🇬🇧 Earls Colne Airfield

What Travelers Love

• Friendly Staff & Welcoming Atmosphere: Both the staff in the cafe and control tower are frequently praised for their friendliness, contributing to a pleasant and welcoming environment.
• Good Cafe Facilities: The airfield features a "Great Cafe with classic truck stop vibes and a fab meaty burger," which comes highly recommended by visitors.
• Excellent Flying Training & Aircraft Availability: Anglian Flight Centres at Earls Colne is noted for its dedicated instructors, good aircraft availability (including Robins and Cessnas), and offerings for various ratings like PPL, IR(R), and night ratings. An online booking system further enhances convenience for pilots.
• Hard Runway Option: The presence of a 778m long, 10m wide tarmac section within the main runway is a significant advantage, especially when compared to grass-only airfields that can become unusable during wet winter conditions.
• Variety of Flying Experiences: The airfield caters to a range of aviation interests, offering everything from trial flying lessons and gliding experiences to more specialized warbird flights (like the Harvard Experience).

Common Complaints/Considerations:

• Narrow Taxiways: Pilots advise caution on the narrow taxiways, especially when passing aircraft at the fuel pumps, and recommend asking for marshalling assistance if unsure.
• Strict Noise Abatement Procedures: Due to "very vocal neighbours," pilots are strongly encouraged to adhere to specific circuit patterns and noise abatement procedures upon both arrival and departure to avoid complaints.
• Variable Landing Fees: While a recent review noted a reasonable £15 landing fee for a Cessna 172, an older review (2014) expressed significant dissatisfaction with a £50 fee for a larger twin aircraft, suggesting landing fees can vary and may be perceived as high for certain aircraft types.
• Grass Runway Winter Unavailability: The grass portion of the runway is generally unavailable during winter months due to soft ground conditions.
• Mandatory PPR: Prior Permission Required (PPR) is mandatory by telephone for all pilots, which includes a necessary noise abatement brief.
• Upcoming Local Road Closures: Travelers should be aware of scheduled road closures in Earls Colne, including Park Lane from January 5th for 15 days, and phased closures on Church Hill, Upper Holt Street, Lower Holt Street, and Colneford Hill from January 19th for 100 days, which could impact road access to the airfield.

Overall, Earls Colne Airfield (EGSR) presents a positive experience for general aviation pilots and those undertaking flying activities, owing to its supportive community, good facilities, and functional runways. Potential visitors should be mindful of operational procedures, varying landing fees, and upcoming local roadworks impacting accessibility.