Without the income generated by those activities you to which you so vociferously object, Headcorn Aerodrome would not be a viable commercial enterprise. It would then close as an airfield.
Farming being what it is at present, the most likely fate of the airfield would then be as an industrial estate.
Parachutists, pilots and aviation enthusiasts would then lose out on their hobby. You would have far more noise pollution plus much heavier traffic through the area, making those roads much more congested and dangerous. End result - everybody loses.
Headcorn has had an airfield for nearly 80 years. If you don't want to hear aircraft, don't move near to an active airfield. Headcorn has also, for many years, been an extremely good facility for the local community, with land and buildings made available to local organisations, youth groups etc.
Headcorn is home DZ (Drop Zone) of most of the British national skydiving team. We take on (and do extremely well against) all the rest of the world at almost all sport skydiving disciplines. Where should they practice?
It has also provided training to many pilots over its history. Without home-grown pilots, our aviation industry is doomed to failure. What's your solution? You probably don't have one, except to move the training elsewhere, thus increasing someone else's local aerial activity.
"NIMBY" mean anything to you?
(Former EGKH PPL/Skydiver/FAI Judge/BPA Paradrop Pilot)
Last edited by Captain Stable; 11th May 2002 at 22:06.