Biggin Hill Airshow

The following open letter, from the Managing Director of Biggin Hill Airport, was published in the local “County Border News” on August 6th 2014. It’s content sounds interesting, and is as follows…..

“Dear Neighbour,

I’d like to introduce myself as the Managing Director of Biggin Hill Airport. I started my career as an air survey pilot and then as a business jet pilot, before running my own aviation charter business based at Biggin Hill. Since then, I have run overseas companies based in the Middle East, Switzerland, Moscow and Lisbon. I’ve lived in Biggin Hill for 12 years.

Since I was appointed last year, I’ve been getting to grips with the job of running an active Business and General Aviation airport and – most importantly – I’ve been “listening to what my neighbours have to say. So far- two things have stood out for me as being important to local residents: bringing back the air show and dealing with unnecessary noise nuisance.

I know many of you were upset when the annual air show was cancelled and I was delighted we have been able to bring it back to life this year. It puts our community on the map and we’re rightly very proud of it. It is one of the perks of living in Biggin Hill. I flew in the air show as an aerobatic pilot in the Honda sponsored Sukhoi 26 for many years, so the air show is close to my heart.

That’s why we are bringing the Festival of Flight back next year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. We’ll spend the next year working to make the show even better, including working to alleviate the traffic congestion as much as possible.

Since I started this job, I’ve made a point of personally investigating all noise complaints we receive here at the airport. I know that low flying light aircraft (the ‘buzzy’ ones as some of my neighbours have described them) can disturb many of you, particularly in the summer months. One way that we can improve this is to ask light aircraft pilots to avoid all built areas around the airport. I am going to work with our pilots and air traffic controllers to see if we can make such a system work here at Biggin Hill.

I want to hear what you think about this idea, and how you think we can be a better neighbour to you. Please email me at:
noiseaction@bigginhillairportcom.

My aim is have a detailed solution by September. Once have heard from you, and consulted with our light aircraft pilots, I promise to write again with more specific details on how and when a new system can be implemented.

In the past, I don’t think the airport has been clear enough about what it wants to do. I know that many of you are concerned that Biggin Hill Airport may grow into a busy commercial hub. I hope that my family and I will be living in Biggin Hill for many years to come. I certainly don’t want to live next to a large high volume passenger airport and I’m certain that you don’t either.

So I want to be very clear about what we will not do. I can reassure you, here at Biggin Hill Airport, we will never host the types of scheduled airline traffic or holiday charter flights you see at major airports.

We want to remain small and nimble, dealing with Business Jet and General Aviation traffic of the type that uses the airport today. These are the terms on which I took the job, and by which I am prepared to be held accountable by the local community.
Yours Sincerely,

Will Curtis

Managing Director”