Glasgow Airport Movements 2021
April
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April 2021
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Fine Easter weather basically continued throughout the month which was remarkably dry with plenty of sunshine, cold clear nights and frosty mornings.
Even before the latest easing of lockdown restrictions took effect, it was great to see so many people out enjoying themselves, most of whom seemed to be adhering to the social distancing guidelines. Local golf courses were busy, families and couples were taking a stroll or cycling, there were kayakers on the Cart and even paddle-boarders on the Clyde.
These boarders were making their way up to Glasgow city centre, and would no doubt have got a great view of the three cruise ships laid-up at KGV en route.
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While the UK`s large scale vaccine rollout continues, mainland Europe struggled as infections continue to soar. Just over a year after Italy became the first western nation to be hit by a Coronavirus epidemic, the country is now facing a third wave and implemented its second Easter lockdown. Italy entered the latest three-day lockdown over the holiday weekend to try to prevent a surge in cases with all regions designated `red zones` for a time. With about 20,000 new cases a day, non-essential movement was banned, but people were allowed to have an Easter meal in their homes with two others. For the second year, Pope Francis delivered his Easter message to an empty St Peter's Square. Following the holiday weekend, different regions remained in either an `orange zone` or `red zone` classification with restrictions reviewed at the end of the month.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) criticised Europe's `unacceptably slow` vaccine rollout, and said the situation in the region was worse than it had been for several months. According to the WHO, at the the beginning of April, only 10% of the nearly 900 million people in the region have had a single dose of Coronavirus vaccine. WHO director for Europe Hans Kluge urged leaders to `ramp up manufacturing, reduce barriers to administering vaccines, and use every single vial currently in stock, now.` In the meantime, as long as vaccine coverage remained low, he said many EU countries would have to impose lockdowns and other measures to compensate for the delays.
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As infections began to peak in France, putting about 5,000 people in intensive care, President Emmanuel Macron announced the country was entering a third national lockdown for at least three weeks. French schools moved back to remote learning, and all non-essential shops closed. People were banned from travelling more than 10 km (six miles) from home without good reason. And last month, German officials announced that their country would be placed in a strict Easter lockdown - only to reverse the decision just days later. German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the plan for a lockdown from 1 to 5 April a mistake, and said she took `ultimate responsibility` for the U-turn. (Above images © connexionfrance.com & BBC News).
(Above image © BBC / Getty)
Further afield, rising Coronavirus infections in India became a major concern with the country recording 312,731 new infections in a 24-hour period, the highest daily case count in a single country since the virus surfaced in China more than a year ago. This total eclipsed the previous single-day high of 300,669 cases, set in the United States on 8 January, according to a New York Times database. The outbreak in India has exploded over the past two months, with reports of a new COVID-19 variant, superspreader gatherings, oxygen shortages and ambulances lined up outside hospitals because of a lack of ventilators for new patients. India soon surpassed 15.6 million total infections, second only to the United States. Following calls from numerous sources to restrict travel between India and the UK, India was finally added to a `red list` of countries from which most travel to Great Britain is banned. British or Irish passport holders, or people with UK residence rights, however, will be allowed in to the UK but must quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days.
Jet Airliners
Atlantic Airways Airbus A320-251N OY-RCL is seen here at the terminal shortly after arriving on 30 March. It was bringing the Faroe Islands football team to Glasgow for the World Cup qualifier against Scotland, a match that the home side went on to win comfortably 4-0. The airliner headed back to the Faroes on Thursday 1 April. CityJet Bombardier CRJ-900LR EI-GEA flew in from Dublin the same day to take Glasgow Warriors rugby team France for a Challenge Cup match against Montpellier on the 2nd. The home side won 26-21 and the same plane returned with the team on the 3rd.
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Scotland's national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch is hopeful that a reduced number of fans will be inside Hampden in June for the European Championships. The National Stadium is due to host Scotland's games against the Czech Republic and Croatia, as well as the meeting of those group rivals, plus a last 16 tie. The championship, which will see Scotland's first appearance at a major football finals since 1998, was scheduled to be played last year before being delayed as a result of the pandemic.
Prof Leitch believes that UEFA will be more concerned by the escalating COVID-19 cases in France, Belgium and Germany than in Glasgow but stressed that the deteriorating situation in these countries should act as a warning to people in Scotland to adhere to the current restrictions. Otherwise, if the competition does go ahead as planned, the teams will be playing in an empty stadium.
