Visiting us by air
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Prior Permission Required
We only accept PPR by phone. Please call our Operations Desk on 01747 811767 to PPR.
PPR is preferred on the day of arrival, unless a 09:00 arrival is required, then please PPR the day before.
Compton Abbas Airfield operating times are:
Tues to Sun 09:00 – 17:00
During the above times, our air-ground radio, fire cover, and refuelling pumps will be in operation.
All pilots wishing to visit Compton Abbas Airfield must familiarise themselves with the following important airfield information.
We are a card only establishment.
Airfield Information
On arrival, all pilots must check into the airfield at the Operations Desk where your details will be taken and a landing fee is to be paid.
All pilots visiting Compton Abbas Airfield must ensure that they carry out adequate pre-flight briefing and are aware of circuit and joining procedures within the ATZ.
Local wind conditions can affect aircraft performance on final approach and pilots should be prepared to carry out a ‘go-around’ if necessary.
Head of Flight Safety and Standards
Runway information
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Arrivals
Circuit altitude 1800 feet 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.
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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.
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Surface conditions
We are waterlogged only on extremely rare occasions. However, in winter we do have a soft field after heavy rain.
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 off that required for landing performance, on a soft field, can cause damage to a level where the runway may need to be declared unserviceable.
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Takeoff
When the conditions are soft you will need to use the correct ‘soft field’ takeoff 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. If directed by the Ops Team, please use either left or right of the runway centreline in order to avoid the worst affected areas, and relieve the runway’s surface.
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Departures
Runway 08: As soon as practicable but not below 200 feet AGL and on passing the end of the runway, turn left in order to avoid over flying Hatts Barn Farmhouse.
Runway 26: As soon as practicable but not below 200 feet AGL and on passing the end of the runway, turn right in order to cross the top of the Melbury Hill. Avoid over flying any part of Compton Abbas village.
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Landing fees & overnight parking
Landing Charges are: £15 for any standard light aircraft (this includes microlights, flexwing, and autogiros), £20 twin. Larger aircraft price on request. Overnight stays are £20 per night. Touch and go landings are charged £15 each. 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.
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Weather
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Runway webcams
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Overseas Arrival and Departures
EGHA overhead join
Downloads & useful links
