Suggestions Needed
 

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice/guidance/suggestions. Here's the sccop ...

I work for a US based flight test outfit. Frequenty, we're in need of 25 knot crosswinds and headwinds for flight test purposes. Occasionally we get these in the US but in the past we've had to track North Atlantic storms to get what we need when we need it. One of our preferred locations is Iceland (Keflavik). However, sometimes the storms turn towards Great Britain and Ireland. Our problem is that we don't really know all that much about where we could use for flight testing in the British Isles. The ideal facility would have

1) At least 7,000 feet of runway
2) CAT II or better (CAT I is do-able if the beams not too ratty).
3) Preferably two runways with 90 degree crossing angle to allow us to get headwind and crosswind during the same storm.
4) Quiet enough that we can work in the pattern without ATC going mad !!!!


Ok, I know its a tall order and we probably won't find an ideal facility ... But any suggestions are welcomed. Any places in the UK that are notorious for headwinds / crosswinds that would allow us to work in the pattern etc ....

Thanks much

Interesting problem. There are a few friendly test airfields on the West Coast of the UK, West Freugh, Warton and Woodford all spring to mind. But, none of them have decent sized crosswind runways.

A possibility would be Valley, a military airfield on the north-west corner of Wales, which has 7,500ft on 14/32, and 4,200ft on 08/26. However, it is a busy training field (Hawks) so you might not be appreciated.

However, I suspect the ideal field (if they'll let you use it) would be Prestwick (EGPK), which is on the West coast of Scotland a short distance South of Glasgow at 55 30.47N, 4 35.13W / 66ft amsl. 9,800 ft on 13/31, 6,000ft on 03/21, a cat-II ILS on 31 and 13 and all the aircraft operating facilities you can eat. The airfield is not at-all busy as international airports go, and there's lots of uncontrolled airspace around there as well. They also have a reputation as being quite amenable to unusual request (how many international airports do you know who accept homebuilt aircraft test flying!)

G

Thanks for the suggestions Genghis. Prestwick does sound like it would fit the bill for some testing.

Sets,

Also have a look at RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall.(Unprotected West Coast of UK).

Runway 13/31 9,006ft TORA.

Tel: 01637 872201 Ext 2045/6.

I go in there a couple of times a week; can have some stonking Cross/Head winds!

Happy flying.

Hi.

Thanks to those suggesting Prestwick. I am Manager Aviation Services here at Prestwick and can promise the best price and (unfortunately) the best crosswinds. We just spent £1M on re-surfacing the cross runway to solve just this problem. Call me on 011 44 1292 511100 or email [email protected].

Best,
Eddie

Now there's service for you. Pprune wins again. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Why thank you kind Sir

Again, thanks for the info. However, I do have one more question, are civilian aircraft allowed to operate into RAF bases ?? Here in the US we're not !! Much to my dismay ...

As a rule yes they are, they even publish a standard scale of charges.

They do require you to have special "crown indemnity insurance", which you can arrange seperately or buy from them on a per-landing basis.

Assuming you are looking at a Royal Air Force airfield, the best bet is to call the airfield operator and ask to speak to "Squadron Leader Operations" who is the chap in charge of such things and will be able to discuss requirements and make a decision. If it's a Navy airfield, the title is "Lieutenant Commander Operations", who does roughly the same job. SLOPS / LCOps, is usually a serving pilot in a temporary ground postibng (and separate to SATCO, although usually the same rank).