Issue 8 March 2026
- 3 days ago
- 13 min read
Together We Can Fly
Welcome to Issue 8 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
We have an excellent airfield focus on Chatteris. A an update of the 2 years of SAN, highlighting the milestones and progress. Information on community engagement, NPPF update and a heat map of Popham airfield activity
244 AIRFIELDS ID AS STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT
244 airfields in the UK have identified as strategically important
England—197, Wales—14, Scotland—29, Northern Ireland—4
Licensed—46, Unlicensed—193, Military-5
Category A -26, Category B-43, Category C-88, Category D-87
See full airfield list Airfield List | Strategic Aerodrome Network - SAN
New updated SAN Map https://www.san-ga.co.uk/airfield-map
2nd ANNIVERSAY OF SAN
Thank you to all the airfield owners /operators who have completed the survey, and those who have identified their airfield as strategically important. Thank you to the aviation press who have supported us from the start, highlighting SAN in articles where possible. And finally thank you to all the subscribers to SAN News. Everyone’s support is very much appreciated by the team
The Strategic Aerodrome Network (SAN) celebrated its 2nd birthday in January 2026. Time has flown by and SAN is now established and industry recognised in the UK
A few highlights over the past 2 years
Jan 24 SAN survey activated
UK VFR Flight Guide includes SAN on airfield entries
May 24 APPG-Aviation officially recognises SAN
Pooleys Flight Guide includes SAN on airfield entries
Jun 24 SAN News issue 1 published
Sep 24 SAN Map launched
SAN News issue 2 published
Dec 24 SAN airfield categorisation launched
SAN News issue 3 published
Mar 25 Local MP visits airfield in support of SAN
SAN News issue 4 published
Jun 25 SAN website launched
SAN team meets DfT & MHCLG
Hospital helipads identified as part of SAN
200 airfields now part of SAN
SAN News issue 5 published
Sep 25 SAN News issue 6 published
Dec 25 SAN News issue 7 published
Full summary including statistics available
The 2nd anniversary of the Strategic Aerodrome Network (SAN) Launch
ANDREWSFIELD AVIATION STOPS FLIGHTS
Andrewsfield Aviation has stopped flight operations from Andrewsfield airfield for the foreseeable future. The Rwy is NOTAMed as closed
There is a great possibility Andrewsfield airfield in Essex may stop being an airfield in the future. This is a perfect example as to why SAN is important and all airfields must be protected for the future of GA in the UK
Calling all airfields to join SAN to protect the future
GASCo WINDS DOWN
GASCo has decided after 60 years of setting safety standards in the GA community it is time to close due to ongoing financial issues with the charity
GASCo was founded in 1964 with the aim of improving aviation safety via education, sharing information about accidents and incidents whilst promoting good airmanship. It was known for the safety evenings, which always drew a good turnout and valuable discussion and learning
AIRFIELD ARMAGEDDON
Flyer recently ran ‘Are we facing Airfield Armageddon’ focussed on Popham, Coventry Tollerton, Gloucester and Old Sarum?’
It is important that these threats are highlighted and that the breadth and depth of knowledge, influence and imagination, and generous financial contributions can combine to challenge some of these threats.
But a friend wrote to me afterwards to say:
‘Last night's Flyer show thing was rounding up the latest on the big news and it was depressing.’
Yes, it is depressing but perhaps another way we can work together to try to support our aerodromes is to publicise the successes. If you have introduced new activities, new ideas, new means of communication – anything that you can see is helping your aerodrome to thrive, we would love to hear more about it. We will aim to feature at least one ‘good news’ story in each edition of SAN News.
Please share your experience of new, positive, initiatives!
DRONE SCHOOL @ WEST WALES AIRPORT
A new drone school, owned by Tekever has started operations at West Wales Airport. Training drone pilots for its own operations and anyone wishing to obtain a drone qualification
As part of the SAN survey, the question is asked of the owner/operator
Would you be interested in the new Drone infrastructure?
Most airfields have answered this question. the consensus is 50-50 at the moment
Drones are the future of General Aviation, technology and ideas are advancing all the time
Encourage drome pilots to operate on a small part of your airfield, generating visitors, an income source and much valued community engagement
Popham Airfield Matters (PAM) is using this map to demonstrate to disbelievers that Popham is a very busy and strategically important Aerodrome in its ongoing fight to get a ‘Garden Village’ proposal thrown out. These SkyDemon maps may be of assistance to you.?
