Local campaigner Alf Caine has sent an open letter to Members of Tynwald regarding the current operational and staffing challenges at Ronaldsway Airport.
Alf was a former private pilot who learned to fly at Ronaldsway and was a part-owner of a Tiger Moth based there.
The letter reflects on how the airport operated in earlier years and contrasts that with the issues highlighted in recent Manx News reporting, including staffing shortages, management culture, and governance concerns.
Open Letter: Reflections on Ronaldsway Airport and the State of Aviation in the Isle of Man
As a resident of the Isle of Man and a private pilot holding both a UK fixed-wing licence and a US helicopter licence, I first learned to fly at Ronaldsway Airport and am very familiar with how it used to operate. I am writing to share my reflections on the current operational and staffing challenges at Ronaldsway Airport, our island’s vital air gateway.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of being a part-owner and flying a Tiger Moth based at Ronaldsway. Take-offs and landings were simple, demanding, and hands-on, with no brakes and no rear tail wheel.
We relied on digging the tail skid into the grass and our skill to bring the aircraft safely to a stop. Back then, there were no problems. Air traffic controllers were professional, helpful, and attentive.
Everything ran smoothly because management did not interfere, and pilots and controllers worked together with trust and mutual respect. In my opinion, today’s issues, including repeated closures, staffing crises, and safety concerns, are the result of mismanagement and bureaucracy, not the competence of the staff.
Systemic Problems at Airport
Recent news reports have highlighted systemic problems at Ronaldsway, including a toxic leadership culture, poor retention of experienced controllers, and operational failures.
Whistleblowers have described situations where controllers are forced to manage multiple critical tasks alone, safety concerns are ignored, and serious incidents have gone unreported. In my opinion, these problems reflect management failures and governance issues rather than staff competence.
I no longer fly, not because of lack of interest or ability, but because modern aviation has become dominated by bureaucracy and regulation, and it is clear that mismanagement now threatens even routine operations.
Chronic ATC staffing shortages, mandatory fatigue breaks, and repeated airport closures illustrate how fragile our air connectivity has become under current leadership.
Not to Diminish
I write not to diminish the importance of safety, which is paramount, but to highlight lessons from the past. Skilled, empowered staff achieve results, and controllers and pilots in earlier years worked safely and efficiently without unnecessary interference.
Trust and teamwork foster safety, and open communication and mutual respect remain the foundation of a safe aviation culture.
Poor management and excessive bureaucracy create risk, and current operational delays, staffing crises, and hidden safety issues show how governance failures can endanger the public and undermine confidence.
I urge Tynwald Members and the Department of Infrastructure to prioritise:
- Transparent and accountable leadership at Ronaldsway
- Recruitment, retention, and wellbeing of skilled air traffic controllers
- Practical solutions focused on safety and efficiency, rather than over-complication and unnecessary administrative layers
The Isle of Man deserves and needs an airport that is safe, reliable, and managed with common sense and professionalism. Let us not lose the lessons from the good old days, when skill, responsibility, and collaboration were at the heart of safe aviation.
In the interests of transparency and openness, this correspondence has also been shared with other recipients.