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- Microlight aircrafts tested at the Gozo helipad
- Air service to Gozo - Parliamentary question
- Call for fixed wing service between Gozo and Malta
- Gozo Helicopter back in service
- Crashed Bulldog aircraft wreckage recovered
- Chamber calls for for Gozo-Malta air link incentives
- Mobile Phones On Board Air Malta Aircraft
- Gozo Model Flying Association hold Exhibition
- Gozo helicopter service expected to resume on Saturday
- AFM plane makes emergency landing at Dwerja
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Next year, we will “celebrate” in style over a bottle of champagne, ten years since forwarding the first request to operate from the Gozo helicopter strip. All of the following - The Hon. Minister for Gozo, The Hon. Minister for Communication and Transport, the Department of Civil Aviation, Malta Air Traffic Services, Civil Protection Department, Office of the Manager Airport Security, Mimcol and the Armed Forces of Malta find no objection to Microlight aircraft utilizing the derelict heliport. Both (now defunct) helicopter operators also supported our request.
Unfortunately we have no Gozitans on board the great adventure yet. The possible use of the Xewkija helicopter strip by microlight aircraft remains a distant dream to us, to prospective Gozitan flyers as well as our foreign friends. Xewkija, just twenty minutes flight time from Luqa, remains more distant than Communist China to the European Microlight fraternity.
Our memory may escape us as regards to another dozen or so departments, offices or people whom we have asked for approval in one way or another, but we cannot forget the fact that no one has objected to our request. In the end and when it comes to the crunch, we find ourselves going around in dizzying circles and no one seems willing to fix the hole in the bucket.
Microlights require less than a hundred metres for take off or landing. A ten knot headwind results in takeoff and landing distances of less than ten metres! The Gozo helicopter asphalt airstrip is one hundred and seventy-eight meters long and twenty-two meters wide - more than adequate for microlight aircraft use. The grass strip adjacent to the asphalt is even longer and wider. It meets all European requirements for Microlight strips and has a well trained and led Fire Fighting crew next door. What else could one ask for? Whole chapters could be written regarding the positive contribution this sport offers tourism in Gozo, the whole year round and not just in the peak summer period.
Last May six hundred Microlight aircraft flew into Popham, England. A great contingent of Maltese Microlight pilots and owners attended this Meet to witness a great event and share in the joys of flying. Gela in Sicily (just across the channel) attracted five hundred Microlights in June. In tourism terms, it translates to approximately one thousand crew members and an even greater number of enthusiasts ‘living in’ during the weekend. Camp sites, caravans, guest houses and hotels around Gela were packed. Despite poor weather, there were one thousand and forty four Microlight aircraft arrivals at Tannkosh last July. Tannkosh is a small privately owned grass airfield in southern Germany not much bigger than Xewkija. This annual fly-in has become almost as famous as its US counterpart, Oshkosh. Yet Xewkija helicopter strip and its state of the art terminal remain derelict whilst awaiting the next helicopter to hover in from heaven.
From the dawn of the aeroplane there have been many who have yearned to fly but have been hindered from doing so by the expense. The more ambitious built their own machines, treating the work as a labour of love, and thus they avoided the substantial cost of a production aircraft.
However, such a dedicated mortal is not the ‘man in the street’ who perhaps does not have the technical ability to undertake such a task, but merely wants to fly.
Gliding was to many the opportunity to fly less expensively but as this too began to grow in terms of financial demands. The early 1970s saw determined enthusiasts on the west coast of America strapping all sorts of odd shaped wings on to their backs and leaping from sand dunes and occasionally arriving intact on the beach below. Hang gliding was born.
But, as with gliding the desire to go from A to B at will could not be realised and it was not long before hang-glider pilots who wanted this facility began adding small engines to their gliders. So the Microlight aircraft was born.
Once an engine is attached to an aircraft it becomes an aeroplane or ‘flying machine’, and this requires both pilot and aeroplane to comply with aviation laws which are both strict and complex.
However, by judicious and realistic negotiation in the early 1980s, the Microlight pilot and aeroplane avoided the full impact of the existing legislation and became subject to rules more meaningful to their nature and purpose; that of recreational flying.
Perhaps unique in flying circles is the distinct differences in types of Microlights available to the would-be enthusiast. There are two: the main variation is readily identifiable by shape, while the other difference lies in the form of control system.
