Airfield Operations at Sherburn in Elmet

In this guide, we will cover several aspects of airfield operations at Sherburn in Elmet!

Airfield operations are what make modern aviation possible. These activities don’t just enable us to fly aircraft, but they also play a major role in keeping the skies safe for everyone.

We have come a long way since the dawn of flight. From guesstimating procedures and weather conditions to now honing down on minute details on every aspect of flight, we have truly mastered the skies and will continue to do so with the help of advanced airfield operations.

What are these operations?

In a nutshell, airfield operations ensure the safe take-off and landing of aircraft. There are several sub-operations included in this. For example, airfield operations are related to coordinating with air traffic control, distributing real-time flight information to airlines, aircraft parking, refuelling, loading, departures, managing runway safety, maintaining records, planning airfield construction, and even managing wildlife on and around the airfield.

It's safe to say that airfield operations run the airfield and make flights possible.

In this guide, we will cover several aspects of airfield operations at Sherburn in Elmet!

THE SHERBURN EXPERIENCE

Sherburn Aero Club (SAC) in Elmet has been in business since 1964 – making it easily one of the oldest and premier flight schools and aero clubs in the country.

The club opened its doors in 1964 and went on to become one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England. Even after the boom of aero clubs around the country, Sherburn remains one of the largest and most capable airfields in the UK.

The club opened a flight training school in the 1970s and invested heavily in its fleet of aircraft and even the refurbishment of the entire field. This included brand-new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse which catapulted the flight school to new heights.

Today, the club offers experience flights, pilot license training, membership benefits, on-site aviation services, and much more.

However, what makes Sherburn one of the best schools in the country isn’t just its history and roots. The club has been able to be consistent in the aviation scene due to its immense focus on airfield operations.

Known for its quality of staff and its strict abidance to regulations, Sherburn has maintained a professional yet friendly learning atmosphere where both students and seasoned professionals can experience aviation at its finest.

AIRFIELD OPERATIONS AT SHERBURN IN ELMET

Sherburn has highly streamlined airfield operations with highly trained staff and tertiary services that help maintain the quality and safety of all students, faculty, and club members.

Here is an overview of the airfield operations at Sherburn in Elmet:

General Airfield Operations

Runways

• Runways are made from either grass, asphalt, or concrete. The most common type of aircraft is made from either asphalt or concrete and each type has its own operational considerations. Airfield operations focus on maintaining the quality and standard of the runways. In other words, the runways need to stay clear of debris, stay clean, and be repaired as soon as there are signs of damage.

Taxiway Operations

• Taxiways have various markings and signs such as blue edge lights, yellow centerline, and directional signs. These signs help provide a visual aid for how to orient the aircraft during taxi. Airfield operators make sure that these markings are clear and not eroded by the sun, rain, or any other natural phenomenon.

Airfield operations also deal with clearance where personnel are in constant contact with Air Traffic Control to clear planes before entering or crossing taxiways.  

Airfield operators also need to maintain Aprons and make sure that aircraft parking, refuelling, and boarding areas are all well-maintained.

Communication and Coordination

Radio Communication

• Airfield operations involve maintaining ATC and radio frequencies and making sure everything is working as intended without stray frequencies either jamming the signals or causing static. The ATC is also involved in this operation as its core operation revolves around maintaining ground and air communication.

Pre-Flight Procedures

Weather Related Activities

• Airfield operations involve maintaining weather forecast data for METARs and TAFs. These reports provide substantial information about the weather on any day and the data is obtained in real-time for maximum precision.

In the case of a weather emergency or a potential weather change, airfield operators must provide notices to airmen for any relevant operational changes or restrictions.

Aircraft Inspection

• Airfield operations also deal with maintaining the fleet of aircraft at the flight school. This means that they need to ensure that all aircraft are air-worthy and have no pending maintenance

Emergency Procedures

• Airfield operators are always on-site and review all the take-offs and landings that take place at the airfield. In the event of a rejected takeoff, pilots may be required to land the plane as soon as possible.

During landing emergencies, airfield operators scramble on-site and prepare for the landing by aligning all departments within the airfield. They are also responsible for ensuring that all available resources are directed towards the emergency depending on its severity.

Logs and Data Maintenance

• Airfield operations also involve maintaining a log of all flight-related events at the airfield. This includes take-offs, landings, fleet information, data regarding visitors, and more.

Environmental Safety

Wildlife Hazards

• Airfields are constructed in secluded areas that are inhabited by many animals. This is why airfield operations must consider the wildlife surrounding the airfield. This means making sure that there are no visual sights of birds (or flocks) near aircraft during take-off and other animals that may wander onto the runway.

Sherburn Airfield also employs the use of mitigation strategies like scarecrows and other harmless deterrents to keep animals away from the airfield. This not only preserves the safety of the animals but also keeps the airmen safe from incidents.

Environmental Policies

• Airfield operations also involve designing specific policies for the airfield. This includes noise abatement policies that are designed to restrict noise from the airfield from incoming aircraft.

Finally, waste management and cleanliness also come under regular airfield operations. This ensures that the airfield is clean for all visitors and flight club/school members. These operations might seem small, but they play a huge role in boosting the efficiency and overall brand image of the airfield.

COLLECTIVELY MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF AN AIRFIELD

Airfields are by nature large and can be difficult to manage even with a considerable staff. This is why there is an unwritten code among pilots where they are required to treat their airfield as their second home.

This means that they also need to be personally responsible for making sure that the airfield is running as intended. For example, all students and club members are encouraged to be on the lookout for potential dangers.

