June 2004

                          

Headcorn Aerodrome Consultative Committee

Minutes of the Meeting held on 8th June 2004

At ‘Wings’ Headcorn Aerodrome

Present:  Terry Hodges, Roger Munn, Colin Highwood, Jenefer Gibson, David Parker, Jerry Knight, Anthony Hill, Liz Fisher, James Tuke, Jamie Freeman, Lyn Selby, Sue Line.

1.     Apologies for Absence:  Apologies for absence were received from: Martin Vink. Gill Gymer. Andrew Viall and Bruce Abbott.

2.     Minutes of Previous Meeting:

The Minutes of the Previous Meeting held on 2nd March 2004 were read approved and signed by the Chairman.

3.     Matters Arising from the Previous Minutes 

Guidelines for Airport Consultative Committees

With the Chairman’s approval Lyn Selby led the Committee through the Guidelines for Airport Consultative Committees referring to items as appropriate for the size of the aerodrome.  She felt that the Consultative Committee complied with most of the guidelines with the exception of the question of the Chairman but that had been covered and agreed at the last Meeting.

 Concerning Consultation with Outside Parties, Jamie Freeman reported that he had recently met with representatives of the Shenley Park Residents’ Association to discuss evening flying.  They felt they should have been notified specifically concerning the meeting at the Village Hall.  However, Jamie Freeman had put the meeting forward at the Parish Council Meeting (it was therefore on their website), it was on the front page of the local press and advertised on Kent Radio continually during that week, so he did not feel that advertising the meeting was an issue.  But he did feel that another point raised at the meeting was helpful:  Some aircraft were turning too soon after take off from Runway 29 and Jamie Freeman had arranged to put a notice at the Threshold of 29 reinforcing the airfield instigated rule that aircraft should fly straight ahead on take off and climb to 500ft before turning. The Shenley Park representatives, Mr S J McCappin and Mr D Stone, were very worried about night flying .  The Committee felt that Shenley Park represented a largish group of people and they needed their feelings allayed.  Lyn Selby also felt that, as they were mainly a retired group, they possibly could not get to the Village Hall. Lyn Selby raised the question of Consultation for Other Users or organisations in the locality.  The Consultative Committee, and specifically Terry Hodges, felt that the Parish Councillors could be the preferred route for any other groups who felt that perhaps they could not approach Jamie Freeman direct.  Lyn Selby appreciated that they could not have everyone.  Jamie Freeman said he didn’t mind meeting other groups outside of the guidelines.  It was important to remember that they are guidelines. Jerry Knight asked Lyn Selby if Parish Councillors held workshops (surgeries) with the local parishioners they were representing.  Lyn Selby said they could come to Parish Council Meetings once a month or write to her or make an approach to her via the Parish Clerk and that her parishioners did let her know if there were problems. 

Concerning Adequate facilities for Consultation David Parker felt that the Aerodrome was a comparatively small operation and the Committee needed to reflect its size.  The Committee agreed with him. 

Engaging with Stakeholders  It was felt that people could come to the aerodrome to see the activities, they could attend the public meetings, the aerodrome had a website which they could look at and which had an email facility so that people could make contact.  There were no plans for a dedicated comment line.  Jerry Knight made the point that he has always been willing to talk to individuals who feel they have a problem with the Tiger Club and this view was echoed by all those representing the aerodrome. 

The Terms of reference as set out in the Guidelines were compared with the printed Terms of Reference for the Constitution of the Consultative Committee and no changes were put forward.

Terry Hodges said that he felt the Consultative Committee were doing quite well and conforming to the Guidelines.  Lyn Selby said that outsiders did not perceive it as that and felt that the Committee was not being seen to be useful. If Parish Councillors could say that the Consultative Committee were complying with Government guidelines it would be a great help.

Concerning Officers, the question of the Chairman was discussed at the last meeting.  There was a discussion concerning the two Secretaries as to whether this was cumbersome.  But certainly with e-mail the draft minutes could be issued to and approved by those present before circulation.  Anthony Hill agreed.

Guidelines – Agenda and Papers.  The question of aerodrome statistics was discussed.  Lyn Selby felt it would be helpful if the aerodrome could provide statistics showing the number of movements each quarter.  Jamie Freeman said that it was not possible to split the figures between helicopters and aircraft from the  Movements Book but James Tuke did say that he could provide helicopter flying hours.  The average figure was of the order of 48,000 movements. 

Jamie Freeman agreed that he could provide statistics and suggested yearly at the October Consultative Committee Meeting.   He referred to the Noise Mitigation Study by the Department of Transport (David Sames) in 1994/5 as he felt the statistics of the aerodrome were all given there and there had been very few changes since.

Guidelines - Engaging with the Wider Community it was agreed that as well as the Parish Website, the Minutes could be placed on the Parish Notice Board. 

Complaints System  Lyn Selby raised the question of whether the complaints system was advertised and how people should go about it. Terry Hodges made the point that people were able to raise their concerns via their elected representatives.  Jamie Freeman said that people can complain by telephone or they can write in.  If they phone concerning a specific incident Aerodrome staff can sometimes identify the problem straight away and resolve it.  However, others write in and are replied to.  It was felt that generally people would be able to make contact with the Aerodrome if they felt it necessary to complain.

