THE Evening Press article speculating that jumbo jets would use Elvington airfield if planning permission for two large hangars is given was interesting.

I presume this means all very large aircraft - Boeing 777, Airbus A340, for example. The only jumbos I can see in the sky above York for the foreseeable future are the pink variety, usually seen after a few drinks.

The source of this story implies that he does not understand that it takes more than two extra hangars and a long runway to operate these large, complex aircraft.

For regular landings the runway would need to be strengthened because of its age, not to mention the installation of customs and excise, baggage handling, passenger facilities, airfield approach lights and so on. One would also need other dedicated ground handling and maintenance facilities, massive air traffic control improvement and a myriad of other costly installations. This would not be feasible.

Although I have no axe to grind for either side in this dispute, I do wish people would get their facts straight, and not put about scare stories based on shaky knowledge.

L J Maloney,

Millfield Avenue, York.

Updated: 10:00 Thursday, March 10, 2005