Issue 10 Sept 2026
Together We Can Fly
Welcome to Issue 10 of our newsletter. We highlight the ongoing success of the SAN initiative and at the end of the newsletter summarise the survey results to date
261 Airfields ID as strategically Important
261 airfields in the UK have identified as strategically important
England—209 Wales—14 Scotland—33 Northern Ireland—5
Licensed—50 Unlicensed—206 Military-5
Category A -30 Category B-43 Category C-91 Category D-97
See full airfield list Airfield List | Strategic Aerodrome Network - SAN
New updated SAN Map https://www.san-ga.co.uk/airfield-map
Old Sarum to reopen
Old Sarum airfield is preparing to reopen to visitors later this year. Watch the aviation press for more information
Old Sarum is a first world war airfield, with grass runways and many Grade II listed hangars and buildings. It is the home to the Boscombe Down Aviation collection
Hangar 3 is being rebuilt after the fire in 2025, once complete this will be available for aircraft hangarage
Space Port joins SAN
Baltasound space port has identified as strategically important to the UK
The airfield is the first licensed orbital vertical launch site in the UK, previously know as Unst. It was awarded the UK 1st space port license in 2023 to conduct suborbital and orbital space launches
The Aerodrome Operators Group (AOG)
The AOG was set up in 2014 when General Aviation Aerodromes wanted to have an organisation with the same purposes as the Airport Operator’s Group (AOG) - sharing intelligence and ideas and representing the wider aviation community - but without the hefty joining fee.
Clive and Emma Hughes (at Compton Abbas at the time) drove the initiative which (from the earliest minutes I have) had around 20 members. Other members included Popham (where the first meeting was held), Bodmin, Sandown, Dunkeswell, North Weald Brimpton, Sherburn in Elmett, White Waltham, the London Heliport, Blackbushe, Lasham, Shobdon, Goodwood, Rochester, Duxford and Lands End.
During Covid and since then we generally meet virtually. The current Chair is Mark Gibb at Goodwood and we have stayed with virtual meetings as everyone is busy and needs to make the best use of the time available.
We meet 4 times a year and address issues / share information - including fuel, insurance, positive or negative initiatives by the DfT or CAA. etc. Between meetings we will alert airfields to new policy or issues that arise. Recent discussions have covered new fuels and sales management, the challenge of some CAA policies, diversification events and environmental credentials. We also track CAA issues and endeavour to provide this and other relevant information to members.
So, if you have signed up to SAN and would like to engage with other aerodromes via the AOG, please get in touch. There is no fee!
And we now have some 80 members!
Thank you
Ann Bartaby - Secretary - ann@bartaby.org
Redhill Aerodrome
Many of you will know of the longstanding battles to keep Redhill Aerodrome on the map. It has has a rocky history since it was set up in the 1930s. For example, the Tiger Club should never have been forced to move and there should have been more engagement with local residents. It played a huge role in WWII.
It is a fabulous aerodrome, Category ‘A’ in SAN, in a strategic location with extensive land and buildings housing a wide range of activities - including fixed wing and helicopter training and operations, the base for the Air Ambulance Kent, Surrey, Sussex and the Police, aircraft maintenance, thriving business aviation and established as a helicopter pilot training base for Bristow Helicopters in 1961. It supports the military and works closely with Gatwick and Biggin on airspace management. There is a significant amount of office and workshop space that has been occupied by a huge diversity of businesses. Over the years there have been great fly-ins, motor events, cycling activities and charity events. It used to have two fabulous cafes and enthused many young people to get excited about flying. A few years ago a RAeS ‘Cool Aeronautics’ event involved 60+ 9-year old kids - they (and their teachers) said it was their best day out ever!
Attempts to build a hard runway were thwarted on several occasions.
Now, after many attempts, the owners and their developer partner, have finally managed to persuade Tandridge District Council to say it is the ‘preferred’ location to build a new settlement. However, there would be massive challenges to be overcome to ensure a new settlement would be sustainable (if this is even possible in this location) and some long-term objectors to the upgrading of the aerodrome now believe that would be a better solution than housing.
Sadly, if successful a hard runway could have significantly improved the chances of not only supporting the retention of Redhill but cemented more symbiotic links with Gatwick.
Objections have been made to the proposed allocation and will be continued.'
Pooleys Dawn to Dusk - Airfield at risk
By Nick Rogers
Airfields Closed
Mike and I have done several Pooley’s Dawn to Dusk challenges with most of the ideas coming about after a beer or two. This year’s idea was no exception except that I was reminiscing about Wellesbourne and the airfield’s chequered history over the last few years. Activity and movements appeared to have been dropping off and there are ever present rumours of numerous airfields closing with Wellesbourne being no exception. Indeed just a few miles up the road, Coventry had recently closed on June 11th 2026.
This lead us to thinking about researching into just how many airfields have closed or are under potential threat of development.
