| Norwich International Airport | |||
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| IATA: NWI – ICAO: EGSH | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner | Omniport (80.1%) Norfolk County Council Norwich City Council |
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| Operator | Norwich Airport Limited | ||
| Serves | Norwich | ||
| Location | Norwich, Norfolk | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 117 ft / 36 m | ||
| Coordinates | 52°40′33″N 001°16′58″E / 52.67583°N 1.28278°ECoordinates: 52°40′33″N 001°16′58″E / 52.67583°N 1.28278°E | ||
| Website | |||
| Map | |||
 EGSH
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| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 09/27 | 1,841 | 6,040 | Asphalt/concrete |
| Statistics (2012) | |||
| Passengers | 396,676 | ||
| Passenger change 11-12 |  4.2% |
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| Aircraft Movements | 39,846 | ||
| Movements change 11-12 |  2.4% |
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| Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2] |
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Norwich International Airport (IATA: NWI, ICAO: EGSH), also known as Norwich Airport, is an airport in the City of Norwich within Norfolk, England 2.8 NM (5.2 km; 3.2 mi) north of the city centre and on the edge of the city's suburbs at Hellesdon. As of 2012 Norwich airport is 30th busiest airport in the UK.[2]
Along with a long history of flights to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol via KLM Cityhopper (formerly KLM UK), it offers flights to various destinations in the United Kingdom and Europe. Besides the commercial flights, charter operators also operate out of Norwich. Bristow Helicopters flies crews to North Sea gas rigs and SaxonAir operates executive, private aircraft and helicopter charter flights.
Norwich Airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P723) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.
Contents |
History [edit]
The first Norwich airport was set up on a former First World War aerodrome on Mousehold Heath under what is now the Heartsease housing estate. This fell into disuse in the early part of the Second World War.
RAF Horsham St Faith [edit]
The current site, formerly known as Royal Air Force Station Horsham St Faith, or more commonly RAF Horsham St Faith, was first developed in 1939 and officially opened on 1 June 1940 as a bomber station.
In September 1942 Horsham St. Faith was made available to the United States Army Air Forces for use by the Eighth Air Force. The USAAF designated the airfield as Station 123 (HF).
The airfield was transferred to RAF Fighter Command on 10 July 1945 when it was occupied by four Gloster Meteor Squadrons. RAF Horsham St. Faith was a front-line RAF station for many years, and its squadrons participated in many post-war exercises. The station was deactivated on 1 August 1963.
Civil airport [edit]
The Royal Air Force left Horsham on 24 March 1967. Over the following two years the major part of the airfield and buildings were sold to Norwich City and Norfolk County Council, a small part being retained by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Norwich Airport Ltd under ownership of the County and City Councils developed the modern day Norwich International Airport.
Most of the World War II buildings used by the United States Army Air Force remain, although converted for a variety of purposes. Three of the five large pre-war hangars are still being used for aircraft maintenance. Two have been converted for commercial use. The control tower still exists although the top has been restored and a new tower has been built adjacent to the present main runway. Other wartime buildings now form part of the airport industrial estate (owned by the County and City Councils) and are intermingled with many newer structures.
The former RAF accommodation blocks situated towards Old Catton were until 1993 used by the University of East Anglia as accommodation for students, known to students as "Fifers Lane" halls these have since been demolished and the site redeveloped as housing. The remaining MoD property, formerly enlisted men's quarters, had become married quarters for nearby RAF stations, but due to the closure of these stations, the housing has been sold to private buyers.
Whilst most runways and taxi-tracks from the military airfield remain, only one runway is primarily used, east–west runway 09/27, which was extended eastwards by the RAF in 1956, to avoid takeoffs and landings over built-up areas. The old 04/22 runway is no longer used for takeoffs or landings, but is used for parking and taxiing of larger aircraft.
Adjacent to the airport terminal building opened in 1988 there is a memorial display relating to the USAAF, consisting of photographs, paintings, and a plaque commemorating the American use of the airfield.
In March 2004, the City and County Councils sold 80.1% of Norwich Airport Ltd to Omniport[3] whilst retaining the further 19.9%. Omniport has also acquired 100% of Norwich Airport Travel Ltd. Since the sale to Omniport the airport has become one of the UK hubs for budget carrier Flybe and the number of flights and destinations served have rapidly increased. In 2005 a £3.5M terminal expansion programme began.
It was announced in April 2008 that Flybe was to reduce routes and frequencies from Norwich Airport. Glasgow was axed by May and Paris-Charles de Gaulle was being merged into a Norwich-Jersey-Charles de Gaulle service, making it an indirect service. Guernsey is having its frequency dropped to one Saturday flight.
