Leeds East Airport

Leeds East Airport Church Fenton (ICAO: EGCM), formerly RAF Church Fenton, is an airport and former Royal Air Force station located 4.3 miles (6.9 km) south east of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England and 6.3 miles (10.1 km) north west of Selby, North Yorkshire, near the village of Church Fenton. The airport has had a licensing application from The UK Civil Aviation Authority rejected. This led to the scrapping of plans to allow regular scheduled passenger flights and charter flights to various European destinations. The airport has subsequently been awarded an operating licence.[1]

Leeds East Airport
Summary
Airport typePrivate
OwnerMakin Enterprises
OperatorMakin Enterprises
ServesLeeds, West Yorkshire
LocationChurch Fenton, North Yorkshire
Elevation AMSL30 ft / 9 m
Coordinates53°50′04″N 001°11′44″W
Websiteleedseastairport.co.uk/
Map
EGCM
Location in North Yorkshire
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 1,710 5,610 Asphalt
16/34 1,465 4,806 Asphalt

History

RAF Church Fenton
Main article: RAF Church Fenton

The airfield was originally a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Church Fenton. It opened on 1 April 1937 when the station was declared open and on 19 April the first station commander Wing Commander W.E. Swann assumed command. Within two months No. 71 Squadron RAF had arrived with the Gloster Gladiator.

It saw the peak of its activity during the years of the Second World War, when it served within the defence network of fighter bases of the RAF providing protection for the Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield and Humber estuary industrial regions.

After the war it at first retained its role as a fighter base, being among the first to receive modern jet aircraft, namely the Gloster Meteor[2] and the Hawker Hunter.[2] In later years, its role was mainly flight training. No. 7 Flying Training School was based here between 1962 and 1966 and again between 1979 and 1992, equipped with Hunting Aircraft Jet Provost T3 trainers.[3]

For some years it was home to the Royal Navy Elementary Flying Training School (RNEFTS) using the Scottish Aviation Bulldog,[4] and again 1979–1992, triggered by the introduction of the Panavia Tornado, being the first station to receive the new turboprop-powered Short Tucano T.1 basic fast jet trainers. From 1998 to 2003 Church Fenton was the RAF's main Elementary Flying Training airfield.

Station closure

On 25 March 2013 it was announced that Church Fenton would close by the end of 2013. The units would be relocated to RAF Linton on Ouse by 31 December 2013.[5] By 19 December 2013, all units had relocated and the airfield was closed. Some equipment will be relocated to RAF Topcliffe. MoD security continued to secure the site until disposal. A NOTAM was issued suspending the air traffic zone (ATZ) at the end of 2013.[6]

Current use
Buildings at Leeds East Airport

The site was sold on 23 December 2014 to Makins Yorkshire Strawberries with the exception of a section containing the Air Cadets. Makins intends to keep the airfield operational.

In February 2015, Makins Enterprises (the new airfield owners) launched their new website, renaming the airfield. It will now be known as 'Leeds East Airport', with the slogan "Yorkshire's newest aviation destination."[7] It is believed that Makins Enterprises will target the business jet market, while also running a flying school and other ventures.

The second series of the ITV drama Victoria was shot at a hangar onsite in 2017.[8]

References

Citations
  1. "Aerodrome licences and boundary maps". UK Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  2. Halpenny 1982, p. 51.
  3. Sturtivant 2007, p. 154.
  4. Halpenny 1982, p. 52.
  5. "Defence Estate Rationalisation Update" (PDF). Ministry of Defence (MoD). Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  6. Britton, Mick (3 January 2014). "RAF Church Fenton Goes Quietly | Aviation News". www.aviation-news.co.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  7. "Leeds East Airport". Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  8. Behrens, David (25 August 2017). "Victoria: Pinewood, but more posh - film sets fit for a Queen in Yorkshire". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 March 2018.

Bibliography
  • Halley, James J. The Squadrons of the Royal Air Force & Commonwealth, 1981-1988. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1988. ISBN 0-85130-164-9.
  • Halpenny, B,B. Action Stations: Military Airfields of Yorkshire v. 4.Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1982. ISBN 978-0850595321.
  • Sturtivant, R. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Air Britain, 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
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