Doncaster – a new aviation hub for Yorkshire
December 11, 2024
On 10 December, Ros Jones, the Mayor of Doncaster announced on Twitter (now X): “Great news that Hybrid Air Vehicles will make #DoncasterIsGreat their home. Their presence in the city is an exciting first step. This development will bring substantial investment and job opportunities, further strengthening our position as a hub for innovation.”
Work is now underway to prepare for manufacture of the HAV (Hybrid Air Vehicles) Airlander at Carcroft Common near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, and the company has opened an office at Cavendish Court in Doncaster City Centre. Work is already underway to develop the 50 hectare Carcroft Common Airlander 10 production site plan ahead of a formal planning application. This site is intended to house production, testing and certification operations, and will be able to produce up to 24 aircraft per year.
This follows work in partnership with the City of Doncaster Council to prepare for the release of the first instalment of a £7m regional loan from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Nick Allman, COO of Hybrid Air Vehicles, said that: “This is a major step in creating a pioneering facility to assemble fleets of Airlander 10 aircraft, as well as establishing a hub for advanced manufacturing and sustainable aviation in Doncaster, bringing with it new opportunities, jobs and apprenticeships in South Yorkshire.”
Ros Jones, the Mayor of Doncaster said that: “It’s great news that Hybrid Air Vehicles will make Doncaster their home. Their presence in the city is an exciting first step in the next generation of air technology bringing the highly anticipated Airlander 10 to life at Carcroft Common. This development will bring substantial investment and create highly skilled job opportunities, further strengthening Doncaster’s position as a hub for innovation and industry.”
Oliver Coppard, the Mayor of South Yorkshire was no less enthusiastic, noting that: “I’m delighted to see Hybrid Air Vehicles moving forward with these plans, which were made possible as part of a £7m loan from SYMCA. I’m excited about the plans because their huge ambition matches my own; for South Yorkshire to be a world leader in sustainable aviation. We are creating a world leading centre for sustainable aviation here in South Yorkshire. I have already committed to doing what we can to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, creating a sustainable aviation hub at the centre of sustainable air travel. That is why companies like Hybrid Air Vehicles are choosing to try and build their businesses here.”
Doncaster Sheffield Airport
In April 2005, almost ten years after it closed as RAF Finningley, the former military airfield south east of Doncaster was re-opened as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, by Peel Holdings, who had bought the site in 1999. It was rebranded as Doncaster Sheffield Airport in December 2016.
The airport never achieved the passenger numbers that the owners had hoped for, and FlyBe and Wizz Air deserted the airport, leaving TUI as the only operator. Peel preferred to expand their adjacent Gateway East property development and closed the airport. TUI operated the final flights on 4 November 2022, and air traffic control was withdrawn from the airport in December 2022.
Following a labyrinthine legal battle, the Mayor of Doncaster announced the council’s intention to undertake a compulsory purchase. In March 2024 the Mayor confirmed that a 125 year lease had been signed, and that the airport could re-open by Spring 2026. The council has said that re-opening the airport will create 5,000 jobs and transform the region by becoming an aviation hub.
In advance of that, on 6 December, a Piper Panther PA31 Navajo (G-SCIR) became the first aircraft to land at the airport since its 2022 closure. The aircraft was greeted by Mayor Ros Jones, who said that: “It’s an investment for the whole of South Yorkshire and beyond.
Medium to long term, it will be the economic stimulus that the whole of the north needs but South Yorkshire and Doncaster as well.” With her were local MPs John Healey (Rawmarsh and Conisbrough), Sally Jameson (Doncaster Central), Ed Miliband (Doncaster North), Lee Pitcher (Doncaster East and Isle of Axholme), and Jo White (Bassetlaw).
Although 2Excel relocated its fleet when the airport ceased operations, it had continued some (non flying) operations on the site, and has leased a hangar at the airport for more than ten years.
Andy Offer, director and co-founder of 2Excel, explained that: “It’s a testament to all at 2Excel that we absorbed the pain caused by the unexpected closure of Doncaster to aviation in November 2022. It’s a place we’ve been proud to call our home for more than a decade, but it’s important to recognise that we never left. Throughout the past two years, 150 people have continued to work in Hangar 3, day in, day out. The City of Doncaster Council have never lost sight of the goal to reopen the airport and we’ve remained in constant contact. We look forward to continuing to work with both the Council and the new operator to return Doncaster airport to its rightful place as a major employer in the South Yorkshire region.”
The return of G-SCIR to Doncaster (for storage and maintenance) was via an unlicensed flight, not carrying passengers or cargo, and did not require Air Traffic Control Fire or controlled airspace.
There will be a small number of infrequent (daylight only) positioning flights by 2-Excel who have retained their operations centre and hangar at the Airport since it closed in late 2022. These movements do not require the services of a licensed aerodrome and will be pre-approved and co-ordinated in agreement with the City of Doncaster Council.
Apart from authorised flights like this, the Airport remains closed and is not available to any other users. Any aircraft attempting to land would potentially be putting themselves and others at significant risk and will be subject to Mandatory Occurrence Reporting (MOR) to the Civil Aviation Authority and likely follow-up action.