The Microlight resembling the delta-shaped hang glider format is controlled by the movement of the whole wing itself. Colloquially this type is known as the ‘trike’ or sometimes ‘weight shift’. The other resembles the traditional aeroplane configuration and conventional controls are used; this type is commonly called a ‘three axis’ or ‘fixed wing’ machine.
Many pilots fly both types, although the control inputs are entirely opposite to each other. The novice will learn according to the type preferred but there is a tendency for those with previous conventional flying experience to opt for three-axis, where they feel more at home. Certainly any change from one to another, warrants a pilot undergoing conversion training with a qualified instructor.
Today the sport has developed beyond recognition, with the availability of aeroplanes which many outsiders doubt are actually Microlights. There are conventional (nose wheel), tail dragger and retractable undercarriage types, float, amphibian (floats with retractable undercarriage), sea (boat hull), inflatable dinghy and ski equipped microlights. Construction is made out of tube and fabric, metal, wood or state of the art composites. A thousand-mile range capability is not uncommon these days. One could easily reach Milan direct from Malta in one hop. High performance models have cruise speeds of one hundred and fifty knots. Prices start from around LM 3,000 for a good second hand model. One can opt for a factory built model or build his own in a garage. Colour schemes make Baron von Richthofen turn in his grave with envy. In fact they make excellent promotional platforms. Microlights have a maximum take off weight of four hundred and fifty kilograms, seat one or two persons, have a stalling speed of less than thirty five knots and cannot be operated at night. They do not require ground support equipment and can easily operate from dust and grass strips. Power is provided by either four or two stroke engines which run on unleaded fuel. Their engines make less noise than that of a motor scooter.
The Island Microlight Club was set up to promote the wonderful and exhilarating world of 
Microlights. Ten years later there are around forty qualified pilots from all walks of life, and twenty Microlight aircraft (both fixed wing and weight shift) and the number of both is growing rapidly. I have personally test-flown and cleared all twenty aircraft and find each and every one thrilling to fly in its own way. Last Summer I flew the amphibian to Sicily in formation with another Microlight, had lunch in Pozzallo, coffee in Palermo and returned back home that same evening. The sky is the limit.
Although we know that this article or any other effort to revive the Gozo Heliport will fall on deaf ears, we feel responsible towards the whole Microlight community to persist. Microlights do not require licensed aerodromes, only a permission from the land owner. Maybe someone, somehow, will have a change of heart and endorse our request.
Until such time, whenever you see us in our colourful flying machines overhead Gozo whilst en-route to Sicily or just buzzing around, remember we’ll be singing to the tune “There’s a hole in the bucket, dear …..” Feel free to join the chorus. Goodbye and Godspeed.
Major Mark Said is a UK CAA Flight Examiner, US FAA Multi-Engine Instrument Instructor and has flown more than fifty different types of aircraft, including jets, gliders, microlights, powerchutes and autogyros. Mark is also a qualified helicopter pilot. He obtained his qualifications in Malta, the United States, Italy and RAF Cranwell, England. This month he celebrates twenty years of flying.
Further information is available on the Club’s website at www.islandmicrolightclub.com.
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Oct 18, 2007 at 08:58:16
An extremely well written article; unfortunately this feet dragging attitude and shrugging of responsibility by the authorities has become all too prevalent in this country.
Come on, let’s get our act together!
Oct 18, 2007 at 11:07:04
This article explains in detail why we have this sport close to our hearts!
I sincerely hope that the Authorities will take heed of our request in order to make Gozo another destination where one can practice and enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the Maltese islands.
Oct 18, 2007 at 15:21:01
As the others have said, a very well written article.
Hopefully we will one day be granted permission to fly there, as the article suggests no one seems to be against it, so it really makes no sense that no one has issued a permit. At best it will bring more visitors to Gozo; and at the worst, well at the worst nothing, I really can’t see anything bad happening.
Oct 18, 2007 at 18:05:47
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.
Oct 18, 2007 at 18:21:00
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.
Oct 18, 2007 at 18:32:44
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
Oct 18, 2007 at 18:40:24
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!
Oct 18, 2007 at 23:08:19
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”
Oct 19, 2007 at 12:45:50
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
Oct 19, 2007 at 15:17:40
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!
Oct 19, 2007 at 15:21:41
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?
Oct 23, 2007 at 00:03:07
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
Mar 15, 2008 at 14:24:26
My dream is to fly!
Greetings from Down Under!