Meikle Eindovie
Note: This map only gives a rough of idea of where this airfield, if it existed (?), might have been located.
MEIKLE EINDOVIE: Microlight / sports airfield?
Location: Perhaps S of the A944, about 1nm E of Alford
NOTES: This is an interesting situation, to say the least. The information comes from the AAIB report EW/G2016/06/15. It refers to a pilot who came to grief whilst orbiting when searching unsuccessfully for this 'airfield' which was listed on his Garmin GPS.
The AAIB contacted Garmin and they said the airfield is not on their current database. Having flown with people (up till 2017) who seem to rely totally on GPS, I remain somewhat sceptical about their use as a primary navigation instrument, as I have seen occassions when it has clearly given an incorrect location in a variety of circumstances. For example, whilst en route and looking for a specific location. I have also seen military exclusion zones absent on the GPS, although I was aware of having to detour by using a chart.
In one instance the pilot was using his GPS to fly the low-level route from FAIROAKS airfield to Maidenhead through the Heathrow Zone, which passes just east of Ascot racecourse. Having flown this route many years before, which is not marked on aeronautical charts, (or wasn't), I was quite convinced we were drifting too far east. Sure enough the ATCO at HEATHROW soon gave a warning to that effect.
I certainly won't start on the number of occassions when using a GPS in a car comes up with utter nonsense. But, if you already have a pretty good idea of where you are headed, having had a good look at a map, it can often be magic in finding the eventual destination. Not always of course, but still a pretty useful gizmo by and large.
THE REASON FOR THE INCLUSION
On the face of it this airfield doesn't exist - and this might well be correct in recent years. But, perhaps it did? I have found a couple of web-sites where it is still listed as an active airfield.
If anybody can kindly offer advice on this, it will be much appreciated.
Paul Tomblin
This comment was written on: 2017-06-12 19:20:39I maintain a database of aeronautical waypoints for use in flight planning tools. Back in 2010 a person named Nadim Janjua gave me a file of UK waypoints, and it included Meikle Endovie as a "Ultralight/Microlight port". Looking at the location in Google Maps right now, it looks like a farmer's field.
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Paul, Many thanks, and yes I agree. But, as this is an historical 'Guide' I will keep the listing open just in case it was once in use. As you were given details, it seems entirely reasonable to at least question if this was the case. Regards, Dick
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