Having contacted the GAAC (General Aviation Awareness Council) and the SAN (Strategic Aerodrome Network) they kindly gave us a list of over 200 airfields that are known to have closed or been re/developed or in the case of many farm strips, ploughed up and returned to more traditional farming use, and of course, many of the airfields were ex-military. Having gone through the list (it made for rather depressing reading as a GA pilot) we managed to put together a route that encompassed many of these airfields that have closed in the last 20 years and planned a stop or two to refuel at those that were under threat with a quick interview planned with the Popham Airfield Matters team at EGHP.
Mike and myself arrived at the aircraft on 1st July 2026 at about 6am having checked the forecasts and NOTAMs for the day. We’d chosen a great day weather wise but upon arriving at the aircraft, the nose wheel tyre was flat - hopefully not a sign of things to come that day but an ironic representation of many of the airfields to be visited or overflown!
We managed to get some air into the tyre and it appeared to hold whilst we completed the A check so we set off towards Coventry for a low fly past and photograph. The route took us past Bruntingthorpe and up to Nottingham, a very friendly airfield I used to regularly visit before it closed to fixed wing in 2026 . We continued past Hucknall, Sheffield and Doncaster (hopefully due to reopen in the next few years? One of the few lucky ones) and past Sandtoft, currently under threat of development.
We got as far north as Brough on the Humber estuary before turning southbound to Kirton on Lyndsey, before routing past several ex-military sites, including Scampton (home of the Red Arrows and 617 ‘Dam Busting’ squadron and Cottesmore. We overflew the Lancaster “Freedom Wings” model at Norton Disney on the A46 before visiting one of our favourite grass strips at Shacklewell for a stop and go. Before long, we landed at Fenland to refuel both the aircraft and ourselves. The cafe there opened at 9am and we timed it nicely to sample a full, English breakfast which set us up for the day. A top up of air into the nose wheel and we were off.
Nick & Mike at Fenland
The route took us past Shipdham, with a drop in to Hinderclay Meadows, and then to Sudbury/Cuckoo Tye Farm, and Wormingford, past Cambridge (under threat from housing) before flying over Bourn (not much left there any longer) Wyton and Alconbury (a classic airfield shaped housing estate), up to Deenethorpe and then down to Turweston.
Turweston never fail to impress and their can do attitude with regards to fuelling and a quick turn around have featured in several of mine and Mike’s challenge flights over the years. We had trouble getting the dust cap off the nose wheel tyre and asked one of the friendly engineers at Vision Aerospace to have a quick look at it. Not only did they drop what they were doing to come over to the aircraft but they advised they’d be able to fix the problem there and then and get us on our way. We took advantage of their kind offer and whilst we had a bite to eat and a coffee, they replaced our inner tube (which had found a tiny pin prick of a hole).
Once again airborne and our route took us south around the Luton Zone past Bicester, Panshanger and Hatfield, out to Manston which hopefully is due to open in 2029, and then all the way along the south coast past Gatwick to Popham. Despite running behind schedule with our tyre stop, we still managed to have a few minutes with the Popham matters representative who gave us an update on how Popham was tackling both a housing development and a light industry proposal whilst still keeping alive one of the best loved grass airfields in the country. We used their self-service refuelling setup (just requires a credit card) and we pressed on along the south coast as far as Watchford Farm, a microlight strip suffering possible closure, and on to Plymouth which still looked like a perfectly usable airport from 1000’ up. We turned northeast and proceeded up towards Bristol to Filton, and then on past Gloucester (still up for sale if anyone’s interested) to Long Marston (more housing) and finally to our home airfield of Wellesbourne.
Manston airfield
We’d covered 865 miles in just over eight hours and overflown or visited 34 airfields. We’d barely scratched the surface of the GAAC list and had stayed within the southern half of England to make the day more achievable but we hadn’t forgotten that there were numerous airfields in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that had all suffered similar fates. The efforts of a few determined people are vital in the survival of our airfields which have provided, and continue to provide, training and opportunities to so many commercial and general aviation pilots, engineers and military personnel over the years, and our thanks, thoughts and best wishes go out to them.
Thank you one and all.
Mike Roberts and Nick Rogers G-JMKE Take Flight Aviation flying group.
Airfield Focus - Lee on Solent By Matt Wilkins
Solent Airport Daedalus holds a rich legacy originating as the former Royal Navy air station HMS Daedalus. Today, it stands as a hub for general aviation, high-tech manufacturing, and aerospace engineering, maintenance and training on the south coast.
Fareham Borough Council has consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to securing the site's long-term future as a self-sustaining community asset. Rescuing the airfield from disuse, the Council has invested tens of millions into surrounding infrastructure, new hangars, a fuel farm, and runway upgrades. Rather than allowing the historic space to succumb to non-aviation redevelopment, Fareham Borough Council’s policy directly prioritizes safeguarding the airfield. The goal is twofold: protecting heritage while creating a modern base for local employment, education, and business growth. Through partnerships with local educational institutions and support for heritage volunteer groups, the airport remains extremely popular and prospects are bright for considerable developments in the future of flight space. The recently announced Swordfish Business Park aims to be an example of intelligent development in proximity to aerodromes being of benefit to all.
