EGHG Westland (No GA?)
 

Morning all,

I just phoned EGHG to enquire about landing there to visit a nearby business and was told that unless you have business with AgustaWestland you're not welcome there. Yet the AIP says VFR traffic permitted with PPR...

Has anyone had any experience with flying into there? The next nearest place seems to be Dunkeswell.

I have flown in there a couple of times "just for fun". I think that the problem if you want to use the airfield to visit businesses offsite may be the difficulty of getting access to and from the airfield. They are not really set up for public access and you would probably have to be escorted in both directions.

Henstridge is another option.

Private site, they don't wish to give you PPR - it happens. Given that basically it's a helicopter test facility, you can see why they wouldn't - although when I worked there they were relatively welcoming, so presumably that's changed.

Henstridge is rather nearer isn't it, than Dunkeswell?

G

Henstridge does look very good, but I've seen a lot of chatter on here about it being very rough, particularly the taxiways.

Has anyone been in there lately? I'm in a Mooney M20 and would really love to not damage it.

I went to Henstridge a couple of years ago and the parking area was covered in stones. I never went back. I also visited Yeovil some time ago (I had an "inside contact") and I can confirm that getting out off and getting back into the airfield was a pain in the backside. ATC were very friendly.

I last went in there about a year ago, can't recall any particular problems with the runway.

G

The "VFR" part does not mean GA per say, it's the PPR that's the gotcha....

The visitor's parking area at Henstridge is rough and stony. It's not too bad if you can keep the power down but that can be difficult as they often want you to park half on the grass. This means that you need a lot of power to get on/off the grass.

It might be worth a phone call to see if they can be a bit more sympathetic these days. I see that their website does warn of FOD on taxiways and I have seen some horrendous examples of stone damage from there.

Never do a run up with propwash towards the clubhouse/cafe it could well end up a demolition site....with FOD all over the place....

I think I'll be giving it a miss, just not worth it. Thank you all for all the feedback. Reminds me why I'm enjoying being based from Biggin Hill so much.

I have been into Westland. I think the problem is security etc and visitors have to be accompanied everywhere. My visit worked because the landing fee went into the ATC tea fund and they ferried one to/from the gates.
They were very friendly and quite glad to see a new face.
I expect someone did a risk assessment and found that aeroplanes are now too dangerous.