UK Landing Sites.Manchester.

[Hover Bovver]

Anyone know of any close sites to Manchester United Football Club (Old Trafford). Its for use by a twin.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

Hover Bovver

[Jed A1]

Barton airfield is about the best. Fuel available and only a two minute drive away.

Otherwise I know a couple of local factories in Trafford Park have let the occaisional machine land in the car parks before. Probably more to do with their business tough.

[Vfrpilotpb]

There's a cricket field very near too!;)

[Helinut]

There are or were several landing sites a tiny bit closer to Old Trafford than Barton (including the cricket pitch which is horrible as a landing site IMHO). If my recollection is correct, most/all of them are tight sites within a congested area. This means you will need a twin and the special CAA permission to land at such a site. This is really only a practical proposition for a commercial operator. It requires that one of your "approved" staff does a site survey which is submitted to the CAA. In due course, they will/may send you a permission. If you have an AOC, the turn around is a few days - if not the GA department take forever.

Much better to use Barton which is friendly and usable by singles - see the normal sources for more info. Check your hours of use against their operating hours though.

[Squadgy]

Bit late commenting on this one, Barton can extend opening hours for commercial heli ops - think you can arrive and depart 0800-2300L (usual hours 0900-SS), lighting, RFFS and FIS can be provided - not too much charged to opearte out of hours either - check :

http://www.bartonaerodrome.co.uk/pilot_info_heliops.asp

for more info

[ACX]

"This is really only a practical proposition for a commercial operator. It requires that one of your "approved" staff does a site survey which is submitted to the CAA. In due course, they will/may send you a permission. If you have an AOC, the turn around is a few days - if not the GA department take forever."

A number of private operators use the cricket ground with the Permission of the CAA.

You need to speak to the GA Dept. I have never had any problems and they are always very helpful. They will normally turn around same day if required. For private flights I have never been asked to carry out or provide a site survey. As I understand they make their decision based on the OS maps and if needed aerial photographs. They also look carefully at the pilots experiance and whether the site is fit for a single or twin.

Even after a Permission has been issued the final desicion is left to you as the pilot on the day. A standard condition of their Permission is that "the helicopter can alight clear without danger to persons or propety on the surface in the event of an engine failure"

ACX