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The Scottish government initially gave approval for 12,000 supporters (25% of Hampden`s capacity) to attend Euro 2020 matches there. It's understood Glasgow's plans will work on the basis that fans will be allowed inside with strict adherence to the two-metre social distancing rules. Although, under current plans, large scale events could resume in Scotland from 17 May, the Euro 2020 matches at Hampden are the first confirmation of fans returning to stadia in Scotland. A decision on whether there will be a Fan Zone in the city centre has yet to be made. Glasgow is one of 12 host cities and the football authorities could switch venues if guarantees on supporter attendance cannot be provided.
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Italian Football Federation say Rome's Stadio Olimpico will welcome spectators, and the Dutch authorities have announced plans to enable 12,000 fans to attend matches at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff Arena. Dublin, however, which had been set to host three group games, has told UEFA that it is currently unable to provide assurances on minimum spectator levels therefore games planned for there may be switched to another venue.
BEA Retro-liveried G-EUPJ flew in on a Shuttle flight PM on Thursday 8 April and night-stopped to return to Heathrow the following morning.
Next, some airline news; Jet 2 announced that it intends to suspend all flights until at least 23rd June. British Airways will operate just a single daily Gatwick-Glasgow service this summer, which is understood to be the only short haul flight operating from Gatwick until the end of October. easyJet intend to commence twice weekly Glasgow-Antalya services from 1 July 2021 if travel restrictions allow. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic have cancelled their Orlando programme from Glasgow (and Belfast) until next year, due to the ongoing uncertainty over COVID-19.
Making a welcome change from standard KLM Cityhopper Embraers, ERJ-190STD PH-EZX in Skyteam livery appeared on the 19th.
Embraer 190 PH-EZK was one of two KLM Cityhopper jets to appear to 5 April, the other being PH-EXT which positioned for the early flight the following day.
Malta Air Boeing 737-8AS(WL) 9H-QCN (f/v) arrived from Bologna on Friday 16 April. Bombardier CRJ-900LR EI-GED of CityJet visited on the 23rd and 24th.
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Air Namibia Folds
Africa is faring particularly badly in its battle to control the spread of COVID-19. One consequence, according to park rangers and conservation experts, is that a wildlife catastrophe is unfolding there. They say the closure of safari tourism, due to the pandemic, is decimating the industry, and leading to an increase in poaching. The African tourism industry is worth almost $30 billion a year and employs almost four million people. Experts and rangers on the ground say they are seeing a surge in poaching as thousands of unemployed people dependent on the industry turn to wild animals for food.
The tourists disappeared, taking with them the dollars that National Parks and surrounding communities depend on. The absence of foreign visitors also left a dent in security. Without all those extra eyes and ears on the ground, poachers have less chance of running into safari operators and their guests. Across Africa, where the vast majority of protected areas already operate on a shoestring budget, experts fear an upsurge in more organised poaching of endangered species due to the cascade of local poverty brought about by the pandemic.
The tourists disappeared, taking with them the dollars that National Parks and surrounding communities depend on. The absence of foreign visitors also left a dent in security. Without all those extra eyes and ears on the ground, poachers have less chance of running into safari operators and their guests. Across Africa, where the vast majority of protected areas already operate on a shoestring budget, experts fear an upsurge in more organised poaching of endangered species due to the cascade of local poverty brought about by the pandemic.
Another casualty of the deteriorating situation in Africa is Namibia`s national airline, Air Namibia, which ceased operations for good in February this year, ending 75 years of service. The Namibian government said it could no longer afford to continue propping up the airline financially, and with the numbers of visitors to the country likely to remain low for many years to come due to Coronavirus, they had no other option. Finance Minister Lipumbu Shimi said that priority must be be given to support economic growth and critical social services, rather than further bailing out the Windhoek-based flag-carrier. It`s thought that the government has already ploughed more than $554 million (USD) into the airline over the last decade and a new bailout would cost the Namibian taxpayer a further $461m. Before the shut down, Air Namibia operated a small fleet comprising a pair of Airbus A330-200s, a trio of A319ceos and four Embraer ERJ135s. These aircraft have been ferried back to Windhoek for storage pending disposal. The two 244-seat A330s V5-ANO and V5-ANP were used for long haul operations with Frankfurt being the carrier`s only European destination.
