Open letter to new Biggin Hill CEO
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Open letter to new Biggin Hill CEO
Put quite simply - what is the real agenda at Biggin Hill for GA.
This is an open letter to the management at Biggin Hill and also a request to the collective power of the forum to help unite and get a real answer from Biggin Hill Ltd on their GA Strategy.
1) I understand that the existing Managing Director Will Curtis is to leave and a new CEO is to take over shortly
http://www.bromleyboroughnews.co.uk/article.cfm?id=130459&headline=Biggin%20Hill%20Airport%20wel comes%20new%20CEO§ionIs=news&searchyear=2019
2) Plans were announced in 2018 for a new Light Aviation Hangar
https://www.flyer.co.uk/biggin-hill-looking-for-new-light-aviation-centre-partner/
3) In the same year the flying schools were all given notice and then an 11th hour reprive found - though no public details on what the agreements were.
https://www.flyer.co.uk/flying-schools-told-to-stop-training-at-biggin-hill/
Now it appears that:
4) Landing fees will rise from £25 to £44. Exc VAT in the lowest weight category. This in addition to above inflation rises on hangar/parking and not including approach fees and a new “immigration levy”.
5) Student solos will be banned
Points (4) and (5) mean that the flying schools will close.
Several owner / group aircraft have made plans to leave already
Who exactly will invest in a “Light Aviation Centre” if there’s no flying school and the owner/groups are being driven out?
This isn’t a rant about the cost of landing fees per se - its about a request for an honest and transparent vision from BHA on whether they want GA or not. There’s so much spin in their PR materials purporting to be part of the community and encourage GA but it simply doesn’t compute against what is happening on the ground.
If the goal is to get rid of GA please state it
If the goal is to reduce noise complaints or controller workload then one option maybe to reduce GA movements - but don’t be “lazy” by simply pricing people out - we can all work together to come up with practical, pragmatic and creative solutions - consider opening the doors to all owner/pilots during planning - you may be surprised where compromise can be found.
To the forum - how can we best mobilise?
APPG?
MPs?
Bromley Council?
To the management - please come and join the discussion.
This is an open letter to the management at Biggin Hill and also a request to the collective power of the forum to help unite and get a real answer from Biggin Hill Ltd on their GA Strategy.
1) I understand that the existing Managing Director Will Curtis is to leave and a new CEO is to take over shortly
http://www.bromleyboroughnews.co.uk/article.cfm?id=130459&headline=Biggin%20Hill%20Airport%20wel comes%20new%20CEO§ionIs=news&searchyear=2019
2) Plans were announced in 2018 for a new Light Aviation Hangar
https://www.flyer.co.uk/biggin-hill-looking-for-new-light-aviation-centre-partner/
3) In the same year the flying schools were all given notice and then an 11th hour reprive found - though no public details on what the agreements were.
https://www.flyer.co.uk/flying-schools-told-to-stop-training-at-biggin-hill/
Now it appears that:
4) Landing fees will rise from £25 to £44. Exc VAT in the lowest weight category. This in addition to above inflation rises on hangar/parking and not including approach fees and a new “immigration levy”.
5) Student solos will be banned
Points (4) and (5) mean that the flying schools will close.
Several owner / group aircraft have made plans to leave already
Who exactly will invest in a “Light Aviation Centre” if there’s no flying school and the owner/groups are being driven out?
This isn’t a rant about the cost of landing fees per se - its about a request for an honest and transparent vision from BHA on whether they want GA or not. There’s so much spin in their PR materials purporting to be part of the community and encourage GA but it simply doesn’t compute against what is happening on the ground.
If the goal is to get rid of GA please state it
If the goal is to reduce noise complaints or controller workload then one option maybe to reduce GA movements - but don’t be “lazy” by simply pricing people out - we can all work together to come up with practical, pragmatic and creative solutions - consider opening the doors to all owner/pilots during planning - you may be surprised where compromise can be found.
To the forum - how can we best mobilise?
APPG?
MPs?
Bromley Council?
To the management - please come and join the discussion.
Uncertainty. Create uncertainty and all users will start looking over their shoulder. It is more than evident that GA does not form part of Biggin's future despite quiet protestations to the contrary.
I'm guessing that Biggin's future has been decided, it lies with that part of GA known by some, as Deep Pocket Bizjets Ltd. It is all about cash.
It might not be all that rosy on the development front. I seem to recall that in either the original or, subsequent versions of the Bromley Council lease there were restrictive covenants enshrining and promoting the continued active presence of General Aviation.
I again guess, that as public interest documents , copies of these leases and any amendments should be available from Bromley Councils archives.
I'm guessing that Biggin's future has been decided, it lies with that part of GA known by some, as Deep Pocket Bizjets Ltd. It is all about cash.
It might not be all that rosy on the development front. I seem to recall that in either the original or, subsequent versions of the Bromley Council lease there were restrictive covenants enshrining and promoting the continued active presence of General Aviation.
I again guess, that as public interest documents , copies of these leases and any amendments should be available from Bromley Councils archives.
