SAN NEWS

SAN Author
Dec 8, 2025
12 min read

Issue 7

December 2025

Together We Can Fly

Welcome to Issue 7 of our Newsletter. We highlight the ongoing success of the SAN initiative and at the end of our newsletter summarise all of the survey results to date. We have an excellent Airfield Focus on Sleap Airfield. Also some information about Local Plans

240 airfields identified as strategically important

240 airfields in the UK have identified as strategically important

England—193, Wales—14, Scotland—29, Northern Ireland—4

Licensed—46, Unlicensed—189, Military-5

Category A -25, Category B-43, Category C-87, Category D-85

See full airfield list Airfield List | Strategic Aerodrome Network - SAN

New updated SAN Map https://www.san-ga.co.uk/airfield-map

Is your airfield of strategic importance?

All airfields are of importance to the UK Aerodrome Network. Each airfield provides benefit to the local area and the UK in general. From large commercial airports eg Manchester to medium size airports eg Humberside to medium sized grass airfields eg Old Buckenham to small grass airfields eg Kittyhawk, all have a value.

There are many factors that may make an airfield strategically important and aerodromes and their significance may change over time.

Location may be an important factor:

Is your airfield close to a major road/rail network?

Is your airfield located in a rural area?

Is your airfield close to another GA airfield?

Do you serve a local community?

Annual aircraft movements

Most airfields in the UK record its annual movements. Many airfields record high numbers of airfield movements annually eg, Manchester Barton. Some have very few annual movements eg Oaklands.

Each movement recorded is significant to understanding how the network functions.

ATC on airfields

There are many types of ATC services available on airfields from Approach to Air Ground. Not forgetting Safetycom. This information contributes to the categorisation.

Please remember to use Safetycom on all non-frequency airfields, keeping all safe while in the sky and on the ground. Letting all aircraft know of your intentions at all time.

Border Force designated

Many aircraft make trips over the water, requiring a Border Force designated airfield for arrivals/departures. If your airfield is Border Force designated let the aviation community know. This will also help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield.

Fuel

Fuel is essential to all aircraft, without it no flying!!

The fuel used whether it be JET A1, AVGAS or electric etc needs to be highlighted where available by all airfields in the UK. By listing fuel availability wherever possible will help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield

Aircraft maintenance

All aircraft require regular maintenance and many aircraft owners do not realise how many airfields in the UK have maintenance organisations based on site.

Airfields, please highlight the maintenance organisations you have and what types of maintenance are available.

By highlighting the types of maintenance available on an airfield this will help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield.

Essential Services

Do you have any of the essential services visiting you?

Would you welcome the essential services on your airfield?

The essential services – HEMS, SAR, Police, Utilities and Military. These services are a vital resource to everyone in the UK. The services rely on airfields providing them with fuel, landing sites, maintenance etc. Please let them know they are welcome to land.

Highlighting the different essential services that visit your airfield will help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield.

Flight Training

Flight training is essential to the future of aviation, without training facilities in the UK there will be a shortage of commercial pilots. Flight training is essential to ensure the growth of grass routes flying.

By highlighting the different types of flight training undertaken on your airfield you will help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield.

Non-Aviation activities

Many airfields start with a runway and grow, utilising the land around the runway. Many businesses that operate from airfields are aviation related, but non-aviation related activities may be complementary can also often add value and interest at an aerodrome.

These activities eg driver training, cafés, livery, agriculture etc provide important jobs, training and social activities in the area.

By highlighting the different types of non-aviation activities undertaken on your airfield will help in the SAN categorisation of your airfield.

If you feel your airfield is of strategic importance to the UK, please contact Ann or Louise and let us know by completing this initial enquiry form

After completing the online survey, your information (anonymised) will be used to help protect airfields in the UK

2026 Flight Guides Available

The UK VFR Flight Guide and Pooleys Flight Guide 2026 editions are now published

Both guides highlight if an airfield is part of SAN

Both Guides are available in printed format and on SkyDemon

Engage with your community

All airfields in the UK have some type of community around them. Encourage people to come and visit, learn more about aviation and the activities that are available on your airfield. Most people who have visited their local airfield enjoy the experience and with the knowledge gained support its activities. This support is essential to airfield survival

By highlighting the groups of community engagement on the airfield this will assist in the SAN categorisation of your airfield

AIRFIELD FOCUS— Sleap

By Bruce Buglass

Sleap Airfield, pronounced ‘Slape’ is a former RAF airfield 10 miles north of Shrewsbury, in Shropshire. Construction commenced in 1941 and was opened in 1943 for advanced military training by the RAF, including glider pilot training in preparation for D-Day. The RAF continued to use the airfield until the mid 1960’s, latterly for the training of radar controllers, and finally releasing the airfield in the early 1970’s, which was sold to Amalgamated Roadstone Corporation (ARC), which is now owned by Heidelberg Cement Group, and has planning consent for sand and gravel extraction at Sleap. However, with reduced need for sand and gravel in the local area, and planned extensions at nearby established quarry, Heidelberg Cement Group do not plan on any work in the next few decades.

