Tue, Dec 20, 2011
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)
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