Biggin Hill and Airfields around London
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The last time I visited London I recall City Airport would have been best placed to serve GA operations covering Central London.
But I heard government policy dictating that the airport should only serve airline flights?
But I heard government policy dictating that the airport should only serve airline flights?
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Pressumably Biggin is even more empty these days now Cabair has gone, or are they still trading? No doubt there is still plenty of airbourne traffic though given the location between the Gatwick, City and Heathrow zones.
I thought the reason, or one of the reasons, why City was pretty much a no go for light aircraft was to do with the minimum rate of climb requirements?
I thought the reason, or one of the reasons, why City was pretty much a no go for light aircraft was to do with the minimum rate of climb requirements?
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with an ILS at both ends
The slight issue with Gatwick CAS is well documented and not an impossible hurdle to overcome.
Which are both the reasons why Biggin will never become a big commercial airport.
There's no space for an ILS on 03
The road transport in and out of Biggin is, I agree, crap!
Last edited by Andy Mayes; 7th Feb 2012 at 10:25. Reason: Edited because I found out the correct runway oritentation
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Airports like Biggin would be wasting their time trying to become another Gatwick. They never can. They need to provide good service to GA of all sizes, and work on that. Same applies to Shoreham, incidentally.
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Which are both the reasons why Biggin will never become a big commercial airport.
Biggin's problem is a planning restriction that they've been trying to overturn for some years, without success. They're not allowed to handle ticketed flights.
The transport options (lack of them) don't help, but if the desired aircraft can't get there in the first place, that's not the issue.
If they were taking EasyRyanJetAirs, it wouldn't be too much hassle to have a dedicated coach service to/from East Croydon, Orpington and Bromley South, from where the train services to Central London and other destinations are actually very good.
The service provided to GA at Biggin is nothing short of excellent. It's not much more than we pay elsewhere these days, landing fees are comparable to Shoreham, Redhill, Fairoaks, Southend, Blackbushe, Le Touquet and plenty of other popular GA destinations.
Years ago I suggested to TAG that a 'second level' operation was feasible at Farnborough for those types who don't need handling, limo service etc. My suggestion not surprisingly was ignored, one of the reasons being the number of annual movements allowed. Now this limit has been raised, maybe someone should re-visit this suggestion, after all Farnborough already has Cat 1 ILS on both ends, and runway 24 could be Cat 2 with some minor changes eg revised lighting, 3 deg GP.
Elstree has to be the closest - if you don't drive then just get the tube either Northern line or Jubilee lines terminate a short cab ride away.
I'm not sure how you are getting over an hour journey time to Biggin Hill however as from Vauxhall you'd be able to drive to Oxford in an hour and a half!
I'm not sure how you are getting over an hour journey time to Biggin Hill however as from Vauxhall you'd be able to drive to Oxford in an hour and a half!
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Driving from from Pimlico, (mid-morning, weekdays), I usually allow:
White Waltham: 50 mins
Wycombe Air Park: 60 mins
Redhill: 70 mins
Elstree: 90 mins! (I only did that once...
)
Of course, Hammersmith Flyover is currently messing up anything to the West.
White Waltham: 50 mins
Wycombe Air Park: 60 mins
Redhill: 70 mins
Elstree: 90 mins! (I only did that once...
)Of course, Hammersmith Flyover is currently messing up anything to the West.
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Some real nonsense being said here...
It's not much more than we pay elsewhere these days, landing fees are comparable to Shoreham, Redhill, Fairoaks, Southend, Blackbushe, Le Touquet and plenty of other popular GA destinations.
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On the broader issues regarding Biggin Hill and possible expansion - There is little doubt it is the ambitions of the airfields controlling operator to
have aircraft movemements considerably increased - However each time such permission from the authority is sought they have come up against strong and active opposition from a poweful local residents group who - rightly or wrongly - forsee the granting of permission to operate scheduled services - or landing permission granted for arrivals of larger jets - would
result in Biggin becoming a replica of Luton.
Certainly Biggin has expanded its hangerage out of all recognition to the
Biggin of but a few years ago - and while the amount of jet traffic is
at the moment quite reasonable (for some) it has to be said there is little faith or trust in assurances or pacifying from either the Airport Authority or from Bromley Counci regarding any future expansion plans for Biggin.