In 1955, six local people agreed to the formation of the Shropshire Flying Group, purchased one Taylor craft Auster and secured authorisation from the MOD Shawbury to operate from Sleap Airfield. Over the years, the flying club grew and became a limited company in 1963 as ‘Shropshire Aero Club Ltd’ which now has over 800 members, and one of the busiest and biggest not-for-profit aero clubs in the country. It is Shropshire Aero Club’s 70th anniversary this year. Shropshire Aero Club (SAC) is now the airfield operator and in 1970 applied to have the airfield licensed, as EGCV. The Club operates 7 days per week 364 days a year and is principally run by volunteers in an elected management committee. Day to day running of the establishment is by with over 30 employees. The club has grown in recent years to turnover £2 million/per annum.

There are 137 aircraft based at Sleap, both private and club owned. Visitors include King Airs, PC12s, warbirds including T-28, Avro Anson, civilian helicopters, fixed wing and permit aircraft right down to microlights, gyros, gliders and even a hot air balloon. The airfield has over 30,000 movements a year. The airfield hosts lots of Military traffic, with RAF Shawbury using Sleap as a training area up to 6 times a day, and MOD visitors including Chinook, Merlin and Apache.

The airfield layout is two 800m hard runways, 23/05 (fully lit) and 18/36, with over 30 acres of grass parking. Recent work to the fuel bay now allows multiple aircraft refuelling and the club sells over 500,000 litres of fuel per annum, being of the cheapest places in the UK for Avgas 100LL. It is open every day from 8-6 local, and open until 10pm Thursdays. The highly spoke of café sits in the original wartime tower and is visited by over 150,000 public and pilots a year.

The training side of Shropshire Aero Club operates 12 aircraft, used for PPL, Night, IR(R), CPL, MEP, IR, MCC, Aerobatic, Tailwheel & UPRT. On average, we reward 2 PPL’s a week and currently have over 130 students.

The airfield hosts a event almost every month, including fly-ins, car meets, 1940s

event and most notably, SleapKosh – a fly-in Airshow which attracts over 500 visiting aircraft and over 3500 visitors. It has a large 2 day Airshow, trade show, live music stage and lots of entertainment for a relaced aviation weekend, growing last year into the biggest fly-in in the UK.

There is an onsite museum, also operated by the club by volunteers which is almost complete a full refurbishment and will include aircraft sections found in crashes in the local area, 1940 mock up rooms and interactive exhibits.

There are several external businesses that operate from Sleap, including 3 aircraft maintenance outfits, an aircraft painting business, 2 aircraft sale companies, training schools and SSAC operator.

Airfields at Risk

Many airfields in the UK face a risk of closure for many reasons, eg economic, family bereavement, local planning applications to name but a few.

If you feel your airfield is at risk whether it be short, medium or long term, get in touch with the SAN team using the website, they may be able to help.

Local Plans and Local Plan Policies

SAN news frequently encourages aerodromes to engage with their Local Planning Authority by lodging, and keeping up to date, an Aerodrome Safeguarding Plan with your local council (and we have highlighted where advice on this is to be found).

We have also suggested that you seek a Local Plan policy to protect your aerodrome. This edition of SAN News elaborates on this.

The background is that all Local Planning Authorities must prepare a ‘Local Plan’ that allocates sites for housing, employment and social infrastructure and sets out the Council’s strategy and objectives for its area.

The Government is trying to simplify, rationalise and speed up Local Plan preparation – and in some cases the Local Plan may encompass a larger area than just one District Council. But this does not change the principle.

Local Authorities must prepare a ‘Local Development Scheme’ which should be kept up to date and set out the programme for preparation of the Local Plan. This should be available online on the Council’s website. It is useful to know when a new local plan is being drafted so that you can get involved if you need to do this.

Local Plans need to look 15 years ahead and set out a strategy and priorities for the area. Their prime focus is on land use - identifying sites for housing and employment – offices, warehouses and industry, as well as shops and social infrastructure. They should also address environmental and community issues. The policies ‘promote’ and ‘protect’ as well as providing clarity and certainty for local residents and developers.

Planning policies and Local Plan documents need to be kept up to date and will change over time – it is worthwhile to sign up to a planning alert with your Local Authority to find out in good time when a Local Plan is being reviewed.

Aerodrome Policies in Local Plans

There are two main advantages to having a policy for your aerodrome in a Local Plan:

Recognition of your aerodrome in a Local Plan will increase its protection against development that could adversely affect aerodrome operations – by virtue of physical infringements of your safeguarded area or the introduction of, for example, noise sensitive development close to your aerodrome.

Acknowledgement of the existence of your aerodrome in the Local Plan and for its potential to grow, expand, or diversify with attendant employment and economic value, will facilitate your ability to expand and or diversify your activities.

This may seem a burden, but if you have any long term proposals that could need engagement with the planners, just recognition of your existence is valuable, let alone the advantage of you getting early notification of development proposals that could harm your activities.

National planning policy, in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) supports General Aviation and it is therefore logical and appropriate for individual aerodromes to be recognised in the Local Plan.

The NPPF specifically supports General Aviation aerodromes. It also supports sport and recreation and as all general aviation activities are recognised as ‘sport’ by Sport England (Sport Scotland also recognises them but the NPPF does not cover Scotland.

