Aurigny's ATR plans take off

Friday 14 December 2018

Aurigny has got permission to spend £46m on three new ATRs with 'fog busting technology'.

The States approved plans for the outlay this morning, after hearing how it was essential for the airline in its continued attempts to balance the books.

The Clear Vision enhanced planes were described as an investment for the airline, which will help keep flights going during some of the foggiest weather the islands get.

The new technology, which is expected to be approved shortly, enables planes to land in poor visibility.

It will cost £46m to buy three of the Clear Vision assisted planes, with 23 deputies agreeing to support the business case and 14 voting against the plans.

Above: Eric De Le Salle, test pilot for ATR demonstrating the Clear Vision headwear. The new planes will be used on UK routes including the Gatwick services.

During the debate, some deputies argued that until Aurigny balances its books the States should limit the amount of money spent on it. But, Deputy Lyndon Trott said it should be seen as a strategic investment in the States owned airline.

He admitted that trust had been broken with Aurigny in the past, but he "implored" the Stares to put that trust back in the airline.

Speaking about the quality of Aurigny's new finance team he said, they know what they're doing.

They're "highly experienced men, who come in some cases from an aviation background" he said. "The board is of the highest quality."

He promised that, "we can expect a much greater accuracy in the forecasting going forward," when addressing concerns about Aurigny's overspends. 

Deputy Trott also said the air crew believe that the Clear Vision technology is the way to go, even though it hasn't been approved for use yet.

"If they (the air crew) didn't think that Clear Vision was the way to go, they'd have been on the phone telling us it's a red herring. There has been none of that and I think that is a very strong message indeed."

He also said that buying new planes would offer an improved customer experience.

"Firstly it says we are in an almost unique position, where there can be chaos in air services all around us but we retain ownership of an enormously valuable strategic asset. And look how confident we are in our future, because you can still smell the leather in this new one, because we're not going to run old stock to the ground because we're confident in our future."

Deputy Trott said rejecting the plans to buy the new planes would send out the wrong message, "particularly bearing in mind what is happening with other providers into this island."

Deputy Gavin St Pier also implored the States to back the plans saying that "without Aurigny we would be up a very dirty creak without a paddle."

Nigel Moll, Aurigny flight operations director speaking to Bailiwick Express when the airline was trialling the new technology. 

Among those opposing the multi million pound plans was Deputy Carl Meerveld, who said the £46m price just can't be justified. 

He said the "Aurigny's boards ability to make financial projections and stick to them has been appallingly bad.

"If I was a bank manager, looking at this impartially, I'd be looking at the management team and asking do I trust them, and this financial model, to deliver against it."

He laid the blame for the latest financial deficits partially at the door of politicians who have bowed down to Aurigny over the years. 

"This assembly and previous assemblies have trusted them and have been let down."

Following a day of debate, the purchase plans were approved and Aurigny is allowed to continue with its business case to buy three ATR72-600 aircraft replacing the airline's ATR72-500 aircraft. The States will guarantee a loan to do so.

Pictured top: Aurigny's new Clear Vision technology being tested.