Image curtsey of SkyDemon
AIRFIELD FOCUS - CHATTERIS by Martin Crossley
After 35+ years of operations, Chatteris Airfield is under threat of closure from Anglia Water’s Fens Reservoir project. To survive we either need the Secretary of State to approve relocation to a new site, or for Anglian Water to move the reservoir to a different location.
Anglian Water is proposing to build a new reservoir in the Cambridgeshire Fens, classed as a project of national significance, which if granted by the Secretary of State comes with compulsory purchase powers for Anglian Water to take over and flood Chatteris Airfield.
The airfield owners do not want to sell but instead have Anglian Water relocate them “like-for-like” to The Chase, Days Lode Road, Fodder Fen Common, Manea, PE15 0HH, which is few miles from their current location at PE15 0FB.
The owners of the replacement land have agreed to sell and are waiting for Anglian Water to contact them. Anglian Water will then need to include the airfield relocation as part of their reservoir Development Consent Order (DCO) application, which is due to the submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in February 2027.
The DCO application is then decided by the Secretary of State, who also has the powers to grant the relocation of Chatteris airfield to the new site along with all its current planning permissions.
Planning History of Chatteris Airfield
Chatteris airfield was originally a old fenland farm which in 1988 was granted planning permission to be used as an airfield for the flying and hangarage of light aircraft 24/7 without any restriction on movements. Light aircraft being defined as up to 5700Kg MTOW.
In 1994 a three-year temporary permission was granted for parachute operations, again without any restrictions on movements, but with parachuting flights restricted to the hours of 9am to 8pm 7 days a week.
In 1997 the planning permission for parachuting was upgraded to a FULL permission.
Since 1997 various other planning permissions have been added (most of which were granted on appeal) and to date the airfield has permission for unlimited movements of light aircraft 24 / 7 and the operation of up to two light aircraft for parachuting operations between the hours of 9am and 8pm 7 days a week,
This clearly shows Chatteris Airfield is a “Specialist Site” that “Needs” to be protected.
Besides being a valuable GA facility there are also around 20,000 parachute descents made at Chatteris Airfield each year.
Many GA facilities shy away from allowing parachute activities to take place as they find it too disruptive to their other activities.
Parachuting is considered an extreme, competitive and recreational sport requiring specialised skill, physical exertion for body control in freefall, and mental focus. It features various competitive disciplines, including formation skydiving, canopy piloting, and vertical flying, with athletes training globally.
In the 65 years of UK civilian sport parachuting there have only ever two sites owned by aviation and skydiving enthusiasts, these being Chatteris Airfield and Shotton Colliery in County Durham.
Sport England - Significant Area for Sport (SASP) Status
Chatteris Airfield and Shotton Colliery Airfield are the jewels in the crown of the UK skydiving scene with both sites having Sport England Significant Area for Sport (SASP) status.
National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure applies:
‘ Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land should not be developed unless the land is no longer needed or the loss would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. If the applicant is considering proposals which would involve developing such land, it should have regard to any local authority’s assessment of need for such types of land and buildings and consult with the local community.’
Anglian Water therefore has a duty to relocate Chatteris Airfield after 35 years of operations if it is established there is still a “need” for it to exist.
To meet the requirements of theses NPS clauses, Anglian Water have commissioned a company to produce an “independent” report into the question of “Need”.
In the past 40 years, over 50% of UK civilian sport parachuting sites have closed due either to planning permission issues or landlord issues.
Opportunity for 30+ Sport Parachuting microbusinesses to operate from Chatteris Airfield.
Chatteris Airfield is currently only operating at half its permitted parachuting capacity.
The planning permission for parachute operations at Chatteris Airfield permits the operation of two light aircraft up to 5700Kg MTOW.
Only one aircraft is currently being utilised.
With two aircraft this provides capacity for over 40,000 parachute descents per year and presents a unique opportunity to around 30 young entrepreneurial minded skydiving enthusiasts to run their own microbusiness from the site.
The severe lack of UK skydiving sites, the difficulty in obtaining planning permission, and the costs of setting up parachute operations is beyond the means of most individuals.
The fact Chatteris Airfield is owned by a sport parachuting enthusiast, with all the facilities already in place, presents a unique opportunity to around 30 young entrepreneurial minded skydiving enthusiasts wishing to run their own microbusiness from the site contributing collectively to the operating costs of the airfield.
