§ Mr. Critchleyasked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with regard to commercial flying and industrial usage of the Royal Aircraft Establishment airfield at Farnborough.
§ Mr. LeeTenders will shortly be invited for the lease of a 50-acre civil enclave on the airfield as a base for general aviation and light industrial use. Our aim is to make fuller and more cost-effective use of the airfield and at the same time to help alleviate the shortage of facilities for business aviation in the south-east of England.
Local authorities and commercial interests have been fully consulted on these proposals. Special attention has been given to the arrangements under which general aviation might be introduced at Farnborough, in order to strike a fair balance between the commercial needs of operators and the proper concerns of local people. Trials conducted to measure the noise of typical business aircraft which would operate from Farnborough have confirmed that they are much quieter than the military aircraft which operate from the Royal Aircraft Establishment. Restrictions will, however, be placed on the type, weight, movements and operating hours of business aircraft permitted to use the airfield. Liaison between the RAE, the enclave lessee and the local authorities will be established.