Press Release

Issued by London Biggin Hill Airport Ltd.

December 8, 2011

An encouraging autumn increase in business aviation traffic of 12% at Biggin Hill Airport and the result of a recent survey on flight connectivity showing that Biggin Hill connected with 747 towns and cities around the globe in 2010 – three times more than scheduled flights from London's other airports, were reported at a meeting last week of 19 stakeholders of the LoCATE@BigginHill initiative by Jenny Munro, the airport's Managing Director.

"Taken together, these indicators show that business aviation plays a key role in getting business executives to and from an extensive range of preferred destinations, well beyond city airport hubs, with London as a main focal point" she says.

Held at the stunning Rizonjet facility, the £18M inward investment at Biggin Hill that was opened in the Spring of this year, the stakeholder group endorsed plans for a new study to estimate the full economic value of business activity in and around the Airport. This latest move relates to the nomination of Biggin Hill as a Strategic Outer London Development Centre (SOLDC) by London's Mayor Johnson. The work is to be carried out by specialist economic consultants and will support the new Local Plan that Bromley Council is preparing.

During the meeting, stakeholder delegates toured the Airport, visiting the new Heritage Hangar where five Spitfires are either maintained as airworthy aircraft or are under full restoration in the hands of skilled, specialist engineers. At Jet Aviation, GM Chris Webb reported a progressive work schedule, keeping 44 engineers and support staff fully employed with engineering work for their international clients.

Delegates also witnessed the opportunities afforded by the former RAF West Camp and on the industrial estate adjacent to the Airport. Robert Bradley- Smith, of Stiles Harold Williams, agent for the industrial estate, says that public transport to the airport environment needs to be improved. "Feedback that we get from prospective clients is that public transport does not match current or future needs. Improved social facilities are also needed" he says.

An update on the recently announced Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme was reported by Keith Stansfield of Lufthansa Resource Technical Training (LRTT). He confirmed that six positions for young people in the local area had been identified for training to NVQ in Aircraft Maintenance, City & Guilds and the European (EASA) category 'A' professional licence. Following selection, they will spend the first 8 months at Cotswold Airport with LRTT for their basic training. "For the balance of the 2-year scheme they will return to Biggin Hill Airport to be individually attached to Rizonjet, Jet Aviation, PremierAir, Avalon or Shipping & Airlines, leading to gaining their professional licences" says Keith Stansfield.

"It is clear that there is considerable business potential here at the Airport, and feedback from residents and neighbours confirms that creating these opportunities is a common goal, especially in these difficult economic times. By working together, the LoCATE stakeholders are instrumental in generating true economic value through new business and job creation at this key strategic location. It needs a concerted effort to achieve the best we can for our community and economy, and LoCATE is proving to be the ideal vehicle for this." says Jenny Munro.