This has always been the long-term intention of the owner and is another example of why the site “needs” to be protected to ensure the long-term future of the sport.
We have already provided Anglian Water with this information and have given them until 30th April 2026 to respond as it seems their current plan is ‘not’ to divulge the content of their report until after their DCO application has been submitted in February 2027.
In Conclusion
We hope the Secretary of State will see though its short-sightedness and instruct Anglian Water to relocate Chatteris Airfield, along with all its planning permissions, to Fodder Fen Common in order to protect the long-term future of civilian Sport Parachuting within the UK.
The alternative is for Anglian Water to relocate their reservoir!
NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK -ENGLAND
The Government published a draft revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), at its favourite time, a few days before Christmas. It’s out for consultation until 10 March 2026.
This applies to England only. It is the document that establishes the principles for every Council to apply in preparing its local plan and for taking decisions on planning applications. So it may be relevant if you propose any develt or if you need to resist unwanted development that could adversely impact on your aerodrome.
The new draft proposes the most significant changes since 2012 with a fundamental restructuring. It has been designed to support a new approach to planning policy, led by ‘spatial development strategies’ and new-style local plans and supported by national decision-making policies.
In respect of the policies relating to general aviation airfields, we responded to the first round of consultation but have not yet managed to get airfields specifically excluded from the definition of ‘previously developed land’. You may recall that prior to 2012 airfields were explicitly excluded and there was no deliberate intention to change this.
And, this long-standing problem is exacerbated as the Government places significant weight on using ‘previously developed’ or ‘brownfield’ land for new development
This is brownfield land - GA aerodromes do not look like this!
On the positive side, the importance of retaining a national network of aviation airfields remains. In addition, the proposed specific wording is good.
Transport Policy TR1 is entitled, ‘Vision-led approach for planning for transport’ and sub-paragraph TR1(e) specifically highlights ‘the importance of maintaining a national network of aviation airfields’.
Policy TR7 relating to: ‘Marine ports, airports and other aviation facilities’ elaborates on this and states:
'1. Development proposals involving the provision, expansion or alteration of port, airport, advanced air mobility and aviation facilities (57) (and development ancillary to them) should….
….c. Help to maintain a national network of aviation airfields, and support an airfield’s economic or public service role (for example in serving business, leisure, training and emergency service needs)….:’
Footnote 57 states 'Including new technologies, for example drone ports and autonomous vehicles'
And there is a helpful definition of Aviation Airfields, specifically including ‘unlicensed' – this states
‘Aviation airfields: Licensed or unlicensed aerodromes with hard or grass runways, often with extensive areas of open land related to aviation activity.’
The GAAC is responding to the consultation and will support the positive wording but continue to seek to get the ‘previously developed land’ definition changed.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
The Strategic Aerodrome Network Survey includes questions about non-aviation activities at the aerodrome. The reason for this is to understand and be able to demonstrate and promote the role of general aviation aerodromes as a community asset. There are a range of reasons and issues relating to this.
General aviation aerodromes may provide the only available, safe and accessible space in an area to accommodate sport and leisure activities alongside flying. This situation is most common in urbanised areas.
Most general aviation aerodromes are privately run and able to accommodate a wide range of differing activities on site – sports, meeting space, clubs and events.
Often run by volunteers the available accommodation is affordable and usually open and comfortable throughout the year.
The aviation activity at an aerodrome is always of interest to a wide range of residents and so a visit can combine more than one purpose.
It is in the interests of the aerodrome operator to encourage additional activity to spread overhead costs.
Throughout the year seasonal activities can be accommodated – such as Santa visits at Christmas for example!
There may be linkages with museums or aviation collections that attract a wider audience.
The survey revealed an incredibly wide range of activity, both inside aerodrome buildings and outside across the aerodrome. In summary, the key points made were:
Farming
A significant number of GA aerodromes incorporate farming activities including a arable crop production and sheep farming. Also there is a range of horse related activities - grazing, breeding and riding.
Public Events
A wide range of public events include open days and flying displays, motor competitions, music events, car boot sales and markets.
Motor related activities
Aerodromes are clearly suited to other motor activities ranging from driving schools, motorsports, motor club events, motorcycle racing, historic vehicles, carriage driving for the disabled, super cars, classic cars, motorsport testing, vehicle development, vintage and other car and HGV parking and storage as well as fabrication, vehicle recycling, car upholstery, vehicle accident repair and container storage.