On 5 July 2008, LTE International Airways started scheduled flights to Alicante, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca for the summer 2008 season and in addition to these routes from winter 2008/2009 they had announced new routes to Malaga, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, however due to financial difficulties with the airline, LTE services (including all from Norwich) are suspended until further notice.
During filming of the BBC show Top Gear, operations from the airport appeared disrupted when a caravan, adapted into an airship and flown by James May, drifted overhead the airport, infringing its controlled airspace. In reality, the event occurred after much pre-planning with the airport authorities and the BBC, and scenes showing the airship in the airfield boundary were actually filmed after the blimp had lifted from the airfield to satisfy the requirements of the film crew.[4]
In 2007, the airport introduced the Airport Development Fee (ADF). All passengers departing from the airport pay a fee of £10.[5]
Facilities [edit]
The airport has one runway (designated 09/27), 1,841 m (6,040 ft) in length. A smaller 1,285 m (4,216 ft) runway (designated 04/22) was closed in 2006, and is now used as a taxiway. The airport has nine parking stands for commercial aircraft.
Airlines and destinations [edit]
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air Europa | Seasonal Charter: Palma de Mallorca [6] |
| Air Malta | Seasonal: Malta |
| Corendon Airlines | Seasonal Charter: Antalya [7] |
| Nouvelair | Seasonal Charter: Enfidha |
| BH Air | Seasonal: Bourgas |
| Small Planet Airlines | Seasonal Charter: Naples, Oporto, Moscow, Dubrovnik, Sicily, Nice, Genoa |
| BMI Regional | Aberdeen |
| Eastern Airways | Aberdeen |
| Flybe | Edinburgh Seasonal: Jersey, Newquay |
| Flybe operated by Loganair |
Manchester Seasonal: Guernsey, Isle of Man |
| Orbest Orizonia Airlines | Seasonal Charter Tenerife-South [8] |
| Freebird Airlines | Seasonal Charter: Dalaman [6] |
| Enter Air | Seasonal Charter: Enontekiö[9] |
| KLM operated by KLM Cityhopper |
Amsterdam |
| Thomas Cook Airlines | Seasonal: Dalaman, Palma de Mallorca |
| Thomas Cook Airlines operated by Pegasus Airlines |
Seasonal: Antalya [10] |
| Thomson Airways | Seasonal: Corfu, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca,[11] Tenerife-South |
Based operators [edit]
Operators based at Norwich are Bond Helicopters,[12] Bristow Helicopters,[13] CHC Helicopters,[14] Eastern Airways, Flybe, SaxonAir Charter & SaxonAir Flight Support, East Anglian Air Ambulance,[15] and Norfolk Constabulary Air Operations Unit[16].
Accidents and Incidents [edit]
On 12 December 1973 a Dassault Falcon 20 of Fred Olsen Air Transport suffered a bird strike on takeoff from runway 28. Both engines failed and the aircraft made an emergency landing in a field. All three crew members were injured, the passengers sustained no injuries. The aircraft was written off.[17]
On 25 October 1974 a Cessna 310 dived into the ground while on final approach, killing the pilot. The Cessna's nose pitched down and the wings rolled over; the loss of control was caused by the uncommanded retraction of the starboard flap, caused by the failure of the drive mechanism.[18]
On 29 September 1993 a BAC One-Eleven of British World Airways overran the runway upon landing. The One-Eleven touched down too far along the runway to stop before its end.[19]
On 24 November 1993 a Shorts 330 of Titan Airways made an emergency landing at Norwich. The aircraft's flaps and landing gear could not be extended due to a failure of the hydraulic system. The aircraft landed on its belly, causing severe damage.[20]
Statistics [edit]
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled | % Change 2011 / 12 |
Airlines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Netherlands – Amsterdam |
123,709 | 1 |
KLM Cityhopper |
| 2 |  United Kingdom – Aberdeen |
64,630 | 5 |
BMI Regional, Eastern Airways |
| 3 | United Kingdom – Edinburgh |
39,663 | 15 |
Flybe |
| 4 | United Kingdom – Manchester |
28,778 | 9 |
Flybe |
| 5 |  Spain – Palma de Mallorca |
15,208 | 6 |
Air Europa, Thomas Cook, Thomson |
| 6 |  Greece – Corfu |
9,013 | 2 |
Thomson |
| 7 | Spain – Tenerife-South |
8,778 | 1 |
Thomson, Orbest Orizonia |
| 8 |  Turkey – Dalaman |
8,523 | 19 |
Freebird, Thomas Cook |
| 9 | Spain – Ibiza |
8,020 | 6 |
Thomson |
| 10 |  Malta – Malta |
