NEWS AND EVENTS
Our events diary provides an overview of forthcoming events and reports
and memories of those already held.
Contributions to this section are always welcome
29th & 30th July 2023 - LAA Fly in
Easter once again hosted this event over 2 days. Over 25 aircraft visited and much banter exchanged!
20th July 2023 - Beauty and the Beasts
Easter Airfield hosted a fashion photographic shoot with 2 of our resident aircraft participating along with two supercars. Successful day and all of the models seemed to enjoy the setting.
24th June 2023 - Summer fly in
Great day with more than 30 aircraft attending and great weather. Many thanks to all who made the trip to Easter Ross and hope you had a memorable day.
Photos of the day are on the Gallery section.
9th June 2023 - Air Flash visitors from France (Amiens-Glisy)
We were delighted to host Air Flash overnight at Easter on their tour of the UK. 20 light aircraft, mostly Gyros, arrived with one of the best support teams we have seen. Great time had by all and they managed a visit to a local distillery as well. Great to have them at Easter! Photos on the gallery and a small view montage below in the video section.
30th April 2023 - Spring fly in.
While we had reasonable weather around Easter Ross, the weather across the rest of the country was miserable. So the fly in consisted mainly of local aircraft and faces. Still some good craic, music and burgers! We managed a dozen visiting aircraft, so all was not lost. See the home page for a gallery of the aircraft and a wee video to mark the occasion. Thanks to all who attended and supported us.
Look forward to our next event on 24th June.
30th January 2023 - Fly in schedule for 2023 - We hope to see you at Easter!
Spring fly in - Sunday 30th April
Summer fly in - Saturday 24th June
Light Aircraft Association (LAA) Highland Strut fly in - Sat/Sun 29 & 30th July
1st December 2022 - Flyer Magazine article on Easter Airfield and the proposed Anaerobic Digestion Plant
https://flyer.co.uk/easter-airfield-threatened-by-proposed-biodigester-plant/
29th November 2022 - Safeguard Easter Airfield
Since 2007, we have been steadily evolving into a destination of choice for General Aviation in Scotland and the Highlands. Our client base has extended to include several types of stakeholder from based aircraft, visiting private operators, flight training organisations and commercial operations serving the Highlands economy. Over the years we have added additional hangarage and runway length to continue to demonstrate our ability to thrive as a significant contributor to Aviation in the region.
There is however, a significant threat to continued safe operation of the airfield in the shape of a development of an Anaerobic Digestion plant to be located just 40 metres from the 24/06 runway. This plant is planned to have
- Gas venting and flaring, explosive atmospheric conditions
- Rising Thermal plumes
- Large digestion tanks, flaring towers
- Significant bodies of water
- Difficult to maintain material detritu
These are important considerations for users of the airfield, especially as they impact low approach and critical phases of flight. In particular :
- Dynamic flaring could pose a sudden distraction to pilots, particularly in low light conditions.
- Rising heat (thermal plumes) causing flight turbulence at low levels and low speed
- We always work to reduce the wildlife impact on our airfield, but the bodies of water, detritus and frankly the smell, will attract birdlife, waterfowl, invertebrates and birds of prey. These significantly increase bird strike risk for the users of our airfield.
So, we are hoping that our General Aviation users are able to help oppose this development with a robust, considered response to what is now a full planning application. If you can help, please click the link below where you can find full details and click ‘Make a Comment’ to give your considered comments.
We don’t have many airfields in Scotland. Please help remove this threat from Easter
Many Thanks
30th & 31st July LAA Fly in hosted by Easter Airfield
We hosted the LAA fly in for 2022 at Easter. A resounding success. See the attached video for a summary of the fly in!
25th September 2021 Autumn Leaves fly in
Weather curtailed visitors from the south, but we still managed 25 visiting aircraft to our Autumn fly in. Many thanks to all who made the trip to Easter Ross.
19th & 20th June 2021 Midsummer fly in
See our video montage of some of the participants. Credit to Jim Simpson for his stunning images.
4th, 5th & 6th SEPTEMBER 2020 - Autumn Leaves Fly-In
What a great weekend of flying at Easter. Thanks to everyone who attended... we had 58 visitors over the weekend from all over the United Kingdom. We hope you enjoyed the get together as much as we enjoyed putting the event on. That completes our organised fly-ins for this year.
While we only managed 2 due to the covid thing, they were a great success. As always, you are welcome to visit anytime, and if the weather looks good, we will have pop-up events. We are already planning next years dates, so keep an eye out for announcements. Haste Ye back!
20th & 21st June 2020 - Summer Solstice and Longest Day fly in
Many thanks to all who attended the longest day fly-in on 20th June. We were blessed with fantastic weather and 30+ arrivals from all over
the UK. While we were not able to socialise as much as we are used to, and while it was strictly 'bring your own catering', it did get us up in the air again. Thanks to all who made the effort to attend and hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did.
