Aviation News – June 2018

the Draft London Plan and is designated as a

Strategic Outer London Development Centre

(SOLDC). London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has

stated: “London Biggin Hill has emerged as

a leading business in the South East and

is one of the most important pioneers of

the business aviation sector in the UK. It is

proving a very sound investment for those

choosing to base there.”

Further new hangars are planned on the

south side to meet growing demand and the

airport has several areas of land available for

further expansion. A 56-bed four-star hotel is

to be built on land adjacent to the Signature

FBO. It will be run by the airport and has

progressed through the pre-planning process

with a target opening date next year. There

are also longer-term plans for upgrading the

main terminal building. The airport operator

would also like to see development of a new

M25 motorway intersection at Westerham

which would greatly enhance accessibility.

Biggin Hill management are working to

make the airport a major centre for technical

training. There is already a growing number

of apprentice engineers with organisations

at the airport and this will increase when

the London Centre for Aviation Technology

and Enterprise (LoCATE) programme

is established. It will use a new £12m

engineering training centre called the London

Aerospace and Technology College, which

is being built on the south side of the air eld,

with 100 students due to pass through its

doors annually. It will train mechanical,

electronic and service engineers as well as

technicians and ground crew. This initiative

is backed by the Mayor of London, and

the Greater London Authority is providing

signi cant funding for the project.

As with its other initiatives the new

training investment bodes well for this

vibrant London airport. For the future,

Biggin Hill’s management is concentrating

on encouraging business aviation growth

and maintaining good relations with the local

community. General aviation traffic demand

into London is expanding and Biggin Hill is

an increasingly attractive option for aircraft

operators  ying into the city.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 29

Right: Castle Air’s facility at London Biggin

Hill Airport. Andy Patsalides

Below: Three Gulfstreams at Biggin Hill, with

Canary Wharf in the background. London

Biggin Hill Airport

Inter ight has a facility at Biggin Hill that can undertake maintenance on Hawker business jets – the company also offers charter services. Interfl ight

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