7,159 | 11 |
Air Malta |
| 11 | United Kingdom – Exeter |
7,080 | nm | |
| 12 | Turkey - Antalya |
6,603 | 29 |
Thomas Cook |
| 13 |  Bulgaria - Burgas |
6,290 | 70 |
BH Air |
| 14 |  Jersey - Jersey |
4,968 | 1 |
Flybe |
| 15 | United Kingdom – Newquay |
2,706 | nm | Flybe |
| 16 | United Kingdom – Humberside |
1,804 | 54 |
|
| 17 |  Guernsey - Guernsey |
1,612 | 4 |
Flybe |
| 18 |  Portugal - Funchal de Madeira |
1,213 | 16 |
|
| 19 |  Italy - Verona Villafranca |
1,204 | 13 |
|
| 20 |  Isle of Man - Isle of Man |
1,054 | nm | Flybe |
| Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority [3] | ||||
Ground services [edit]
Bus [edit]
Norse operates a park and ride service a 2 minute walk from the airport direct to Norwich city centre on Monday – Saturday every 10 – 15 minutes.[21] On Sunday and public holidays First Buses operate service 27 directly outside the terminal building to Norwich city centre via Anglia Square. In addition, Sanders Coaches [22] and Norfolk Green operate regular services to Norwich, Cromer and Sheringham approximately 10 minutes from airport terminal, at the junction of A140 Cromer Road and Fifers Lane. 52°39′58″N 1°16′21″E / 52.6662°N 1.2726°E
Road [edit]
Norwich airport is situated on the A140, which travels from Ipswich via Norwich to the seaside town of Cromer; this also provides easy road access to Norwich city centre.
Future Road Links: The Norwich Northern Distributor Road will link the airport to the A47, stopping people using the congested ring road, and providing faster and better connections to other parts of the county and country.
Rail [edit]
Norwich airport does not have a railway station; the nearest railway station is Norwich Railway Station approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) distant.
Taxi [edit]
Taxis are available directly outside the terminal building
Controversy [edit]
During 2008 Flybe advertised for actors to fly for free to Dublin from the airport to avoid a £280,000 fine. It was projected to be 172 passengers short of the required minimum 15,000 passengers and advertised 200 free flights to make up the numbers.[23] Plane Stupid asked why airports require minimum passenger levels in the first place.[24]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Norwich – EGSH
- ^ a b UK Annual Airport Statistics
- ^ Omniport Website
- ^ http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/video/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=Video&itemid=NOED05%20Oct%202009%2015%3A02%3A41%3A300&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=Video
- ^ Norwich Airport Development Fee Retrieved 4 January 2012
- ^ a b http://www.charterflights.co.uk/sabs/search.php?from1=NWI&to=&depart=27/07/13&withinDays=3&flightType=R&nights=&priceRange=,0&passengers=2&children=0&infants=0&startRecordNumber=1&sortOrder=&orderBy=&bookable=n&affId=0&referID=&PHPSESSID=8c52e0c03a950973bd6fe7bdfe70d023&departYearMonth=07-13&logNewSearch=true
- ^ http://www.norwichairport.co.uk/news.asp?id=301
- ^ http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1404720/
- ^ "Winter Wonderland". Transun. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
- ^ http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1404839/
- ^ http://flights.firstchoice.co.uk/firstchoice/en-GB/timetable/findbyroute?departure=TFS&destination=NWI
- ^ [1]
- ^ Bristow Helicopters
- ^ [2]
- ^ East Anglian Air Ambulance
- ^ Norfolk Constabulary Air Operations Unit
- ^ LN-FOE accident report
- ^ G-APTK accident report
- ^ G-OBWD accident report
- ^ G-ZAPC accident report
- ^ Park and ride timetable Retrieved 29 May 2012
- ^ Timetable Retrieved 31 May 2012
- ^ "Airline sought actors for flights". BBC News. 30 March 2008. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ "Flybe, Norwich City Council and the tale of the fake passengers". Plane Stupid. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
References [edit]
- Freeman, Roger A. (1978) Airfields of the Eighth: Then and Now. After the Battle ISBN 0-900913-09-6
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
- www.controltowers.co.uk Horsham St Faith
External links [edit]
 |
Wikinews has related news: Fifty injured, five critically, as coach overturns in Norwich, England |
- Official website
- RAF Bomber Command History of Horsham St Faith
- 458th Bombardment Group website
- City of Norwich Aviation Museum website
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