Farnborough Airfield

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Farnborough Airport or TAG London Farnborough Airport (IATA: FAB, ICAO: EGLF) (previously called RAE Farnborough) is an airport situated in Farnborough, Hampshire, England.

Farnborough Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P864) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (TAG Farnborough Airport Limited)^[1].

Farnborough Airport has a long history of involvement with aviation in the UK. It was the site of the Royal Aircraft Establishment and is the home of Farnborough Air Show. As a result of Government policy, a new business aviation airport has been established there, with all experimental aircraft having moved to Boscombe Down. Commercial defence research continues to be carried out in the adjunct Cody Technology Park by research firm QinetiQ.

The civil enclave was operated by Farnborough Business Aviation until 2003, when the MOD stopped operations at Farnborough and was taken over by TAG Aviation, who now operate the airport. TAG Aviation are a multinational business aviation operator, with aircraft based in Farnborough, Switzerland, and throughout the USA. Business aviation flying has grown from a low level in 1989 to around 19,000 movements in 2005. The airport is currently restricted to 28,000 movements each year, with only 2500 of these permitted on weekends. TAG is currently trying to raise this cap to 5000 because of the loss of business to other London airports.

After TAG took control of the airport from the Ministry of Defence, it invested in a series of new infrastructure projects, including a new radar unit and a resurfaced runway. The most striking development was the construction of a new control tower, a large hangar unit, and finally a brand new terminal building that opened in 2006, all designed by Reid Architecture and Buro Happold. The designs won local admiration and a series of awards, and were nominated for Building of the Year by Building Magazine in 2007. The Terminal was officially opened by HRH Prince Andrew. The airport is home to a number of the UK's largest business jet companies, including Gama Aviation Executive Jet Charter and Bookajet.

Full-scale model of the Gloster E28/39 at the Airfield recalls its early days as a research establishment

Farnborough Airport sees the bulk of its traffic from conventional business jets, such as the Cessna Citation, the Gulfstream, the Dassault Falcon, the Learjet, and the BAe 125. The airport is also popular with operators of larger aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A319 -- however, the use of these types is heavily restricted, with nothing larger than a 737-800 permitted. The only scheduled service the airport sees is that operated by BAE Systems, the headquarters of which is adjacent to the airport. BAE operate a BAe 146 on a twice daily shuttle service to Warton Aerodrome, and a regular Beechcraft Super King Air service to Filton Aerodrome, Bristol, and Walney Island.

[edit] References

1. ^ Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences

[edit] External links

• Official site
• Farnborough Aerodrome Consultative Committee
• Farnborough Aerodrome Residents Association
• Article on Construction of the new Terminal Building
• Article on Construction of the Air Control Tower
• Royal Engineers Museum Royal Engineers and Aeronautics
• Royal Engineers Museum Origins of the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force
• Royal Engineers Museum Early British Military Ballooning (1863)
• Historic Farnborough