Comments on: Those magnificent men in their flying machines and the Gozo helicopter strip saga http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/ For all the latest news from Gozo, Malta and around the world Fri, 09 May 2008 14:11:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Anthony Mercieca http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-154 Anthony Mercieca Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:24:26 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-154 My dream is to fly! Greetings from Down Under! My dream is to fly!

Greetings from Down Under!

]]> By: Dr Pierre Sammut MD Dip Ger http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-31 Dr Pierre Sammut MD Dip Ger Mon, 22 Oct 2007 22:03:07 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-31 Well written Mark.Your love for flying has inspired one and all.Lets hope that people in power will get things rolling in the best interest of our little sister island.weather permitting,there is nothing better than to fly to Gozo,play tennis,have lunch and be back on your own steam with less money to carry back home!!!...u ifhmuni Well written Mark.Your love for flying has inspired one and all.Lets hope that people in power will get things rolling in the best interest of our little sister island.weather permitting,there is nothing better than to fly to Gozo,play tennis,have lunch and be back on your own steam with less money to carry back home!!!…u ifhmuni

]]> By: Robert http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-28 Robert Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:21:41 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-28 Why do we gozitans have to go to Malta for training that could be avaiable for us in Gozo. Are there no Gozitan Parliamentarian Children interested in this opportunity? Is this why no one cares? Is this the way we treat entrapreneurs? Why do we gozitans have to go to Malta for training that could be avaiable for us in Gozo. Are there no Gozitan Parliamentarian Children interested in this opportunity? Is this why no one cares? Is this the way we treat entrapreneurs?

]]> By: Stephen http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-27 Stephen Fri, 19 Oct 2007 13:17:40 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-27 Is it possible that we say no to new ideas? Are we still living the same way we when we critisized the authorities that things never got done? Can anyone come forward with an answer! Is it possible that we say no to new ideas? Are we still living the same way we when we critisized the authorities that things never got done?
Can anyone come forward with an answer!

]]> By: Victor Galea - AD http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-26 Victor Galea - AD Fri, 19 Oct 2007 10:45:50 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-26 This is just but one example of the ineptitude of the Gozo Ministry in handling basic enquiries promptly. What we know about is the miniscule amounts of direct foreign investment in the Gozitan economy. What AD Gozo is intensely aware of, however, is the Millions of Liri and hundreds of jobs going elsewhere because the Gozo Ministry cannot even reply to a routine enquiry because 'nobody is responsible'. See this link: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/10/07/n1.html Excerpt: '......................The founders of the Island Microlight Club set up a decade ago are also trying hard to get permission to use the Gozo helipad, but red tape has proved to be harder than flying in a thunderstorm. “The Gozo helipad would be perfect for us, as it is,” said Major Mark Said, who founded the club together with his colleague Major Alex Dalli. “We spoke to ministers, civil aviation and lots of authorities, all of them agreeing with our proposal to either buy the helipad or rent it and turn it into a flying school with great potential to attract foreign flight students. But when it comes to the crunch, we find we’re running in circles, with nobody responsible to give us the green light.”.............' Victor Galea Secretary General and Spokesman for Gozo The Green Party This is just but one example of the ineptitude of the Gozo Ministry in handling basic enquiries promptly.

What we know about is the miniscule amounts of direct foreign investment in the Gozitan economy.

What AD Gozo is intensely aware of, however, is the Millions of Liri and hundreds of jobs going elsewhere because the Gozo Ministry cannot even reply to a routine enquiry because ‘nobody is responsible’.

See this link:

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2007/10/07/n1.html

Excerpt:

‘………………….The founders of the Island Microlight Club set up a decade ago are also trying hard to get permission to use the Gozo helipad, but red tape has proved to be harder than flying in a thunderstorm.
“The Gozo helipad would be perfect for us, as it is,” said Major Mark Said, who founded the club together with his colleague Major Alex Dalli.

“We spoke to ministers, civil aviation and lots of authorities, all of them agreeing with our proposal to either buy the helipad or rent it and turn it into a flying school with great potential to attract foreign flight students. But when it comes to the crunch, we find we’re running in circles, with nobody responsible to give us the green light.”………….’

