Growing concerns over business aircraft access to UK airports and the emergence of proposed reliever airports to alleviate the problem, has prompted the UK Government to commission a study into the state of the business aviation industry in the south east of England.
The investigation, entitled "State of the Industry", is being led by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and is a follow-up to the previous Government's 1995 report into the same issue. "Since 1995, business aviation access to London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports has come under increasing pressure because of the demand for additional slots from scheduled and chartered flights," says the Government.
The study is designed to provide background information on the size of the market, likely future demand, the availability of business aviation capacity and facilities and its overall value to the UK economy.
From its findings - which are expected to be completed by the end of the year - "-government, local authorities and airport operators can base future decisions about the provision of business aviation in the south east", adds the Government. The study will also be presented to the planning inquiry for the proposed international business aviation terminal at Farnborough airfield, for which the TAG Group has acquired the 99-year lease.
The report has been welcomed by the general aviation community, which has been outspoken in its quest for equal rights for business aircraft. "We hope the initiative will formalise business aviation rights of access to major airports and bring about a co-ordinated approach to feeder and reliever airports with sustained futures," says Graham Forbes, chief executive of the General Aviation Manufacturers and Traders Association.
Source: Flight International
