Pilot reviews of Wolverhampton Airport

“Halfpenny Green as it should really be called is now user friendly to light aircraft again. £10 landing fee for a C172 or as many circuits as you like for £25 which is handy for us in the Liverpool area as finding somewhere to do circuits is getting more difficult. The cafe is under fairly new management and if OK for a quick snack and away which is what we usually want rather than a full hit meal. I am not sure what the hours are but gather that the weekends are best for the cafe. Tower staff are friendly and helpful as it used to be. It will take time for the word to get around that HG is back in business again for GA rather than trying to be another Heathrow!”

“Flew in for a lunch stop and found it to be very quiet apart from 2 lovely DA42 Twinstars. The AFIS were good but there is a disconnect between them and the cafe. The AFIS say you get a free bacon buttie with a refuel...the cafe don't. Nice scampi and chips when we paid up though. Jet A1 tanker took a while to come and seemed a bit slow to refuel when it did. However, the airfield chaplin, 6 groundcrew and others came to say hello so I have to say it was a very friendly place!”

“Note ATIS has gone, some runways have recently been reduced in length and the AIP extract on the airfield web site is very much out of date - May 2004, the latest version being June 2007. Also known as 'Wolverhampton Intergalactic Spaceport' by those who thought changing the name of such an historic airfield was idiotic. Thankfully AFIS is 'Halfpenny Green Information'. Nice enough airfield which is easy to find with NDB and DME or even with a map! Very business-like, efficient AFIS and plenty of choice for runway direction. Restaurant is located on the 1st floor of the original control tower building with excellent views of the field, however it is not the 'City Centre style Restaurant' described on the web site, rather an average eatery with a pool table - although the people working there are very pleasant. Worth a visit? I would say so, there are a number of original buildings which give the place an historic feel and there is plenty going on in terms of traffic movements etc. ”

“Visited Halfpenny Green on Sunday 17th as part of my QXC. Approached from the west and the airfield was easy to find. Unfortunately the cafe was closing, but managed to get a cup of tea and biscuit. Next time I will try and arrive earlier to sample a proper meal. A/G service was very good. I will definitely visit the field again when I have passed my PPL.”

“I flew into Halfpenny Green in G-BYFF flexwing Quantum 912 Microlight on bank holiday Monday 9th April 2007.

From the initial phone call for PPR in which I was ribbed about a Quantum being "the one with 3 rivets isnt it?" to the quality radio traffic during our approach and departure, the FISO's provided a great service. It turns out one of the FISO's flies microlights himself.

I was amused to find aircraft spotters taking snaps of BYFF as Anna and I made our way into CafeOK (CAVOK geddit?). CafeOK is a nice cafe situated on the first floor of the tower overlooking the runway and we enjoyed fresh coffee and Lasagne for lunch as we watched other traffic come and go.

I recommend a visit, easy to find. We approached from the South tracking the Severn river to Chelmarsh reservoir from which the filed is easy to find to your right.

Thanks to all who made our visit pleasant.

Ian G-BYFF

Landing fee £7.50

”

“Flew in a couple of days ago. Cafe closed, drinks vending m/c not working either. ATC couldn't even suggest anywhere to go. We stayed about 15 minutes and went back to our home field for a very late lunch . We won't be back soon!”

“Called in to Wolverhampton using free voucher from Pilot. Accomodating ATC (FISO) even though the circuit was quite active. Nice Cafe with good size garden 'near the action' for all those plane spotters. Good choice of runway in differing winds although taxiways seemed to be 'under repair'. Didn't get chance to see much around the field as vis was not good.”

“Went to Wolverhampton today on first leg of Qualifying Cross Country. VERY friendly staff there and pleasant, helpful ATC. Even gave me a Very Good for landing and airmanship!!! Must go there again - and nice coffee!!!”

“Though not presently current, i do remember that Halfpenny Green was at the end of the second leg of my solo x country. I found the field really easily from Gloucester, with the magnificent Severn Valley below me and the huge Birmingham conurbation to the right. The people were really friendly and i dont think i am being swayed by the fact that the duty controller marked my circuit and landing as excellent.

All in all a lovely field in a lovely part of the country.

”

“I also visited wolverhampton on Sat 24th April with our Fuji 200 and found the reception warm and welcoming considering this was the first time I had visited and it was part of my qualifying cross country.

Will certainly go back for more visits

”

“Very nice place to visit - couple of runways and discount, too. Training flights free in May, I believe - check first. Nice little shop. and good GA field in my opinion.”