Situation Unravelling, Prospects For GA Nil?

The situation at Lee on Solent towards the end of last week regarding visiting aircraft caused confusion, with a very clear reluctance by Fly BN to take back on board its previous task (pre-Sapphire), catering for GA visitors. Whether this was its own decision or the airfield owner, The Homes and Community Agency HCA, was also unclear. Over the weekend decisions were forthcoming, possibly originating from the HCA but via the airfield manager that, wef from yesterday a.m. PPR would be in force UFN with a written request 24 hours prior to flight for all potential visitors. In addition all requests will be at the discretion of the airfield operations manager, these obstacles evectively putting off any casual flying visit.

It would seem that the area that Sapphire occupied was required for development, already an Advanced Skills Centre is being built for Fareham College in the south east corner just south of the ex Sapphire site. The re-generation of the east side of the airfield is gathering pace, Sapphire was the casualty in the rush for business and employment associated with the Enterprise Zone. The airfield in not immune to the spectre affecting all airfields, housing development (much more lucrative than GA), with a decision expected on a proposal later today to build 101 homes on the airfield, on the east side? On a already crowded peninsula,….but that is straying from the main subject.

With the visitor obstacles in place, the direction in which General Aviation goes at Daedalus is anyones guess, and this latest news not very encouraging for the immediate future.

Gerry R