey
Premier Lodge building. July 19-23, 10pm-12 midnight. Free
admission.
Commonwealth Games Festival Live. July 24 – August 5.
Manchester City Centre. Free admission.
The Golden Garden – Autumn Fire and Light Festival. A
weekend in October. City centre.
Wayfarer Credit Union
Lottery
March 2002 winners
1st prize – £600,
Dave Crompton, Groundstaff.
2nd prize – £250,
Sue Scully, Airfield Operations.
3rd prize – £150
Peter Mellor, Security
4th prize – £100
Sandra Lloyd, Security
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Page 23
Arts tickets
are on offer
The Lowry
The Island by Athol Fugard – April 26, 8pm. John Kani and
Winston Ntshona.
First seen 30 years ago, and performed here by the original two
actors who co-devised it, The Island is an astonishing and moving play
you will never forget.
Set in the notorious Robben Island prison, where Nelson Mandela
was incarcerated, The Island is a tribute to the men and women who
fought for a free and democratic South Africa. It will thrill you and move
you to tears.
Oldham Coliseum
Love Me Slender by Vanessa Brooks – April 16, 19, 25 and 29.
7.30pm (8pm on April 19).
Siobhan is revered by her new recruits – after all, she was ‘Achiever
of the Year’ back in 1994. The girls of the ‘Slim for Life’ dieting club are
putting everything on the line to power walk their way back into a new
look, but is everyone willing to pay the ultimate price?
Vanessa Brooks’ poignant comedy follows the club as they battle
their way to fitness – what happens when temptation rears its ugly
head? Who has the willpower to succeed and what skeletons are likely to fall out of their groaning cupboards?
The Bridgewater Hall
Family Concert – Halle at the Ballet. May 12. 3pm.
Firmly established as one of the most popular dates in the Halle’s
diary, members of the English National Ballet return to perform some
of the best known music from the ballet repertoire. Featuring music
from Ravel, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky and Copland. Conductor: Martin
West.
A limited number of free tickets are available to MA Group employees and MARSA members for these events. If demand outweighs supply, we will ask an independent person to draw the winners out of a hat.
Call the Arts Hotline on ext. 5083 or e-mail plane.talk@man
airport.co.uk
Your arts reviews
Halle Thursday Series – Bridgewater Hall
Thank you very much for including me in the draw. Both Isa and I thoroughly enjoyed the concert and hope for our names to be included in
draws for future events. We thought that Lang Lang, the young Chinese
pianist was going to demolish the piano in his exciting rendition of the
Prokofiev Third Piano Concert. Superb!
Dave Cornell, MARSA
It was an excellent performance, enhanced by the fact that this was my
first visit to the Bridgewater Hall, which was an added pleasure. The
highlight of the evening was the performance by the young Chinese
pianist, Lang Lang, who pounded the keyboard with such enthusiasm
and joie de vivre – a very enjoyable evening.
Barbara Rayson, MARSA
Laurel and Hardy – Oldham Coliseum
Just a quick note to thank Plane Talk once again for the free arts tickets. The production of Laurel and Hardy at The Coliseum Theatre, Oldham, was both funny and informative and was extremely well presented. A most enjoyable evening. Thanks again.
Martin G. Schofield, Escape Lounge
Brilliant show, great seats, looking forward to the next one!
Dianne Anderson, Escape Lounge
Sing a Song of Sixpence – Chester Gateway
Many thanks for the tickets for Sing A Song of Sixpence. It was an
entertaining 50 minutes of popular well known nursery rhymes, all performed by one artist with an assortment of costumes and puppets, and
set in the grounds of a castle. The story is centred around two maids,
Polly and naughty Sukey, with Humpty Dumpty thrown in for good measure. All the children and adults joined in. My daughter sat totally mesmerised by the whole performance – highly recommended for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon.
Gaynor Mowe, Retail
Win
a Pair of tickets to Malta
!
For April, Plane Talk is delighted to offer readers the chance to win two tickets to Malta, courtesy of Air Malta.
Air Malta is now operating daily scheduled
flights from Manchester from March 26, with a
peak season frequency of up to 10 flights a
week. In addition to the schedule, Air Malta
aircraft will also be regular visitors to the Airport
operating various charter services. The new
summer schedule was announced to guests
at Manchester Airport by Manchester United
and England footballer Gary Neville, who is
the unofficial "Tourism Ambassador" to Malta.
able.
