News and Gossip.

Night Flying on Thursdays.

B.o.B Memorial Stone unveiled at Rochester.

Rochester Airport website moves. www.rochester-airport.co.uk

MAPS receive Queens award for voluntary service.

Medway Council re-assures that full account of GA will be taken in any future plans

New Manager heralds sweeping changes at the airport.

New Book by Local Aviation Historian and Author Robin Brooks – Kent and the Battle of Britain

Rochester left out of Government South East Plan.

What shall we do in 2010 ?

PAFRA last visit of 2009 to HENDON well attended (Picture).

Young Eagles day another success in 2009

Cabair pulling out of Rochester Airport.

Skytrek Flying School re-opens facility at Rochester

Southern carpark improved with new chippings

Good news – lovely smooth new Tarmac on Access Road

Rochester gets new on-line Webcam – Excellent news – saves a call to the tower for Viz

PAFRA announce 2009 flying calendar

AVGAS PRICE - falls to £1.50 Per LITRE at Rochester – See Survey for other airfield prices.

PAFRA finally complete their trip to RAF Leeming.

Medway Council agrees further 5 year lease to Airport

Rochester Reduces price of Avgas by 2p to £1.75 – See Survey

Acro Bi-Plane from Rochester involved in Accident at Farthing corner - News Report

Dieppe Visit a success after 3 yrs of trying - see article in next PAFRA newsletter

Wattisham Apache visits Rochester

Hangarage, tie down and fuel price survey.

Rochester featured on BBC Inside out program with Kaddy Lee-Preston

PILOT MAGAZINE - see PAFRA copy in Clubhouse regular updates

New Temple is to be 60 feet high and have a glass dome.

Temple receives planning permission for Telspec House, adjacent to Airport, a year ago for change of use !

Sad News as G-TRIO, a well known aircraft from Rochester meets her end. News picture.

MAPS WIN PRESTIGIOUS VOLUNTEER AWARD - click here

Apron - repairs to the tarmac apron now completed- fantastic news no more stone chips !

Cabair undertake some re-modelling of facilities for 2008 season.

Proposals for facilities improvements at Rochester and Visitors centre, at an early stage of discussion with Thames Gateway and Medway Council.

Innovation Centre slip road access now completed.
Enhanced road access benefits Airport customers too.
Innovation Centre build to start soon - business people may well be users of Airport.

Access to Airport has been promised at all times - if you get really stuck there is an entrance at the back off the old Maidstone Road - but you may have to park on the road and walk in the gate.

The PFA sponsored Young Eagles event on Saturday went ahead with 28 ATC cadets + 6 Staff being taken for local flights by a number of generous pilots.
Julia Camp sends her thanks to all those who gave their flying time and aircraft.

New conditions say that PPR from management is required for all flights outside of published hours -
Quote "C) Use of the aerodrome is restricted to published hours unless prior permission has been obtained from the aerodrome authority."
So it looks like residents will need PPR for that jolly round the local countryside if you plan to go or come back after 6pm.

Rochester's Authority and ATZ. Apparently there is a belief that non-home based aircraft should remain clear of the ATZ outside the published hours of operation. However the AIP entry for Rochester (Section 2.17 - 2.18) says there is NO ATZ outside the published hours. So if you are home-based there is NO protection of an ATZ whilst in the circuit after closing time. Naturally good airmen would not fly around at low level over other aerodromes without a call on their frequency !

AIRPORT FUTURE - The future of the airport is assured by the publication of the replacement core document for the Local Plan called the LDF (Local Development Framework). This document, which is a joint development framework between Kent and Medway, is published on the Kent and Medway official website :- Local Planning Development framework Section 8.61 and Policy TP26. This does appear to give the airport some protection for the duration of the planning framework until 2021 - although the quality of the framework document has been called into question by officials. This document has now been superseded by the South East Plan. There are supposed to be equivalent clauses to the Structure plan but no mention appears to have been made specifically of Rochester Airport, only this:-

“8.30 The Air Transport White Paper highlighted the important role that small airports can play in providing access to air services that reduce the pressure on the main airports, particularly in the period before a new runway in the South East is built. In addition to the potential previously identified for Southampton Airport, the potential of Kent International Airport to fulfil an enhanced role as a regional airport is also acknowledged. Other smaller airports could play a valuable role in meeting local demand and contributing to regional economic development. Subject to relevant environmental considerations, their development should be supported, and regional and local planning frameworks should consider policies which facilitate growth at these airports.” So it looks like Rochester Airport is “planned out” !.

Further to this statement we are now re-assured by a letter from Medway Council Director of Regeneration that’s says “RAPlc and BAe systems are working with the Medway Regeneration Arm and that these plans will take full account of the exisiting current general aviation activity and the views of the company.”

Thanks to all those who have submitted items for this page and to Dennis the editor of the PAFRA newsletter. All info is appreciated.

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