12th September 2019 - Freedom Aviation trip to Russia
Freedom Aviation from Kemble Airfield in the Cotswolds dropped in on Easter on their air safari to Russia. No mean undertaking in a Piper Warrior! The pilots pictured having coffee in their 'Fly Easter' mugs.
27th June 2019 - Fly UK visits Easter Airfield
Once again, Easter Airfield hosted the Fly UK charity initiative which saw over 30 aircraft coming and going during the day. Many aircraft and their occupants stayed overnight at Easter in tents and enjoyed the BBQ provided.
15th-16th June 2019 - 10th Anniversary Fly-In
To celebrate our 10th Anniversary, we hosted a fly in over the weekend of 15/16 June which was very well attended.
21st April 2019 - Early season event - Easter @ Easter fly-in
Fabulous weather (eventually!) and a great turn out this early in the year. 45 aircraft attended in total. Many thanks to all who managed to get to Easter Ross.
24th September 2018 - New resident at Easter,
G-AVSA is a PA28-180 arrived 24th September 2018. Owned and operated by Easter Flying Group.
14th September 2018 City AM article on the Carnegie Club
The private plane I’m boarding at South London’s Biggin Hill would be ideal for anyone who owns a desert island or alpine ski lodge. It’s a multi-talented Pilatus PC-12 NG.
My destination is closer to home but even more exclusive: The Carnegie Club at Scotland’s Skibo Castle.
My pilot, Edwin Brenninkmeyer, who is also Pilatus’s distributor for the British Isles, describes the PC-12 as an SUV of the skies. You can go anywhere and do anything you want with it. It can take off and land in very short distances on unmetalled surfaces such as gravel, snow or, as confirmed when we touched down with barely a bump on the tiny Easter airfield near Tain, grass.
Emerging from the BMW-designed cabin, we’re met with a proper Highlands welcome. A kilted bagpiper giving it a lung-full. The music comes courtesy of David Munro, a friendly farmer and owner of this picturesque airstrip who is such a fan of aviation he doesn’t charge a landing fee. When he heard a PC-12 was coming he laid out the tartan carpet.
This is the most popular aircraft of its kind because it’s so flexible and cost-effective. Swiss-built, Pilatus is privately-owned and has been trading for nearly 80 years. A lot of their customers are owner-fliers because the PC-12 only requires one pilot, and the luxurious cabin can be arranged with seating for six to ten passengers. The room inside is greater than most medium-sized jets costing twice as much, while its ultra-reliable single turboprop engine is so economical it’s cheaper to take this than fly commercial.
17th June 2018 - James Hayward Memorial fly in
Easter Airfield and the Highland Aero Club will be honouring the life of our friend, James Hayward on the 17th June 2018 by hosting a fly-in at Easter. James was always a big contributor to our past fly-ins and we felt that this would be a fitting way for friends and fellow aviators to recognise his many flying contributions to our lives, but more importantly, his friendship.
Feel free to come by car or air.
Free Hog Roast
No landing fees
Please see our Conditions of Use and Pilot Information on the website. PPR applies.
Full toilet facilities in the portacabin.
Hope to see you there by air or road.
7th May 2018 Easter numbers update
The runway at Easter is being enhanced with 06/24 number designators in concrete in preparation for the 2018 flying season. Concrete is planned for install on Monday 23rdApril. Many thanks to the Highland Aero Club for their donation to improve the facility at Easter.
24th December 2017 - James Hayward
It is with great sadness that we record the unexpected passing of James Hayward. James was an integral part of the flying scene in the Highlands as an AME, Flying Instructor, Examiner and flying buddy. We have shared many fantastic flying events and experiences with him at Easter Airfield over the years. James will be sorely missed as a mentor for many, but mostly as a treasured friend. RIP.
ARCHIVED ITEMS
January 2018 edition Flyer Magazine
Easter Airfield features again in this article on Freedom Aviation's Scandinavian adventure. No ordinary club bimble... PA28s to the Arctic Circle, Scandinavia and the Russian border. www.flyer.co.uk
December 2017 edition Flyer Magazine
Easter Airfield features in this East coast of Scotland tour. Paul Kiddell and his Eurostar friends spend 24 hours exploring Scotland's less flown but spectacular coast.
Wednesday 21st June 2017
Fly UK visit to Easter
Tuesday, 13th June 2017
Arrival of new resident, G-BEZC, Easter Flying Group's AA5 from Southend on Sea.
Sunday 28th May 2017
Eurostars at Easter
Thursday, 27th April 2017
Freedom Aviation visit to Easter.
Sunday, April 16th 2017
Easter at Easter Fly in
David Munro presents the prize to Nigel Campbell flying G-MACI for winning the spot landing competition
Saturday, 5th November 2016
Bonfire night @ Easter
All Videos