Air Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority
have renewed their partnership to drive sustainable tourism to Malta and Gozo.
Air Malta was quick to realise that its success
is inseparable from the success of the destination itself. Air Malta is a joint partner in both
a TV campaign and also a poster campaign
in the Manchester area featuring Gary
Neville.
Air Malta has been flying to Manchester since
1975, but it is in the past 2-3 years that significant growth has been achieved. Air Malta
gained over 29 per cent growth in the past 12
months from Manchester, even against what
is recognised as one of the Industry’s most difficult years ever. This summer alone Air Malta
will have over 35,000 available seats from
Manchester to Malta, an increase of over 7
per cent on last year.
Malta and Gozo themselves offer a unique
Mediterranean experience. The Maltese
islands consist of three inhabited islands,
Malta, Gozo and Comino lying around 60
miles south of Sicily. The enviable sunshine
record is combined with a real treasure trove
of archaeological, historical and cultural sights
unmatched anywhere within such a compact
and accessible area. The oldest free-standing
structures in the world can be found on Gozo,
and Valletta is a rococo legacy to the Knights
of St John and the world’s greatest military
architects.
Air Malta attributes its success to several key
reasons. The growth in regional scheduled services now provides the north of England consumer with a real choice and not just traditional seven and 14 night charter packages.
The Air Malta daily frequency allows a minimum stay of three nights or a Saturday night
and up to one month, even on the lowest
fare types. All fares are changeable for a very
modest fee and are even 80 per cent refund-
The fact Malta was once a British colony has
also left its impact with the population being
able to speak English almost without exception. This really does help visitors from the UK to
mix with the locals and make lasting friendships. Another reason why many people return
to Malta and Gozo year after year.
The Kingsway School proudly presents
The Brass Event 2002
QUESTIONS
in association with
The World Famous
Black Dyke Band
1.
How many days a week does Air Malta fly from Manchester this summer?__________
2.
Who is Malta’s “Tourism Ambassador”?__________________________________________
Saturday May 25 at 7.30pm
3.
What is the minimum stay requirement on Air Malta’s lowest fares?_________________
at the
4.
How many inhabited islands are there in the Maltese archipelago?________________
5.
Where would you find the world’s oldest free – standing structures?________________
reigning national brass band champions
Plaza Theatre, Stockport
Conducted by Nicholas J Childs
To advertise in the concert programme please ring Mr Wood at the
school for more details.
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________
Tickets are priced at £8.50 adults and £7.50 concessions and are on
sale now available from the Plaza Theatre on 0161 477 7779 or
through the school on 0161 428 7706.
Section/Company/Address: ___________________________________________________________
Proceeds from the evening performance and programme advertising
fund the day’s workshop for members of the Kingsway Band and
those from its feeder primary schools. The pupils benefit from working with the most famous brass band percussion players in the
world. The evening concert programme includes items from the
workshop performed as a massed band.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Tel. No Work: ________________________________ Home: ________________________________
Closing date for competition: April 30,2002. Only one entry per person. All entries to be sent to Plane Talk, 3rd Floor, Olympic House,
Manchester Airport M90 1QX. All correct entries will be put into a draw. Usual Plane Talk competition rules apply.
Page 24
PLANE TALK APRIL 2002
Travel jobs available online
Fat’ll do nicely!
petition where he represented
Select Service Partner as part of
Compass Group UK & Ireland – a
team that took away 107 awards
including 18 ‘Best In Class’ and
two ‘Best In Show’ awards.
“My interest in fat carving
started at college, when it used
to be part of the catering qualification,” explained Gary. “Since
then, my progress has been
mainly down to self-tuition and
Gary Schofield, 28, from Macclesfield, won a Certificate of
Merit in ‘Fat Carving’ with his
piece entitled ‘Harry Potter –
Potions Class’ at the prestigious
biennial competition ‘Hotelympia’, held in London.
Gary, head chef at the Lancaster Brasserie & Bar in Terminal 1, at Manchester Airport,
worked a total of 30 hours to
produce the carving for the com-
CHARTERED SURVEYORS
LETTINGS & MANAGEMENT
ESTATE AGENTS
Renting - Letting • Buying – Selling
Contact us for our colour property lists,
sales or letting advice or a survey.