Victor Galea
Secretary General and Spokesman for Gozo
The Green Party

]]> By: Michael Camilleri http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-24 Michael Camilleri Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:08:19 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-24 Many times I was flying over Gozo with my flying machine, and many times I dreamed to land on this heliport strip, and always I say, what’s wrong that we land on this strip,why the authorities does not want us to land on this strip, all pilots and aircraft owners make big efforts to built and fly this flying machines and everyday we are building the pure aviation Maltese & Gozitan history, but we need places to land, and the Gozo heliport is the perfect place, so let’s stand up and be counted to make our islands the perfect place for aero tourism. We the pilots and aircraft owner’s are after your dream Mark and let's hope that we see the rainbow over the Gozo heliport strip......."Rise up over the rainbow, destination Gozo" Many times I was flying over Gozo with my flying machine, and many times I dreamed to land on this heliport strip, and always I say, what’s wrong that we land on this strip,why the authorities does not want us to land on this strip, all pilots and aircraft owners make big efforts to built and fly this flying machines and everyday we are building the pure aviation Maltese & Gozitan history, but we need places to land, and the Gozo heliport is the perfect place, so let’s stand up and be counted to make our islands the perfect place for aero tourism. We the pilots and aircraft owner’s are after your dream Mark and let’s hope that we see the rainbow over the Gozo heliport strip…….”Rise up over the rainbow, destination Gozo”

]]> By: Alex http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-23 Alex Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:40:24 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-23 There is an empty strip in Gozo. This could be replaced with activity of flying little planes. Good for Gozitans who want to learn how to fly! There is an empty strip in Gozo. This could be replaced with activity of flying little planes. Good for Gozitans who want to learn how to fly!

]]> By: Becky cilia http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-22 Becky cilia Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:32:44 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-22 It is funny how we often hear people say that abroad there are more things to do more opportunities. Every one loves home but no one thinks home is perfect yet, especially for those like us who love to fly. why is it that the go ahead is not given to microlight pilots to land on the heliport in Gozo? Is it some ones joy to say no to things like this? Is there a valid reason? Like the article above said; everything agrees to the regulations. so why not? People from Gozo can only benefit, more attractions, more transport, more tourists and at the end more money. Is anyone presently making money from that piece of land? i think not!!! Do not let it be another ten years. EVOLVE! ACCEPT OUR PLEE! PLEASE It is funny how we often hear people say that abroad there are more things to do more opportunities. Every one loves home but no one thinks home is perfect yet, especially for those like us who love to fly. why is it that the go ahead is not given to microlight pilots to land on the heliport in Gozo? Is it some ones joy to say no to things like this? Is there a valid reason? Like the article above said; everything agrees to the regulations. so why not? People from Gozo can only benefit, more attractions, more transport, more tourists and at the end more money. Is anyone presently making money from that piece of land? i think not!!!

Do not let it be another ten years. EVOLVE! ACCEPT OUR PLEE! PLEASE

]]> By: Brian Restall http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-21 Brian Restall Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:21:00 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-21 Lovely little piece and well written. Captures concisely the spirit of the sport and culture of all involved in this hobby. could the authorities perhaps explain their reluctance to such a permit? Always two ends of stick but unless constructive dialogue is engaged with the various stakeholders i cannot see how solutions can be found or misconceptions get addressed, and all that is left is resent and disdain. Lovely little piece and well written. Captures concisely the spirit of the sport and culture of all involved in this hobby. could the authorities perhaps explain their reluctance to such a permit? Always two ends of stick but unless constructive dialogue is engaged with the various stakeholders i cannot see how solutions can be found or misconceptions get addressed, and all that is left is resent and disdain.

]]> By: Alfred Grima http://gozonews.com/letters/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-20 Alfred Grima Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:05:47 +0000 http://gozonews.com/item/those-magnificent-men-in-their-flying-machines-and-the-gozo-helicopter-strip-saga-major-mark-said/#comment-20 this is very unfair to us gozitans! why, when there is a perfectly usable airfield sitting there doing nothing I can't learn to fly microlights without thehassle of travelling all the way to luqa airport all the time? it isnt feasible for me and i wish the heliport will be open to light aircraft. The article is correct when it says a lot more people will visit and it will be a boost to tourism. this is very unfair to us gozitans!
why, when there is a perfectly usable airfield sitting there doing nothing I can’t learn to fly microlights without thehassle of travelling all the way to luqa airport all the time? it isnt feasible for me and i wish the heliport will be open to light aircraft.
The article is correct when it says a lot more people will visit and it will be a boost to tourism.

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