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ILS Localiser Arrangement
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Typical ILS Localiser
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January 2007: Oxford Airport, just 45 minutes from the outskirts of London, has confirmed dates for the establishment of an instrument landing system (ILS) and new runway with ground works commencing in April 2007, to be concluded by the end of June 2007. Planning permission for the enhancements was granted in June 2006.
BBA Aviation plc, Oxford's parent company, has formally mandated the investment for the runway widening and strengthening, along with the installation of a Cat 1 Instrument Landing System and associated approach lights to the north of the airfield. The widening of the main 5,095 ft (1,553m) runway to 30m will allow for a Code 2C classification.
 During the construction period, the main runway (01/19) will be closed for four days each week for the greater part of this period from 20:00 hrs on Thursday nights to 07:30 hrs on Tuesday mornings (local times). However, the airport using its other runways will remain fully operational throughout the construction period. Oxford will also be restructuring operational capabilities to enhance fire cover (RFFS), increase opening hours and will consider raising its customs and immigration status to 'Customs Designated'.
These improvements will have a direct benefit for business aviation operations in particular, both private and public transport, but will now allow for the operation of smaller regional turboprop types, either on scheduled or ad-hoc chartered routes. The ILS will also permit much safer approaches whilst being of great benefit to Oxford's significant pilot training operations. This multimillion pound investment is the single largest infrastructure project on the airfield since the Second World War.
Steve Jones, Managing Director of Oxford Airport noted, “the airport hasn't seen this level of investment since the 1940s. We're in a great location and have unique advantages in terms of flexibility and ease of access, and with very few constraints on capacity or hours of operation, we're making the most of what this airport can offer to the business and regional aviation community”. Oxford has the flexibility to allow access between 06:00hrs and midnight, seven days a week, whilst being used to handling several hundred movements a day having once been the busiest single runway operation in the UK.
 With the same landing distance as London City airport, Oxford has gradually become recognised as a viable, lower-cost alternative to some of the established 'London' business aviation hubs. Although centred between the UK's industrial hub of the Midlands and London, with the statistically less congested M40 motorway as Oxford's arterial route to the capital, travel times to the west end of London are often little more than those from the more traditional choices for London business aviation traffic. Oxford city attracts the third highest number of international visitors in England outside of London, whilst the airport sits within a catchment area with over 4.8m residents in less than an hour's drive.
Download:
Airfield Plan with ILS works (PDF - 585kb)
Approach Lighting Section View (PDF - 450kb)
For further information and high resolution images contact:
Oxford Airport
James Dillon-Godfray, Head of Development & Marketing
Tel: 01865 290 710, Fax: 01865 290 605
E-mail: jdg@oxfordairport.co.uk
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