Aeroclub to ask the Island Council to guarantee fine

The President of the Aeroclub, José Luis Barrero hopes to have a meeting with the President of the Island Council, Marc Pons, before Friday when an E.G.M. of the club's members has been called to decide whether or not to appeal against the fine levied by AESA. Barrero explained that, in the short term, the guarantee was needed before legal proceedings could be started and, at the same time, to stop collection of the fine as the Aeroclub has no assets. The club's directors are also waiting to find out the results of a legal analysis this week as to whether an appeal against the sanction would have a good chance of succeeding.

The Island Council has already shown its support for the club in talks with AESA regarding the sanction, although these negotiations proved fruitless and the Aeroclub still faces the hefty fine, payment of which could lead to bankruptcy.

History of Club and Airfield
José Luis Barrero does not wish any open discussion to be restricted to the Aeroclub, feeling that it should also embrace the future of the airfield which has played an important role in Menorca's history.

Construction on the Sant Lluís aerodrome started in 1936 with the first aircraft landing in February 1939, a Fiat CR-32, a fighter plane from the Son Sant Joan Air Base. It was the island's only airport until the inauguration of the current installation in March 1969.

In September 1969 the Real Aeroclub de Mahón was formed and the airfield was ceded to the club on condition that it was used for aerial activities and maintained by the entity.

Since the club's foundation more than 40 years ago there have been 30,000 hours of flying and more than 200 pilots have been trained.

Some of the activities organised by the club, such as the international air race, have attracted a different kind of tourist, drawn by the good weather conditions on the island which allow for leisure flying.

The Aeroclub has also proved its usefulness in firefighting campaigns over the past few years, flying over the island on the lookout for forest fires under an agreement with the Island Council in return for improvements being made to the runway; a duty which has led to the club's present situation after it had been denounced by the Spanish Association for Air Companies (AECTA) for intruding in their field of work.

The club's most pressing concern now is to freeze payment of the sanction by obtaining a guarantee for the 135,000 euros whilst starting legal proceedings to have the fine dropped or lowered, allowing the club to continue in existence.