RAF Coltishall
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RAF Coltishall
I know that a question on this has been posted in the past but I wondered of there was any further news forthcoming on the proposed closure and on what plans might have been made or are in the offing for the base?
The latest hot rumour would appear to be that Coltishall will be transformed into a military helicopter base.
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Coltishall
The local press is still carrying the MOD line that there is no further defence use for Coltishall after December 2006 - the last Jaguars leave at the end of March. Have not seen or heard any rumours of a helicopter base - but it would be great to have this.
Some locals, and I would support them, would like to see Norwich Airport move to Coltishall - lots of room, longer runway, near the new Norwich Northern Perimeter Road, near the railway, and the existing Airport at Horshan St Faith must be worth a fortune as development land and suffers from noise complaints especially when used outside "normal" hours. Any PPRuNe members interested in the business opportunity? Any objections from the flight crews already using Norwich?
Some locals, and I would support them, would like to see Norwich Airport move to Coltishall - lots of room, longer runway, near the new Norwich Northern Perimeter Road, near the railway, and the existing Airport at Horshan St Faith must be worth a fortune as development land and suffers from noise complaints especially when used outside "normal" hours. Any PPRuNe members interested in the business opportunity? Any objections from the flight crews already using Norwich?
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New Norwich Airport?
Since the last article in the EDP well before Xmas the Coltishall issue has been quite quiet. However, whilst there seems to be the idea of Norwich airport moving to Coltishall I would suggest it is very unlikely even though the last post gives many reasons for it. Thankfully however, it would seem that the locals can rest in peace at the thought the backroads being used by increasing nos of dark green landrovers and other Army vehicles not to mention any helos - the Jags as welcome as they are may be noisy but they tend to depart the area much quicker and don't hover around doing any training.
If and when (!) the Northern Bypass happens it will likely be just as close to the existing airport as it would Coltishall if not closer. The roads around Coltishall are extremely poor with just one real route out of the City and the nearest railway stop (Worsted) is hardly likely to see Gatwick Express type development or shuttle bus service given its current useage. Whilst Coltishall does have a slight advantage in runway (+1500ft) the infrastructure to support passengers is none existant whereas the new albeit small terminal at Norwich wins much support from all that use it and an extension would cost a fraction of a new build when considering the rest of the estate improvements that would be required if a part of Coltishall was developed for an airport. This would still leave much of the existing Coltishall camp for disposal/redevelopment and all of the domestic accommodation. Despite govt plans to build on greenfield areas I do not believe that the local councils would be quite so keen - refer back to local infrastructure/highways above - they would have to spend a fortune if they were to grant any form of planning permission at all, even for any form of industrial use.
The future of Coltishall is going to be a very interesting topic for some time.
If and when (!) the Northern Bypass happens it will likely be just as close to the existing airport as it would Coltishall if not closer. The roads around Coltishall are extremely poor with just one real route out of the City and the nearest railway stop (Worsted) is hardly likely to see Gatwick Express type development or shuttle bus service given its current useage. Whilst Coltishall does have a slight advantage in runway (+1500ft) the infrastructure to support passengers is none existant whereas the new albeit small terminal at Norwich wins much support from all that use it and an extension would cost a fraction of a new build when considering the rest of the estate improvements that would be required if a part of Coltishall was developed for an airport. This would still leave much of the existing Coltishall camp for disposal/redevelopment and all of the domestic accommodation. Despite govt plans to build on greenfield areas I do not believe that the local councils would be quite so keen - refer back to local infrastructure/highways above - they would have to spend a fortune if they were to grant any form of planning permission at all, even for any form of industrial use.
The future of Coltishall is going to be a very interesting topic for some time.
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Tailchase,
Your last paragraph sums up the situation nicely, but I suggest that the site at the existing Norwich Airport is worth a lot more than the cost of re-developing Colitishall. Also they are about to spend (£3M?) on terminal expansion at Norwich which could be used for part of the cost of a new terminal on the edge of those acres of pans at Coltishall - the pan area round the Norwich Terminal is already too crowded at certain times of day and the rickety coaches used to go 2-300M up to the disused runway parking area show just how short of facilities Norwich really is.
However, apart from an outrageous escalation in the price of parking over the past few years, Norwich is a great place to fly from, and when I have a choice I would always use it, but on the days where there are couple of charters in simultaneously as well as the scheduled flights it already exhibits all of the problems, albeit on a much smaller scale, of the major airports - which is why I assume they are expanding the terminal.
I am not an airline pilot and those extra 1500 ft mean little to the Chipmunk I learnt on, but I would have thought that they could make a lot of diifference to what Norwich Airport could offer in the way of both charter and, as they can develop the local market, eventually scheduled operations - anyway I always have liked flying from runways that are longer than needed! In looking to its future Norwich has to remember that the competition will always be Stansted (which even has some cheaper parking!) and for many of us in what should be the Norwich Airport cachment area the choice of flights and timings available from Stansted outweigh the "comfort" of Norwich and the extra hour of driving time - which is why I shall be driving to Stansted at 0500 on Monday morning for a day trip to Belfast - something Norwich cannot offer.
