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Coordinates: 51°20′53″N 000°33′31″W / 51.34806°N 0.55861°W / 51.34806; -0.55861
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| footnotes = Sources: UK [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] at [[National Air Traffic Services|NATS]]<ref name="aip">{{cite web |url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=67&Itemid=116.html |title=Fairoaks - EGTF |website=[[NATS Holdings]]}}</ref><br>Pooley's Flight Guide<ref name="Pooley 2011, pp276-277">{{cite book |title=Pooley's Flight Guide |year=2011 |pages=276–277}}</ref><br>''Pilot'' magazine<ref name="Nick Bloom 2011, p44">{{Cite journal |first=Nick |last=Bloom |title=Sleeping beauty |journal=[[Pilot (UK magazine)|Pilot]] |date=May 2011 |page=44}}</ref>
| footnotes = Sources: UK [[Aeronautical Information Publication|AIP]] at [[National Air Traffic Services|NATS]]<ref name="aip">{{cite web |url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=67&Itemid=116.html |title=Fairoaks - EGTF |website=[[NATS Holdings]]}}</ref><br />Pooley's Flight Guide<ref name="Pooley 2011, pp276-277">{{cite book |title=Pooley's Flight Guide |year=2011 |pages=276–277}}</ref><br />''Pilot'' magazine<ref name="Nick Bloom 2011, p44">{{Cite journal |first=Nick |last=Bloom |title=Sleeping beauty |journal=[[Pilot (UK magazine)|Pilot]] |date=May 2011 |page=44}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Fairoaks Airport''' {{Airport codes||EGTF}} is an operational [[general aviation]] airport by the [[A319 road|A319]] between [[Chobham, Surrey|Chobham]] and [[Chertsey]] in [[Surrey]], [[England]]. It is {{Convert|2|NM|abbr=on|lk=in}} north of the major town of [[Woking]] and for passengers is {{convert|2.8|mi}} from Junction 11 of the [[M25 motorway]] which is between the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3]] and [[A3 road (Great Britain)|A3]] junctions.
'''Fairoaks Airport''' {{Airport codes||EGTF}} is a [[general aviation]] airport between [[Chobham, Surrey|Chobham]] and [[Chertsey]] in [[Surrey]], [[England]]. It is {{Convert|2|NM|abbr=on|lk=in}} north of [[Woking]] and {{convert|2.8|mi}} from Junction 11 of the [[M25 motorway]] which is between the [[M3 motorway (Great Britain)|M3]] and [[A3 road (Great Britain)|A3]] junctions.


==History==
The airport is operated by Fairoaks Operations Ltd, owned by Albemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd. and Airport Development Partners.
[[File:Target Dossier for Fair Oaks, Surrey, England - DPLA - 6c5a84227fb152a0dd64fa73a5dadff0 (page 1).jpg|thumb|left|RAF Fairoaks on a target dossier of ther German [[Luftwaffe]], 1940]]
Fairoaks opened as a private airstrip in 1931, but was signed up for military use in 1936 and became RAF Fairoaks during [[World War II]]. It was used as a training airfield, with No. 18 Elementary & Reserve Flying School being formed on 1 October 1937 equipped with [[De Havilland Tiger Moth]]s. 6,000 pilots were trained at the airfield, mostly in Tiger Moths. Terence O'Brien, an Australian pilot, later wrote a series of books about his experiences in the RAF. In "Chasing After Danger",<ref>O'Brien, T. (1990). Chasing After Danger. Toronto. HarperCollins Canada p. 34</ref> he recounts doing primary flight training on Tiger Moths at Fairoaks in 1940, when it was still a grass aerodrome.


The unit was re-designated No. 18 Reserve Flying School on 14 May 1947 and was managed by Universal Flying Services. The Tiger Moths were replaced by [[De Havilland Canada Chipmunk]]s in 1951 but the school was disbanded on 31 July 1953.{{sfnp|Sturtivant|1997|p=263}}
Fairoaks Aerodrome has a [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority|CAA]] Ordinary Licence (number P560) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Fairoaks Operations Ltd).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caa.co.uk/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=4294974559 |title=Ordinary licences and boundary maps (F to J) |work=UK Civil Aviation Authority |accessdate=20 November 2016}}</ref>