Therefore, all aviation activities – including flying training, aircraft maintenance, restoration, use of aircraft for business and connectivity, as well as the sport, events, community and recreational use of an aerodrome combine to establish a valuable asset.

This justifies a Local Plan policy, and, as stated above should both protect that asset for the aerodrome owner and the community and facilitate appropriate new development that could enhance / protect the future of the aerodrome.

Sample Local Plan Policies

Some sample aerodrome policies are set out below for information. There is not ‘standard’ policy, these should be tailored to the nature and circumstances of your aerodrome.

Sywell

The Local Plan policy states:

Development proposals at Sywell Aerodrome as outlined on the Policies Map, including new buildings, extensions and changes of use, associated with aviation and other employment uses that modernise and enhance the physical environment and infrastructure at Sywell Aerodrome will be supported, This is providing there is no conflict with the overall function and developability of the area and surrounding land uses.

The Council would particularly support developments that provide jobs in high-end aviation, engineering and design, training and corporate entertainment.

Ancillary services such as cafes or creches, will be supported where they are small scale, primarily meet the needs of businesses at Sywell Aerodrome, and enhance the attraction and sustainability of the area for investment.

The Council will seek to resist development within the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome if such development would prejudice the aviation use of the site.

Rochester

The Local Plan policy states:

Rochester Airport will provide an enhanced aviation facility for business, public

service, training, heritage and leisure uses, and support the development of a

strategic gateway and an economic hub.

9.7.1 Rochester Airport is a general aviation facility catering for leisure, business,

training, heritage and emergency service uses. A small part of the site itself

falls partly within the Tonbridge and Malling administrative area.

9.7.2 There are no plans to transform the airport facility into a commercial airport,with regular scheduled and/or chartered passenger flights, and the

operations will be subject to conditions to mitigate and manage the impacts.

Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green

Policy EC10 of the draft Local Plan states:

The council supports the role of Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport as a General Aviation airport.

Development proposals, including the replacement of existing outdated buildings and high-quality infill development directly related to the General Aviation role of the airport and situated within the developed area of the site (as defined on the policies map) will be supported. New development unrelated to this role will not be supported.

The council will support the continued occupation of the site by existing non-aviation businesses that play an important role in ensuring the viability of the airport.

Assistance

If you need assistance in seeking to establish a Local Plan Policy you may engage with your local Councillor or the Council’s planners. You may have access to a Town Planner working in your area – and local knowledge can be very beneficial. The General Aviation Awareness Council may also be able to assist.

If you have lodged a ‘Safeguarding Plan’ with the Council you should be consulted on any planning applications around your aerodrome. Having recognition of your aerodrome in the Local Plan can also alert a prospective developer long before they submit a planning application.

Summary of SAN Survey Results So far

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

214 surveys completed

Is the Airfield?

35 Licensed

154 Unlicensed

5 Military

Traffic Type

181 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?

94 Yes

97 No

What ATC services does the airfield have?

2 APP

4 TWR

4 GND

5 RAD

0 DEL

4 ATIS

10 AFIS

59 A/G

23 Safetycom

Types of Rwy lighting available

5 APP

17 Thr

3 Rwy

15 PAPI

What are the Airfield operating Hrs?

10 H24

71 SR-SS

97 PPR only

12 Out of Hrs cover

Is the Airfield Border Force designated?

88 Yes

110 No

Fuel availability

6 Electric

0 Hydrogen

65 AVGAS 100LL

30 JET A1

13 Mogas

30 UL91/94

Aircraft parking on Airfield

149 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

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?

86 Yes

105 No

Is there fire cover on the Airfield?

64 Yes

126 No

What type of ground support is available?

9 GPU

15 Electric charge

18 Handling

15 RR refuelling

Does the Airfield have heritage links?93 Yes

91 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

114 No

Activities on Airfield

105 Flight training

151 Recreational flying

24 AOC

18 Flying displays

39 Aviation related commercial activities

13 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?

66 Habitat conservation

43 Biodiversity

34 Animal grazing

40 Land cultivation

Does the Airfield have non-aviation activities?

112 Yes

76 No

Does the Airfield engage with community groups?

78 School visits

86 Cadets/scouts

39 Aviation history clubs

19 Social learning groups

56 Voluntary groups

75 Open days

16 Flying displays

17 Apprenticeships

We plan to issue this Newsletter 4 times a year.

Each Newsletter will highlight common issues and challenges faced by Airfields and, alongside, will identify potential solutions to managing those challenges. We can draw on the excellent information provided in the Survey. Please highlight any issues you would like us to raise.

Each Newsletter will have a short description of the activities and issues at one Airfield – if you would like to follow Sleap airfield and be show cased please let us know!

We know how isolated Airfields can sometimes feel, but challenges, innovations and experiences are faced by many and highlighting these will help to protect and sustain our Network of General Aviation Airfields.

If you have not received a survey link by email, please contact us by the website

The survey takes 10 mins to complete

Thank you for helping to protect the UK airfields for the future generations

Thank you for taking the time to read the SAN Newsletter

Ann & Louise