Your last paragraph sums up the situation nicely, but I suggest that the site at the existing Norwich Airport is worth a lot more than the cost of re-developing Colitishall. Also they are about to spend (£3M?) on terminal expansion at Norwich which could be used for part of the cost of a new terminal on the edge of those acres of pans at Coltishall - the pan area round the Norwich Terminal is already too crowded at certain times of day and the rickety coaches used to go 2-300M up to the disused runway parking area show just how short of facilities Norwich really is.
However, apart from an outrageous escalation in the price of parking over the past few years, Norwich is a great place to fly from, and when I have a choice I would always use it, but on the days where there are couple of charters in simultaneously as well as the scheduled flights it already exhibits all of the problems, albeit on a much smaller scale, of the major airports - which is why I assume they are expanding the terminal.
I am not an airline pilot and those extra 1500 ft mean little to the Chipmunk I learnt on, but I would have thought that they could make a lot of diifference to what Norwich Airport could offer in the way of both charter and, as they can develop the local market, eventually scheduled operations - anyway I always have liked flying from runways that are longer than needed! In looking to its future Norwich has to remember that the competition will always be Stansted (which even has some cheaper parking!) and for many of us in what should be the Norwich Airport cachment area the choice of flights and timings available from Stansted outweigh the "comfort" of Norwich and the extra hour of driving time - which is why I shall be driving to Stansted at 0500 on Monday morning for a day trip to Belfast - something Norwich cannot offer.
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Tailchase
In case you did not see it the EDP carried this article on 13 January 2006:
Squadron in last overseas mission
MARK NICHOLLS
13 January 2006 07:00
A jet squadron whose service out of RAF Coltishall dates back almost 50 years takes off tomorrow for its last overseas exercise before the base closes.
Nine Jaguars from 41 Squadron will fly out of the airbase in the morning bound for Exercise Red Flag - a joint operation with the US Air Force at Nellis airbase in America.
The detachment is the last of dozens of overseas missions for the squadron, which has been based at Coltishall since 1976, after a short spell there in 1958.
Flight Lt Owen Crosby, station spokesman, said: "It's a big exercise, using live weapons and integrated operations and training. It is the last overseas exercise from RAF Coltishall for 41 Squadron.
"The squadron is being re-formed, so it will be a poignant moment for the people here."
The squadron flew from Coltishall to take part in regular exercises in northern Norway in the 1970s and played a key role in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 - conducting reconnaissance and bombing sorties against Iraqi forces in the war to liberate Kuwait.
It was then deployed to Incirlik in Turkey to police the no-fly zone to protect Iraqi Kurds.
In 1993 a 41 Squadron Jaguar was the first RAF plane to drop a bomb in anger in Europe since 1945, when policing the sky over Bosnia.
Planes from 6 Squadron will embark on their final overseas exercise from RAF Coltishall when they take part in Exercise Air Warrior in the United States next month.
Both squadrons will fly from Coltishall for the last time on March 31, with any remaining jets leaving the base on April 1.
It will then be run down over the following few months, in time for the base's final closure in December.
In case you did not see it the EDP carried this article on 13 January 2006:
Squadron in last overseas mission
MARK NICHOLLS
13 January 2006 07:00
A jet squadron whose service out of RAF Coltishall dates back almost 50 years takes off tomorrow for its last overseas exercise before the base closes.
Nine Jaguars from 41 Squadron will fly out of the airbase in the morning bound for Exercise Red Flag - a joint operation with the US Air Force at Nellis airbase in America.
The detachment is the last of dozens of overseas missions for the squadron, which has been based at Coltishall since 1976, after a short spell there in 1958.
Flight Lt Owen Crosby, station spokesman, said: "It's a big exercise, using live weapons and integrated operations and training. It is the last overseas exercise from RAF Coltishall for 41 Squadron.
"The squadron is being re-formed, so it will be a poignant moment for the people here."
The squadron flew from Coltishall to take part in regular exercises in northern Norway in the 1970s and played a key role in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 - conducting reconnaissance and bombing sorties against Iraqi forces in the war to liberate Kuwait.
It was then deployed to Incirlik in Turkey to police the no-fly zone to protect Iraqi Kurds.
In 1993 a 41 Squadron Jaguar was the first RAF plane to drop a bomb in anger in Europe since 1945, when policing the sky over Bosnia.
Planes from 6 Squadron will embark on their final overseas exercise from RAF Coltishall when they take part in Exercise Air Warrior in the United States next month.
Both squadrons will fly from Coltishall for the last time on March 31, with any remaining jets leaving the base on April 1.
It will then be run down over the following few months, in time for the base's final closure in December.
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V. sad it see it go. Norwich is indeed "A Fine City" (even if the marketing people that came up with that tag-line could do with a kick in the crotch), a cracking night out on the lash and, courtesy of UEA, plenty of young fillies from Kensington & Chelsea who resent their fathers- a young singlie's dream.