In the early postwar years, the airfield was managed by Universal Flying Services, which operated a flying training school and provided aircraft maintenance services. The airfield was sold by auction in 1967. Alan Mann Helicopters began operations there in 1968 after which The Alan Mann Group became the operator. The hard runway was constructed in 1979. The Alan Mann Group sold its interests in 2008 to Albemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd which owns Fairoaks Operations Ltd, the operator. The landside buildings were owned by West Register Property until they sold their interest on 8 December 2015 to TEREF ADP Fairoaks Limited, a company registered in Jersey number 120101 which was formed on 27 November 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fairoaksairport.com/ |title=Fairoaks Airport |publisher= fairoaksairport.com}}</ref>
The facility is used as by [[light aircraft]], some of which are operated by its two resident training schools - Synergy Aviation
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.synergyaviation.com/ |title=Synergy Aviation |work=synergyaviation.com}}</ref> and London Transport Flying Club,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ltfc.org.uk/ |title=London Transport Flying Club |work=ltfc.org.uk}}</ref> and as a maintenance airfield. Its business centre is substantially dedicated to aviation-related enterprises, including the headquarters of the [[European Regions Airline Association]] and the [[British Helicopter Advisory Board]].


On 25 November 2016 the airport owners announced plans to close the airport, and build a 1,500 unit housing development to be known as "Fairoaks Garden Village".<ref>{{Cite news |last= Kondonis |first= Dimitri |date= 28 November 2016 |url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/fairoaks-garden-village-plans-revealed-12229687 |title = Fairoaks Airport 1,500 homes 'garden village' plans revealed |work= Surrey Live |orig-date =25 November 2016 |access-date= 25 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Dobinson |first= Isabel |date= 22 July 2017 |title= Fairoaks Airport: Who is really behind the garden village plan and what happens if it doesn't go ahead? |url= https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/fairoaks-airport-who-really-behind-13362697 |work= Surrey Live |access-date= 25 January 2023 }}</ref> In June 2022, Surrey Heath Borough Council announced that the proposed development would not form part of its Draft Local Plan, which identifies sites for new homes in the local area.<ref>{{cite web |title= Statement regarding Fairoaks site in Chobham |date= 27 June 2022 |url= https://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/news/statement-regarding-fairoaks-site-chobham |publisher= Surrey Heath District Council |access-date= 25 January 2023}}</ref>
Fairoaks is equipped with a [[Non-directional beacon|non-directional beacon (NDB)]] for short-range radio navigation. There is a small on-site fire and rescue service, comprising two 4WD rescue vehicles.


==Current operation==
From 1994 until 2009 one of three South East Regional Air Support Unit (Metropolitan and Surrey Police Forces) helicopters (and for a period of this time one for the latter force alone) were at Fairoaks. In June 2009, the remaining police helicopter was transferred to [[RAF Odiham]] in Hampshire on security grounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8706032.stm |title=Surrey police helicopter may be scrapped |date=26 May 2010 |work=BBC News |accessdate=20 November 2016}}</ref>
Fairoaks Aerodrome has a [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority]] Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caa.co.uk/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=4294974559 |title=Ordinary licences and boundary maps (F to J) |work=UK Civil Aviation Authority |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref> The facility is used by [[light aircraft]], some of which are operated by its two resident training schools - Synergy Aviation
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.synergyaviation.com/ |title=Synergy Aviation |work=synergyaviation.com}}</ref> and London Transport Flying Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ltfc.org.uk/ |title=London Transport Flying Club |work=ltfc.org.uk}}</ref> Its business centre is substantially dedicated to aviation-related enterprises, including the headquarters of the [[European Regions Airline Association]] and the [[British Helicopter Advisory Board]].


Fairoaks was formerly equipped with a [[non-directional beacon]] (NDB) for short-range radio navigation, until its withdrawal in January 2020.
There are no restrictions on the number of helicopter movements, although there is a ban on training with the [[Robinson R22]].<ref name="Nick Bloom 2011, p44"/> Fixed wing movements are limited to 120,000 per annum.
[[File:fairoaks-7Jl9-4945.jpg|thumb|Hangar with old branding at Fairoaks]]


There is a low-category fire and rescue service, operating a Category 3 fire service to allow commercial operations of mid sized turboprops and small jets.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rescue and Fire Fighting Services |url=https://www.skybrary.aero/articles/rescue-and-fire-fighting-services |website=Sky Library |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref> The fire and rescue vehicles comprise two [[Terberg Group|Terberg]] TACR-3 vehicles.{{cn|date=January 2023}}
==History==
Fairoaks opened as a private airstrip in 1931, but was signed up for military use in 1936 and became RAF Fairoaks during [[World War II]]. It was used as a training airfield, with No. 18 Elementary & Reserve Flying School being formed on 1 October 1937 equipped with [[De Havilland Tiger Moth]]s. 6,000 pilots were trained at the airfield, mostly in Tiger Moths. Terence O'Brien, an Australian pilot, later wrote a series of books about his experiences in the RAF. In "Chasing After Danger"<ref>O'Brien, T. (1990). Chasing After Danger. Toronto. HarperCollins Canada p. 34</ref>, he recounts doing primary flight training on Tiger Moths at Fairoaks in 1940, when it was still a grass aerodrome.