Turboprop Airliners
This month`s highlight was ATR 72-600 2-EATA (f/v) `Silver Warrior` (Fleet Number 705) in Silver Airways livery which flew in from Toulouse–Blagnac Airport on Thursday 8 April. It`s destined to become N705SV with Silver Airways, an American regional airline headquartered in Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport with a maintenance facility based at Gainesville Regional Airport.
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The airline, which is privately owned by Versa Capital Management, operates scheduled and charter services to 30 destinations in Florida, the Bahamas, and Southeast USA, as well as the Mid-Atlantic from Washington-Dulles Airport. Silver Airways operates with a fleet of Saab 340B plus ATR 42 and 72 turboprops, all of which have distinctive flamingo tail art.
2-EATA remained here until approximately 12:40 hrs on Saturday 10 April when it flew over to Dublin to have essential work done on its de-icing boot before continuing across the pond. This ice protection system is aimed at preventing the formation of an ice ridge on the wing during flight. Such boots are generally installed on the leading edges of wings and control surfaces as these areas are most likely to accumulate ice and any contamination could severely affect the aircraft's performance. |
Deicing boots are most commonly seen on medium-sized airliners and utility aircraft, whereas larger airliners and military jets tend to use heating systems within the wing, keeping it constantly warm and preventing ice from forming. Deicing boots were invented by the B.F. Goodrich Corporation back in the late 1920s / early 1930s in Akron, Ohio. A deicing boot consists of a thick rubber membrane that`s installed over the surface to be deiced. As atmospheric icing occurs and ice builds up, a pneumatic system inflates the boot with compressed air. This expansion cracks any ice that has accumulated, and this ice is blown away into the airflow. The boots are then deflated to return the wing or surface to its optimal shape. For the system to function properly, the boots must be well-maintained and serviced. Any holes may create air leaks that will decrease the effectiveness of the boots. As such, boots must be carefully inspected before each flight and any holes or cuts need to be patched.
Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.
One of Loganair`s Twin Otters can be seen inbound for the airport flying beyond Elisabeth Schulte as the oil tanker manoeuvres into Rothesay Dock.
Saab 340B G-LGND moments from touchdown on Monday 19 April 2021.
Biz-Jets
Challenger 604 D-AFAG (f/v) arrived on 8 April from Dnipro (previously called Dnipropetrovsk) in the Ukraine. It left the next day for Nuremberg, Germany.
Glasgow Airport`s corporate traffic for April was as follows: Cessna Citation Bravo G-SPRE and Eclipse Aviation Corp EA500 Eclipse 2-CLRK (f/v) Channel Jets (1st); Cessna CitationJet CJ1 G-KION (3rd); CitationJet CJ4 M-KNOX (4th); Bombardier Challenger 604 D-AFAG (f/v) (8th); CitationJet CJ2 G-SOVZ (9th); Nextant 400XTi OK-PFY (f/v) Time Air and Eclipse EA500 2-JSEG (10th); CitationJet CJ2 G-SOVZ (plus other dates) and Eclipse EA500 2-JSEG both returned (12th); Citation Mustang G-FFFC (14th); CitationJet CJ2 G-ILBG returned (plus other dates) (15th); Embraer Phenom 300E 2-EMBR (17th); Cessna Citation Bravo G-CMBC (20th)...
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Citation XLS CS-DXP (21st); Citation XLS G-LEAX and Citation Mustang G-FFFC (22nd); Citation CJ2 D-IKBO (23rd); Citation Latitude G-LATO (f/v) Zenith Aviation (26th); CitationJet CJ2+ G-HCSA, Citation Bravo G-SPRE, plus G-LATO returned (28th); Rounding things off this month were Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign SE-RFL operated by European Flight Service, plus Learjet 75 G-USHA (30th).
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Above: Cessna 525 Citationjet CJ2 G-NOCM of Air Charter Scotland.
Cessna Citation Latitude G-LATO of Zenith Aviation made a brief visit to Glasgow from Biggin Hill on the morning of 26 April and returned on the 28th.
General Aviation
The Air Ambulance Charity helicopter G-SCAA landed at the Golden Jubilee Hospital, Dalmuir, about 16:30 hrs on Thursday 1 April.
