Flying in & PPR

Your flying visit

There’s so much to explore at Shuttleworth, so why not make the most of your visit with our extensive visitor attraction including six hangars of aviation and vehicle history, a nine acre Regency garden and on-site café?

Before making your PPR booking, please ensure you have self-briefed by reading the contents of this page and the UK AIP Old Warden Aerodrome entry thoroughly.

Please ensure you also check the latest NOTAMs for Old Warden on the NATS-EAD website.

When PPR is granted it is for an aircraft to carry out one landing on arrival and one take-off on departure. It is not permission to carry out multiple flights to and from the airfield or touch and go’s, circuits, training etc. Naturally this does not apply to go-arounds and aborted take-offs carried out for safety reasons.

You can now PPR out of hours for fuel uplift ONLY. If you require fuel outside of Visitor Attraction opening hours you are welcome to fly in to Old Warden between 0600L (or SR -30mins whichever is the later) to SS +30mins.

Our self-service fuel pumps will be active for credit/debit card payments. All other facilities: The shop, restaurant and collection will be closed.

Complete a PPR booking

Facilities at Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome

Shuttleworth is a year-round visitor attraction in Bedfordshire, comprised of: The Shuttleworth Collection – a treasure trove of airworthy vintage aircraft from 1909-1950, agricultural and steam exhibits, veteran cars, classic motorcycles, bicycles and vintage buses, and Swiss Garden – a Regency Garden in the ‘Swiss Picturesque’ or ‘Alpine’ style, an RHS partner garden forming part of the Grade II registered park of Old Warden. The site features the Runway Café and a gift shop.

All these attractions and facilities are on site and available to airborne visitors as well as those arriving by other means from 1000L to 1600L (1700L Summer). Please note: a prior permission required (PPR) is a legal requirement for anyone wishing to visit Shuttleworth by air.

The airfield is normally open to visiting pilots from 0600 to SS+30 with fuel available to purchase from our pay as you go self-service pumps (UL91 and 100LL). Note that no other facilities are available outside of the visitor attraction opening hours.

The landing fee of £15 (£10 for SVAS members) grants the pilot access to the Shuttleworth Collection and Garden on non-event days. Any passengers on board wishing to visit the attraction are kindly asked to pay for admission in the Visitor Centre.

Use of the Runway Café and gift shop is free to all visitors.

Airfield Opening Hours 0600 (or SR-30 whichever is later) to SS+30 for fuel purchase. All other facilities only available during visitor attraction opening hours 1000L to 1600L (1700L Summer).

Shuttleworth (Old Warden) is a private, unlicensed (except for event days) aerodrome, situated in a rural area. The airfield is not inspected daily, the manoeuvring area is uneven and there can be areas of soft ground, so please exercise caution.

All powered, fixed wing and flex wing GA and microlight types (excluding Paramotors) as well as rotorcraft are welcome.

Airfield Condition:

The main runway 02/20 is firm as are most of the taxiways. Standing water and softer patches of ground may appear after prolonged or heavy rain.

Confine all movements to the mown areas.

Airfield Physical Characteristics:

All grass airfield – manoeuvring surfaces are delineated by short grass.
Runways 02/20 Length 799m, Width 21m. Note there is a 1.0% Downslope on RWY 02.

For additional Aerodrome Information please refer to the UK AIP Old Warden Aerodrome entry.

Airfield Activities:

The majority of the time the airfield operates ‘unmanned’, however, it is monitored and can be quite busy with the following activities regularly taking place:

Model aircraft flying.
Vintage and non-radio aircraft movements, practice displays, aerobatics, formation flights, test flights, etc.
Visitor aircraft and based aircraft movements.
Airfield maintenance.

The airfield is only licensed and the radio (A/G or AFISO) manned during event days, approx. 20 days per year. These are primarily air show days (approx. 8 days per year between May and October) and fly-ins.

Note that on Airshow days a Restricted Area (Temporary) RAT will be in force beyond the ATZ, normally up to 3nm and 3500ft.

Arrival information:

All visiting Aircraft should receive a PPR confirmation by email – please check your spam/junk inbox.

If you are unable to find your email but you see the confirmation page after your booking, your details have been accepted and the booking has been logged on the system and PPR granted.

As the airfield is unmanned, it is important that you provide your correct contact details so we can inform you if there are any late changes in airfield condition etc.

We are permitted to accept General Aviation international arrivals, providing you have submitted a GAR report to UK Border Force and comply with any other regulatory requirements – a guide can be found here General aviation guidance. For this purpose we are a Regulated Aerodrome, ICAO Designation EGTH.

Radio Frequency 130.705 Mhz. When the ATZ is activated make appropriate calls to ‘Old Warden Radio/Information’ as required. At all other times when ‘unmanned’ make blind calls to ‘Old Warden Traffic’.

