Stobart Air, formerly Haughey Airports, is planning major development at its base in Carlisle in the north west of England, including new FBO facilities. It handles some 25,000 movements a year including and general aviation is growing in importance.

Stobart Air's Richard Gordon. says: "Carlisle airport currently has NDB and DME and handles a variety of business fixed wing aircraft including Challengers, Citations and Legacies as well as rotary, every week." Aircraft based at Carlisle include a Falcon, a Commander, an MD Explorer and a Squirrel with a Hawker 400 and a Legacy arriving in the first quarter of 2007, and others, including a PC12, waiting for additional hangarage to become available.

"We want to make the most of being the gateway to the Lake District, Cumbria and the borders of Scotland, " says Stobart Air's Richard Gordon. "The new development plan includes ILS, but development of GPS non-precision approach is eagerly awaited."

Stobart Air does not expect any decisions from the CAA until late 2007 but plans to crack on with building the new facilities then. Development plans include a new runway, tower, terminal, ILS, FBO and 500,000 sq. ft. of hangarage/warehousing/distribution.

Carlisle Airport was acquired by W A Developments in April 2006. It also owns Eddie Stobart, the road haulage company.

Gordon says: "We will be seeking to attract commercial passenger and freight operators and the airport location will become the corporate headquarters for W A Developments and Eddie Stobart."