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Biggin Hill Airport To Cut Light Aircraft Activity- Cuts ALL training

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Biggin Hill Airport To Cut Light Aircraft Activity- Cuts ALL training

Old 17th Mar 2018, 12:43
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It looks like a lot more of those old airfields in the Southeast will eventually either upgrade to a commercial type setup if the facilities suit or be paved over for houses leaving less and less “strips” for GA and hobbyists. With the current density of population and the predicted growth, wealth and work opportunities in that part of the country it’s inevitable. I suppose if I was a GA “junkie” and flying was an important part of my life I’d have to decide between continuing to live there and commuting further out to the airstrips that are left or moving to a more rural area where work prospects and salary levels are significantly less but having my hobby on my doorstep. Tough choice really.

I live in rural Scotland with the strip next to the house, from walking out the front door to firing up the lycoming inside the hangar is 2 minutes with many grass strips nearby, I appreciate how luck I am. I doubt I would fly if I had to bollock about with traffic,trains or motorways then rules and regulations once I reached the airfield.
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Old 17th Mar 2018, 14:01
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Originally Posted by Red Four
Southend certainly do not charge £5 for a T&Go or £15 per landing. You seem to have mixed up your argument somewhat by bringing pricing into it.
Oh really? Sorry - I didn't realise that mentioning prices and stating that I pay more than a golfer in the London area per year confused the argument that us pilots do pay our way and aren't complete freeloaders...

I am not complaining about these fees, I am happy paying them hence why I do! Just wanted to highlight that as Scifi posted that we didn't pay much, perhaps at Biggin we actually do pay out way.

(for info, "most" for instance - Stapleford £5TG & £17LD; Elstree £5TG & £15LD; North Weald - Donation for both; Damyns Hall - always free; Thurrock £10LD; Fairoaks £18LD; Blackbushe £15LD; Oxford £16LD... Even Lydd is cheaper at £23LD & £8TG)
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Old 17th Mar 2018, 14:47
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Most other airfields that I know of charge £5 per T&G and £10-£15 per landing!

(for info, "most" for instance - Stapleford £5TG & £17LD; Elstree £5TG & £15LD; North Weald - Donation for both; Damyns Hall - always free; Thurrock £10LD; Fairoaks £18LD; Blackbushe £15LD; Oxford £16LD... Even Lydd is cheaper at £23LD & £8TG)
I agree with the rough summary of prices at those airfields, however I just think that, for the sort of establishment you seem to desire to continue to operate from - within the south-east, and at a reasonable distance from central London - you will have to pay similar rates to those you have been paying at Biggin for the privilege. it is just market forces. The airfields you list with low prices do not have all of the following:

hard runways are important due to wet weather, lights are important because some of us land at night, and IAPs are important because some of us fly approaches regularly...
Anyway, good luck with being able to continue at Biggin Hill.

Last edited by Red Four; 18th Mar 2018 at 08:57.
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Old 17th Mar 2018, 18:18
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now its just Southend that will accept GA and has IAP, hard runway and lights within an acceptable distance from London
Cambridge?
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Old 17th Mar 2018, 23:35
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Originally Posted by Red Four
it is just market forces. The airfileds you list with low prices do not have all of the following:
Oh I agree redfour! As I said - I am happy to pay this for the service I get. I just don't think that it is "nothing".

That said however, i hear Stapleford is attempting to get a GNSS approach! (And they have 600m tarmac...)

JonZarno - I do like Cambridge very much, but its about 2h drive from where I live and thats if i dont get caught in a jam / rush hour.... (always been very welcomed there)
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Old 18th Mar 2018, 09:15
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Actually Alex, Elstree do not allow visitors to do circuits. (A tracker is required for circuit work) Elstree based schools pay training landing fees since about a year ago (on every training flight including local and land away) and North Weald has copied this model, but still allows visiting training aircraft to do 3 at a cost.
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Old 1st Nov 2018, 22:07
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As someone who worked at Biggin Hill for several years in the 1990s
I'm absolutely horrified to see the authoritarian attitude of the present managers
Someone needs to force them OUT
The spirit of 1940 is being extinguished by these clots.

Will Singh and the rest end up in Redhill?
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Old 2nd Nov 2018, 08:53
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I believe there's been some sort of reprieve.
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Old 10th Nov 2018, 21:39
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Call me a cynic, but isn't the plan to render the business non-viable, thus helping the case for planning permission for thousands of houses?
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Old 11th Nov 2018, 08:07
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You are a Cynic . But unfortunately i concur, I learnt to fly at biggin in the 90 and its
a shadow of its former self as far as GA flight training is concerned,
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Old 13th Nov 2018, 14:42
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As far as I understand, Redhill is also under threat of being closed and /or covered with housing, according to friends who live nearby.
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Old 13th Nov 2018, 15:27
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Originally Posted by pettinger93
As far as I understand, Redhill is also under threat of being closed and /or covered with housing, according to friends who live nearby.
As is Fairoaks and in any case, like Elstree, only home based aircraft are allowed to do circuits there.
See www.nofairoaksnewtown.org for the latest news there and a chance to object.
The last time Biggin tried this was in the '80s; Biggin based operators tried to get PP to use Wisley, even to the extent of occasionally doing circuits there without touching down but someone 'extrapolated' their plans to mean full IFR capability and 'noisy jets' which naturally upset the locals so those plans came to nought.
What is needed is a 'satellite' airfield so that training flights can still operate from Biggin but go elsewhere nearby to do circuits and no I'm not thinking Kenley as it's too built up round there.
What's the chance of re-opening the strip at Brands Hatch?(It used to be long enough to take a Dove)

Last edited by chevvron; 13th Nov 2018 at 16:02.
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Old 13th Nov 2018, 18:38
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Originally Posted by treadigraph
Friend was recently two day's shy of signing the contract selling his house; his purchaser was forced to pull out because the purchaser of his flat had suddenly decided that Crystal Palace FC was too close...
Sister in law had a flat a stone's throw from Selhurst Park (in that block which has the offices for the Thalyceamia and Sickle Cell Anaemia Centre on the ground floor) and when she came to sell it, she got the asking price from the first viewing who was a Palace supporter!
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Old 10th Mar 2020, 11:28
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Has GA had a reprieve at Biggin Hill? Are the clubs relocating ?
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Old 13th Mar 2020, 19:26
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Originally Posted by memories of px
Has GA had a reprieve at Biggin Hill? Are the clubs relocating ?
things have settled down a bit in last 12 months. Still tough for Abinitio but ok for private owners.
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