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Consultation: Wycombe Air Park - relocation of glider take-off area

Long shot of Wycombe Air Park and surrounding roads and fields.

Summary

From 4-18 December 2019, Wycombe District Council and Booker Aviation ran a consultation on the relocation of the glider take-off area at Wycombe Air Park. The proposed relocation would result in changes to the flying patterns for aircraft.

What you need to know

Key information for this consultation is included below.

This information was originally featured on the exhibition boards at our consultation event on 3 December. These boards can be viewed in the council offices reception area until 11 December.

Background detail

Wycombe Air Park (also known as Booker Airfield) is located on Clay Lane, Booker, just south-west of the M40. It provides take-off and landing facilities for small ‘fixed wing’ aircraft, gliders and helicopters.

The Air Park has operated as a general aviation aerodrome since 1965. It provides opportunities for both commercial and recreational flying, plus flight training and aircraft rental. There is a café that is open to all. The Air Park currently has three runways – (06/24 - grass, 06/24 - asphalt and 35 - grass).

Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters use the runways whilst gilders operate predominately to the south of the Air Park.

Map of existing airfield layout

This map shows the existing airfield layout, including the air park boundaries, runway 35 (running north to south), grass runway 06-24 (running east to west), and hard runway 06-24 (running east to west and positioned north of grass runway 06-24).

 

Proposal

The Wycombe Local Plan has allocated land at the Air Park for commercial development. This necessitates the shortening of grass runway 35 for safety reasons. A new asphalt runway is proposed adjacent to the existing 06/24 asphalt runway.

The new runway will mainly be used by the gliders that would have been using the glider operations area to the south. Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters will continue to take off and land as at present.

The changes to the runways will not lead to an increase in aircraft using the Air Park. These changes are designed to accommodate the commercial development and allow the Air Park to operate safely and efficiently.

Map of proposed airfield layout

This map displays the proposed new airfield layout, including the new glider runway to the north-west of the existing runway and the gliding club operating area north-west of the new runway.

 

Changes to flight patterns

The Air Park proposes to change the flight patterns of fixed wing aircraft and gliders. This will change the areas that regularly see aircraft above.

The new flight patterns are designed to minimise the number of houses that are flown over by aircraft using the Air Park. When in use Runway 35 flight patterns will remain the same.

Map of existing aircraft circuit patterns

This map shows the existing aircraft circuit patterns, including the runway 24 right-hand fixed-wing circuit, runway 06 left-hand fixed-wing circuit, runway 24 glider tow-out cone, runway 06 glider tow-out cone, and the noise abatement zones.

Map of proposed aircraft circuit patterns

This map shows the proposed aircraft circuit patterns, including the new runway 24 right-hand fixed-wing circuit, new runway 06 left-hand fixed-wing circuit, new runway 24 glider tow-out cone, new runway 06 glider tow-out cone, and the noise abatement zon

 

Aircraft noise

The existing Take-off Noise Abatement Zone above Lane End and Frieth will be unaffected (i.e. it will remain a Noise Abatement Zone that aircraft only fly above in exceptional circumstances).

The Air Park works with the community to minimise issues arising from aircraft noise. A Noise Management and Action Plan was reviewed and updated in 2018. The Joint Consultative Committee (funded by the Air Park) meets regularly and provides a forum to discuss any issues that arise. The Air Park has established Take-off Noise Abatement Zones and specific noise routes to take noise away from the majority of properties.

There is an established procedure for making complaints about aircraft noise on the Wycombe Air Park website. The Air Park always follows up complaints with pilots that do not comply with noise procedures.

 

Have your say

A public exhibition was held at Wycombe Air Park on 3 December.

Our online consultation is now closed.

Next steps

After taking your feedback into account, a planning application for the new runway will be submitted to Wycombe District Council early in 2020. That planning application will be subject to legal consultation in the usual way.

Contact

For further information please contact Louise Gallagher:

  • email: lrgallagher@savills.com
  • phone: 0203 320 8277