14 September 2016
Cranfield Airport is in crisis following a shortage of Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs). The airport has announced by notam that it will be closed every weekend from 24 September 2016 to the end of March 2017 while a new ATCO is receiving training.
The airport is also closed from tomorrow, 15 September to 17:00 17 September for Saturday’s Cranfield Festival of Flight, for all aircraft other than those associated with the festival. It is also closed the following day, Sunday 18 September, citing lack of ATCOs, and then again from Tuesday 20 September to Monday 26 September for ‘runway rejuvenation’.
The airport management says there will be several days between now and March 2017 when only one ATCO will be on duty and that could mean additional closures if that ATCO should be ill, fatigued or need compassionate leave. On single ATCO days, the airport will have limited opening hours: 0900 – 1100 and 1600-1800, and these only for movements notified 24 hours in advance.
Additionally, from 26 September “Cranfield Airport will enforce strict PPR in order to manage traffic flow”.
There is an active thread on the subject of Cranfield Airport on the FLYER Forum here
LINK Cranfield Airport
