City Airport & Heliport Salford/Barton Aerodrome |
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Summary | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Manchester Ship Canal Developments | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Operator | City Airport Ltd | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Serves | Manchester/Salford | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Barton-upon-Irwell, Eccles | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 73 ft / 22 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 53°28′18″N 002°23′23″W / 53.47167°N 2.38972°WCoordinates: 53°28′18″N 002°23′23″W / 53.47167°N 2.38972°W | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | www.cityairportandheliport.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Location in Greater Manchester | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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City Airport (ICAO: EGCB) is a general aviation airport in the Barton-upon-Irwell area of Eccles, in the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England. Formerly known as Barton Aerodrome and City Airport Manchester, it is known by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) as Manchester/Barton.
It is situated 5 nautical miles (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) west of Manchester and was the United Kingdom's first purpose-built municipal airport. Featuring four grass runways, it is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the UK. The airfield operates seven days a week, from 9 am (8.15am winter) until 8pm or sunset (whichever earlier) for fixed-wing aircraft. Commercial, private, military, police and air ambulance helicopters can operate during the hours of darkness by arrangement, as the airfield can be equipped with portable runway lighting.
The airport is also used as a refuelling stop for light aircraft and helicopters. However, it lies on the edge of Chat Moss and the aircraft movements area suffers from occasional periods of waterlogging, restricting fixed wing operations at those times. Recent works to improve drainage on the airfield have seen some success in reducing the number of closures.
Manchester Barton Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P886) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (City Airport Limited). The aerodrome is not licensed for night use.
City Airport has changed little since its opening, and is considered a good example of the airfields of the 1930s. There are several historical items of note at Barton. The control tower is protected by its grade II listed building status, along with the original terminal building and hangar.
The airfield is regularly used as a setting for films and TV programmes, amongst them "Brass" (where Barton masqueraded as Croydon Airport), Mersey Beat, GBH and Island at War. The distinctive control tower often features prominently in the making of such programmes and films.