Location
Tatenhill Airfield, also referred to as Tatenhill Aerodrome, is situated near the village of Tatenhill in the county of Staffordshire, England. The airfield lies approximately 2 nautical miles (3.7 km) east of Burton upon Trent and is positioned at an elevation of 252 feet (77 m) above sea level. Its geographic coordinates are roughly 52°49′N 1°38′W.
Identifiers
- ICAO code: EGBL
- IATA code: ( none assigned )
Facilities
The aerodrome possesses a single paved runway designated 06/24, with a length of 1,150 metres (3,773 ft) and a width of 30 metres. The runway surface is asphalt, and the airfield is equipped with standard visual‑flight‑rules (VFR) lighting. Ancillary facilities include aircraft hangars, a fuel depot offering Avgas (100LL) and Jet‑A1, a terminal building, and on‑site maintenance workshops.
Ownership and Management
The airfield is operated by Tatenhill Airfield Ltd., a private company that manages day‑to‑day activities, infrastructure maintenance, and lease agreements with resident aviation organisations.
Current Operations
Tatenhill Airfield serves primarily as a general‑aviation facility. Activities based at the aerodrome encompass:
- Flight training – Several flight schools provide private pilot (PPL) and professional pilot training, using both fixed‑wing aircraft and rotary‑wing platforms.
- Aircraft charter and sightseeing – Operators offer short‑haul charter flights and aerial tours of the surrounding Midlands countryside.
- Skydiving and parachute training – A licensed skydiving centre conducts tandem jumps and solo‑student programs.
- Aviation maintenance – Approved maintenance organisations deliver airframe and engine services to resident and visiting aircraft.
The airfield is open to visiting aircraft, subject to standard prior‑notice procedures and compliance with UK civil aviation regulations.
Historical Overview
Tatenhill Airfield was originally opened as a Royal Air Force (RAF) station during the Second World War. It functioned as a satellite training establishment for bomber and multi‑engine aircraft. Following the cessation of hostilities, RAF operations at Tatenhill were reduced and the site was eventually transferred to civilian use. Specific details regarding the RAF units stationed at the airfield, dates of operational changes, and the exact timeline of its conversion to a civilian aerodrome are not comprehensively documented in publicly available sources; therefore, a detailed chronological account cannot be provided without further verification.
Regulatory Status
The aerodrome operates under the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulations governing non‑commercial aerodromes. It holds the appropriate aerodrome licences and adheres to standard safety management systems as mandated for public‑use airfields.
See also
- List of airports in the United Kingdom
- General aviation in the United Kingdom
References
- United Kingdom Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) – Aerodrome data for EGBL.
- Civil Aviation Authority – Aerodrome licensing and operational guidelines.
Note: Information regarding the precise wartime unit composition and post‑war transition of Tatenhill Airfield is limited in publicly accessible encyclopedic sources; where uncertainty exists, the entry reflects that limitation.