Visiting By Air

Runway Information

• Arrivals

  Circuit altitude: 1800 ft on QNH

  Standard Overhead Join: 2800 ft on QNH

  Runway 08: Please avoid flying below the required glide path on the final approach due to local wind conditions.

  Runway 26: Normal approach.

  Rotary Traffic: Join long-final (5 miles) for the active runway, giving way to established circuit traffic.

  

  As a noise abatement measure, pilots on the base and final legs for RWY 08 are asked to avoid flying over the built up areas of Compton Abbas and East Compton, as highlighted by the red circles. In particular, please avoid using the church at the western edge of Compton Abbas as a waypoint or turn-point. On the downwind leg, pilots are asked to remain to the North of Cann Common.

  Pilots approaching from the north should be considerate of The Park Gliding Club (between Longleat and A303) and be mindful to avoid their overhead, where cable launch systems operate.

• Turbulence

  Turbulence may be encountered on both runways (especially when the wind has a southerly component in excess of 8-10 knots). Do not allow the aircraft to fly below a normal glide path or enter an unstable approach state. Such approaches will place the aircraft in the worst of the turbulent air and will result in a touchdown point well along the runway length.

• Surface Conditions & Takeoff

  Please adhere to the following in order to keep the runway serviceable. Use the minimum amount of braking applicable to the aircraft’s landing performance requirements, taxi slowly, and execute large radius turns on the field. Braking in excess of that required for landing performance, on a soft field, can cause damage to a level where the runway may need to be declared unserviceable.

  We can become waterlogged during prolonged and very poor weather. Soft field conditions are often prevalent during winter.

  When the conditions are soft you will need to use the correct ‘soft field’ take-off technique from your AFM/POH, along with the scheduled weight & balance and performance calculations. Remember that your take-off run will be much longer in these conditions.

• Departures

  If directed by the Ops Team, please either the left-hand or right-hand side of the runway (within the runway edge markers) in order to preserve the runway condition.

  Runway 08: At end of runway (not before), turn LEFT in order to avoid Hatts Barn Farm.

  Runway 26: At end of runway (not before), turn RIGHT in order to avoid Compton Abbas village, tracking over the crest of Melbury Hill.

  

• Spitfire Operating Days

  There is an amended join procedure in effect during scheduled Spitfire Operations. Please check our Calendar to see if your planned arrival date is on a Warbird operating day.

  View the Amended Join Information here.

• Fees & Fuel

  Landing Charges:

  £15 for all standard light SEP aircraft (including microlights, flexwings & autogyros)
  £20 for MEP aircraft
  Price on request for larger aircraft

  Additional Charges:

  £15 per touch-and-go landing
  £20 per night for overnight parking. No camping permitted.

  Fuel is available unless you are otherwise informed by our Ops Team.

  100LL £2.00 per litre. No contactless payment accepted. 

  UL91 £2.10 per litre.

  For visiting aircraft, the last accepted arrival is at 16.45 (local time), before Ops close. Departures are permitted after operational hours, with pilots aware that there is no A/G radio, fuel, or fire cover available.

   

• Runway Webcams

  Runway 08

  Runway 26

• Weather

  Please click here to be directed to the Met Office website

  Please click here to be directed to the Aviation Briefing Service website

• Overseas Arrival and Departures

  

  Download the UK Customs Information here

  Submit your online GAR here