Farnborough Airport

Regarded as the birthplace of aviation in the UK, Farnborough Airport’s hosting of the Farnborough Airshow every two years since 1948 means the town’s name will forever be associated across the world with flying.

Changes over the last decade have taken the airfield away from its military roots, with new owners TAG investing millions of pounds to make Farnborough Airport Europe’s premier centre for business aviation.

The development has created jobs and kept Farnborough’s unique aviation heritage alive, but the increasing numbers of flights at the airport has caused concern among people living under the flight path. An attempt by the airport to have rules on weekend flights and overall flight numbers relaxed has met with fierce opposition.

The News & Mail and Get Hampshire have been at the forefront of reporting on Farnborough Airport. Here you can find all the milestone stories from recent years, meet the key players, watch video footage from the airport and follow our timeline. Click here to view Farnborough Airport gallery.

Want your say? Join the debate by entering your comments at the bottom of this page.

Videos

Key Players

Brandon O’Reilly
Chief executive of TAG Farnborough Airport.

He said:
"The work I have done since arriving is to try to engage the community as much as possible. I think there’s a long way to go but I have tried to kick that work off in a spirit of openness."(April 2007)
"Managing and developing an airport is complex. There are huge balances to be struck. If you grow an airport responsibly, and have due regard for the environmental effects of the airport, that will contribute to the success of your business." (September 2008)

Geoff Marks
Chairman of Farnborough Aerodrome Residents’ Association.

He said:
"I can understand the importance of having flights at Farnborough for the local economy. [But] if this thing was to expand greatly, it would be to the detriment of not just Farnborough but the whole area." (March 2006)
"If TAG had been open with everyone right from the start about what their future plans were then I don’t think we would have had all these problems. I just hope TAG are now prepared to work openly with the community and I will be one of the ones willing to do that." (November 2009).

Gerald Howarth
Conservative MP for Aldershot, Farnborough, Blackwater and Yateley since 1997 and shadow defence minister. Keen amateur pilot.

He said:
"TAG is a huge success story… The people operating TAG are simply concerned with making Farnborough Airport a premier executive aviation centre." (July 2005).
"TAG has made a strong business case for expansion, especially at a time when the economy is experiencing the worst recession in living memory." (June 2009).

Michael Gove
Conservative MP for Surrey Heath, including Camberley, Frimley and Mytchett since 2005 and shadow education minister. Journalist, close ally of Tory leader David Cameron.

He said:
"The clearly expressed will of people was to maintain the balance between keeping the airport viable and keeping weekends free from additional disruption. I am disappointed local feeling has been overturned." (March 2008).

Andrew Lloyd
Chief executive, Rushmoor Borough Council.

He said:
"Planning inquiries inevitably cost a lot of money and the amount of expense depends on the extra experts you need to support your case." (April 2008).

Timeline

1908: Samuel Cody achieves first sustained heavier-than-air manned flight in UK at Farnborough Common.

1918: Royal Aircraft Establishment formed at Farnborough to develop aviation technology.

1949: Inaugural Farnborough Airshow showcases latest aviation technology of the day.

1952: Disaster at airshow when prototype DH110 plane breaks up in flight, killing two crew and 29 spectators and injuring 60.

1989: Civilian enclave opened at airfield, otherwise still only used by military and test flights.

1991: Ministry of Defence declare Farnborough as surplus to requirements.

1998: Government announces TAG Aviation as operator of site after tendering process. Rushmoor Council includes Farnborough Airport site as site for future development in town planning documents.

2000: Permission granted for new hangar, terminal building, tower and runway extension. Limit on flights set at 28,000 flights a year, of which only 2,500 allowed at weekends.

2003: TAG granted civil licence for airport and buys 25-year lease from MoD for £2m.

2005: TAG asks Rushmoor Council for permission to double the number of flights at weekends from 2,500 to 5,000. Public consultation to show plans to residents leads to 1,900 letters, 1,802 of which are objections.

Jun 2006: Rushmoor Council’s planning committee rejects the plans by five votes to two.

Oct 2006: TAG appeals to the government over the council’s decision.

Jan-April 2007: Public inquiry held into weekend flights decision.

Dec 2007: TAG buys airport freehold outright from MoD for £1 million.

March 2008: Government agrees with TAG’s request to allow doubling of weekend flights.

May 2008: TAG launches biggest-ever public consultation on future of airport.

Dec 2008: TAG announces desire to increase flights to 50,000 a year.

June 2009: TAG applies for planning permission for increase to flights limit.

Oct 2009: Rushmoor planning experts recommend approval of application for 50,000 aircraft movements a year.

Nov 2009: Rushmoor Council rejects advice of planners and turns down application.

Dec 2009: TAG appeals to the government over the council’s decision, warning it may force the council to pay its legal costs if it wins.

Dec 2009: Farnborough Aerodrome Residents’ Association, representing people living around the airfield, announces plans to sue TAG after claiming the airport had damaged property values for people living under the flight path.

May 2010: Public inquiry into application to increase flights limit to 50,000.