Halfpenny Green.. that'll be the field where the runway is so bowed you can't see either end from the middle, the one with so many radio deadspots you might as well not bother with it on the ground.
The airfield that has a great social life, good bar and so many tall stories told over it
The one with all the friendly crowds in the Summer, be they pilots or not...
All key elements of a great LIGHT aircraft field.
Although the field would not necessarily require an ILS (NDB/DME or VOR/DME would suffice), the costs of installing, maintaining and regularly calibrating this kit would be large. Add on to that a secure terminal, extension, lighting, fire cover etc and you have an absolute nightmare for light aircraft. If there is no radar, you have an absolute nightmare for the crew operating the Dornier in IMC.
Spoonbill - I totally agree with you - improve the field for light traffic and make it attractive to the casual bizjet user or large twins perhaps, but turboprops on a regular basis ... how long do you think it would take before the locals petition against the noise ?
More importantly, who will bear the costs of these improvements... Flight Centre on their own ? I doubt it.
Kkkerrching...