Toti pilot opposes airport’s move to Scottburgh

A Toti pilot has joined the ranks of stakeholders who oppose the idea of relocating Virginia Airport to Scottburgh.

According to media reports, a feasibility study of Virginia Airport was presented to the executive committee by Dutch company Royal Haskoning and Scottburgh was one of the proposed sites recommended.

The Virginia airport site will be opened for development.

The decision has infuriated business owners operating from the Durban North airport and they have vowed to contest the decision in court.

Toti’s Andre Smit, who has a plane based at Virginia, has echoed objections, saying the idea is “ludicrous”.

“It will never work. The runway is too short and only an average-sized plane can land there. It is only a grass strip, so it will have to be tarred.

There are only two hangars and four planes operating from there. There’s no infrastructure.

Virginia has developed over years to become what it is now. There is nothing at Scottburgh.

All the hangars and the fuel bowsers will have to be relocated. Who’s going to pay for all of that?”

Andre said to close Virginia would take at least three to five years. “They can’t close tomorrow. There are a lot of people and at least 10 businesses operating from there. A lot of problems would result by relocating.”

The Toti pilot believes relocating Virginia to the old Durban International Airport would be a better idea, as there is existing infrastructure.

One of his planes is stored at Virginia, while a second is based at Cato Ridge. “It would be great for me if the airport moved to Scottburgh, as it is just down the road for me. But it will never happen.”