...
have aircraft movemements considerably increased - However each time such permission from the authority is sought they have come up against strong and active opposition from a poweful local residents group who - rightly or wrongly - forsee the granting of permission to operate scheduled services - or landing permission granted for arrivals of larger jets - would
result in Biggin becoming a replica of Luton.
Certainly Biggin has expanded its hangerage out of all recognition to the
Biggin of but a few years ago - and while the amount of jet traffic is
at the moment quite reasonable (for some) it has to be said there is little faith or trust in assurances or pacifying from either the Airport Authority or from Bromley Counci regarding any future expansion plans for Biggin.
...
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I've done a bit of flying out of Blackbushe, which is only a 35 minute drive for me from Twickenham. However, there is no hangarage available there, so probably not an option in this case.
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On the broader issues regarding Biggin Hill and possible expansion - There is little doubt it is the ambitions of the airfields controlling operator to
have aircraft movemements considerably increased -
have aircraft movemements considerably increased -
The corporate market continues to expand, hence the increase in the number of hangars catering for them. All the locally based limo drivers know the best ways in and out of London.
I have a related problem in that now I have lights on my strip I would like to be able to fly to London in the evening AND fly back taking off at 2300+
Is there a (not too expensive) airfield near London that has lights and is open at that time (with or without ATC). I have always assumed not .... but does anyone know better?
Is there a (not too expensive) airfield near London that has lights and is open at that time (with or without ATC). I have always assumed not .... but does anyone know better?
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As an amusing aside, a product I am just finishing the development of in my business (electronics but not at all aviation related) will be a great solution for SMS activated pilot controlled lighting 
SMS to turn on, off after X seconds (X from 1 to 100,000), or off with another SMS.
SMS to turn on, off after X seconds (X from 1 to 100,000), or off with another SMS.
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How is it nonsense? There is no space for an ILS on 03 and the transport links are not good. This remains to be the case even if Biggin could handle ticketed flights.
Other big airports manage with rubbish transport. Been to Luton recently? The single rail station is a bus ride away and has less trains per hour to London than Bromley South. East Midlands doesn't have anything. Bournemouth is desolate, as I found one night when Ryanair dumped me there at 2300 due snow, instead of Gatwick. It was a 5 mile walk to town/hotel/rail.
Biggin would too. It's not hard.
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Thank you all for your replies.
It's very difficult to find hangar space around London.
Seeing so many aircrafts parked outside made me wonder if it's so good for the aircraft to be hangared.
Your aircraft in generally not in front when you need it.
Sometimes nobody is here to help you.
Every time you have to help other flyers, it's not that I don't like helping, but sometimes I'm in a hurry and I dare not refuse to help.
Birds love hangars, and especially my aircraft, I think rain is better for the paint than birds.
So I'll base my aircraft in Denham where I'm taking my CPL course, at least until I get my CPL, and my aircraft will be outside.
Denham is less than an hour drive from Vauxhall bridge, it's not so easy by train, but quite feasible.
I'll visit all the airfields you mentioned.
Another drawback of Biggin Hill is the lack of preflight briefing facility in the vicinity of the remote hangar.
An airfield you didn't mention is Stapleford. I think it must be an hour drive from Vauxhall bridge, it seems to be usable at night. But I don't know if they accept private flyers.
It's very difficult to find hangar space around London.
Seeing so many aircrafts parked outside made me wonder if it's so good for the aircraft to be hangared.
Your aircraft in generally not in front when you need it.
Sometimes nobody is here to help you.
Every time you have to help other flyers, it's not that I don't like helping, but sometimes I'm in a hurry and I dare not refuse to help.
Birds love hangars, and especially my aircraft, I think rain is better for the paint than birds.
So I'll base my aircraft in Denham where I'm taking my CPL course, at least until I get my CPL, and my aircraft will be outside.
Denham is less than an hour drive from Vauxhall bridge, it's not so easy by train, but quite feasible.
I'll visit all the airfields you mentioned.
Another drawback of Biggin Hill is the lack of preflight briefing facility in the vicinity of the remote hangar.
An airfield you didn't mention is Stapleford. I think it must be an hour drive from Vauxhall bridge, it seems to be usable at night. But I don't know if they accept private flyers.