Headcorn Aerodrome Consultative Committee

Tuesday 6 October 2009

2.30pm in Wings

Present:     James Freeman                      Headcorn Aerodrome

Jenefer Gibson                        Maidstone Borough Council

James Tuke                                    Thurston Helicopters

David Parker                                    Parachute Club

Brian Bristow                        Smarden Parish Council

Lester Gosbee                        Frittenden Parish Council

Lynn Selby                                    Headcorn Parish Council

Gerald Hodges                        Headcorn Aerodrome Pilot

Glyn Richards                        Tiger Club

Andrew Viall                         Weald Air Services Instructors

Sue Line                                    Headcorn Aerodrome

Gill Gymer                                    Maidstone Borough Council

Invited Guest: Richard Pickin  - Aerobatic Pilot

1.          APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence were received Alan Marsh, Martin Vink, Tony Hill and Bruce Abbott.

2.          MINUTES

AGREED: That the Minutes of the Meeting held on 23 June 2009 be approved as a correct record and signed.

3.          MATTERS ARISING

Flying Prom - Jamie Freeman told the Committee that the Flying Proms had been a reasonable success with the weather remaining dry. Ticket sales had been slow initially with the majority of tickets being sold in the last 10 days before the event. This was very nerve wracking in view of the investment the event required. It had been decided that there would not be a 2010 Flying Prom, the 2009 event had been very hard work for base personnel and a years rest was required. The time would be used to re-jig the event publicity and to investigate ways of encouraging earlier sale of tickets.

IMPS - The Invicta Military-Vehicle Preservation Society (IMPS) club event at the Aerodrome on 15 & 16 August 2009 had been a great success. Visitors to the event had additionally been good for businesses in Headcorn with restaurants particularly benefiting. IMPS would be returning to the Aerodrome on 14 & 15 August 2010 to repeat the event.

Sukhoi - The Committee was told that the Sukhoi was based in Spain and it was very unlikely that it would be returning to the Aerodrome.

Aerobatics - It was confirmed that Richard Pickin’s CAP 232 had been based at the Aerodrome for 10 years and both Richard and his son Michael were accomplished aerobatic pilots. Richard Pickin addressed the Committee and told them that he was undertaking approximately 30 hours aerobatic flying a year. He was on the British team, had taken part in the World Championships and been placed third in his class. Michael was now performing advanced level acrobatics and had been placed fifth in his class at the World Championships. During June, July and August the CAP had been flying more than usual to allow Michael to build up experience. Richard emphasised that both he and Michael always flew the plane in a manner to best alleviate noise. There was a voluntary agreement that they adhered to, no aerobatics after 5pm, to avoid lunchtimes and to try to keep to reasonable times at weekends. Usually the plane was in the air for 17 minutes each session with 12 minutes being used for aerobatics. There would be at least 1 hour between flights as the plane had to land, taxi, refuel and the pilot had to de-brief. Richard and Michael usually flew a maximum of 3 sessions each, however on most occasions there would only be 3 to 5 sessions in total on any one day. Aerobatic flying did not take place before 10am but more usually commenced at 10.30am. If air traffic control received complaints regarding noise during a training session, aerobatic flying would be curtailed. Richard told the Committee that there was a possibility that Michael would be going to College to gain his commercial pilots licence. This would mean that Michael would be doing less aerobatic flying. Additionally if he made the national team he would be training at residential camps and flying out of aerodromes other than Headcorn. Brian Bristow asked if the CAP232 could be based elsewhere and Richard replied that it could be based in Spain but Headcorn and the Flying Club were “home”. Biggin Hill was not suitable for aerobatic flying for technical reasons. Lynn Selby was of the opinion that the residents of Headcorn would not accept the aerobatic noise as being for the good of the national team, the Sukhoi had been a problem and that had now been replaced with the CAP. Richard emphasised that the CAP had only been used for an additional 15 hours this year and he considered that to be exceptional. Approximately 10 to 14 hours had been spent over the aerodrome. Lynn Selby said that residents did find the noise hard to live with but she acknowledged that the CAP was quieter that the Sokhoi. Jenefer Gibson asked if the plane had to remain over the aerodrome while practising.  Richard explained that Headcorn Aerodrome had a 1kilometre box which is an approved practice area. The necessary safety measures were in place for the pilot in the event of an accident. Overall approximately 60 to 80 sessions had taken place during the summer, Richard and Michael were usually both at the aerodrome but occasionally only one would be there. David Parker told the committee that aerobatics would always be limited by the parachute club needing overhead space. Jamie Freeman said that there was an unwritten rule that competition aircraft could only come to Headcorn for one practice and to take their Aerobatic Display Authorisation exam. However he was prepared to make a rule that only Display Authorisation competition aerobatics would take place. This would help next year as  Richard and Michael would be the only aerobatic pilots practising. This should reduce the number of aerobatic flights and help reduce noise complaints. He undertook to review the situation in 12 months. Additionally he confirmed that aerobatic free weekends would continue and he would produce dates later in the year. Richard told the Committee that every weekend in the summer there were lots of observers watching the aerobatic training sessions and he was very willing to show people the aircraft and to explain what was taking place. Jamie thanked Richard for attending the meeting and addressing the Committee.

4.          PLANNING APPLICATIONS

New Hangar - Jamie Freeman said that funding for the new hangar by two private investors had not worked out. However the planning application for the new hangar to replace the existing eastern hangar would be submitted shortly.  This application would be submitted on its own as past experience showed that when two applications are submitted together there was a significant increase in the number of objections.

Night Flying Application - The current permission for night flying at Headcorn Aerodrome had now expired. The Committee was reminded that night flying at the aerodrome was for training purposes only and was a very useful safety exercise. This was not for general night flying in and out of the aerodrome. The training took place on 3 to 6 nights a year and had to finish by 7.30pm. This limited the training mainly to early autumn when the evenings were dark well before this time but the weather was still reasonable. No complaints had been received regarding the night flying training exercises that had taken place. The night flying Planning Application would not be submitted to Maidstone Borough Council until the application for the new hangar had been determined. This may mean that there will be no night flying this winter unless the application for the new hangar was determined quickly.

6.         CORRESPONDENCE

An email had been received from a man at Northiam and he had spoken to the Tiger Club. His complaint was that the pilot was flying at the wrong height. The Tiger Club have asked pilots to avoid Northiam.

Jamie Freeman had received a complaint from a particular resident who lives in Headcorn village. She complained that aircraft were flying right over her property. Jamie told the Committee that he had visited the property and aircraft were not over flying. He has requested that the CAA come with specialist equipment to measure exactly where the aircraft is.

Lynn Selby reported that Will Day had said that he had contacted Jamie Freeman however Jamie responded that it must have been a telephone call as he had not received a letter.

7.       ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Lynn Selby thanked Jamie Freeman for supporting the Headcorn Day with a free flight.

Lynn Selby raised concerns about the CAA undertaking training on aircraft maintenance at the Aerodrome. She was assured that the training did not involve additional flying, but that it was for engineering purposes only whereby the CAA came to Headcorn for their Inspectors to be trained by Shenley Farms Engineering Ltd.

David Parker reported that 2009 had been a good year for flying.

Maidstone Borough Council requested that the Committee consider the date of commencement of the appointment, currently May each year, and the duration of the appointment, currently one year, of the Councils Representative on the Group. The Committee could opt for the appointment to commence in a different month and be for any term up to four years.

                   Agreed: that current arrangements remain unchanged.

8.       DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The next meeting would be held on 2 March 2010 at 2.30pm in Wings Bar.

CC 091006.doc