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'{{redirect|EGTC|the European Union legal entity|European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox airport | name = Cranfield Airport | nativename = | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = [[File:AIR KORYO FLIGHT JS5105 IL18 9835 AT ORANG MT CHILBO JUST ARRIVED FROM PYONGYANG SUNAN DPR KOREA OCT 2012 (8268927031).jpg|thumb|]] | image-width = | caption = | IATA = | ICAO = EGTC | type = Private, former RAF Station | owner = | operator = [[Cranfield University]] | city-served = [[Bedford]], [[Milton Keynes]] | location = [[Cranfield]] | elevation-f = 358 | elevation-m = 109 | coordinates = {{coord|52|04|20|N|000|37|00|W|type:airport_region:GB-BDF|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Bedfordshire | pushpin_label = EGTC | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Bedfordshire | website = [http://www.cranfieldairport.com/ www.cranfieldairport.com] | metric-rwy = Y | r1-number = 03/21 | r1-length-f = 5,902 | r1-length-m = 1,799 | r1-surface = [[Asphalt]] | stat-year = | stat1-header = | stat1-data = | stat2-header = | stat2-data = | 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=48&Itemid=97.html|title=Cranfield - EGTC|type=AIP|publisher=NATS Aeronautical Information Service}}</ref> }} '''Cranfield Airport''' {{Airport codes||EGTC}} is an airfield just outside the village of [[Cranfield]], in [[Bedfordshire]], [[England]]. It is {{convert|7|NM|abbr=on|lk=in}} south-west of [[Bedford]] and {{convert|5.5|NM|abbr=on}} east of [[Milton Keynes]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/UK_Distance_Result.asp?vr=apes&fromplace=Milton%20Keynes,%20Buckinghamshire,%20England,%20UK&toplace=Cranfield%20Airport,%20Cranfield,%20Central%20Bedfordshire,%20England,%20UK | title=Milton Keynes to Cranfield Airport | publisher = Globefeed.com | access-date=7 May 2019}}</ref> It was originally a World War II aerodrome, '''RAF Cranfield'''. It is now used for business aviation, private flights, and for research and development activities. ==History== RAF Cranfield was built by [[John Laing Group|John Laing & Son]] on {{convert|100|acre|km2}} of farmland acquired by the [[Air Ministry]] in 1935 as Britain re-armed to face the growing threats on the continent.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ritchie |first=Berry |date=1997 |title=The Good Builder: The John Laing Story |publisher=James & James|page=91}}</ref> It was formally opened on 1 June 1937 and initially became the base for [[No. 62 Squadron RAF]] and [[No. 82 Squadron RAF]] of [[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 (Bomber) Group]], flying the already obsolete [[Hawker Hind]] biplanes. Both squadrons converted to [[Blenheim 1]]s in 1938. 62 Squadron was moved to [[Singapore]] in August 1939 where it was [[Battle of Singapore|destroyed by the invading Japanese Imperial forces]]. RAF Cranfield's grass airstrip was replaced with three hardened runways in the winter of 1939 and spring of 1940 and became a target for enemy action in the late summer of that year, with mines, bombs and incendiaries dropped on it and the nearby village of [[Cranfield]].{{citation needed|date=May 2019}} Aircraftsman [[Vivian Hollowday]], serving at the airfield, won the [[George Cross]] for the attempted rescue of two crews which crashed there in July and August 1940.<ref name="Cranfield College of Aeronautics history">{{cite web|url=http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/history/coa_history_final.pdf|title=Cranfield College of Aeronautics history|access-date=17 April 2010|publisher=Cranfield University|pages=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206102500/http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/history/coa_history_final.pdf|archive-date=6 December 2010}}</ref> August 1941 saw the fast developing station become a night fighter training centre with the arrival of No. 51 Night fighter Operational Training Unit. This was disbanded after [[Victory in Europe Day|the end of the war in Europe]] in May 1945 and the airfield became the site for a new [[Cranfield University|College of Aeronautics]] (now [[Cranfield University]]). This college helped develop the highly successful [[Harrier Jump Jet]] and has serviced the [[Hawker Hurricane|Hurricane]]s and [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]]s of the [[Battle of Britain Memorial Flight]]. The UK's sole remaining airworthy [[Avro Lancaster]] was based at Cranfield until 1964.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/history/coa_history_final.pdf|title=Cranfield College of Aeronautics history|access-date=16 March 2009|publisher=Cranfield University|pages=3–4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206102500/http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/about/history/coa_history_final.pdf|archive-date=6 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/theaircraft/lancaster.cfm|title=Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster history|access-date=5 August 2009|publisher=RAF}}</ref> ===Active RAF units=== The following units were here at some point:<ref name="ABCT">{{cite web|url=http://www.abct.org.uk/airfields/airfield-finder/cranfield/ |title=Cranfield |publisher=[[Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust]]|access-date=21 April 2020}}</ref> No. 1 Group Pool; No. 2 Aircraft Delivery Flight; No. 2 Central Flying School RAF; [[No. 4 Squadron RAF]]; No. 14 Service Flying Training School; No. 16 Air Crew Holding Unit RAF; No. 23 Group Communications Flight; [[No. 35 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 51 OTU|No. 51 Operational Training Unit RAF]]; [[No. 62 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 82 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 108 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 181 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 183 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 207 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 239 Squadron RAF]]; [[No. 2807 Squadron RAF Regiment]]; AI Conversion Flight; Central Flying School; Empire Test Pilots’ School; Pilots Replacement Unit; Wellington Conversion Flight. ==Description== Cranfield Aerodrome has a [[United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority|CAA]] Ordinary Licence (number P803) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee ([[Cranfield University]]) situated next to the site.