Blackbushe Air Day 2024 - Information for Resident Airport Users
BLACKBUSHE AIR DAY
SATURDAY 15th JUNE 2024
INFORMATION FOR RESIDENT PILOTS & AIRCRAFT OWNERS
We're getting closer to the Blackbushe Air Day celebrations, a one-day event with a large display of static aircraft, classic cars, stalls, and exhibitors. The Air Day is open to all on a ticketed basis, but tickets for this year are now SOLD OUT.
This post contains information for resident pilots or owners on the arrangements for the day, and in the days preceeding and after the event.
Event preparations will begin on Monday 10th June, and clear up will continue until Monday 17th June. Please ensure you read this email thoroughly and make yourself aware of any adjustments you may need to make to your normal flying activities.
EVENT DAY - SATURDAY 15 JUNE 2024
On the day, the aerodrome will open between 07:00L and 09:00L for those residents who wish to depart. Such aircraft MUST PPR in advance no later than Wednesday 12th June 2024.
Note: Departures only, this is not an opportunity for local fights or circuits. If you depart, you will be expected to remain away and not return until Sunday 16th.
From 09:00L the aerodrome will only be available to aircraft flying in for the event using a slot system.
The event finishes at 17:00L, after which we have approximately 80 aircraft to depart, as well as gliders to be tow launched. We will not be accommodating arrivals.
The aerodrome will be unavailable for residents to return on Saturday, if you depart in the morning, you will need to overnight elsewhere.
If you arrive on the morning and are delayed getting away, you will not be able to depart after 09:00L
OOH flights are not permitted.
ATTENDING THE EVENT
Aircraft participating in the static display will receive two tickets for free entry to the show plus 1 car parking, these aircraft have been agreed already.
All others wishing to attend the event will need to have event tickets, which are now sold out.
The event opens from 11:00-17:00L, with access to the car park for attendees from 10:30L. There will not be access to the aerodrome earlier than this time unless you have booked to fly-out between 07:00 and 09:00L.
AIRCRAFT PARKING
Aircraft remaining on the aerodrome for the event that are not part of the static display will be relocated to the blue area as shown below.
Aircraft will be relocated using our lift-tow or Mototok by firefighters. Please ensure your aircraft is left with brakes off, chocked and we will ensure it is chocked whilst parked during the event.
Aircraft will be intensively parked in the resident area, which means aircraft will be blocked in. This process will start on Thursday 13th June, and it may take until Monday 17th June until all aircraft have been returned to their usual spot. We therefore need your assistance in pre-alerting us of your flying plans in order that we can prioritise this process.
PRE-BOOKING FLYING PLANS
The process of moving aircraft will start on Thursday 13th June. We will begin by filling up the green area marked above from the spots closest to the runway down, parking aircraft intensively.
Flying Schools
We will assume that flying school aircraft are needed until close-of-play Friday, and from Sunday morning, so these will be last to be parked, and first released. When you have completed your last flight on Friday, it would be appreciated if you could coordinate with the Tower and RFFS to taxi your aircraft to the blue area to be parked.
Likewise, if you could inform us of the priority in which your aircraft need to be removed on Sunday morning, this will help us coordinate that.
All other aircraft
Please can you pre-book all movements planned for Thursday 13th, Friday 14th, Saturday 15th (0700-0900L only) and Sunday 16th with the tower on the usual form at www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/bookout
If we haven't received a booking for your aircraft to operate by close-of-play on Wednesday 12th June, we will assume the aircraft is not operating, and it may be blocked in by other parked aircraft.
Those wishing to depart on Saturday 15th between 0700-0900L will be asked to relocate their aircraft to the apron on Friday so as to free up space elsewhere for the event. We can assist with this using the lift-tow if required.
VEHICLES LEFT IN THE CAR PARK
If you are planning on flying out, or leaving a vehicle in the car park for any other reason over that weekend, please can you park them in the spaces next to the Terminal Building, immediately adjacent to the common (as shown highlighted in turquoise below)
The area in front of the cafe will be used for the event, and so we don't want vehicles left there.
Pilot vehicles will not be permitted airside on Saturday 15th June.
EVENING WIND-DOWN AT THE PATHFINDER CAFE
The Pathfinder Café will remain open until 20:30 serving drinks and light snacks for ID card holders who have attended the event.
Note you will need to have purchased an event entry ticket to the Blackbushe Air Day (and parking if required) in order to get entry to the event and therefore remain into the evening.
Vehicles parked in the temporary car parks on the apron or other airside areas will need to be moved to the car park after 17:00 and can be left overnight if required.
SUNDAY 16TH JUNE 2024
Whilst aerodrome staff will be onsite from 06:30L as usual, the aerodrome will open at 09:00L. The morning time will be used to clear away remaining event infrastructure and begin returning aircraft to their normal parking spots. Fuel will be available from 10:00L.
QUESTIONS
If you have any questions regarding the above please direct them to admin@blackbusheairport.co.uk or call the admin office on 01252 471 301.
Thank you all for your continued support. This is a great opportunity to involve the local community, and to showcase the airport in a positive light, particularly as we look set to have public consultations or inquiries into our development plans in the near future.
