75 years of Highflying (Rochester Airport (RCS))

Member Name: kelebhutu

Product:	Rochester Airport (RCS)
Date:	02/12/08 (213 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: dayout , flight lessons,commercial flights, chartered flights

Disadvantages: residents around maynot like sound from regular flights

Destination Location
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Address Rochester Airport PLC
Maidstone Road
Chatham
Kent
ME5 9SD

Latitude N 5121.06

Longitude E 00030.12

Magnetic 2.0o W decreasing

Elevation 399 ft 15mb


History:
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The then Rochester Council (now Medway council)purchased the land at Rochester Airfield with the intention of building a municipal airport in September 1933.

Some time later the Short brothers( famous for building aircraft in 1909 on the Isle of Sheppey), were granted the permission to lease the land for their test flights and thus marking the beginning of the privileged relationship between the local authority and the aviation industry and the history of this tiny local airport.

Later in 1979 the airport was renovated to its current layout(of course further remodeling ahs been done over the years) by the Elliot Automation.

In 1999 this airport faced a very strong endeavor by the then Government for closure and re-localization but was rescued by some business concerns and the local people for its historic importance.


The Present times:
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Spreads over a generous 156 acres and has room for 60 hangared aircrafts and 40 parked on grass at any time.

The entrance has a security guard section where you would need to sign -up when entering and exiting(from my knowledge of four years back when I accompanied a friend for his beginners flight lessons).

There are four runways of grass only short of a kilometer in lengths for light aircrafts.
One of these has lighting for night-time use.

There are three on the premises training schools specializing in light aircraft.

The airport is open for business flights too.

A wonderful café-club with 15-16 table settings occupies one corner and has windows with fabulous view of the runway for you to see the flights take of land .

The hanger has a section that displays a few aircrafts of the historic past .

There is facility for commercial flight's fueling too.

The planes are checked and made ready for flight diligently.

Most learner planes just make a circuit of a mile radii around the airport.



Various pricings:
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Learners Fees :
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depends on the type of aircraft you want to learn in and the duration)

Delta aviation: £20-£269
Flying vouchers : £90

[mostly includes a 20 mins of breifing about what to do and not to do]

Better to check out on the airport link below as prices keep changing

http://www.rochesterairport.co.uk/


Landing Fees - (Including VAT)
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Depends on the aircraft type really :
The following information is off their website I don't really have experience or involvement of commercial flying really.
Single -£10.00
Twins / Multi-£15.00
Touch & go -£2.50
Touch & go (multi)-£3.00
Parking (single) per night-£4.50
Parking (multi) per night-£6.00
Hangar (single) per night-£10.00
Hangar (multi) per night-£14.00
Hangar (single) per month-£290.00
Parking (single) per month-£131.00

Petrol prices:
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Please have a look at the website it changes everyday.



Licensed opening Times:
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8am-6pm for all visitors.
Planes requiring fueling and hangaring need to land 15 misn prior to closing I think.

Why go there at all:
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Well if you are not a commercial flyer or a trainee-pilot or a pilot then you must be wondering why you would go there .. honestly speaking it is a wonderful alternate to a fun day out where you get to see planes take of and touch down.
you could simply have a look at the engineering aspects of air-crafts and helicopters or just browse through the types of war-planes etc

or you could also buy someone lucky a set of learner flights vouchers.

In my opinion it is a perfect outing with teenage kids just to sit in the café for a few hours specially when the weather is cold like this if you live anywhere near this place.


Events:
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Well I am looking forward to the aircrafts display and airshows on the 25-26th of July 2009 when the Rochester airport commemorates its Platinum jubilee .

Summary: Try flying instead