External Activity
Sports mentioned include model aircraft events and competitions, cycling, sky diving, archery, shooting and game shooting, cross country running and walking clubs.
Drone training and research is undertaken at a number of aerodromes
Other open air events include go-karting, camping and glamping, charity events, music festivals and events, filming and photography and markets.
Some aerodromes also provide sites for caravans and motorhomes and for car boot sales and community markets.
Aerodromes are also used for dog training and police dog training
Some can provide parking space, including for example for emergency vehicles and HGVs
Hangarage
Other than for parking aircraft, hangarage is very often in use for aircraft maintenance as well as general and industrial trading, manufacture and storage (of aviation and non-aviation products).
Indoor events and activity
Indoor events are often anchored by a café / restaurant and / or pub and include a very wide range of informal public activities as well as dedicated visits by cadets, scouts, school groups and colleges. Many host a wide range of community group activities including aviation history clubs, social and learning groups.
Some aerodromes offer conference room hire and accommodation.
Space may also include flight simulators and ancillary aircraft related activities as well as museum and aircraft display area.
Publicising and making clear to local councils and organisations the value and important role of an aerodrome in the community is an excellent way in which to secure / potentially increase aerodrome revenue but also establish the importance of the aerodrome to the socio-economic health of the community.
Some Aerodromes are registered as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ which may give protection to the aerodrome site. The legislation on this is being amended at the moment and we will provide additional information when this becomes available.
Using Community Engagement
The breadth and depth of engagement between an aerodrome and the community it serves (in the widest sense) can provide powerful support for any change you may wish to introduce at your aerodrome – whether that support is sought from local residents or your local authority. Alternatively, it can also be of value if you wish to seek to prevent a change that could adversely affect your operations.
Some aerodromes, such as Sleap have prepared books, leaflets or on-line links to ensure that the value of the site to the wider area and population is fully articulated and understood.
If you have done this or do so in the future, we would love to see a copy and can promote this through the SAN website!
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?
35 Licensed
156 Unlicensed
5 Military
Traffic Type
183 VFR only
6 IFR
7 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
29 ATZ
4 MATZ
Does the Airfield have ATC?
96 Yes
97 No
What ATC services does the airfield have?
2 APP
4 TWR
4 GND
5 RAD
0 DEL
4 ATIS
10 AFIS
61 A/G
23 Safetycom
Types of Rwy lighting available
5 APP
17 Thr
3 Rwy
15 PAPI
What are the Airfield operating Hrs?
11 H24
72 SR-SS
97 PPR only
12 Out of Hrs cover
Is the Airfield Border Force designated?
89 Yes
111 No
Fuel availability
6 Electric
0 Hydrogen
66 AVGAS 100LL
30 JET A1
14 Mogas
30 UL91/94
Aircraft parking on Airfield
151 Grass
38 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
67 No
119 N/A
Airframe de-icing availability
11 Yes
185 No
Summary of Results So Far
Meteorological services available on the Airfield?
9 METAR
8 TAF
6 ATIS Tel
7 ATIS Radio
58 Webcam
Does the Airfield have noise abatement procedures in place?
88 Yes
105 No
Is there fire cover on the Airfield?
64 Yes
128 No
What type of ground support is available?
9 GPU
15 Electric charge
18 Handling
15 RR refuelling
Does the Airfield have heritage links?
94 Yes
92 No
Is your Airfield at risk?
21 Short term
58 Medium Term
50 Long term
Does the Airfield provide services for?
20 SAR
37 HEMS
34 Police
47 Military
28 Utility companies
Would you be interested in the new Drone infrastructure?
72 Yes
116 No
Activities on Airfield
106 Flight training
153 Recreational flying
24 AOC
18 Flying displays
39 Aviation related commercial activities
14 Airshows
Does the Airfield have flight training available?
79 PPL
77 NPPL
9 MEP
16 IR
14 CPL
62 Ground school
25 Aerobatics
Does the Airfield have environmental measures in place?
67 Habitat conservation
44 Biodiversity
35 Animal grazing
41 Land cultivation
Does the Airfield have non-aviation activities?
112 Yes
78 No
Does the Airfield engage with community groups?
79 School visits
87 Cadets/scouts
40 Aviation history clubs
19 Social learning groups
56 Voluntary groups
76 Open days
16 Flying displays
18 Apprenticeships
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