Trapiche Airfield, Velez-Málaga, Eastern Costa del Sol Spain
Jul 25, 2024 12:42:31 GMT 1
Airbus and Speedy like this
Post by viscount on Jul 25, 2024 12:42:31 GMT 1
ACTIVITY AT MY ‘LOCAL’, TRAPICHE - A SUMMARY JULY 2024
Trapiche Airfield, Aeropuerto Vélez-Málaga, Axarquia Airport, Aerodromo Leoni Benabú, LEAX – all the same place to the east of Malága City and a little inland of the coast and 10 minutes away from home by car - visits are usually while en route down to Velez-Malaga supermarkets.
For a little over 7 years now, I have watched my local single hard runway (30/12) general aviation field get busier and busier. This is mainly due to two of the four main resident flying school/aero club concerns more than trebling their fleets and activity in that time.
Largest concern is One Air.es, offering right-through pilot training (ab initio to A.320 co-pilot’s seat), with aircraft, maintenance and school facilities at both Trapiche and at Malaga Airport. Their fleet in July 2024 comprises:
8 x Diamond DA.20C-1: EC-JOV, EC-LIC, EC-LTE, EC-MQT, EC-MRQ, EC-NAS, EC-NFV, EC-NKV. While another, EC-KUX was w/o 10/10/23.
2 x Diamond DA.40NG: EC-LRF, EC-MHQ
8 x Tecnam P.2008JC: EC-NYU, EC-NYV, EC-OAT, EC-OIQ, EC-OIR, EC-OIS, EC-OIX, plus one – most are now in service.
4 x Cirrus SR.20: EC-KKH, EC-LVJ, EC-NGE, EC-NLH
3 x Diamond DA.42: EC-MFV, EC-MVA, EC-NNU
1 x Tecnam P.2006T Premium: EC-OEY – although another EC-OAR did appear briefly in 2023, it is no longer on the Spanish register.
Making a current fleet of 22 singles and 4 twins – which agrees with the latest revision of the company web-site.
Aerodynamic Flight Academy, have in the past year expanded with 6 further aircraft, all retaining their previous national registration, but have acquired the Aerodynamics logo. In 2020 the company moved into purpose built facilities at Trapiche, and not only offer right-through tuition, but a whole host of other airline training courses for flight attendants and ground staff. Currently in July 2024 are operating:
2 x Piper Cherokee 161: EC-NNI, EC-NNJ (operated as G-CETE and G-OOFT until 12/20)
9 x Cessna 172 (various sub-marks): EC-HYA, EC-MYJ, EC-MYK, EC-MYL, D-EESC, D-EKJJ, D-EKQQ, D-EMWA, HA-KLB.
2 x Cessna 172RG Cutlass RG: EC-ICY, HA-OLI
2 x Beech 76 Duchess: EC-KTO, HA-PMG
Making a current active fleet of 15 aircraft, 13 singles and 2 twins. While I’ve not noted Cessna F150G EC-GZF active in the past 12 months, and neither Cessna 172RG EC-NHI nor Beech 76s EC-MYI and EC-INC for a few years. All are still on the Spanish Civil Register though. They also have a Navajo Chieftain 350, G-CGID in external store for the past 6 years (C of A expired 5/20) but is still UK registered.
The based Aero Club, and airfield operator is the Real Aeroclub de Málaga (translates as Royal Aero Club of Málaga) with 2 x Piper Cherokee 161s EC-JQS and EC-JUY and Bellanca 8KCAB Decathlon EC-NSJ (which arrived in 2022 as SE-KLJ). A member’s group had several CASA 1-131 bi-planes, but after serious accidents I’ve not seen one flying for a couple of years.
The other flying school is World Aviation. They offer both fixed and rotary wing tuition – however seem to bring in aircraft when required from elsewhere. I’ve noted Piper Cherokee Arrow EC-IQV this year and Diamond DA.40 EC-JKE in 2023 and 2024. All white Guimbal training helicopters F-HGHG in 2019 & 2020, EC-NPI in 2022 and EC-NSO 2024. Robinson R.44s F-HCSD, with EC-JPR in 2020, 2022 and 2023 and smart Eurocopter EC.130B4 EC-MTG in 2023 and 2024.
Also, I see a number of autogyros. Always one at a time over a period of weeks and in 4 years I’ve identified 10 different machines, some performing circuits at Trapiche, some flying over – they may well be with Autogirofun, who operate off a strip at Villanueva de Trabuco, around a 30 minute drive away.
In addition, there are a fair number of privately owned aircraft, but are only rarely seen active and a trickle of visitors, mostly non-Spanish registered that come, sit for a few days, then depart. Often none at all, although quite a few during May. Feast or famine.
I’ll now illustrate a few of the flying school regulars along with recent arrivals, some of the visitors and interesting low overflights over my casa.