Revitalising this vision, Fareham Borough Council appointed Matt Wilkins as the operator of Solent Airport through his company, EGHF Ltd. Wilkins brings over a decade of hands-on experience in aerodrome management, notably serving as the CAA Accountable Aerodrome Manager at Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk. His background spans leadership across aviation bodies, including the General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) and the British Air Display Association (BADA). Wilkins' track record of balancing commercial viability with heritage preservation aligns seamlessly with the Council's goals. His appointment ensures that Solent Airport will continue to thrive as a safe, active, and accessible home for flight, retaining its status as a premier aviation facility while serving the surrounding Fareham and Lee-on-the-Solent communities for generations to come.
Development Consent Orders
By now, I’m sure you will have had some contact with the Development Consent Order (DCO) process for fast-tracking major power and infrastructure schemes through a speeded up planning process. The process is complex and challenging and it is specifically designed to encourage investment in improving energy generation and distribution, new roads and other physical infrastructure.
But I wanted to draw attention to some recent policy documents which has been issued by the Government for prospective applicants.
It is important to understand that the process aims to speed up infrastructure delivery. But, in reaction to prospective developers known to ride somewhat roughshod over GA aerodromes, the new guidance places more weight on the developer engaging at an early stage and in a genuinely constructive way.
For example the 'Planning Act 2008: Guidance on preparing an application: Part 1 - Pre-application steps' provides guidance on the ‘Pre-application stage for DCO applications’, 3 July 2026 states:
'3.2 Applicants are encouraged to engage with relevant stakeholders, which can include local communities, public authorities (such as statutory bodies, local authorities, and non-statutory bodies), relevant statutory undertakers, and those who may be directly affected by the proposed development (such as landowners and occupiers) so they are aware of the proposed development and have the opportunity to contribute to its evolution. The applicant can benefit from the specialist, technical and local knowledge of these stakeholders as they develop and refine their proposal. Doing this can minimise risk through the early identification of issues and work to address these ahead of examination, which should prevent delays, and reduce overall timeframes and costs to applicants.’
If you have any queries on a DCO application affecting you, the GAAC may be able to help https://gaac.org.uk
INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE SAN SURVEY
The data below summarise the results so far. Each Newsletter will update the statistics and provide any analysis we think worthwhile
Note: Not all questions were answered by every airfield completing the survey, Not all airfields have completed the survey, some airfields have duplicated the survey
Summary of Results So Far
Is the Airfield?
37 Licensed
161 Unlicensed
5 Military
Traffic Type
189 VFR only
6 IFR
8 VFR/IFR
Nav Aids available on the Airfield
1 VOR/DME
4 DME
9 NDB
3 ILS
6 Lctr
Does the Airfield have associated airspace?
0 TMA
1 CTR
1 CTA
31 ATZ
4 MATZ
Does the Airfield have ATC?
96 Yes
99 No
What ATC services does the airfield have?
2 APP
4 TWR
4 GND
5 RAD
0 DEL
4 ATIS
10 AFIS
62 A/G
29 Safetycom
Types of Rwy lighting available
5 APP
19 Thr
5 Rwy
17 PAPI
What are the Airfield operating Hrs?
11 H24
77 SR-SS
99 PPR only
14 Out of Hrs cover
Is the Airfield Border Force designated?
93 Yes
112 No
Fuel availability
6 Electric
0 Hydrogen
69 AVGAS 100LL
32 JET A1
14 Mogas
31 UL91/94
Aircraft parking on Airfield
157 Grass
41 Hard
Does the Airfield provide maintenance facilities?
25 Part ML
12 Part CAO
7 BCAR
10 Part 145
22 Part 21
16 CAMO
0 Part 147
Does the Airfield have compulsory handling?
5 Yes
71 No
122 N/A
Airframe de-icing availability
11 Yes
192 No
Summary of Results So Far
Meteorological services available on the Airfield?
9 METAR
8 TAF
6 ATIS Tel
7 ATIS Radio
60 Webcam
Does the Airfield have noise abatement procedures in place?
92 Yes
108 No
Is there fire cover on the Airfield?
66 Yes
133 No
What type of ground support is available?
10 GPU
16 Electric charge
19 Handling
15 RR refuelling
Does the Airfield have heritage links?
97 Yes
96 No
Is your Airfield at risk?
21 Short term
58 Medium Term
50 Long term
Does the Airfield provide services for?
21 SAR
37 HEMS
34 Police
47 Military
28 Utility companies
Would you be interested in the new Drone infrastructure?
74 Yes
121 No
Activities on Airfield
111 Flight training
161 Recreational flying
26 AOC
19 Flying displays
41 Aviation related commercial activities
15 Airshows
Does the Airfield have flight training available?
82 PPL
77 NPPL
11 MEP
16 IR
14 CPL
64 Ground school
25 Aerobatics
Does the Airfield have environmental measures in place?
69 Habitat conservation
44 Biodiversity
35 Animal grazing
41 Land cultivation
Does the Airfield have non-aviation activities?
115 Yes
82 No
Does the Airfield engage with community groups?
81 School visits
90 Cadets/scouts
40 Aviation history clubs
19 Social learning groups
58 Voluntary groups
78 Open days
17 Flying displays
20 Apprenticeships
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