Solent Airport: A Blossoming GA Airfield and a ‘Gateway To Europe’

Solent Airport, the former Fleet Air Arm base known as HMS Daedalus, has a long history dating back to the earliest days of powered flight. It is adjacent to the seaside town of Lee-on-the-Solent and is therefore often referred to by pilots simply as 'Lee'.

The airfield provides all kinds of facilities including ground handling, maintenance and refuelling services, crew facilities, extensive managed hangarage, and aircraft parking.

There is also flying tuition and flight experiences. Taking off on runway 23 leads to spectacular views of the Solent and the Isle of Wight. 

You can expect to see all kinds of aircraft movements from this popular airfield. Aircraft types include Spitfires from their base at Goodwood Airfield in West Sussex, general aviation and vintage aircraft, and the occasional bizjet. 

Seaplanes used the nearby slipway in the First World War and aircraft preparing for D-Day used the runways extensively in 1944. In September 2017 the airfield celebrated 100 years of aviation. 

Gateway to the South of England

The location of the airport lends itself to being a General Aviation gateway to Southern England for visitors from Europe. 

Several miles away, the equally historic Southampton Airport (formerly Eastleigh Airfield and the birthplace of the Spitfire) has become an established regional airport for international and domestic charter and scheduled flights, but to the exclusion of General Aviation. 

Solent Airport frequently welcomes GA visitors from Europe, the Channel Islands, and the rest of the UK. Visiting pilots find themselves within a few minutes walking distance of the beach at Lee-on-the-Solent, extensive walks along the coastline of the Solent, and recently improved road links to the main routes of Southern England. 

The popular and historic areas of the Hamble, Portchester, Old Portsmouth, and Southsea, are all within 30 minutes by road from the airport or by train services that run from the nearby Fareham Station. Being a coastal county, Hampshire has 25 marinas to interest any visitors who would like to switch to sailing having arrived by air. 

Prospects & Visions

Solent Airport is owned by Fareham Borough Council and is operated by Regional & City Airports (RCA), part of the Rigby Group. FBC has invested substantially in the infrastructure and development of the airport, rescuing it from disuse to create a thriving GA airfield with great potential. When Fareham Borough Council bought the 360 acre site in 2015, it published its vision for the airfield: 

“Our vision is for Solent Airport Daedalus to become a premier location for aviation, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses, creating many skilled employment opportunities for local people, under-pinned by a vibrant and sustainable airfield. Building on the existing general aviation uses, the airfield will be an attractive destination for visiting aircraft and will offer the hangars, facilities and services to attract more corporate and commercial aviation activities, allowing it to be self-sustaining in the medium term and contribute positively to the local community.” 

The airport is currently in negotiations with Air Alderney to discuss the possibility of providing scheduled flights to and from Alderney in the Channel Islands. Charter flights are already in operation and Air Alderney is very keen to commence scheduled flights and to open a maintenance facility at the airport next year (2023). 

To accommodate scheduled flights would involve building an airport terminal. This would inevitably become a significant addition to the airport which would be a draw for other operators. The Council has allocated an additional £1.3m to accommodate performance-based navigation and upgrade runway lighting. In addition, the airport is also looking at taxiway and aircraft parking improvements. 

 A Community Airport

All airports provide jobs and opportunities for local businesses but Fareham Borough Council hsa gone one step further by ensuring that the local community benefits from the airport in other ways. 

The airport has a close relationship with local schools and colleges, participating in career days and facilitating school tours. This allows young people in the community to be involved in the airport's plans and lets them see the potential aviation careers available to them. 

Furthermore, the airport plans to run a graduate trainee scheme which will give young people an opportunity to pursue a career in aviation. This demonstrates Solent Airport's dedication to the community and its commitment to providing access to jobs and careers in aviation and its ancillary industries. 

In addition, the heritage of the airport is preserved and enhanced by the activities of the Daedalus Aviation & Heritage Group, a not-for-profit organisation made up of local volunteers, and an amalgamation of the Lee Flying Association and the Gosport Aviation Society. For more information, visit daedalusaviation.org.