Southern BBC news is reporting that as of tomorrow HMS Daedalus will close to commercial and private aviation. The reason being that Hampshire Police who keep their Islander there do no want the responsibility or cost of operating the airfield, no fire cover or traffic control exists so they are banning all the other users.
The Coastguard S61 is also based there as well as a number of aircraft repairers and private owners. The Navy gliding club can use it for the moment but their agreement expires sometime in the future.
The local Gosport MP, Peter Viggers is taking the legality of the Police action to the House of Commons today.
Some air to ground footage showed a Catalina and two Dakota’s parked on the airfield, whether this was recent or archive I dont know.
Lets hope common sense prevails and the Police Forces action is reversed.
Richard
By: mike currill - 19th May 2008 at 12:47
About time common sense scored a few victories. Now, if we can just get Epping Forrest council to back down over North Weald and the planners to back down over their ill considered plans for Weston Otmoor we’ll be getting somewhere.
By: Willip26 - 19th May 2008 at 12:05
Excellent news indeed.
Been trying to fly into there for years having managed to miss out on a flight in the Chrisair Dragon G-ADDI at an airshow back in the 1960s.
Does anyone know the contact details and whether there are still a number of privately owned aircraft based there or did they all move out in anticipation of the closure?
Wicked Willip :diablo:
By: topgun regect - 16th May 2008 at 15:58
This is excellent news, I live a stones throw from Daedalus and welcome the news that it wil be retained for GA the roads round here get congested enough without more houses being built to add to it.
Martin
By: pogno - 16th May 2008 at 15:47
Fantastic news, should see the airfield secure for some while to come. Im,e sure that most of the locals would rather have it used for flying rather than thousands of new homes and the associated congestion that comes with them.
Richard
By: Paul C - 16th May 2008 at 14:49
Skyraider
Me too, my first Vulcan/Phantom experience as well
PaulC
By: Steve Bond - 16th May 2008 at 14:16
Hurrah for common sense. How refreshing.
By: Carpetbagger - 16th May 2008 at 13:37
Good News
Seen on BBC today…
A controversial decision to close a former naval airbase in Hampshire for commercial flights has been overturned.
Unexpected, but excellent news 🙂
John
Perhaps the mods could change the thread title accordingly?
By: Newforest - 16th November 2007 at 23:29
Now postponed until 14th December.
So they’re not all heartless. One more month to clear off!
Seems they don’t want to pay for the ATC that the MoD used to provide. They’ve only had the airfield for 20 months and only realised this a month ago.
Hmmm?
John
This problem is like an iceberg, the writing is on the wall, lower the flags and open the bungs, sorry.:(
By: Carpetbagger - 16th November 2007 at 21:57
Now postponed until 14th December.
So they’re not all heartless. One more month to clear off!
Seems they don’t want to pay for the ATC that the MoD used to provide. They’ve only had the airfield for 20 months and only realised this a month ago.
Hmmm?
John
By: chumpy - 16th November 2007 at 21:41
Hmmm, Sounds more like they want to turn the place into a housing estate in the long run, me thinks!
By: mike currill - 16th November 2007 at 16:51
Sounds to me like the police are willing to ride rough shod over anyone to get their way. Is it any wonder they are losing support in the community?
By: pogno - 16th November 2007 at 12:10
Further news report http://www.itvlocal.com/meridian/news/?player=MER_news2_26&void=119556
If health and safety is an issue then surely that applies to everyone, without exception. The Police seem to think they are exempt.
The TV news report is followed by an item on the Solent flying boat crash on the Isle of Wight.
Richard
By: Skyraider - 15th November 2007 at 23:29
Sad day
That news brings a tear to my eye, first airshows I went to were there. The memory of the shack displaying in particular will remain a long pleasant one 🙂
By: David Legg - 15th November 2007 at 19:35
The ex-Plane Sailing Catalina VP-BPS is long gone (to Weston, Dublin) but the complete PBY-5A N423RS ex-Greenpeace is still there, now unflown for some considerable time – in fact since it arrived. The latter has no connection with Plane Sailing.
By: WJ244 - 15th November 2007 at 17:19
Don’t know if it is still there but at one time the original Plane Sailing Catalina was under rebuild at Lee.
The British Hovercraft Museum was also based there so maybe they have to look for a new home as well.
I am inclined to think that the whole thing is a stunt to get the local council or the government to come up with money to help run the airfield. I can’t see how they can justify the expense of maintaining a comparatively large airfield just for their own aircraft.
Surely health and safety laws require some form of fire cover even if it is only the police aircraft flying from there so if they have to have fire cover for their own operations it must make sense to proivide cover for other operators as well and generate income from landing fees and hangarage and parking fees.
By: pogno - 15th November 2007 at 16:57
Found this Video news report showing airfield with parked aircraft.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7090000/newsid_7096700/7096767.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1
Richard
By: BlueRobin - 15th November 2007 at 14:13
G-DAKK and another green N-reg Dak used to be based. Where did they go?
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November 15, 2007 at 1:56 pm