One from the Irish Register: Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee EI-CIF is pictured `masked-up` on Area Whiskey`. Friday 30 April 2021,
On Friday 2 April, Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 Turbo Porter D-FIPS overflew the airport before heading north to the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs area, taking advantage of the superb conditions to carry out survey work. Ravenair Aircraft Ltd Partenavia P.68B Victor G-RVNE did likewise, concentrating on the skies to the southeast of Paisley. These aircraft flew numerous survey sorties from Prestwick during the first half of the month. Thereafter, GA visitors actually landing at Glasgow International were King Air 200 G-FSEU (10th); Super King Air 250 N288DW (f/v) (11th); King Air 200s G-VALK (f/v) and G-FLYK (13th); King Air 200s G-WNCH and G-KVIP, plus G-VALK returned (14th); King Air 200 G-FLYK again and Piper PA-28 Warrior II G-BNTD (f/v) (15th); Cirrus SR-22T N45KB (17th); Pilatus PC-12 G-OMSL (22nd); Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee EI-CIF (f/v) (25th); Pilatus PC-12 M-DRIL (f/v) (26th); King Air 200 G-IMEA (29th); and finally, Skystar Kitfox Mk 5 G-LESZ (f/v) (30th).
An Emergency Landing on Jura
On 20 April, the pilot of a light aircraft emerged uninjured after making an emergency landing on a remote beach on the Isle of Jura. The alarm was raised about 15:00 hrs by a member of the public who witnessed the plane come down on the sands at Shian Bay on the island`s west coast. Prestwick-based HM Coastguard AgustaWestland AW189 search and rescue helicopter G-MCGR was training nearby and due to the inaccessible nature of the crash site, members of the local coastguard rescue team were airlifted to the scene. They confirmed that the sole occupant of the plane, although badly shaken, was not hurt and did not require medical treatment. The plane, the identity of which has not yet been released, was moved above the high tide line pending removal. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has confirmed an investigation is underway.
These images all © Jura Coastguard / BBC / Press & Journal.
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Another aviation-related item making the news was the announcement that a hybrid-electric aircraft is set to be flown between Orkney and Caithness as part of a plan to reduce harmful emissions in the Highlands and Islands. Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), which operates Kirkwall and Wick John O'Groats airports, is among the organisations leading the long-term project which aims to create the `world's first zero-emission aviation region`. US-based Ampaire will fly one of its Electric EEL aircraft (left) on the 20-minute, 35-mile (56 km) flights between Kirkwall and Wick on seven return trial flights of the route in mid-July. HIAL hopes to achieve zero-emission targets by replacing fossil fuels with electric, hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels at its airports and also on the aircraft serving them.
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Hial's other airports include Inverness, Sumburgh, Stornoway, Barra and Dundee. Following the flights in Scotland, the aircraft is to head for south west England for similar demonstration flights between Exeter in Devon and Newquay in Cornwall as part of a separate zero emissions regional airport research project. Like Ampaire's Scottish flights, the aim is to study the feasibility of connecting `hard-to-reach` island communities by using hybrid-electric powered aircraft. The California-based company said the technology could reduce airlines' operation costs, and cut noise pollution and carbon emissions. The study will also examine what infrastructure would be needed, such as charging facilities, and how renewable energy could be used to power hybrid-electric aircraft. The Electric EEL, which has been given tartan wingtips in HIAL colours, was used in an experimental flight across the island of Maui in Hawaii last year. It also made a long distance 341-mile (549 km) flight from the outskirts of Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay area.
Military
Very little military traffic visiting Glasgow International compared with recent months. The unidentified high-flying A400M Atlas transport pictured below was heading north above the airport at an altitude of about 30,00 ft on Sunday 11 April. UAS Grob G 115E Tutor T1 G-BYXA made a visit to the airport on Thursday 15 April. After a fairly long absence, the German Air Force made their latest visit to Glasgow with Bombardier BD-700-1A11 Global 5000 14+04 `GAF 685` which made a go-around of Runway 23 at 14:05 hrs on Thursday 22 April. RAF E-3D Sentry ZH101, callsign `NATO 32`, did a go-around of Runway 05 at 19:00 hrs on Wednesday 28 April. The following afternoon, P-8A Posiedon ZP803 (f/v) `Stingray 03` did a similar manoeuvre at 14: 55, followed by two touch & gos (29th).
