| Redhill Aerodrome | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Approaching Redhill to land in a Piper Cherokee | |||
| IATA: KRH – ICAO: EGKR | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Private | ||
| Operator | Redhill Aerodrome Ltd | ||
| Location | Nutfield Surrey |
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| Elevation AMSL | 222 ft / 68 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
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EGKR
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 18/36 | 851 | 3,219 | Grass |
| 08R/26L | 897 | 2,943 | Grass |
| 08L/26R | 683 | 2,241 | Grass |
| 07/25 (unlicensed) | 500 | 1,640 | Asphalt taxiway |
| Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] | |||
Redhill Aerodrome (IATA: KRH, ICAO: EGKR) is located 1.5 NM (2.8 km; 1.7 mi) southeast of Redhill, Surrey, England, in green belt land.[2]
Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P421) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Redhill Aerodrome Limited).[3]
Contents |
The airfield came into use in the 1930s for private flying and it was used as an alternative airfield to Croydon Airport by Imperial Airways.
An Elementary Flying Training School was formed at Redhill in July 1937. Training continued at the start of the Second World War using the Miles Magister. The Fairey Battle was also flown particularly for use with the Polish Grading and Testing Flight.
With the threat of a German attack on the airfield the Flying Training School moved to northern England in June 1940.
With the withdrawal of the Flying Training School the airfield became an operational RAF station. First to move in were 16 Squadron operating the Westland Lysander. The Lysanders did not stay long and RAF Redhill had many short-term deployments of mainly fighter squadrons.
In August 1942 the airfield had five squadrons based. By the end of 1943 the fighter squadrons had moved on and the airfield was used by support units until the end of the war.
The airfield returned to civilian use in 1947 but was suspended in 1954. In 1959 flying resumed at Redhill when the Tiger Club moved in. The following year Bristow Helicopters started to use Redhill as an operating base and carry out helicopter maintenance for the next 40 years.
The airfield is still operated for private flying and training, with an emphasis on helicopter operators. Pilots can use three grass runways. Information on the aerodrome's state can be found on the operator's, Redhill Aerodrome Limited, website.[4]
Charter and private arrivals and departures can be tracked on the Aerodrome Information website.[5]
The aerodrome has its own Air Traffic Control[6] and fire and rescue services (Redhill Fire Fighting Service[7]). The fire and rescue service is H2/Cat2 and has two fire appliances built by Land Rover (now Jaguar Land Rover) that carry over 1400 litres of fire fighting fluids between them as well as rescue equipment. They also refuel aircraft.
The airfield has also been the venue for the flying displays and aviation trade shows, including the annual Redhill Airshow in the past, which was focused around a charitable cause.
In 2010, the Redhill Aerodrome Master Plan was published, documenting in great detail the proposal to create a hard surface runway in replacement to the existing grass airstrips, alongside other developments[8]. There will be an opportunity for local residents, businesses and authorities to comment on this[9].
The aerodrome's runways are currently grass, so they are often damaged by adverse weather during the winter. Creation of a more durable runway would allow virtually all-year-round operation and permit small business aircraft to use the aerodrome as a reliable airport in competition with London Gatwick Airport.
There is an option to use the taxiway to the south of the airstrips as a runway - designated 07/25 - but because of the restricted conditions of use and the limited length, this is far from ideal for pilots and flights[10].
The Redhill Airshow was a classic "garden party" style event held at Redhill Aerodrome. The show was one of the highlights of the local area's calendar. The show has seen flypasts by the Red Arrows and displays from the Royal Air Force solo display teams, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight including the Lancaster Bomber as well as popular warbirds such as Spitfire MH434, and Rob Davies' P-51 Mustang. The last show was in 2006 [11] and the subsequent years event was cancelled at the request of the Redhill Aerodrome management; they have not run since.