Pilot reviews of Shoreham Airport

“Shoreham :- This was my first visit to Shoreham, I called ahead for weather, and was given a very professional weather report by a very helpful ATC person. On first contact by radio I was offered overhead or crosswind join. I opted for overhead as I was not familiar with the airfield. ATC were very helpful, as were the staff on the ground. Food was excellent and there is a great viewing area where you can eat your food. It was amusing to see my 'flight' details on the arrivals board, and I was pleased to have arrived within 1 minute of my eta. Landing fee is steep at £18, but in the grand scheme of costs involved in running an aircraft its really not that much. Definitely one that I will go to again.”

“I was slightly apprehensive about taking my Thruster (microlight) to such a busy airfield as Shoreham, but I was pleasantly surprised. ATC were very helpful, even offering me a grass into-wind runway without me asking, and having no problem with my request to track along the coast rather than fly over a built up area on departure (flying over houses feels very unnatural for this PPL(M) and where would you go if the donkey stopped, licenced airfield or no...!) The facilities on the ground were less impressive. The restaurant staff seemed deeply disinterested, and the food was ordinary bland microwaved fare. They do have a selection of local Sussex beers though, so points deserved for that. The pilots' briefing room seems to be only very intermittantly staffed, which means the off-duty firecrew in the back room have to field all the queries from visiting pilots! Maybe this explains some of the comments in other reviews. Getting a friendly full-time member of staff in there would probably pay for itself in terms of improving the airport's image to visiting pilots and getting their repeat business. Other thoughts: I loved the sense of history of the place (pics from the 1911 Round Britain Race on the walls); very easy to find from the air; good choice of runways; well organised on the air side.”

“I've always been a huge fan of Shoreham. It's where I learned to fly, and the busy nature of the airfield combined with full ATC make it a great place to build your confidence.

But, and it's a big but, their landing and fuel prices are way too high for an airport that depends on GA for most of its income. And they'v e just introduced a go-around fee of around £8[information which seems strangely absent from their website] , for which they should surely be slammed. Not only does this verge on exploitation, but it could also encourage some pilots to try landing when they really should go around. Outrageous.

”

“My home airfield. Yes, very interesting and atmospheric. Busy with lots to see and people to speak to. However the landing fees are high. The fuel fees are far too high. ATC are good but can seem short/abrupt if you're more used to a relaxed approach. I can understand the need for this however as it can be very busy. Sometimes you need to take out a bank loan just to pay for the time waiting for take off clearance.

I do worry about its future. What are they really planning?!!

”

“Nice airfield with lots going on .......but its far too Expensive ! £ 17.50 landing fee......I would rather fly a further 20 mins and go to Bembridge where they chage only £ 5 for landing .”

“i am currently learning to fly at shoreham and i have been going there at least once a week for the last two years, and what a 2 years it has been.

at shoreham there is always somthing going on and there is always people to talk too in the cafes.

another thing i love about shoreham is the variaty of aircraft, the ammount of schools and not to forget the proffesional atc ( who were very helpful on my first solo, despite me being only 16).

anyone who has not visited shoreham is missing out so why not pop in!

”

“”

“Myself and my co-pilot had to divert to Shorham on May 26, due to very bad weather en route to Sandown, Isle of Wight. The reception we recieved at such short notice from the Tower, was extremely welcoming. I'm a pilot with only 150 hours, but as I land at more airfields, I do hope that more places are like Shorham. Thanks very much for a great unexpected stopover! PS: The cafe was very nice indeed! ”

“Dropped into Shoreham in an R44 on Saturday for refuel and a lunch. Approach was exceptionally helpful and despite my lack of knowledge of the field was guided in with ease.

If you fly piston heli's the refuelling spots are marked A,B and C and not easily seen when hovering. Tower will guide you.

Had a nice lunch and good facilities. Get quite a crowd gathering to watch departing aircraft!

Will definitely be back and look forward to it!

”

“I'm sorry to buck the trend here. We called into Shoreham on the 6th September to pick up a fellow pilot on route to St Omer. On approach I noticed a helicopter hovering close to the right of the active but there was no mention of it or any wake turbulance warning from ATC. On arrival I was bellowed at by a yellow jacket who drove into the refulling area in his 4x4 5ft from our aircraft as I was looking at my mobile phone 15ft from it. Needed some risk assesment training perhaps and hardly a warm welcome for strangers. We were given a place to park while our flight plan was activated only to be moaned at again about our location when we returned to the aircraft. We moved it as this person requested and then got acosted a third time. "Sorry this is reserved". More than their job's worth no doubt to tell us where we could park. To be fair the cafe made a good cup of tea and the cake was very nice but when we tried to book out there was no one in the office despite the £15 landing fee. After wasting 5 minutes of our flight plan waiting in vain we filled out our own details and left. I fly out of a 'real' airport all the time with a 'can do' attitude so felt dissapointed by and unwelcome at Shoreham. We won't be calling at or uplifting fuel from there again until they retrain some of their staff in the art of customer service.”

“Any pilot not having spent some time here is missing a trick. In my view, one of the most pleasant places to fly. As a pilot, there is little more that one can ask for than what's available at Shoreham.

People very professional, helpful and friendly. Interesting airfield and always plenty going on. If you're a new PPL, get yourself over there, most PPL's would have done so already.

”

“

Shoreham is an enjoyable place to learn to fly, as the airport has lots of history, the airfield can get very busy on weekends, has professional ATC. The Airfield has a hard surface runway 02/20, so this isn't so much of a limitation when planning to fly after a spell of bad weather – not like Redhill!

