The UK’s General Aviation Awareness Council (GAAC) is undertaking a small airfields research venture over the next three years.

The project will study the economic benefits to the community of GA aerodromes.

A spokesman said: “The absence of information on this subject has proved an embarrassment when pressing the GA case at public enquiries.

“At a recent meeting with the Department of Transport, they confirmed their willingness to contribute to the cost of the project.”