From 1994 until 2009 one of three South East Regional Air Support Unit (Metropolitan and Surrey Police Forces) helicopters (and for a period of this time one for the latter force alone) were at Fairoaks. In June 2009, the remaining police helicopter was transferred to [[RAF Odiham]] in Hampshire on security grounds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8706032.stm |title=Surrey police helicopter may be scrapped |date=26 May 2010 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref>


There are no restrictions on the number of helicopter movements,<ref name="Nick Bloom 2011, p44"/> but fixed wing movements are limited to 120,000 per annum.
The unit was re-designated No. 18 Reserve Flying School on 14 May 1947 and was managed by Universal Flying Services. The Tiger Moths were replaced by [[De Havilland Canada Chipmunk]]s in 1951 but the school was disbanded on 31 July 1953.{{sfnp|Sturtivant|1997|p=263}}
[[File:fairoaks-7Jl9-4945.jpg|thumb|Hangar with old branding at Fairoaks]]

In the early postwar years, the airfield was managed by Universal Flying Services, which operated a flying training school and provided aircraft maintenance services. The airfield was sold by auction in 1967. Alan Mann Helicopters began operations there in 1968 after which The Alan Mann Group became the operator. The hard runway was constructed in 1979. The Alan Mann Group sold its interests in 2008 to Albemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd which owns Fairoaks Operations Ltd, the operator. The landside buildings were owned by West Register Property until they sold their interest on 8 December 2015 to TEREF ADP Fairoaks Limited, a company registered in Jersey number 120101 which was formed on 27 November 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fairoaksairport.com/ |title=Fairoaks Airport |work=fairoaksairport.com}}</ref>

On 25 November 2016 the airport owners announced plans to close the airport, and build a 1500 unit housing development to be known as "Fairoaks Garden Village".<ref>http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/fairoaks-garden-village-plans-revealed-12229687</ref> Opposition to the plans has been forming, such as through a group called "NO Fairoaks New Town".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/nofairoaksnewtown/</ref>


==Flying information==
==Flying information==
Lat N51 20.88 <br>
Long W000 33.52 <br>
VHF 123.425 AFIS "Fairoaks Information"<br>
NDB 348.0 'FOS' (on aerodrome) <br>
DME 109.85 'FRK' (on aerodrome)<br>
VORs: 'OCK' 115.3 bearing 304 4.9&nbsp;nm; 'LON' 113.60 bearing 205 9.0&nbsp;nm<ref name="Pooley 2011, pp276-277"/>


A majority of the Fairoaks Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) is within the London Control Zone (CTR), therefore special procedures are in place to enable flights to depart and arrive at Fairoaks without the need to contact Heathrow Radar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysynergy.com/wp-content/uploads/Information%20Sheets/Fairoaks-Airport-Information-Rev-15.pdf |title=Fairoaks Airport Pilots' Information |date=17 September 2011 |work=Fly Synergy |accessdate=20 November 2016}}</ref>
A majority of the Fairoaks Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) is within the London Control Zone (CTR), therefore special procedures are in place to enable flights to depart and arrive at Fairoaks without the need to contact Heathrow Radar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flysynergy.com/wp-content/uploads/Information%20Sheets/Fairoaks-Airport-Information-Rev-15.pdf |title=Fairoaks Airport Pilots' Information |date=17 September 2011 |work=Fly Synergy |access-date=20 November 2016}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 74: Line 67:


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |ref=harv |last=Sturtivant |first=R. C. |title=Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units |year=1997 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd |isbn=0-85130-252-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Sturtivant |first=R. C. |title=Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units |year=1997 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd |isbn=0-85130-252-1}}


==External links==
==External links==
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{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}

{{Transport in Surrey}}


[[Category:Airports in England]]
[[Category:Airports in England]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 14 May 2024

Fairoaks Airport
Fairoaks Control Tower in 2006
Summary
Airport typePrivate-owned, Public-use
OwnerAlbemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd. and Airport Development Partners
OperatorFairoaks Operations Ltd.
ServesWoking
LocationChobham, Surrey
Elevation AMSL80 ft / 24 m
Coordinates51°20′53″N 000°33′31″W / 51.34806°N 0.55861°W / 51.34806; -0.55861
Map
EGTF is located in Surrey
EGTF
EGTF
Location in Surrey
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 813 2,667 Asphalt
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Pooley's Flight Guide[2]
Pilot magazine[3]

Fairoaks Airport (ICAO: EGTF) is a general aviation airport between Chobham and Chertsey in Surrey, England. It is 2 NM (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) north of Woking and 2.8 miles (4.5 km) from Junction 11 of the M25 motorway which is between the M3 and A3 junctions.