Unless approved by the Air/Ground and/or AFISO Operator (when manned), all aircraft must complete a standard overhead join at 1800 feet above aerodrome level and a full visual circuit before landing, making blind transmissions as appropriate. This is essential to allow you to assess the wind conditions, look out for other aircraft in the circuit, to allow model aircraft to land safely and so you can look carefully for aircraft carrying out displays practices, airfield maintenance activity, etc.

Note: most of the Collection aircraft operate non-radio. It is a condition of the use of Shuttleworth airfield that all aircraft must give way and stay well clear of any aircraft carrying out Display practices at the airfield. Aircraft must not take-off or land underneath displaying aircraft without approval.

Non-radio equipped aircraft are permitted but must be extra vigilant especially when approaching the overhead as dynamic practice displays and aerobatics may be being performed in the overhead.

Circuits and Runways in use:

Runway 02/20 is NOT available due to runway works. No movements are permitted in the works area until further notice (no intermediate taxiways and no backtracking).

A temporary runway has been cut (approx. 01/19) and is available at your own risk with the following cautions: it is unmarked and unlicensed, the surface is not suitable for aircraft with delicate undercarriage, and tall trees are on approach to/climb out from both runways.

Only the temporary runway 01/19 is available to visiting aircraft however all runways and airfield surfaces may be in use by resident aircraft. When operating ‘unmanned’, visiting pilots must assess the wind conditions and circuit traffic before making their own mind up as to which runway is appropriate to use. In general, in no wind or 90deg cross wind conditions runway 19 is preferred for landing due to the slight up slope.

All circuits are to the East. LH for Rwy 19 and RH for Rwy 01

Circuit Height is 800ft AGL. However, keep a look out for based vintage aircraft using a tight, oval, circuit at approx. 500ft with a continuous ‘finals’ turn from the downwind leg to land.

Visiting aircraft are strictly not permitted to carry out multiple/training circuits, touch and go’s or multiple flights in and out of the aerodrome without the written permission of the airfield management.

Noise abatement:

We have very good relations with our neighbours so please help us keep it that way. Avoid over flying all villages in the circuit area. As other traffic and pilot/aircraft ability allows, please make either a ‘tight’ circuit inside the villages to the East of the airfield or a longer circuit around them. Look out for other aircraft on alternative circuits especially when turning finals to land.

Please do not directly overfly the Collection hangars (on the West of the airfield), Swiss Gardens (behind the Collection hangars) or Mansion house when joining the circuit.

Parking:

Please park clear off ALL the runways and adjacent to the fence line between the Tower and the Fuel Kiosk or to the south of the Tower and not between Fuel Kiosk and Hangar fence (see map below, blue boxes mark parking area).

Download Temporary Runway Map

Please be aware that Cambridge Flying Group operate between the Fuel Kiosk and Hangar Fence, in front of ‘C’, from Thursday to Sunday. Please keep this area clear and be aware of Tiger Moths being operated, prop swung and refueled by instructors and student pilots.

Overnight parking:

Overnight parking is available at £15 per night, payable in the visitor centre during normal opening hours.

Note: the airfield is not monitored outside visitor opening hours and the Trust cannot accept any liability for damaged or stolen property. At all times aircraft are parked here at your own risk.

Stay with us

Airfield facilities:

100LL and UL91 fuel is available from our self-service, pay-at-the-pumps fuel kiosk. This takes all major cards and is as simple to use, essentially just the same as forecourt petrol pumps.

Current fuel price (subject to change without prior warning):

100LL = £1.90 per litre Inc VAT

UL91 = £2.15 per litre Inc VAT

A step ladder is available in the fuel pump kiosk or the booking in hut for use at your own risk.

Weather

This weather report is updated every five minutes during daylight hours.

Please note: this report is generated from an automated station. We cannot guarantee it's accuracy.

PPR bookings information

Prior to completing the PPR form below you must self-brief by reading this page in its entirety and the UK AIP Old Warden Aerodrome entry.

Please ensure you also check the latest NOTAMs for Old Warden on the NATS-EAD website.

When filling in the form below please note:

You can only PPR up to 24hrs in advance on non-event days.
Only enter one aircraft per booking
You will be asked to select a nominal arrival time. If you cannot make your nominal arrival time then it is not necessary to re-book as long as your arrival is on the same day, during operating hours.
If no slots are available then either, the airfield is at capacity or it is an Event day (see PPR Event Booking tab above), or the airfield has been temporally closed and PPR is unavailable.
When you have completed the process an email will be sent confirming the permission to the address provided. If you are unable to come then please cancel your booking through the link provided in the email as soon as practical so that others may use your slot.
If your journey originates from outside of the UK you must submit a GAR General Aviation Report and include the GAR reference number in the field provided.
If you cannot use the automated system or you wish to request overnight parking then please call enquiries on 01767 627927.
Please note: If you do not receive a confirmation email for your booking please check your clients’ junk/spam folder before calling.