Pilot September 2017

GAIN (The General Aviation
Infrastructure Network) is
supporting the ‘No Fairoaks
New Town’ campaign
which is seeking to protect
Fairoaks Airport from the
proposed ‘garden village’
development of up to 2,
houses that would end
aviation activities at the
Surrey airfield.
No Fairoaks New Town was
founded by Krikor Krikorian
and is funded by donations
from local residents and
businesses keen to save this
important community asset,
says campaign Chairman
Douglas Mancini. “I am
delighted to receive support
from GAIN at national level
and am very appreciative of
the assistance they have
already given. GAIN’s help,
combined with the
overwhelming local support
we have received, further
solidifies my confidence that
we will succeed in saving
Fairoaks as the critical
community hub it is.”
On 7 July Secretary of
State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs
Michael Gove, MP visited
Fairoaks as guest of the
campaign and heard about
the importance of the airport to the local
community. “Michael has been very
supportive of our campaign so far, including
signing our petition,” says Mancini. “The
future of the airport is important to the
local economy and Michael is keen to see
this asset protected, along with the Green
Belt upon which it sits.”
Mr Gove toured some of the airport’s
resident business including GAMA Aviation,
Synergy and High Level Photography, and
made a flight around the local area in a
Piper Mirage, viewing the airport and his
constituency from the air, and seeing
precious habitats and the environment
which would be destroyed if the housing
development went ahead. “I have led the
campaign to say ‘no’ to the development
here until we get absolute guarantees and
insurances... [and] am delighted to have
the maximum possible support for the
position that commands the support of the
majority of our constituents,” he said.

GAIN is working with the GA Community

and particularly closely with the All Party

Parliamentary Group on General Aviation,

and is helping the campaigns for a number

of GA airfields under threat. Chairman

Pauline Vahey said, “No Fairoaks New Town

has already achieved great success through

the local petition of over 5,300 signatures.

We are looking forward to helping the

campaign build support within the local

community, nationally, and ultimately to

save the airport, which is a vital part of the

national infrastructure network.

“GAIN is encouraging local authorities to

take a longer-term view based on a

properly informed understanding of the

benefits of general aviation. We recognise

the value of GA to the UK economy, the

local community and to the aviation sector,

so we are seeking to establish the

necessary legal protections to prevent the

haphazard destruction of our nation’s

aviation infrastructure network, of which

Fairoaks Airport is an

irreplaceable part.”

More information at:

GAINetwork.org.uk and

nofairoaksnewtown.uk

In memory of the late

Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown the

Edinburgh University Air

Squadron Association is

raising funds for a

memorial bronze statue of

him, to be sited outside

Edinburgh Airport’s

terminal building.

In 1937 ‘Winkle’ entered

Edinburgh University to

study German, joined its

University Air Unit (now

University Air Squadron)

and learned to fly at RAF

Turnhouse, now Edinburgh

Airport. The Air Unit was

attached to 603 Squadron

Royal Auxiliary Air Force,

with which ‘Winkle’ logged

130 hours. His subsequent

career as a Fleet Air Arm

pilot and test pilot is

legendary, including

post-war test flying of

captured Luftwaffe aircraft,

and saw him log 487

different types and make a

record 2,407 carrier deck

landings.

The Edinburgh University

Air Squadron Association

also hopes to raise sufficient funds to

enable several young people to learn to fly

through Flying Scholarships. For more

details email: [email protected]

London City Airport has appointed

Robert Sinclair as its new Chief

Executive Officer. A New Zealander,

Sinclair has been CEO of Bristol Airport

since 2008, prior to which he was the Chief

Financial Officer of Auckland International

Airport following a ten-year career in

investment banking. He will take up his new

role at LCY on 30 October

“I’m excited to be joining London City

Airport,” he says. “It’s an airport that plays

a vital role in connecting Britain, and in

particular its business community, globally

and through the City Airport Development

Programme it will be able to serve 6.

million passengers per year, and 111,

flight movements by 2025, adding much

needed aviation capacity at a time when

Britain needs it most.”

16 | Pilot September 2017 http://www.pilotweb.aero

Notes

AIRFIELDS

Eric ‘Winkle’ Brown with a Sea Hawk,

one of 487 different types he flew

The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP had a flight over Fairoaks’ local area when he visited in July

New London City Airport CEO Robert Sinclair