History

[edit]
RAF Fairoaks on a target dossier of ther German Luftwaffe, 1940

Fairoaks opened as a private airstrip in 1931, but was signed up for military use in 1936 and became RAF Fairoaks during World War II. It was used as a training airfield, with No. 18 Elementary & Reserve Flying School being formed on 1 October 1937 equipped with De Havilland Tiger Moths. 6,000 pilots were trained at the airfield, mostly in Tiger Moths. Terence O'Brien, an Australian pilot, later wrote a series of books about his experiences in the RAF. In "Chasing After Danger",[4] he recounts doing primary flight training on Tiger Moths at Fairoaks in 1940, when it was still a grass aerodrome.

The unit was re-designated No. 18 Reserve Flying School on 14 May 1947 and was managed by Universal Flying Services. The Tiger Moths were replaced by De Havilland Canada Chipmunks in 1951 but the school was disbanded on 31 July 1953.[5]

In the early postwar years, the airfield was managed by Universal Flying Services, which operated a flying training school and provided aircraft maintenance services. The airfield was sold by auction in 1967. Alan Mann Helicopters began operations there in 1968 after which The Alan Mann Group became the operator. The hard runway was constructed in 1979. The Alan Mann Group sold its interests in 2008 to Albemarle Fairoaks Airport Ltd which owns Fairoaks Operations Ltd, the operator. The landside buildings were owned by West Register Property until they sold their interest on 8 December 2015 to TEREF ADP Fairoaks Limited, a company registered in Jersey number 120101 which was formed on 27 November 2015.[6]

On 25 November 2016 the airport owners announced plans to close the airport, and build a 1,500 unit housing development to be known as "Fairoaks Garden Village".[7][8] In June 2022, Surrey Heath Borough Council announced that the proposed development would not form part of its Draft Local Plan, which identifies sites for new homes in the local area.[9]

Current operation

[edit]

Fairoaks Aerodrome has a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee.[10] The facility is used by light aircraft, some of which are operated by its two resident training schools - Synergy Aviation [11] and London Transport Flying Club.[12] Its business centre is substantially dedicated to aviation-related enterprises, including the headquarters of the European Regions Airline Association and the British Helicopter Advisory Board.

Fairoaks was formerly equipped with a non-directional beacon (NDB) for short-range radio navigation, until its withdrawal in January 2020.

There is a low-category fire and rescue service, operating a Category 3 fire service to allow commercial operations of mid sized turboprops and small jets.[13] The fire and rescue vehicles comprise two Terberg TACR-3 vehicles.[citation needed]

From 1994 until 2009 one of three South East Regional Air Support Unit (Metropolitan and Surrey Police Forces) helicopters (and for a period of this time one for the latter force alone) were at Fairoaks. In June 2009, the remaining police helicopter was transferred to RAF Odiham in Hampshire on security grounds.[14]

There are no restrictions on the number of helicopter movements,[3] but fixed wing movements are limited to 120,000 per annum.

Hangar with old branding at Fairoaks

Flying information

[edit]

A majority of the Fairoaks Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ) is within the London Control Zone (CTR), therefore special procedures are in place to enable flights to depart and arrive at Fairoaks without the need to contact Heathrow Radar.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Fairoaks - EGTF". NATS Holdings.
  2. ^ Pooley's Flight Guide. 2011. pp. 276–277.
  3. ^ a b Bloom, Nick (May 2011). "Sleeping beauty". Pilot: 44.
  4. ^ O'Brien, T. (1990). Chasing After Danger. Toronto. HarperCollins Canada p. 34
  5. ^ Sturtivant (1997), p. 263.
  6. ^ "Fairoaks Airport". fairoaksairport.com.
  7. ^ Kondonis, Dimitri (28 November 2016) [25 November 2016]. "Fairoaks Airport 1,500 homes 'garden village' plans revealed". Surrey Live. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  8. ^ Dobinson, Isabel (22 July 2017). "Fairoaks Airport: Who is really behind the garden village plan and what happens if it doesn't go ahead?". Surrey Live. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  9. ^ "Statement regarding Fairoaks site in Chobham". Surrey Heath District Council. 27 June 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Ordinary licences and boundary maps (F to J)". UK Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Synergy Aviation". synergyaviation.com.
  12. ^ "London Transport Flying Club". ltfc.org.uk.
  13. ^ "Rescue and Fire Fighting Services". Sky Library. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  14. ^ "Surrey police helicopter may be scrapped". BBC News. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Fairoaks Airport Pilots' Information" (PDF). Fly Synergy. 17 September 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2016.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Sturtivant, R. C. (1997). Royal Air Force Flying Training and Support Units. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
[edit]