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On Tuesday 6 April, a pair of Mildenhall-based CV-22B Osprey using the joint callsign `Knife 71` called in at Prestwick Airport mid-afternoon, spending around 40 minutes on the ground. These USAF rotary-winged craft were believed to be operating in the Firth of Clyde, and over the Cowal peninsula for a time. The serial numbers were 11-0059 and 10-0052.
The first of 2021`s large scale Joint Warrior military exercises, which usually take place in March / April each year, was put back slightly, probably in part due to the pandemic. The dates this time are Joint Warrior 21-1 running from Sunday 2 to Thursday 13 May 2021, with Joint Warrior 21-2, slightly earlier than usual being hosted between Sunday 26 September and Friday 8 October. Exercise Strike Warrior 21, will overlap with Exercise Joint Warrior 21-1, and run from 8-20 May as part of the final preparations for the first deployment of the UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG) next month. Although most of the action usually takes place off Scotland`s West Coast, the Firth of Forth will also see some exercise related activity. Several warships and support vessels have already appeared on the Clyde including Type 32 (Duke-class) Frigate HMS Northumberland (F238) (above), auxiliary RFA Fort Victoria (A387), River-class Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Mersey (P283) and USNS Supply (T-AOE-6),of the U.S. Military Sealift Command.
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Unlike previous occasions, vessels will not gather at Faslane and / or Glasgow en masse for a few days prior to setting off for their various start positions. Some will call in at Faslane but it`s unlikely that any crews will be given shore time outside the naval base, as the risk of even one crew member catching Coronavirus and returning on board could have catastrophic consequences. Last April, an outbreak on the French Navy aircraft carrier FS Charles de Gaulle saw 1,046 confirmed cases out of a compliment of 1,760.
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Apart from the F-35 jets and helicopters operating from HMS Queen Elizabeth, some of the other participating vessels will have choppers on board but it remains to be seen how many call in at RAF Lossiemouth or Scotland`s civilian airports. Prestwick usually hosts a number of Cobham Aviation Dassault Falcons and Royal Navy Hawks, which carry out various exercise-related sorties, including simulated attacks while Lossie frequently hosts Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPAs) and fighters from foreign air arms, but there is no advance info an attendance for this one so far. (Following image © MOD / www.naval-technology.com).
Construction & Development
Above: The Gama Aviation and Scottish Ambulance Service hangars seen from one of two main access roads to the new development site off Abbotsinch Road. According to posters on the perimeter of a nearby works compound, at least one of the large buildings taking shape will house the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre: `Bringing state-of-the-art transformative solutions in small molecule and fine chemical manufacturing to Renfrewshire.` According to the ad, the complex is due for completion by Spring 2022.
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Three Roe Deer were foraging along the treeline on the west side of the White Cart but mostly remained screened by vegetation making them difficult to photograph. These long range telephoto shots of one deer taking in the construction work emphasise the ongoing struggle faced by animals such as these, plus foxes and badgers, due to human encroachment and habitat loss. By the time the new development is completed, suitable terrain for wildlife will be increasingly patchy and further diminished.
A few days later I spotted three Roes on the south bank of the Black Cart Water, close to the Barnsford Bridge. They may well be the same animals...
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They were very nervous and immediately bounded off, resulting in some grainy, long distance shots.
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The raised bank of earth on the east side of Abbotsinch Road, opposite the Gama Aviation hangar, although not well-utilised by local aircraft photographers, was one of my favourite vantage points. It was great for snapping planes taxiing past Area Juliet and any on short finals for Runway 23, but it was only a matter of time before this mound was bulldozed to accommodate the new road layout.
With most of the construction work halted over the Easter weekend, I took the opportunity to get what would likely be my last photos taken from this location. The shots, including a couple of ultra-wide angle views show that even by then a substantial quantity of earth had been cleared. Several other prime viewing spots favoured by enthusiasts are set to disappear in the not too distant future, especially along the perimeter fence in Abbotsinch Road. There will likely be some possibilities from the vicinity of the new cycle / footbridge over the Black Cart when it opens, but these will be limited to incoming planes only. |
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The east end of the embankment was first to go.
Above: This exaggerated angle stretches both ends of the embankment inward, combining the views to the west, north and east.
After the completed foot / cycle bridge toppled over during the attempt to move it into position over the Black Cart Water last year, the structure has been reassembled. The bridge was dismantled and taken off-site for inspection but it now looks like there was no major damage, otherwise a whole new bridge would have had to be manufactured.