If a pilot notices something wrong with an aircraft, they are required to report the issue to the mechanical department so that they can look into the aircraft before it becomes a problem. In the same way, small tasks such as maintaining cleanliness also fall on the personnel at the airfield.

The airfield has ample trash bins and even recycling bins to encourage everyone to keep the airfield clean. Members are also encouraged to share feedback with airfield operators so that they can maintain the quality of the airfield for everyone.

Sherburn prides itself on having top-notch operations. This is partly why the airfield has consistently ranked among the best airfields in the county, if not the entire country. This collective effort not only keeps the airfield operating at its best but also ensures the safety of everyone whether on the ground or in the skies.

REQUIREMENTS FOR FLYING

If you are looking to start your journey in aviation, then the best place to begin is to enrol in a flight school. Flight clubs like Sherburn Aero Club are equipped with all the necessary facilities and faculty to train pilots.

Sherburn follows strict regulations and guidelines outlined by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This not only makes it a certified place of learning, but also a centre of excellence for anyone who wants to become part of a vibrant aviation community.

To become a pilot, you will need to choose the type of licence that you want to go for. There are two main types of pilot programs at every flight school:

• Commercial Pilot Programmes

Commercial flying is for pilots who want to take up aviation as a career. Pilots who pass commercial flight training are awarded a Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).

This license enables pilots to get a job at large airlines and climb a typical career ladder. Flight schools play a major role in this because they are directly connected to several airlines and many companies actively look for next-generation pilots that can help the company maintain its standards.

Commercial flight programmes require considerable training and are costlier. However, the payoff is well worth it! Furthermore, this type of training requires specialised instructors and equipment, like simulators.

Not every flight school offers these features, so you will have to keep these amenities in mind before picking a flight school. For example, comprehensive schools like Sherburn offer bespoke airfield operations and equipment that are designed to produce capable commercial pilots.

• Private Pilot Programme

If you are more into taking up aviation as a hobby, then a private pilot programme will be best suited for your needs. People who only want to experience the thrills of flying can enrol in a Private Pilot License (PPL) programme and fast-track their way into the cockpit.

This programme has relaxed requirements, unlike a CPL.

Private pilots get to fly smaller and lighter aircraft. They also have several restrictions on how they fly aircraft. For example, most basic PPL pilots can only fly under Visual Flight Rules. These rules dictate the weather and visibility conditions that are suitable for flight. The good news is that you can take up certifications like Night Rating and Instrument Rating to expand your capabilities and flight opportunities.

FINDING THE RIGHT FLIGHT SCHOOL

Every pilot’s journey begins at a great flight school. We have already discussed the basics of how to pick the right type of licence – but there is another factor that is equally as important: the quality of the flight school.

Flight schools operate just like any other learning institution where you have a campus, various amenities, and of course a trained faculty. However, the quality of these factors can vary depending on the school.

Some schools are solely focused on providing PPL training and have limited resources. However, comprehensive schools like Sherburn Aero Club have much larger airfield operations and provide both commercial and private licence training.

When picking the right flight school, we recommend that you shortlist at least three schools near your area. Then use the elimination strategy to pick the right school based on its features, fee structure, instructor quality, fleet diversity, and more.

In most cases, a hybrid school like Sherburn would be the best choice for anyone who wants to keep their options open for the future. For example, even if you pick a PPL programme, you can choose to upgrade your licence later on and pick off where you last left your training to become an even more capable pilot.

At the end of the day, it is always advised to visit the flight school in person. This way you can experience the quality and level of their airfield operations and get to meet other like-minded pilots who can guide you better on your journey.

Sherburn has several other tertiary services like hangarage, aircraft maintenance services, rentals, experience flights, and more.

Finally, SAC also features a bustling aero club where experienced pilots can hang out, fly together, and push the boundaries of their training. So, you get an all-in-one solution by joining a comprehensive flight school!

WHY CHOOSE SHERBURN AERO CLUB?

If you don’t know where to start then you need a flight school like Sherburn to guide you through the entire process of any type of flight programme.

With us, you can begin your aviation career or even take to the skies as a hobby. Sherburn’s flight training school offers private and commercial licences, along with pilot medicals to ensure a smooth journey going forward.

With a large fleet of new aircraft and an airfield refurbishment with new runways, hangars, and an extended clubhouse, Sherburn caters to brand-new flyers who have just started their journey to the skies, as well as seasoned flyers who have been operating aircraft for decades.

Sherburn Aero Club, which has been operational since 1964, is the ideal place for most of your training and flying needs. It is one of the largest flying clubs in the North of England and also one of the largest in the country.

For those who wish to experience the thrill of a flight for fun or to help fuel their aviation dreams, Sherburn offers experience flights for the newbie, as well as the veteran.

The flight experience option is also available for people who wish to take to the skies for special occasions, even if they aren’t into aviation in the long run.

Sherburn also offers a dedicated day-long Flight Radiotelephony Operator’s Licence (FRTOL) course for those wishing to get the certification, running the first Sunday of every month.

In addition to that, if you are looking for a hangarage for your own aircraft, need servicing or repairs, want to buy a new aircraft or aviation equipment, or are just looking to enjoy and watch the aircraft, Sherburn Aero Club is the place to be.

Call us on 01977 682 674​​​, email us at flightdesk@sherburnaeroclub.com, or message us via our online contact form for more information on the airfield operations at Sherburn in Elmet.

Photo by Pietro Donà on Unsplash