| Woodford Aerodrome Manchester Woodford Aerodrome |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA: none – ICAO: EGCD | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Private | ||
| Operator | BAE Systems | ||
| Location | Woodford, Greater Manchester | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 295 ft / 90 m | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Map | |||
|
EGCD
|
|||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 07/25 | 2,292 | 7,520 | Asphalt |
| Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] | |||
Woodford Aerodrome or Manchester Woodford Aerodrome (ICAO: EGCD) is a former airfield located at Woodford, Greater Manchester. It is 6 NM (11 km; 6.9 mi) north of Macclesfield, Cheshire, England.
Woodford is owned and was operated by BAE Systems. In late 2010 the Woodford-built BAE Nimrod MRA4 project was cancelled.
Woodford Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P493) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (BAE Systems PLC).[2]
BAE Systems Woodford was due to close in 2012 when its Nimrod Project was to be completed. It was also previously believed that some jobs would be transferred to BAE Systems' Military Air Solutions headquarters in Preston, Lancashire.[3][4][5][6][7][8] However, following the cancellation of aircraft orders in the British Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review, the site closed as an active airfield on 25 August 2011.[9]
On 20th December 2011 the site was purchased for £100m by Jo Bamford, the heir to the JCB fortune. [10]
The aerodrome first came into use in 1924, when the Avro company moved from Alexandra Park Aerodrome in south Manchester. The aerodrome, originally having a small grass area, but later much extended, was home to Avro, Hawker-Siddeley, and later BAE Systems.
Many aircraft types were built at Woodford including:
Plans to convert part of the site to films studios with adjacent office space and an hotel were announced in October 2011.[11]