Daily updated website
0161-491 0300
www.chesters-uk.com
0161-902 0202
[email protected] Your Independent Property Professionals
I’ve entered six competitions in
the last 10 years. The competition at this year’s Hotelympia
was tough, as you’d expect competing against some of Britain’s
top chefs. I was just thrilled to be
part of it, and the fact I came
away with an award was a
bonus.”
So, what’s next for Gary? “I’ve
been asked by the same team to
put forward a carving for the Culinary World Cup held in Germany
later this year and I’m delighted.
Like Hotelympia, it’s such a prestigious competition and I’ve
already got a couple of ideas
which I’ll be keeping secret, of
course!”
Gary has worked for SSP for
over three years and was a banqueting chef before being
appointed head chef in the Lancaster Brasserie & Bar. Prior to
that, Gary was head chef at the
Butcher’s Arms in Hepworth,
Huddersfield.
Interactive Recruitment & Training
(IRT) – the specialist company
behind the successful aviationjobsearch.com website – has
launched traveljobsearch.com,
the first, independent site dedicated to the travel industry’s
recruitment needs.
With recent data collected by
both the World Tourism Association and ABTA* predicting a
resurgent travel industry in 2002,
traveljobsearch.com will help
meet the expected growth in
demand for jobs from the sector,
providing advertisers and jobseekers with a professionallymanaged service “focussed on
filling travel jobs fast”.
traveljobsearch.com
is
designed and built on the tried
and tested principles of clarity,
speed and ease of use which
underpin the success of sister
site, aviationjobsearch.com. The
new site already features over
1,000 vacancies, from such
leading travel firms as Thomson,
First Choice, Club Med, Airtours,
and Kuoni. These cover varied
employment opportunities in the
travel management, leisure and
entertainment sector – including
cruiseship jobs, ticketing, overseas representatives, agency personnel, customer services and
graduate/gap year placements.
The site is easy to navigate.
Users can check the details of
the vacancies at the click of a
button. Jobseekers can also register to receive new information
on specific types of jobs via a free
email service, which provides upto-the-minute information about
the latest vacancies.
Based in Burgess Hill, West
Sussex, IRT is the leading, independent net recruitment and
training specialist for the aviation
sector. aviationjobsearch.com
features over 3,500 of jobs on its
site from employers and leading
recruitment agencies. In addition,
through its Aviation Courses
brand, IRT offers a comprehensive, global consultency and
training skills service for the aviation industry.
• IRT’s Tim Dawson, operations director and John Ellis,
managing director of Interactive
Recruitment & Training.
ESTABLISHED AT MANCHESTER AIRPORT SINCE 1955
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Manchester City Centre 0161 834 3444
Altrincham 0161 928 5890 • Wilmslow 01625 250000
Macclesfield 01625 620000
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Fax : 0161 436 8008
www.males-garage.com
ALL INSURANCE WORK UNDERTAKEN
WE CAN REDUCE
YOUR INSURANCE
EXCESS
EXPERT BODY REPAIRS TO
ALL TYPES OF VEHICLE
contact us.”
M
Wilmslow 01625 53200 Hale 0161 929 9898
Macclesfield
01625 502222
email:
[email protected]
Offer a large selection of properties with easy
access to the Airport
LANDLORDS
Did you know we offer
GUARANTEED rental income
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www.robertjordan.co.uk
Residential Lettings & Management
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PAINTWORK FROM A SCRATCH
TO A FULL RESPRAY
FREE ON-SITE ESTIMATE & ADVICE
MALES AUTO BODYSHOP
Tel : 0161 980 6284
‘Even when the property is vacant’
★ No set up fee ★ No commission
★ Guaranteed contract start date
For a free brochure or valuation call
07000 751751
TIMPERLEY
BROOKLANDS
2 Bed Semi P/F
£525 pcm
3 Bed Terr F/F
£480 pcm
GATLEY
SALE
3 Bed Semi U/F
£600 pcm
2 Bed Terr U/F
£495 pcm
BAGULEY
PARTINGTON
Lux 2 Bed Apart F/F
£475 pcm
2 Bed Town Hse P/F
£390 pcm
NORTHWOOD
Residential Lettings
43/45 Cross Street, Sale, Cheshire M33 7FT
email: [email protected]
web site: www.nthwood.co.uk
Branches throughout the UK
Typesetting & Origination by Type & Graphics, Media House, 40 Lapwing Lane, West Didsbury, Mcr. Tel. 0161 434 0200. Printed by Trafford Press Ltd, 418 Chester Road, Manchester. Tel. 061 872 6366