16 April 2008
Shoreham airport has reopened under the auspices of new owners Albemarle Shoreham Airport Ltd. It had been closed for most of Monday and Tuesday morning after its original owners, Erinaceous, went into administration.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a ride,” Airport Manager John Haffenden told FLYER. Once the administer was officially appointed on Monday morning, the airport licence was invalidated so the field had to close. John then went to the CAA to negotiate a new licence. Returning to the airfield, he had to wait until 1415 yesterday for news that the new owners had taken control, and that the airport could be reopened.
Albemarle Investment Syndicates had some links to Erinaceous, the old owners, but more important for John Haffenden, it already owned the commercial buildings on the site so it now ‘reunites the airport under single control’. The company, he added, is committed to developing the airport in accordance with the plans originally announced when it was sold by the local councils in 2006.
During the closure the police helicopter was the only aircraft to operate from the site, although with ATC and firefighters on hand, any emergency would have been dealt with.
“I’ve been 40 years a total supporter of this place,” John says. “Over my dead body will this place close.”
