For a number of years GAAC has provided advice and support to aerodrome operators concerning the application of planning law to General Aviation activities. It has also been foremost in identifying the need for more research into the relationship between local authority planning and General Aviation.

Whether involving a 'change of use' or 'development', more often than not, an airfield planning application will be rejected at the local authority level and so become the subject of a public inquiry. At such inquiries GAAC has found one issue, that of the airfield's economic contribution to the local community, particularly difficult to evaluate and therefore defend. To date there has been little research on the issue.

As a result of this flaw in its armoury, GAAC has initiated a research project to investigate the economics of small airfields and provide an acceptable method for determining the economic impact of a particular planning proposal. Terry Lober is undertaking the research at the Bartlett School of Planning, University College London with guidance from Nick Gallent, one of the researchers mentioned above.

The overall aim of the project is 'To significantly increase the body of knowledge about General Aviation in the UK: its current infrastructure, its role within the economy and its potential to play a greater part in the socioeconomic development of the countryside.'

The project will gather information and data from three main sources: pilots, airfield operators and local planning authorities. It will examine the effectiveness of the Government's planning policy guidelines that relate to General Aviation (essentially PPG13 and PPG24) towards achieving a more balanced approach regarding small aerodromes.

In addition to traditional questionnaires and surveys, case studies will be used to probe deeper into the daily life of an airfield. The result should be a clear framework for evaluating General Aviation's economic contribution at a local and national level.

Underlying the project is a belief that a better understanding of the needs of General Aviation will increase support for the maintenance of a viable aerodrome network. This applies particularly to those with responsibility for deciding the disposition of planning proposals. It is also felt that the knowledge gained will provide airfield operators with a clear checklist for achieving greater harmony within their local communities. In doing so it will surely assist in achieving the goal of a more vibrant, living countryside.