Airport celebrates ‘key milestone’ in reopening process

Airport bosses focussed on the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport have highlighted a ‘key milestone’ in the reopening process, as the latest Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) documents are published by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Regaining controlled airspace around the site will allow the airport much more freedom in terms of its approach to secure new airline and freight operators flying into and out of the site. 

The latest documents, which were recently published by the CAA, show the outcome of stages one and two of the process, allowing airport bosses and their expert consultant team to refine airspace requirements, which will now be put forward to public consultation.

Christian Foster, Director of Airport Operator FlyDoncaster said: “We’ve always been clear that we require our own controlled airspace to see the full potential of this project. By consulting with a range of stakeholders, including statutory bodies and other airspace operators in the vicinity, we’ve taken a vital step in securing that goal.”

“Overall, we are very pleased with the generally positive tone of the feedback we received. Other airport operators highlighting their approval and giving their best wishes to us in our endeavours, shows the collaborative nature of the aviation industry in the UK, and the recognition of what a reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport can bring.”

As part of the documents, a new option was published, which further reduces the amount of controlled airspace required as part of the ACP – a key requirement from the CAA. Option three will now be put forward as the preferred option, taking into consideration feedback from stakeholders.

Speaking about these changes, Christian Foster said: “CAA policy guides that the amount of controlled airspace requested must be the smallest volume necessary to support the operation. To be clear, this absolutely does not limit the amount of Air Traffic Movements (ATMs), freight or passengers which the airport can handle, which is set separately by planning policy. In the case of this airport, that limit is currently around 40,000 ATMs per year, which can support the movement of millions of passengers, and many hundreds of thousands of tonnes of freight.” 

“This is an ambitious project, and the more we speak with aviation industry figures and potential customers, we are seeing the high levels of demand that reassure us of the future success of the project.”

Recertification of airspace around the airport is being progressed alongside a range of other initiatives, crucial to the future success of the project. Around 40 key positions have already been filled, with further recruitment planned over the coming weeks and months, which will see around 200 people on site by the end of the year.

Vital improvements have also been made to security and safety provision, such as new fire training facilities. Procurement exercises have also been progressed for key airport equipment, such as radars, air traffic control simulators and fire appliances.

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