another airfield lost to flight training ?
Thread Starter

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: uk
another airfield lost to flight training ?
Does anyone know why flight training has stopped at Little Gransden in Cambridgeshire and the airfield is now unlicenced ?
After all the campaigning and news coverage a few years ago, have the local noise protesters finally got their way at last ? It all seems to have been done very quietly this time with just a NOTAM and nothing in the press (that I've seen anyway).
Who can throw some light on this ?
After all the campaigning and news coverage a few years ago, have the local noise protesters finally got their way at last ? It all seems to have been done very quietly this time with just a NOTAM and nothing in the press (that I've seen anyway).
Who can throw some light on this ?
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: UK
Flight training has not stopped at Little Gransden, as I am still training out of this airfield! The airfield has been told it has a certain number of take-off and landings per day (which is a low number) As for whether the airfield is unliscensed I am unsure.
Regards
Sainty
Regards
Sainty

Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: 26000 to 28,000 lightyears from the galatic centre
REF: L2735/06 From: 2006-Aug-30 Wed 15:49 To: 2006-Dec-11 Mon 09:00
ICAO: EGMJ LITTLE GRANSDEN
AERODROME LICENSE REVOKED, AD NOT AVBL FOR ACFT REQUIRING A LICENSED AD FOR
OPERATIONS
ICAO: EGMJ LITTLE GRANSDEN
AERODROME LICENSE REVOKED, AD NOT AVBL FOR ACFT REQUIRING A LICENSED AD FOR
OPERATIONS
Couldonlyaffordafiver
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 0
From: The Twilight Zone near 30W
Heard via a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend (well it is a rumour network) that the owner allowed the runway markings to get obscured and the CAA pulled his licence. Whether there was anything else to it, I don't know.
A pleasant little airfield nevertheless.
A pleasant little airfield nevertheless.
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
From: England
Looks like that NOTAM was only a few days after an airshow or have I got it wrong..
http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/conten...A30%3A41%3A523
http://www.royston-crow.co.uk/conten...A30%3A41%3A523

Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,626
Likes: 12
From: UK
Flight training has not stopped at Little Gransden
As for whether the airfield is unliscensed I am unsure.
Aerodromes - public transport of passengers and instruction in flying
126 (1) An aircraft to which this paragraph applies shall not take off or land at a place in the United Kingdom other than:
(a) an aerodrome licensed under this Order for the take-off and landing of such aircraft.......
(ii) for the purpose of instruction in flying given to any person for the purpose of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence; or
(iii) for the purpose of carrying out flying tests in respect of the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating or a night rating in a licence;
126 (1) An aircraft to which this paragraph applies shall not take off or land at a place in the United Kingdom other than:
(a) an aerodrome licensed under this Order for the take-off and landing of such aircraft.......
(ii) for the purpose of instruction in flying given to any person for the purpose of becoming qualified for the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating, a night rating or a night qualification in a licence; or
(iii) for the purpose of carrying out flying tests in respect of the grant of a pilot's licence or the inclusion of an aircraft rating or a night rating in a licence;
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.

Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 0
From: England
It is still legal Whopity as a take off and landing is performed at Bourn Airfield (licensed) just down the road on each lesson.
VFE.
VFE.
Thread Starter

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: uk
It's good news that the flying school is still able to operate.
I hadn't realised that the CAA allowed a training organisation to operate from an unlicenced airfield. Years ago, when "recognised training organisations" were a twinkle in someone's eye, I worked for a few months somewhere where we had to do the "put the wheels onto a licenced runway and then the training flight begins" trick. I thought all that was now a thing of the past. I could never understand why the students didn't just do their training at the licenced airfield - many did which is why I went to work there instead !
PS Faded runway markings seem like a daft reason to pull an airfield's licence - couldn't the owner just re-paint them - or have I missed something here ?
I hadn't realised that the CAA allowed a training organisation to operate from an unlicenced airfield. Years ago, when "recognised training organisations" were a twinkle in someone's eye, I worked for a few months somewhere where we had to do the "put the wheels onto a licenced runway and then the training flight begins" trick. I thought all that was now a thing of the past. I could never understand why the students didn't just do their training at the licenced airfield - many did which is why I went to work there instead !
PS Faded runway markings seem like a daft reason to pull an airfield's licence - couldn't the owner just re-paint them - or have I missed something here ?

Moderator
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, Florida
Whilst the time may not be counted towards a JAA licence or rating, I doubt that the time is "non productive".
Would be a reasonable opportunity to refresh what the last lesson was all about before starting the actual training time, don't ya think?
On the way back it might be a decent opportunity for the instructor to demonstrate what he is going to teach next time - once they've done the touch and go.
Just shows really - what a load of bo****ks the rule is.
Would be a reasonable opportunity to refresh what the last lesson was all about before starting the actual training time, don't ya think?
On the way back it might be a decent opportunity for the instructor to demonstrate what he is going to teach next time - once they've done the touch and go.
Just shows really - what a load of bo****ks the rule is.

Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,398
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Doubtless the 20 minutes of non-productive time is factored into the charges - although it would be hard to prove it.
It is indeed a daft way of doing business, but then again, the rules are even dafter! At PPL level, that is.
It is indeed a daft way of doing business, but then again, the rules are even dafter! At PPL level, that is.
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.

Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 0
From: England
PS Faded runway markings seem like a daft reason to pull an airfield's licence - couldn't the owner just re-paint them - or have I missed something here ?
An oversight in paperwork, silly schoolboys error - that's ya reason.
VFE.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,524
Likes: 1
From: United Kingdom
....as a take off and landing is performed at Bourn Airfield (licensed) just down the road on each lesson
One assumes, then, that the student is paying only for flight time between the first take-off from Bourn and the last landing at Bourn since any payment for the remainder of the flying between Gransden and Bourn, whether factored into the charges or not, would make it a public transport flight.
It might not have been the wisest move to bring this situation to the attention of a CAA Inspector, eh Whopity?
Dancing with the devil, going with the flow... it's all a game to me.

Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,689
Likes: 0
From: England
One assumes, then, that the student is paying only for flight time between the first take-off from Bourn and the last landing at Bourn
It might not have been the wisest move to bring this situation to the attention of a CAA Inspector, eh
VFE.
Gizajob
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: uk
If I might be so bold as to stick my 2p in... I am aware of a flight school who got into trouble a couple of years ago with the CAA for the 'T&G at a licenced airfield' method, when their own base's licence changed. The complaint came from another school at the licenced airfield used I believe. Happily the matter was resolved without charges being brought.
'Fraid I don't know any more than that, or I would have written it.
'Fraid I don't know any more than that, or I would have written it.

Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 301
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
Dunno what all the fuss is about - I have experience of three schools doing exactly this in the past. Two of which still do. And the CAA are happy as schools play it by the rules. Sounds like a load of bitching to me...




