Airfields handed £2m support package

A £2m package to support airfields, help general aviation businesses to grow and support science and engineering training to workforces is being launched by the government this spring.

Aviation minister Paul Maynard, who kept his job in the Cabinet reshuffle, said the Airfield Development Fund was designed to give more backing to airfield owners, operators, local councils and associated businesses and help them to “upskill, thrive and grow”.

“The UK government recognises the enormous contribution smaller airfields make to the UK economy, and to the people they serve, where many aviation careers take first flight,” he went on.

“Airfields are an integral part of the £3bn general aviation sector and considered the grassroots of the entire aviation sector. However, many have often struggled with business development and financial sustainability.

“This new funding aims to ensure airfield businesses receive access to advisers on legal and business-related topics to support future development, including on science and engineering training, developing electric aircraft and preserving heritage aircraft.”

Applicants are encouraged to apply for advice from the fund from spring by demonstrating how it could help them to protect or expand their business including help on proposed developments, protecting airfields, or expanding training facilities.

Details of how to apply will be released later.

www.gov.uk/government/news/2-million-new-funding-allocated-to-support-local-airfields

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Winston Thomas MBE, Carmarthenshire

We have been trying for 20 years to get support from the Welsh Government without any success During this period we have trained 9500 military pilots