”

“Went Sunday 18th June 06. Well worth a visit. Very good R.T. Well looked-after field. Good restaurant and 20 min walk to the seaside. Landings now over £16 for a 150 ! Recommended yes, but please - no increase in landing fees. ”

“Shoreham's an interesting place; big enough to feel like a "proper" airport, friendly enough to welcome humble microlights. Well, "welcome" as in "if you don't mind the £13 landing fee."

Despite the cost, though, it's fun to visit. If you want to look at the view then it's not so picturesque as some smaller fields, true, but there're plenty of aircraft moving around to keep us entertained over tea.

They seem increasingly keen on yellow jackets. (Something to do with terrorists being allergic to yellow, I gather) but then, as they're so busy at the weekends I'm happy to oblige if it stops me getting run over.

It's also rather fun seeing you "flight" on the arrivals board in the art deco terminal. What could beat that on a sunny afternoon? Oh, yes, the jet behind you calling "...ready for departure after the microlight." Playing with the big boys now; but not paying what they do! ;^)

”

“Shoreham - did my ppl training out of Shoreham with the Flying Hut a couple of years ago and now operate a share of a PA28 from the airfield. Don't be put off by how busy it can be at weekend. Air Traffic Control are extremely efficient and will keep you out of trouble.

Calling up the ATIS on the way in is a must and the airfield may be operating both Tower and Approach frequencies when busy so listen carefully.

The grass 07 / 25 is only likely to be in use when there is a lot of cross wind on 20 / 02. In my experience 24 out of 25 days it will be 02 / 20. You will most likely get an overhead join at 2000' and descend deadside to the circuit height. There can be a lot going on so its worth getting a clear mental picture of what you are going to do before you get into the ATZ.

Visual references when on 20 LH are to aim for the A27 road tunnels on the downwind leg and then turn towards the cement works chimney for base. 02 is not so easy as you will be out over the channel.

Good restaurants, Transair, and you might be followed in by a Trislander from the Channel Islands or a bizjet!

”

“I have just completed my IR training with Sky Leisure at Shoreham, and have nothing but praise for the airport and it's staff. ATC have always been outstanding, they are polite and always willing to help. If you are thinking of training from Shoreham, then it will set you up tremendously and prepare you for busy traffic environments. Had I not flown from here during the training, I can honestly say the busy traffic environment would have been very daunting, but ATC will always help and provide that friendly reassurance so don't worry! The facilities are excellent with good food and drink (after flying of course!). Thoroughly recommend a visit.”

“Visited Shoreham last week for a cup of tea and a cake. The busy circuit and extremely busy radio traffic seemed daunting as I held at the Brighton Marina VRP but in the event the join and the circuit was pleasant. The tower is an impressively slick operation and they are helpful and expedient. However it took me maybe ten minutes just to make my first call so get your call in early. That was the only tricky bit and after that it was all very enjoyable. Shoreham is a beautiful airfield with its grass well kept and its famous art deco terminal often used for filming period dramas. An interesting array of aeroplanes will be neatly lined up including a two immaculate Chipmunks in thier RAF paint schemes. Take some time to look at the photograghs on the walls and read about the history of the airport as Shoreham has been around since the dawn of aviation it's well documented here. Very close to the sea if you fancy a day on the beach. Don't be put off by the traffic, the tower will take excellent care of you and the cup of tea and cake is pretty good too!”

“Decided to call in to Shoreham after a bite to eat at Lydd. Bit disappointed with the 15 pound landing fee but a nice looking airport with good facilities. It was however worth it when I saw my plane on the arrivals board. Fame at last.”

“I'm a Shoreham based C172 pilot. Shoreham is very busy at weekends, but if you have the choice then I suggest Sunday rather than Saturday - Circuits are not permitted on Sundays, so the amount of training traffic tends to be a lot less.

The ATC folks are excellent, providing a very impressive approach service with no radar. It's a great airfield, well worth a visit.

”

“Flew to shoreham from plymouth saturday very busy easy to find and see, lots to see singles twins all in the circuit, NDB/DME approachs being performed and people in the hold. Be very aware, of others and and your position also due to traffic density go rounds common so watch the last stage of flap untill cleared to land, very GA.

hope it does not get closed and made in to expensive houses

”

“Flew into Shoreham a couple of weeks ago. It was busy with training traffic and the odd twin flying about. It was late afternoon, the Cafe was still open, serving excellent food and drinks. Landing fee (PA28) was fifteen pounds. Staff were friendly and helpfull. Looks like they prefer you to wear Hi-Viz when airside. Def go back soon!”

“I flew to Shoreham today (15/2/04). Very friendly and helpful. One tip: I joined directly on right base for 03 from the East. Overhead joins went possible because the cloud base was only 1,600 feet. It's very easy to convince yourself that you just fly along the coast and turn right. In fact you have to fly parallel with the end of the field and then the turn from this approach is very sharp. ”

“Visited Shoreham on 2nd August 2003. Landing fee was £15 for a C172. Very friendly ops. Cafe was fine and nice to sit out and watch the aircraft. Joining procedure for 21 when approaching from the North was to enter the overhead at 2000' turn right towards the sea, descending left hand turn and join the downwind leg abeam the upwind end of the runway at circuit height. When turning base it is a good plan to aim towards the tower/chimney ahead but turn inside when you reach it. Model aircraft are flown on the hill on the left hand side of the aircraft (as seen when flying base leg). ”

“Went to Shoreham for the first time and was very impressed by the friendly efficient setup. Lots of aircraft activity and an excellent restuarant all just 15 minutes walk from the beach, well worth a visit.”