Nottingham (Tollerton) Airport

Nottingham Airport, also known as Nottingham City Airport, is located in Tollerton, Nottinghamshire, England. It is situated 3 NM south east of Nottingham City Centre, and signposted on the A52 at Trent Bridge and on the A606—this makes it one of the closest airports to a city centre in the UK. The aerodrome is equipped for private aviation, business aviation and flight instruction.

The airport primarily serves general aviation and has two runways: 09/27 and 03/21 which are 1050 x and 821 x respectively. The longer runway is equipped with lighting for night flying, which operates during the winter flying season.

Nottingham City Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P491) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Truman Aviation Limited).

History
On 27 July 1929 Nottingham (Tollerton) Airport became on Britain's second licenced municipal aerodrome and the first to have a permanent site (Manchester's short-lived Wythenshawe aerodrome had the first such licence from April 1929 but was replaced by Barton Aerodrome in early 1930). Initially leased to National Flying Services Ltd who built a clubhouse and the first hangar in early 1930, the aerodrome was officially opened by Director of Civil Aviation Sir Sefton Brancker on 19 June 1930.

The Nottingham Flying Club moved in from nearby Hucknall in September 1931 but National Flying Services vacated the site in 1934.

During the Second World War, the aerodrome was requisitioned by the Air Ministry for RAF use and was known as RAF Tollerton. and acted as a relief landing ground for the Polish Training School based at RAF Newton for the Polish Air Force and, based in a large factory hangar built at the aerodrome in 1938, Field Aircraft Services Ltd carried out major overhauls, repairs, modifications on various RAF bomber and transport aircraft, particularly Avro Lancasters. Three hard runways were constructed in early 1941 and additional hangars including a rare Ministry of Aircraft Production 'R' type hangar, a second Bellman hangar and other RAF buildings were added too. 18 airfield defences were also provided in 1940-41, including pillboxes.

Post-war, the airfield returned to civilian use including a short-lived period as a commercial airport, with Blue Line Airways and Trent Valley Aviation operating from there from 1946 until 1948, when its aircraft passed on to British Eagle. Since 1948 Tollerton has accommodated only private light aircraft and more recently helicopters. Derek Truman of Truman Aviation organised popular annual airshows from 1967-1980 and the airport hosted three prestigeous King's Cup Air Races in 1967, 1968 and 1970.

A purpose-built control tower was built in 1967 and is still in use today, but before this, the only air traffic control facilities were an RAF flying control caravan which had departed when the RAF moved out in 1956.

The 227 acre airport was purchased in December 2006 from Nottingham City Council, by a consortium called Nottingham City Airport plc., and a programme of improvements was promised. Most of the remaining 1930s and 1940s hangars and other older buildings gradually became disused and were demolished particularly in the last 15-20 years, although all 18 WW2 air defences survive and have been nationally designated as Grade II Listed buildings by English Heritage (now Historic England) since 2012.

In 2021, the site was sold to Vistry Homes Ltd.

Truman Aviation
Truman Aviation is the airport operator and is responsible for providing air/ground services, fire and rescue services and aircraft handling.

Sherwood Flying Club
Sherwood Flying Club is a members-only flying club, based at Nottingham Airport. It was founded in 1957 and presently uses one Piper PA-28 Archer and two Piper PA-28 Warriors for hire and training.

2425 (Nottingham Airport Squadron) Air Training Corps
2425 Squadron has been based at the airport since the early 1980s. This is one of around 1,000 squadrons that form the Air Training Corps or RAF Air Cadets. Cadets are from Tollerton and the surrounding suburbs and villages within an approximately 10-mile radius.

Risk of closure
In early 2024, plans were announced for the potential closure of Nottingham City Airport due to a proposed major new housing development by Vistry Homes Ltd (who acquired the land in 2021). A hybrid planning application was submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council and validated on 11 March. These controversial plans have faced a backlash from the local population and users of the airport.

Sources and further reading

 * Howard Fisher, Bob Hammond and Nigel Morley (2008) Tollerton – An Airfield For Nottingham 1929–2007 (Keyworth and District Local History Society, Keyworth, Nottingham)