Aviodrome in problems

[flatlandpilot]

I just heard the Aviodrome is in financial problems :-(

http://www.rtl.nl/components/financien/rtlz/nieuws/2011/45/Aviodrome-uitstel-van-betaling.xml

[Goldmember]

Yep, sad to hear. They have "uitstel van betaling" which means they are protected against creditors to collect their debts in order to create a better cash flow.

http://nos.nl/op3/artikel/311554-mayday-mayday-aviodrome-in-zwaar-weer.html

To be honest, I never understood why they moved from Schiphol airport to Lelystad 10 years ago. The new location only attracts enthusiasts.

[dnoize]

they had to move because the schiphol facility was getting way to small, but more importantly, because The Schiphol Group was claiming the ground the AvioDOME (without the R at that time) was on.
It wasnt really that they had a choice.

[50sqnwop/ag]

It's a shame they are having problems at the new location , although I've not seen it in person (I like the recreation of the original Schipol terminal) just on the web n aviation magazines. The Aviodome was definately a tardis, the amount of stuff they had in there, I did a bit of volunteering there before I moved back to the UK. Is the reason it only attracts enthusiasts because of its somewhat remote location in comparison to being at Schipol?

[Joe Lavery]

Sad news guys, the aviodrome museum in Lelystad, well know to us flight sim nuts for hosting the fantastic Flight Sim weekend in November has closed after talks with a new buyer failed. The result is that from the 23rd the museum is closed, it's 56 staff laid off and it's been placed into administration.
It looks likely that the aircraft collection, including the beautiful Connie and the KLM 747 combi will be auctioned off and failing a sale, possibly scrapped.

This information sent to me by another writer (Jessica Bannister-Pearce) who also works for PC Pilot.

Joe.

[Sean Nixon]

This is sad news. I guess nothing and no one is immune from the hard times we are experiencing right now.

I'd like to think nothing gets scrapped as a consequence of this. I take it the airfield is still operational?

[Joe Lavery]

Yes, I believe this only affects the Aviodrome.
Lelystad is a commercial airport and I understand has the largest GA facility in the Netherlands. It also encompasses a hotel and 2 restaurants, so I imagine it is fairly secure. Yet as Sean has commented who knows in this economic climate! :sad:

[dnoize]

Thats correct, this does not effect the airport.

Unfortunately the aviodrome has been going through hard times for years and years now and finally the curtain fell.

Sad news indeed.

All these years the aviodrome survived by government and KLM support.
Both parties have drawn back their funding recently. Meaning the Aviodrome had no means to survive independently.

Anyone ever been to Aviodrome on weekdays knows there were hardly any paying visitors. It was allways next to empty. Meanwhile the costs for keeping an organisation this big up are HUGE.
Events like the FSweekend or Pilot days would draw many customers but besides these days not much.

As a aviodrome supporter i see this happen with pain in my heart :-(

The aviodrome has a huge collection of aviation heritage in general and dutch aviation heritage specifically. Many of the items are unique. It would be terrible to see these go.

Stef

[raymondvanderploeg]

The Aviodrome will reopen on the 28th of April, however no news yet about the continuation of the FSweekend.

Regards,
Raymond

[bas_v]

Let's hope so, I promised my oldest son to visit the Aviodrome a the beginning of this year...

[raymondvanderploeg]

Just got an email from Frans Broekhuisen (initiator) and he says the following:

"I will speak with the Aviodrome on short term, but I really thing it will continue. If there is any news I will publish it."

[50sqnwop/ag]

they still going over there ?

[Sean Nixon]

They hosted the annual FS Weekend flight sim show there last weekend.