Due to its strategic position the Portuguese Tourist Authority have decided to extend Portimao Airport to International status.

To alleviate local opposition to this they have issued a promotional leaflet to show how it will both benefit visitors and attract air spotters from all over the world due to its unique viewing position

This can be seen at http://uk.download.yahoo.com/pr/fu/oa/sunbathing.pps

The good news is that with the extended runway I shall be able to do sight-seeing trips of up to 500 at a time rather than the present limit of 4

Are they gen pictures? I used to do navigation stuff for simulators and loved setting up Hong Kong visual. I.e. Fly straight at mountain, turn sharp right. Have you ever been to Funchal? The runway has been extended now, but it used to be very short and if you overran, you fell in the sea, so the pilots used to bang the a/c down a bit hard like on an aircraft carrier. One 737 landed so hard they couldn't get the doors open

Yes genuine.

In thesecond picture you can see me standing on the rock watching the Corsair 747 0n final approach.

The difference in heights is due to the wind - when calm lower than when there is a decent head wind.

Here the approach would be over Praia Maior and across Alvor lagoon on runway 11/29.

Skiathos is like that - we landed on the third attempt and that is a regular occurance there plus all outward planes carry just enough fuel to get them in the air (any more and they wouldn't leave the ground before they run out of run way)and then have to land at Volos or Thessonaliki on the greek mainland to get enough fuel to carry their pay load home.

Maddi

PM...HK Approach........I remember it very well and used to have to outrun the Big boys in my little 150 Cessna......the tower would give us an 'Expedite' instuction and we would just have to run like hell to land in front of a 747 and also land long enough to miss the wash of the one that had just landed in front of us..did hundreds of approaches there...great fun.....

Yes I also read about the new Portimao International airport..apparantly €25million has been earmarked from central government to extend the runway right through the Bird Sanctury with another runway crossing the original NE/SW it says.......There has been debate for some time now between Lagos and Portimao both proposing a new airport and Portimao has won ....the Idea is to bring tourists from the north and offer low cost flights for the likes of Ryan Air who cannot get rights to land at Faro,and also as a feeder route for the New Formula One Piste that will start construction in September...the article mentions (Capt) Roy4eyes who intends to charter an ex african airways 747 (One can already see the new Hangar going up as you drive past..this is for his 747 ) and offer trips for up to 500 a time to Sagres and back..champagne..the lot....I just hope he doesnt affect my swing if I'm on the green at that time....ghastly idea I must say.

plane pictures

this must have been a bit off-putting

!
What on earth is going on here? Is this some big joke or what?
Added runway at Portimao..cutting right through Bird Sanctuary..and Formula 1 racing track...
someone please tell me this is a JOKE? I cant bring myself to believe this is actually going to happen..
please tell me it isnt so ?

A bit off topic.....

THE FLYING INSTRUCTORS LAMENT

“What did you do in the War, Daddy?
How did you help us to win?”
“Circuits and bumps and turns, Laddie,
And how to get out of a spin!”

“Woe and alack and misery me!
I trundle around in the sky.
And instead of shooting down Nazis
I’m teaching young hopefuls to fly!”

“Thus is my service rewarded-
My years of experience paid-
Never a Hun have I followed down
Nor ever gone out on a raid.”

“They don’t even let us go crazy:
we have to be safe and sedate.
So its nix on inverted approaches-
They stir up the C.F.I.’s hate”

“For its oh such a naughty example
and what will the A.O.C. think?
We never get posted to fighters
We just get a spell in the Link!”

“So its circuits and bumps from morning til noon
And instrument flying til tea-
“Hold her off! Give her bank! Put your undercart down!
You’re slipping, you’re skidding- that’s me!”

“As soon as we’ve finished with one course
Like a flash up another one bobs
And there’s four more to show round the cockpit
And four more to try out the knobs!”

“What did you do in the War, Daddy?
How did you help us to win?”
“Circuits and bumps and turns, Laddie,
And how to get out of a spin!”

Courtesy of B Flight 6 Elementary Flying Training School instructor, Sgt. Bert Allam, sung in the Mess at Sywell and in The Horseshoe pub many times!

is there any pilots on the forum

i am a ppl/h and will be bringing a gazelle to portimao in aug

Ellie - don't worry - local ornithologists tell me that the predatory birds will be eliminated in the construction of the runway extension leading to an increase in the sparrow/martin population which in turn eat mosqitoes which in turn eat us. Hence a more comfortable life for the increased number of tourists who will be arriving.

Cowboy - your ditty rings very true. mention of Sywell also - when I was a C.F.I. at Staverton (now Gloucestershire International !!) Sywell was first stop on the qualifying cross-country triangle and a chance for a coffee and pee.
Also a lot of the contact lenses I fit are made very close so I would be up there often in connection with my optical business.

md 600 driver - yes there are several British pilots here but all fixed wing- however if I can be of any help please do not hesitate to contact me.

Ref Pilots..fixed and rotary at Portimao........have sent you email----

Where exactly is this proposal info to be found ie Resident newspaper etc.
I would be interested to read article.

Milo

Come on Elli and Milo.......can't you see it's all a big wind up .....do you really think that Roy4eyes is going to buy a 747 to take 500 sightseeing customers to Sagres and back..........The only truth is that ..yes they are trying to build a F1 race track and yes there is a lot of talk about extending the Alvor runway to take more small aircraft ....but thats it..Dont worry...it will take forever as always in the Algarve...

That's a wind up too. There is zero evidence except from the guy doing the circuit, that any circuit at all is planned anywhere in Portugal.

I've asked to see a link but nothing was forthcoming. I think it's some guy trying to raise cash by claiming he is going to run F1. He isn't!