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf |title=Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070628053955/http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/375/srg_asd_ordinarylicences.pdf |archive-date=2007-06-28}}</ref> The airfield is used for a small number of university-related flights in addition to flying schools and private owners. One of the [[Met Office]] research aircraft (a [[British Aerospace 146|BAE 146]]), operated under the [[Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements]], is usually based on the airfield. Situated {{convert|3|mi|abbr=on}} to the northeast of the [[M1 motorway]] and [[Milton Keynes]], the airfield has a large catchment area. Although the length of the runway means that Cranfield can handle commercial aircraft (up to the size of a [[Boeing 757]]), the remaining infrastructure is not suitable for scheduled passenger flights or for the handling of such aircraft. Navigation aids include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cranfieldairport.com/pilot-information/airport-information.aspx |title=Cranfield Airport – pilot information}}</ref> * [[Non-directional beacon|NDB]] 'CIT' which is located {{convert|3.5|NM|abbr=on}} to the north-east of the aerodrome * [[Instrument landing system|ILS/DME]] equipment for runway 21 * [[Direction finding#Usage|VDF]] * [[Instrument approach#RNAV approach|GNSS]] approaches to both runways ==Current operations and planned developments== In September 2016, the press reported that until the end of March 2017, the airport would be closed at weekends while a new air traffic control officer (ATCO) was trained; during this period, there would be days when only a single ATCO was available, and on those days, reduced opening hours would operate. Planned and permanent redistribution of aircraft traffic (PPR) was introduced. During this period, runway rejuvenation work was also carried out.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.flyer.co.uk/cranfield-airport-in-crisis-following-atco-shortage/ |title=Cranfield airport in crisis following ATCO shortage|work=FLYER|date=14 September 2014|access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref> In early 2018, the press reported plans to expand the airport's business aviation activities with a new terminal, a hotel and other improvements and to rename the airport 'London' Cranfield Airport.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.flyer.co.uk/bizjets-encouraged-london-cranfield-airport/ |title=Bizjets encouraged at 'London' Cranfield Airport|work=FLYER|date=13 February 2018|access-date=23 December 2018}}</ref> In April 2018, it was reported that Central Bedfordshire Council had granted planning permission for a new 'Air Park', expected to be completed in 2024.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pickering|first=Kirstie|title=Planning permission granted for Cranfield Airport air park|work=Business Airport International|url=https://www.businessairportinternational.com/news/construction/planning-permission-granted-for-cranfield-airport-air-park.html|date=9 April 2018}}</ref> ===Planned development <span class="anchor" id="Possible development"></span>=== In May 2019, Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group (now called [[Marshall Group]]), owners of [[Cambridge City Airport]], announced that their airport would be closed to all traffic by 2030 at the latest. The Group plans to redevelop their Cambridge site for housing and commercial uses.<ref name=BBC0519>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-48269651 | title=Marshall Aerospace plans to leave Cambridge Airport base by 2030 | work = BBC News | date= 14 May 2019 | access-date=20 May 2019}}</ref> That announcement said that the Group would be deciding between three potential airfields for its continuing operations: [[Duxford Aerodrome|Duxford]] and [[RAF Wyton|Wyton]] in Cambridgeshire, and Cranfield Airport in Bedfordshire.<ref name=BBC0519 /> On 6 October 2020, Cranfield University and Marshall Group announced that they had signed an option agreement for the potential relocation of Marshall Aerospace to Cranfield Airport.<ref name=BBC061020>{{cite news |title= Cambridge's Marshall Aerospace signs 'option' for Cranfield University move | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-54438465 | work= BBC News | date= 6 October 2020 | access-date= 8 October 2020}}</ref> In October 2021, the Group announced that it had decided in favour of the Cranfield option and that "it will leave its current base at Cambridge Airport by 2030".<ref name=ITV051021>{{cite news |title=Cambridge-based Marshall Aerospace pursuing 'viable and practical' move to Cranfield University |work=ITV News |date=5 October 2021 |access-date=3 August 2022 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2021-10-05/marshall-aerospace-pursuing-viable-and-practical-cranfield-university-move}}</ref> The Group proposes to move its global group headquarters (as well as its Aerospace division) to Cranfield.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aerospace company Marshall says leaving Cambridge will be good for business 'long-term' | work=Cambridge News | first=Fareid |last=Atta |date=19 July 2022 |access-date=3 August 2022 |url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/aerospace-company-marshall-says-leaving-24522582}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Cranfield Airport}} *[http://www.cranfieldairport.com/ Official site] *[http://clutch.open.ac.uk/schools/emerson00/air_cranfield.html Cranfield Airport from the air] *[[Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements]] *Control Towers Website: [http://www.controltowers.co.uk/C/Cranfield.htm RAF Cranfield] {{Royal Air Force}} {{Airports in the United Kingdom}} {{Cranfield University}} {{authority control}} [[Category:History of Bedfordshire]] [[Category:University and college airports]] [[Category:Airports in England]] [[Category:Airports in Bedfordshire]] [[Category:Airports in the East of England]] [[Category:Airports in the London region]] [[Category:University and college buildings in England]]'