Brize Norton moves to Fairford for runway work

From the archive, first published Thursday 15th Sep 2005.

AIRCREWS from Brize Norton were due to make a temporary move to Fairford.

The first of 28 tanker and transport aircraft based at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire were due to fly to the American airbase north of Swindon where they will be based until January, yesterday morning.

The move is due to runway resurfacing at Brize Norton. Some 28 RAF transport and tanker aircraft will operate from Fairford including TriStars, VC-10s and C17s. Aircraft chartered by the MOD will also use Fairford.

Wing Cmdr Mark Baker, the senior operations officer at RAF Brize Norton, has written to town and parish councillors explaining the reasons for the relocation of Brize Norton aircraft and has also held several briefings to keep the local communities informed and answer any questions or concerns they may have.

He acknowledged that some of the aircraft were noisy but said that every effort would be made to minimise noise disturbance. However, because of the operational commitments to Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, he said it was inevitable that some noise would affect locals, occasionally during the quiet hours. Traffic noise around the area was likely to increase as passengers and freight moved to and from Fairford.

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