Wanted: Airtraffic Controller

Stornoway Airport has gone through another episode of closure due to the Airtraffic Controller being off sick. It would appear we have two ATCs at the local airport, and when one goes off sick, there is a problem - no back-up, so the place's got to close.

Someone had an idea though. The chappy who was enjoying a day off was believed to have said that he was going fishing at Loch Langavat. So, what better idea than to send the brand new Search & Rescue helicopter out to look for him along the shore of the loch, pick him up and take him back to the airport. Didn't work.


Loch Langavat is rather large. Above image gives some indication of its length, 8 miles. The local discussion, if not outrage, centres around the alleged waste of helicopter time, and what would have happened if there had been a real emergency - the operators stated that this was not the case. The chopper was out on a training mission, and it would not have impinged on reaction times.