* Information not to be used for detailed flight planning - please check details with airfield or current chart
City Airport and Heliport (Manchester Barton), is a thriving General Aviation airfield located just five miles from Manchester city centre. Located right in the centre of the UK, and just a few miles from the Manchester Low Level Route, the airfield is the ideal stopping off point whether you're wanting to top up with fuel (we always have UL91, Avgas and JetA1 available), or want a place to stop and rest (as well as our on-site bar and restaurant 'The Airfield Lodge', we have everything from guest houses to five star hotels within easy reach!), we're the airfield of choice for the visiting aviator !
By flying in to Barton, (as it was originally known), you are flying in to part of the UK’s aviation history – originally opened in 1930 the airfield was the original Manchester Airport and was the first licenced municipal aerodrome in the UK, with scheduled services to Birmingham and Croydon. The Grade II listed control tower is the oldest still operational in the UK and visiting pilots are free to take in the ambience of the airfield, which in basic terms is largely unchanged since the 30’s from the balcony.
Today the airfield is operated by City Airport Ltd and provides a base for around 100 aircraft, both privately owned and operated by the five flying schools on site. The runways, which have in the past had a reputation for being somewhat bumpy and soggy), have in recent years undergone a programme of improvements, with improvements to drainage and re-grading taking place aiming to bring the surface on a par with other grass airfields.
The Airfield Lodge, which was formerly a private members club, is now under new management and open to all – a full refurbishment in 2011 included the provision of an outdoor decking area – which has become the perfect spot to relax after a flight with a drink and a bite to eat from the varied menu. Aircraft maintenance at City Airport is provided by Westair, with headquarters at Blackpool Airport and established for over seventy years they can offer everything from ad-hoc repairs to a full Annual.
Over on the far side of the airfield the beat of rotor blades fill the air, thanks to the state of the art Heliport facility, which opened in 2012. This provides a secure and discreet location for VIP helicopter charter services, with its plush departure lounge, and is co-located alongside the Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit who fly from the airport 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For those looking for a base, we can offer hangarage and outdoor parking at very reasonable rates, with overnight security and extensive CCTV coverage we are a safe, secure and convenient home for your aircraft.
All of this happens just eight miles from Manchester International Airport, and yet we are surprisingly easy to fly in to. If you’re arriving from the South Arriving from the South (via the Low Level Route) You will need to follow the Manchester Low Level Route which starts just North of Ashcroft Farm Strip. The max altitude in the route is 1300 feet Manchester QNH. You can obtain a Basic Service from Manchester Approach on 118.575 mhz, although clearance to transit the route is not required, so you can if you wish simply maintain a listening watch with a squawk of 7366. Once you reach abeam Stretton VRP, you can then turn right and change to Barton Information on 120.250 mhz. As you approach the airfield, you will see a bridge across the Canal, and adjacent Stadium and just beyond a large Indoor Ski Slope building which is quite prominent. The M62 approaches passes about 1/2 mile North of the airfield. Barton is to the left of the canal and before the bridge by about 1/2 mile.
If inbound from the North you can call Barton Information before you approach the airfield around 5 miles out. The airspace is class G up to 2000 ft QNH and there is no requirement to talk to Manchester when transiting to/from the airfield.
During the summer City Airport and Heliport is open from 08:15am through until 8pm, however these hours can be extended by arrangement – and this proves a popular option for helicopter operators, particularly when there is a major football match or concert taking place nearby.
So, if you’re looking for a destination to fly to this year, a convenient stopping off point in the middle of the British Isles, or want a new home for your aircraft, City Airport and Heliport (Manchester Barton), is the ideal choice !