Jamie Freeman said that it was possible to trace the owners of non-Headcorn traffic from the CAA website G-INFO if people are able to get the registration number.  This makes it possible to contact the owners and speak to them.  Anthony Hill pointed out that any complaints are routed to the relevant Company on the Aerodrome. Lyn Selby appreciated that the Aerodrome was trying to help but was concerned that this was not necessarily perceived to be the case.

Complaints are carefully recorded but names are mentioned at the Consultative Committee and they go on the website. 

Lyn Selby felt that, with the exception of the matter concerning the Chairman, the Consultative Committee was complying with most of the items on the Guidelines within the ‘site specific’ category.  However, she felt that the Aerodrome could make things a bit more public and the Agenda a bit more specific.  Terry Hodges reiterated that the Consultative Committee needed someone local as Chairman who knew the problems and it was agreed that Local Authority representatives do not have the time to take it on. 

Lyn Selby felt we could say we have looked at the Guidelines bearing in mind size of aerodrome involved.  Colin Highwood said that he would agree with this.

4.  Planning Applications:

1.     Evening flying – application put forward.

2.     Variation to Conditions  application put forward.

3.     Telecommunications Masts – objection clarified

4.     “Wings” Bar and Restaurant – application shortly to be put forward

4.1 Evening Flying:

At the meeting in the Village Hall Jamie Freeman talked about aspects of evening flying.  It was felt to be a constructive discussion and he had explained why the Aerodrome wanted to do it.  The Application had not been made for individual dates, rather up to 7.30 pm during the winter as much would depend on the weather/conditions.  In earlier years specific dates had been requested but this had caused problems.  Jamie Freeman had suggested that the aerodrome could come back to the Consultative Committee and the Parish Council and detail how many evening flights had actually been made. 

Jamie Freeman said the aerodrome would have been happy to have a trial period to operate up to 7.30 pm but that Planning Applications are not given for trial periods and he had been told it was ultra vires.  He did not think it would be a problem for the local population and would certainly help with training or with people returning to the aerodrome after a flight away.

Jamie Freeman appreciated that the aerodrome would receive letters of objection to the Applications but pointed out that Rochester, Lydd, Biggin Hill and Manston all flew during the evening and none of them suffered with a complaint issue. 

Terry Hodges agreed that it would have minimal impact as local residents would be indoors.  Anthony Hill also agreed, and said that evening movements in relation to day movements would be minimal. 

Lyn Selby raised the question previously raised at the meeting in the Village Hall as to whether the Aerodrome would consider being open until 7.30 all year round, and Jamie Freeman said No.

Jenefer Gibson felt there was a need to liaise with the residents of Shenley Park and that it was helpful to keep people informed.  Jamie Freeman agreed.

Lyn Selby did have some criticism of the Chairman concerning the short notice of the meeting in the Village Hall, and felt it would have been helpful if the Consultative Committee had been advised of this at the March meeting.  She felt that the publicity in general was quite limited and that others might have come along to listen to the message.   A discussion at the Consultative Committee might have helped Committee Members who were Parish Councillors to be able to explain matters with more understanding when questioned.  Jamie Freeman explained that he had withdrawn previous Evening Flying Applications some two years ago but had been thinking about it ever since.  He had taken soundings from Instructors who had now expressed renewed interest and had made the Applications.  The short notice had been unintentional

4.2  Variation to Conditions

Piston only changed to Propeller driven only. 

Jamie Freeman, speaking for the aerodrome, said that he would like to see a change to the Condition which exists at the moment which is for piston engine aircraft only.  He said he would like this to be changed to propeller driven aircraft only, with the same restrictions that were applied to the Parachuting application, with the exclusion of all Gazelle type of helicopters, as he believes them to be noisier than their piston derivatives.  He stated that the turbine helicopters were quieter and instanced the Air Ambulance - which operates an MD902 -  is a NOTAR (no tail rotor) and driven by a turbine engine which is a lot quieter.

4.3 Telecommunication Masts

Jamie Freeman explained that if a telecommunication mast over 15m high was planned within the Aerodrome circuit the Air Navigation Order required it to be appropriately lit.  This point had recently been made with regard to the Orange Telecommunications mast proposed for Black Mill Farm, Black Mill Lane, Headcorn.

4.4 “Wings” Bar and Restaurant

It was planned to improve the outside of the building with some decking and seating areas and an application would shortly be placed to allow this to be done.

5       Correspondence:  

Jamie Freeman had written to Mrs Hanish explaining about the activities of the Parachute Plane.  He had also covered the question of aerobatics which are carried out at the airfield and explained some further points.  (copy letter on file).  He had also apologised for the long delay in replying.  Colin Highwood had spoken to Mrs Hanish.

There had been a complaint about the route of the Parachute Plane by a resident of Frittenden which had been fielded by James Tuke.  The pilots of the parachute plane were shown an OS map of the area and the Let was then moved away to avoid over-flying.  Colin Highwood was also aware of this complainant and had discussed the matter with him.

Lyn Selby asked how many complaints there had been since last time and Jamie Freeman referred to the book.  There were seven recorded comments, and they were read out and discussed.

Jamie Freeman pointed out that sometimes requests for aerobatics were received.

6.      Any Other Business 

Jamie Freeman said it was possible that the Sukhoi might be at the aerodrome for a month in July for the Nationals.  It has to travel up from Spain so anything could happen between now and them.

7.     Thanks to “Wings”

Thanks to ‘Wings’ for the venue and refreshments

Meeting closed at 3.30 pm

8.  Date of Next Meeting

Tuesday 12th October at 2.30 pm in “Wings”.