Now Ranks Number Five Among Key Business Aviation Airports In The UK

London Oxford Airport continued to see its business aviation traffic grow throughout 2011. The airport now supports around 6,000 business aircraft movements a year (15% of Oxford’s overall aviation activity). As 2011 closes, growth is up 12.2% compared with last year, according to independent analysis by EuroControl. This increase ranks Oxford fifth in the UK for business aviation activity at civil airports, ahead of London Stansted Airport.

“This continued growth in our business aviation traffic is great news,” said James Dillon-Godfray, Business Development Director at London Oxford Airport. “It proves the attraction of our airport to business and VIP travellers and justifies the on-going investment by the owners and the outstanding commitment of the London Oxford Airport and oxfordjet FBO team.”

In a significant step forward with infrastructure development, the decision was taken to install the latest generation radar system at the airport. The primary and secondary (Mode-S, MSSR) surveillance radar system, supplied by Thales with project management by NATS, is undergoing testing now and will be fully operational ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games. It is amongst the most modern and sophisticated radar systems available today and will enable more efficient transits through local airspace. Oxford can now monitor air traffic half way up the county, beyond London out to the Thames Estuary, south as far as the English Channel and to the west over Wales.

At the beginning of 2011 the runway’s licensed lengths were increased by up to 21%. Additionally the runway strength was reassessed at a PCN of 38 and is now suitable for use by a number of heavier regional jets including the Embraer E-Jet series and the A318/319 family. The airport is now routinely visited by larger jet types, including the Embraer EMB-190 and Avro RJ with seating capacity of 100 plus. London Oxford Airport is also prepared for the next generation of regional jets including the Sukhoi Superjet and the Bombardier C-Series, meaning 110 passengers will be able to fly more than 2,670 nm out of Oxford – covering destinations as far as Sharm El Sheikh. The larger 135-seat CS300 will be able to cover most of Europe from Oxford. The new runway length enables longer range private jets such as the Global and G550 family to undertake transatlantic flights on a commercial basis.

London Oxford Airport will see the start of the next major improvement project in 2012 with development to the north of the main site where a series of new hangars and a fire station are to be built, facilitated by the relocation of the current taxiway. The new hangars will be sized to accept the next generation of regional airliners and the largest business jet types.

London Oxford Airport is gearing up for the 2012 London Olympics, which is anticipated to boost business aviation traffic potentially threefold. With Oxford being situated outside the 2012 London ‘Restricted Zone’, there will be no flight plan constraints. The airport is also outside the congested London Terminal Manoeuvring Area (LTMA) which is usually the busiest airspace in Europe and will be even busier during the Olympics. (Images provided by London Oxford Airport)

FMI: www.oxfordairport.co.uk