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TAG Farnborough
While sitting comfortably in your chalet, glass in hand, looking out across the runway, you might ask, "Why is Farnborough now officially called an 'airport'? Isn't it owned by the UK's Ministry of Defence? And why are so many business jets flying here?"
Well, the "airport" is on lease to TAG Aviation (Chalet K9-10) for 99 years, and since taking over its operation TAG has spent well over $100 million on making it Europe's newest—and Britain's only—dedicated corporate jetport. Only business aircraft are allowed by statute, except during the airshow. There are definitely no scheduled services here.
Len Rayment, TAG Farnborough's operations director loves the whole business and is clearly very proud of his airport as he points out new landmarks to Show News. "Two years ago the brand-new Tower was operational, but not quite finished externally. The new three-wave hangars looked complete at the last show, but the cement floors and the doors were still being fitted."
Rayment says there aren't any hard figures for corporate aircraft movements in south-east England, but he estimates a realistic annual total in the region of 50,000 to 60,000, with Farnborough garnering close to 19,000 of those this year—20% up on 2003. "We had 107 movements on one day here in June, with the average aircraft now Challenger-sized," he says.
To cater for the anticipated growth in traffic TAG starts work on a new passenger terminal in September, and expects to have it operational by January 2006.
Regular showgoers will notice to the right of the waveform hangars a new concrete-paneled building that bears the logo of FlightSafety International. Although it looks complete, FSI's new training facility has yet to be outfitted with its 14 corporate jet flight simulators and groundschool classrooms. The first simulator installed will be for the Gulfstream IV, followed by various models of Cessna Citation, and helicopters. Formal opening is set for March 2005. FSI has planning permission to double the size of the facility in the future.
FSI is the first really big name to move into Farnborough. "By 2010 we will see more very well-known aerospace names hanging over the doors. Farnborough is becoming a community of business aviation related companies and already boasts 30 full-tenant companies," Rayment says.
—Mike Vines
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