9 October 2017
Blackbushe Airport has come under fire from local groups opposing its proposal to deregister common land on which the airport stands. The airport wants to improve its facilities for business aviation passengers and build new aircraft hangars.
Yateley Town Council and the Yateley Common Management Committee have objected to the move, saying that Blackbushe Airport has existed on common land for the last 75 years, with no adverse impact on its operation.
However, the airport says the deregistration would allow building works to proceed.
Blackbushe Airport’s plans are to build ‘modest’ new facilities along the A30 edge of the airfield and include hangars, flight schools, cafe and terminal for business aviation passengers.
“When this development proposal was presented to both Hart District Council and later to the Blackbushe Airport Consultative Committee, it was met with a favourable response,” said an airport spokesman.
“However, one concern that was raised was the need to satisfy the requirements of the Commons Act 2006. Since then, the airport has being reviewing these requirements and has determined that the only satisfactory way of doing this, is to seek to de-register the land that the airfield occupies.”
Blackbushe’s plans are to “breathe new life into the airport” according to its Vision document.
“The vision is to develop a small, modern aviation facility, focusing on small light aircraft and offering a wider range of business opportunities providing services for passengers, aircraft sales and maintenance and flight training.”
5 comments
They want to expand? then why did they ban microlight aircraft from using the airport this year? Next thing will be single engine aircraft as they too will be holding up the business jets they want to introduce at the site
As an ex Blackbushe pilot, they are already well under way to getting rid of light aircraft with extortionate fuel prices, landing fees, parking and a total lack of consideration for the existing users. You only have to look at the flight line to see the reduction in home based aircraft over the last 10 years. Why do airfield operators with delusions of grandeur in this country think that getting rid of light aircraft is the way forward. In the States and many other countries, GA works quite happily with Commercial operators but here, apparently not. I guess that their definition of ‘small light aircraft’ stops at Challengers and Citations. I was once told by Blackbushe ATC when asking for some circuits over the air that I couldn’t do a circuit as they had a jet coming in 10 minutes. He also mentioned that they ‘get as busy as Heathrow’ sometimes. Really!!! What next, ‘London Blackbushe’??
Sounds like a plan to build a nice corporate jet airport outside of Farnborough with its limiting takeoffs and landings by moving it all to Blackbushe.
There is a market for light aircraft maintenance at Blackbushe or is someone looking at a corporate jet maintenance.
As a pilot and also campaigner against the lunatic Tandridge District Council plans for a 12,000 house ‘garden village’ in Surrey, all I can say is be careful and try to see the big picture. Blackbushe sits on prime land for the developers. If the airfield cannot remain profitable they might just sell out and then it becomes a housing estate. Redhill residents opposed a concrete runway for the occasional biz jet. Now, TDC are talking about turning it over to the developers to stick houses on it. Unless you want the airfield to go altogether, residents, GA and management need to get into collaboration mode.
Kevin, well said I agree with you, can I ask is your father Graham Siggery?