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Coltishall actually makes a lot of sense for airport expansion. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's guidance on planning promotes the use of brownfield land, i.e. redundant commercial land, of which the existing airport site is a much better prospect for development than Coltishall. Land value will be much higher nearer the city and the airport's plans for expansion will be difficult in future years as development inevitably encroaches around it - noise complaints will rise, as will safety concerns on the flightpaths.
Coltishall would mitigate against all that, the only blocker is the poor access, but that could be resolved with a new road connection from the A140. I'm sure that the commercial value of the airport site would realise enough money for a link road and a new terminal at Coltishall - the only issues would be the relocation of industrial concerns such as Sprayavia, but the hangars at Coltishall would seem to offer what would be needed.
The worst thing will be years of indecision and neglect - Coltishall will end up in a state similar to West Raynham and Scampton, rendering most of it useless. Development as a new village will depend upon infrastructure such as water, sewage, gas, etc being upgraded, as well as the surrounding roads, something that's much easier at the existing airport site.
Coltishall would mitigate against all that, the only blocker is the poor access, but that could be resolved with a new road connection from the A140. I'm sure that the commercial value of the airport site would realise enough money for a link road and a new terminal at Coltishall - the only issues would be the relocation of industrial concerns such as Sprayavia, but the hangars at Coltishall would seem to offer what would be needed.
The worst thing will be years of indecision and neglect - Coltishall will end up in a state similar to West Raynham and Scampton, rendering most of it useless. Development as a new village will depend upon infrastructure such as water, sewage, gas, etc being upgraded, as well as the surrounding roads, something that's much easier at the existing airport site.
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Coltishall versus Norwich Airport
In answering John's e-mail, I too have spent far too many hours travelling on the A11 and the M11 to Stansted and indeed LHR and LGW to then catch flights elsewhere both within the UK and overseas. It strikes me that wherever Norwich airport resides, the current ancient ex-RAF Horsham St Faith PANs do not pose the best way forward to provide the level of traffic that might see Norwich compete with Stansted or other airports.
I remember Norwich in its pre-modernization state with the old rickety modular cabins that served as a terminal with Air Anglia F27s outside. I also remember when Air UK bravely introduced the Shorts served connection to LHR and everyone in the area thought how can that be quicker than the train to get to London! Of course, despite its short lived life, it was the connctions via LHR that it served and perhaps this awareness only dawned too late to save it. Anyway, Air UK have survived along with KLM to keep the Amsterdam connectivity going and although FlyBE and BMI have provided much needed services to other routes (incl many that strike me as quite speculative from the former), what Norwich really needs is competition into the likes of Frankfurt and the Star Alliance network. If Stansted is going to be the cheap no-frills option to some pretty much out-of-the place but near enough to steal the names of a main city places, then maybe Norwich can give East Anglia (as far afield as Cambridge maybe - and that's 2 whole counties away!!) a leap forward in providing business and pleasure long-haul connectivity and an alternative to Schipol.
Wherever Norwich Airport is located, it still has a lot to achieve and I would hate to be the one doing the sums in putting it all together against the current and forecast market. Frankfurt connectivity aside I see the US style of commuters and short-timed connections into major hubs being the bread and butter of many of the regional airports once the clamour of the current low-cost fervour dies down. In my opinion, this would mean that it would be a very gutsy move to undertake massive regeneration of Norwich or a move to Coltishall. However, if they could smooth the taxiway out to 09 from the existing terminal that would be a start. The BMI Embraer 135's don't have the smoothest ride on the ground.
I did not see the Fri 13 EDP sadly but thanks.
I remember Norwich in its pre-modernization state with the old rickety modular cabins that served as a terminal with Air Anglia F27s outside. I also remember when Air UK bravely introduced the Shorts served connection to LHR and everyone in the area thought how can that be quicker than the train to get to London! Of course, despite its short lived life, it was the connctions via LHR that it served and perhaps this awareness only dawned too late to save it. Anyway, Air UK have survived along with KLM to keep the Amsterdam connectivity going and although FlyBE and BMI have provided much needed services to other routes (incl many that strike me as quite speculative from the former), what Norwich really needs is competition into the likes of Frankfurt and the Star Alliance network. If Stansted is going to be the cheap no-frills option to some pretty much out-of-the place but near enough to steal the names of a main city places, then maybe Norwich can give East Anglia (as far afield as Cambridge maybe - and that's 2 whole counties away!!) a leap forward in providing business and pleasure long-haul connectivity and an alternative to Schipol.
Wherever Norwich Airport is located, it still has a lot to achieve and I would hate to be the one doing the sums in putting it all together against the current and forecast market. Frankfurt connectivity aside I see the US style of commuters and short-timed connections into major hubs being the bread and butter of many of the regional airports once the clamour of the current low-cost fervour dies down. In my opinion, this would mean that it would be a very gutsy move to undertake massive regeneration of Norwich or a move to Coltishall. However, if they could smooth the taxiway out to 09 from the existing terminal that would be a start. The BMI Embraer 135's don't have the smoothest ride on the ground.
I did not see the Fri 13 EDP sadly but thanks.