The above panorama shows the White Cart Water on the left, and the White Cart`s existing stone bridge just left of centre, The arches lead to the Inchinnan Cruising Club boatyard (below). The club has an active membership with a varied fleet of power and sailing vessels and its aim is to promote boating within the Firth of Clyde alongside social activities afloat and ashore for members. The offical website includes a gallery and information on the history of the club.
The Inchinnan Bascule Bridge from the east.
The above view, looking south, shows where the White Cart and Black Cart waters meet. The promontory occupied by the Inchinnan Cruising Club separates the rivers at this point. The bascule bridge over the White Cart is on the left with the stone bridge over the Black Cart further right. The airport`s 23 Runway lights can be made out just right of centre, between the two light coloured clumps of trees.
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The final section of the bridge was back on site and ready to be lifted into position on 15 April.
The complete structure ready for a second go!
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It`s not clear when it will be moved into position to span to the Black Cart, but mid-to-late May is a possibility given the preparations to date.
Work beside the 23 Runway lights has also ramped up this month, with much of the surrounding ground cleared ready for surfacing. This will likely be to accommodate the footpath / cycle way on the west side of the new bridge. It had originally been hoped to continue the non-vehicle route parallel with the busy A8 all the way to Inchinnan, but I believe there were land access issues which will likely result in a rejoin with the A8 at this point. Still, pedestrians and cyclists should find crossing here a bit safer than the existing Inchinnan Road / Abbotsinch Road junction.
The west side of the Black Cart crossing is very close to the site of the 1904 All Hallows Church that was demolished in the 1960s to make way for Glasgow Airport. The graveyard, a superb vantage point, is out of bounds to the general public although it could be accessed during `Renfrewshire Doors Open Days`. These were obviously put on hold last year during the pandemic but may return at some stage. Whether 2021 will see some locations welcome visitors again remains to be seen.
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A line has been dug in the fields on the opposite side of the road, (right) running north towards the Clyde, but seemingly ending short at a line of trees. This track, which has been fenced off, is also set to be surfaced but I`ve no idea of its purpose at present.
The stone bridge over the Black Cart (below) is likely to become one of the most popular spots with photographers as alternatives in Abbotsinch Road become fewer. |
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A short distance to the east of the River Cart, preparatory work has begun for the new major crossing of the Clyde. A pedestrian / road bridge will span the river connecting the south side from the site of the old Lobnitz yard and the Clydebank, north side just east of Rothesay Dock and the Clyde Boatyard. In this aerial shot, taken several years ago, the yard of Christie & Son (Metal Merchants) Ltd can be seen just left of centre with a blue JCB about to begin shifting yet another pile of scrap. The trees of the Blythswood occupy the foreground on the left hand side.
The following shots, taken taken this month, show the cleared Christie`s yard and old Lobnitz Dock. This famous Clyde shipbuilding company was descended from Coulburn Lobnitz & Company, established in 1874, and the adjacent shipyard of William Simons & Co, established in 1860. Both builders specialised in the construction of dredgers and hopper barges. The two companies amalgamated in 1957 as Simons-Lobnitz Ltd but with business declining the Renfrew yard finally closed in 1964, but only after some 1,300 dredgers as well as barges and tugs had been built at the site. In addition, over sixty minor war vessels (sloops, corvettes, minesweepers and boom defence vessels) were constructed by Lobnitz at Renfrew between 1915 and 1945 for the Royal Navy.
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The company's goodwill and orders were purchased in 1964 by Alexander Stephen and Sons, which merged into Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in 1968. Simons-Lobnitz re-emerged from the collapse of UCS in 1971 and continues to operate as a marine engineering and naval architecture consultancy based in Paisley, now called Lobnitz Marine Holdings.
Christie & Son`s yard could produce up to 10,000 tonnes of high-grade ferrous and non-ferrous processed metal per month which supplied not only the domestic market but also steel mills throughout Europe. Much of the metal was transported by sea and a variety of coasters, including Hanseatic Trader seen here, called in over the years to load up.
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The Blythswood is the last remaining mature woodland in Renfrew and some of it will be bulldozed to accommodate the new bridge and approach roads.
Garden
The above photo of the moon was taken at 6 a.m. on Thursday 1 April, with the comparison below right taken around the same time on the morning of the 30th. Although this month was one of the frostiest Aprils on record, it was also one of the driest with numerous fine days leading to some colourful blooms in parks and gardens.
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April 2021
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