Right, as promised I’ve written ‘An idiots guide to arriving at Sherburn’. I know most experienced pilots won’t need this, but it’s aimed at people like me who are a bit unsure when going to new places. I’ve deliberatley left out any information that’s oficially available such as frequencies, and concentrated on ‘local knowledge’.
Approach info
Sherburn is within the Church Fenton MATZ and Fenton are usually active at the weekend. It’s a satellite field to Linton-on-Ouse – used for training and home to a fleet of Firefly’s. If you’re arriving from the south, you’ll probably be getting a LARS from Waddington Zone and should be handed over to Fenton abeam Doncaster (fly over Finningley while it’s still in uncontrolled airspace!).
A good visual landmark when arriving from the south are the three power stations spread west to east along the M62. The airfield itself is 10nm further north and is easy to spot due to the white/grey industrial units to the NW of the field – easily visible from 15nm or so on a good day. Sherburn has an NDB (SBL, 323.0) with a promulgated range of 10nm but it usually ‘works’ from at least 30nm.
Fenton will clear you to enter the MATZ ‘Not above 1500ft Fenton QFE’ and ask you to report the field in sight. Outbound aircraft usually leave the zone at 1000ft on the Sherburn QFE, usually to the south or east to avoid the Fenton ATZ, so it’s a good idea to remain at around 1500ft if possible.
For anyone arriving from the west, Leeds approach are usually very happy to allow zone transit if required. From the North, Linton Zone will usually request that a/c remain west of the A1 until the A1/M62 junction and penetrate the Fenton MATZ from the west to avoid the Fenton ATZ. Overhead Selby is the preferred route from the east. Beware of Burn gliding site 10nm SE of the field.
Overhead joins are at 1500ft on the Sherburn QFE and circuits are generally to the south south-east or west of the field depending on the runway is use. Fenton keep their circuits to the north or east to avoid conflict Much of the activity at the field is training, and it’s not unusual for there to be 4 or 5 aircraft in the circuit for most of the day, so overhead joins are preferred. There is a helicopter training school on the field and the rotary circuit is inside the fixed-wing circuit.
The villages in the area are VERY noise sensitive – a whole 2 pages of Pooleys are dedicated to noise abatement procedures. This makes some of the circuits a bit odd shaped but they’re by no means ‘cross-countries’.
If one of the grass runways 25/06 or 29/11 are in use, the usual procedure on landing is to taxi around the remainder of the triangle rather than backtrack. If the tarmac runway is in use, there is a parallel taxiway. There is a very good airfield diagram on the website (select ‘airfield information’ then ‘airfield layout schematic’) which gives more info than the one in the AIP.
Fuel and parking
Parking is usually along either side of taxiway A (see diagram) or on the grass area to the north, although this is usually used mainly for helicopter training/parking. The area around the fuel pumps and hangars on the main apron is cramped and crowded and so aircraft not requiring hard-stand parking will probably be moved after refuelling.
Fuel is relatively cheap - currently 89p/litre, and the landing fee of £5 is waived on fuel purchase
Facilities
The clubhouse is fairly basic but comfortable. Food and drinks are available all day (including licensed bar for any passengers). The bar/café is run by Sue and I can thoroughly recommend her ‘all day breakfast’.
The place is small enough that we should have no problem meeting up – hopefully it’ll be hard NOT to bump into PPRuNers everywhere one looks.
There’s a pool table in the bar if anybody fancies organising a PPRuNe pool tournament, by the way. 
There’s a dedicated room for flight planning (something lacking at Duxford), and the weather reports/Notams etc. are available. The people behind the flight-desk (probably Mike on a Saturday) are friendly and helpful, although ususally very busy.
Departure
The airfield closes at 20:00 local. Sunset isn’t until 21:31 on 7th June but local planning regulations forbid flying after 20:00
Departure from the ATZ/MATZ is usually at 1000ft on the Sherburn QFE to avoid inbounds, and to the south, west or east (although Fenton usually closes by 17:00).
Hope this all helps. Feel free to ask questions if needed. If there’s anything I’ve missed or got wrong, I’m sure other locals will chip in. I’m calling in tomorrow so I’ll ask them about what PPR is required. I suspect they’ll be happy with a copy of the online list as Duxford were.