I have just finished reading an article about the Gozo airstrip. I would like to point out that the Mi-8/Mi17 helicopter service that Malta Air Charter ran would today cost in excess of E700 for crew, maintenance and insurance; then you have to put fuel in and for short hops look at 1 ton per hour, besides navigation charges etc. Before you realise, it becomes E1,500 per hour. I would look at it being nearer E2,100.

Aircraft operating in Malta have to do it according to EU-OPS regulations. Under EU-OPS the Let L 410 needs a runway of 1,000m to be safe. There are new ones available on the market, but expensive. The Twin Otter needs 750 metres plus and there are new ones coming on line in a couple of years, though they are expensive. The BN Trilander needs over 600 metres of runway length.

As for passengers, the L-410 can take 19, as can the Twin Otter. The BN Tri-Lander can take 18, but you have to wear ear defenders.

Operating costs per hour

The L-410 costs some E1,750, but there are not many available that have had the EASA safety SB Mod. done.

The Twin Otter costs some E1,900. There are approximately 10 to 15 available for sale but more expensive than the Let.

The Trilander costs about E1,100. There are currently two or three for sale, but they have been flogged to death in the Channel Islands.

Lastly, do not look at the Gozo airstrip as a way to have aircraft coming in from the rest of Europe; what’s at Xewkija is fine – it needs an extra 120-150 metres of level grass/gravel and you can have an excellent air service to Luqa. It would give you an air service with as much cargo as the twins give you, with the capacity of as many passengers, for the same or a smaller cost and greater frequency.

Microlights are not an insult – they are a way to train your future pilots; they have to learn somehow.

I wonder who will get the answer correct.

Dave Hunter

EastWest Aviation

Derby

United Kingdom