"World's shortest flight" can fly pupils to school in less than a minute
La N
From The Times
November 6, 2009
'World's shortest flight' can ferry pupils to school in less than a minute
Melanie Reid
Some children moan about having to get a bus to school. Six teenagers on a
remote Scottish island, however, have the rather more exciting prospect of
going to school by plane on what is believed to be the world's shortest
commercial flight.
The journey from Papa Westray to Westray in the Orkney Islands takes 96
seconds, covering a distance of just over a mile. With a tail wind, it can
take as little as 47 seconds. Normally the teenagers go by ferry but when
the vessel was taken out of service for refurbishment, Loganair, an airline
company, stepped in and offered to fly them to Westray Junior High.
Holly Crocker, Leanne Cursiter, Solan and Cassia Dodman, Shane Hourston and
Rowan Pierce, all aged 13-14, will be flown to and from school until the end
of the year when the ferry, the Golden Mariana, is scheduled to return,
Loganair said.
Papa Westray has a population of 70 and no secondary school. Westray, home
to more than 600 residents, has about 70 pupils enrolled at the junior high
and nine full-time teachers. The school provides education to Standard Grade
level. The six teenagers from Papa Westray take the flight every Tuesday
morning, stay with host families for two nights and then catch a return
flight on Thursday after school. Pupils from either island choosing to study
for their Highers must travel to Kirkwall, the capital of Orkney.
Loganair, which operates the eight-seater service in an Islander plane, has
changed its schedule to ensure that the children get to school on time. The
company said that the flight was the shortest in the world and with
favourable tail winds could be over in less than a minute. The distance is
shorter than the length of the main runway at Edinburgh Airport.
Jonathan Hinkles, the commercial director of the airline, said: "While it is
a popular tourist route for many visitors to Scotland, it is also a vital
lifeline for those residents who live, work or do business in the Orkneys
and it will make all the difference to ensuring that those children who live
on Papa Westray can continue their schooling throughout the winter months."
Willie McEwen, acting head teacher at Westray Junior High, said: "We're
delighted that Loganair has come forward with this solution. Our children
will enjoy the flying especially as, at this time of the year, it can be
quite rough on the boat. This kind of flexibility is an essential part of
island life and the youngsters take it all in their stride."
The Islander air service, which carries around 20,000 passengers each year,
is critical for local residents during the winter months. It delivers food,
mail and newspapers, and provides a lifeline between the islands and
Kirkwall on mainland Orkney.
In addition, Loganair regularly carries itinerant teachers out to the
islands to lead lessons in subjects including music, art, craft, physical
education and home economics.
The Guinness World Records said that it did not recognise the world's
shortest scheduled domestic flight. "The category is currently under
research," a spokesman said.