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IN THE MATTER OF BAGBY AIRFIELD ENFORCEMENT APPEALS

Enforcement Notice relating to fuel facilities on site (APP/G2713/C/15/3087177)

Enforcement Notice relating to taxiway works (APP/G2713/C/14/3000758)

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PROOF OF EVIDENCE OF STEVE HOYLE

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I, STEVE HOYLE of 9 Castle Yard Stables, Thirsk, YO7 1TG WILL SAY AS FOLLOWS:

1 I am presently the Airfield Manager at Bagby Airfield (the Airfield), having started work at the

Airfield in September 2009 approximately three years after Mr Martin Scott's purchase of the

Airfield from John Dundon in September 2006. Prior to my becoming the Airfield Manager, I was

an aero-club member based at the Airfield from at least 2002, having secured my pilot's licence

(PPL) in 2003. Before moving to the Airfield, I flew microlight aircraft out of Baxby Airfield near

Husthwaite, which is approximately three miles south of the Airfield. Baxby Airfield caters only

for microlight aircraft.

2 The facts within this statement are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. If any facts which

are not within my direct knowledge are referred to, then the source will be identified.

BACKGROUND

3 Before gaining employment at the Airfield, I worked as a technician in various capacities for local

employers in the field of plant and equipment, both in relation to their manufacture and operation.

I am a qualified HGV Class I driver and plant operator.

4 During my former employment for VT Aerospace I worked at the nearby military airfields of RAF

Leeming and RAF Linton On Ouse, where my primary responsibility was to refuel military fast

jets using a mobile fuel tanker.

APPEAL A: TAXIWAY – ENFORCEMENT NUMBER APP/G2713/C/14/3000758

5 Photographs of the old Taxiway taken on 28.07.14 appear at Appendix 1. These photographs

demonstrate the condition of the Taxiway prior to the improvement works undertaken.

6 For the benefit of this enforcement appeal I will continue to refer to the tarmacadam (tarmac) area

in question as “The Taxiway” but in fact it performs all of the following functions:

6.1 A link to and from the hangars at the north end of the Airfield to the Avgas refuelling

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facility, the runway and the grassed parking area;

6.2 A link to and from the hangars at the south end of the Airfield to the Avgas refuelling

facility, the runway and the grassed parking area;

6.3 A link to and from each hangar to the aircraft engineering facility operated by Mr Graham

Fox;

6.4 A road to and from the access road for road going vehicles delivering aircraft parts to

Graham Fox Aircraft Engineering. Aircraft parts are often palletised and need to be

unloaded onto a firm and level surface;

6.5 A road to and from the access road for vehicles delivering Avgas to the Avgas refuelling

facility at the north end of the Airfield and Jet A1 when required.

7 The Taxiway prior to the improvement works was constructed from tarmac and concrete with geo-

textile matting in intermittent places to fill in where the Taxiway edges had been degraded over the

years. These plastic tiles measuring, approximately a further foot at either side of the Taxiway were

installed by me early on in my term as Manager at the Airfield, along with the tiles on the main

runway, which were the subject of an earlier successful Planning Appeal by Mr Scott on 28 June

2011 (APP/G2713/A/10/2123183). The purpose of the geo-textile matting at the side of the

Taxiway was to shore up areas of tarmac Taxiway which had eroded away with time and to ease

the transfer of aircraft from tarmac to grass where the tarmac edge had become worn or unstable.

8 Following my own observations and comments made by a number of home based and visiting

pilots it was I who first advised Mr Scott that the poor condition of the Taxiway was beginning to

pose a significant problem, and indeed a safety risk. The Taxiway surface was beginning to crack

apart and crumble, particularly at the edges and loose material was emerging across its entire

breadth. It is very important that loose material cannot be picked up by propeller wash (the

disturbed mass of air pushed aft by the propeller of an aircraft). Loose material travelling at high

velocity in propeller wash can pose a very significant risk to bystanders, aircraft windscreens and

the propellers themselves.

9 Remedial work, involving regular sweeping of the area to remove loose debris and then pouring

liquid tar into the cracks to bond the edges and prevent further spread, had already been tried by

me but this had proved to be an inadequate solution to the problem. Mr Scott agreed that a more

robust solution needed to be found and so with Mr Scott’s approval I arranged for the resurfacing

works to be carried out.

10 Measurements of the Taxiway prior to improvement works were not taken, but from Google

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satellite photographs taken on 24.05.09 the Taxiway prior to the improvement works measure at

variable widths between 4.16 and 6.37 metres wide depending upon the exact position that a

measurement is taken.

11 The contractor employed to carry out the resurfacing work was Chesterton Surfacing. The price

quoted for this work was £6,804.50 + VAT. A copy of Chesterton Surfacing’s quote number 0762

is appended to this statement at Appendix 2. The quote included tarmacking and levelling only

and involved no more than resurfacing what was already there. I also attach a copy of the invoice

for this work at Appendix 3.

12 Before quoting for the works Jimmy Crickmore of Chesterton Surfacing visited the site. I showed

him the area to be repaired and resurfaced. At this visit to the site Mr Crickmore advised that the

edge foundations were in a poor state of repair and that if the Taxiway was to be resurfaced properly

he recommended that the edge foundations would need some attention in order to ensure that a neat

and sound edge was obtained. Chesterton Surfacing were booked for Friday 1 August 2014,

however, this was pushed back till the week commencing 4 August 2014. They were on site for

approximately two days.

13 Before the contractors arrived on site, in line with Mr Crickmore’s recommendation, I stripped

back approximately two feet of tarmac on the right hand edge of the Taxiway along with the

foundation layer with a mini digger. My recollection is that some of the geo-textile matting was

also removed along the right hand edge of the Taxiway but on the left hand side this matting was

left in place as that side of the Taxiway had not been subject to the constant wear of the aircraft

travelling over the edge to park outside the Airfield's clubhouse. The invoice for this mini digger

is appended at Appendix 4. In the trench created by digging up these layers I then laid new stone

so as to create a stable and straight edge for the Taxiway. These works followed roughly the line

of the original Taxiway but ensured it was straight. Chesterton Surfacing then arrived on site and

tarmacked over the Taxiway to provide a smooth and level surface for aircraft. I oversaw the works

undertaken by the contractors when they were at the Airfield. I do not believe that any of these

works increased the width of the original Taxiway in any appreciable way, or indeed at all, although

it is possible that, incidentally, there may have been some straightening of lines involved which I

thought were inconsequential.

14 Tim Wood from Hambleton District Council visited the Airfield on 4 August 2014 and saw the

works prior to the tarmac being laid but immediately after the original tarmac had been cut back

and the hardcore stone had been replaced. I spoke to him during his visit and he did not indicate

that what was being undertaken was wrong or contrary to planning control. He took some

photographs and commented that he would take these photographs showing the work in progress,

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so that he could reassure the locals, if asked, as to the nature of the repair and maintenance work

actually being carried out.

15 I believe that the Taxiway was resurfaced to the same length and width as it was previously, subject

to only minor areas which were reinforced or filled in to form a straight and sound edge to the

Taxiway or to cover over areas which due to trafficking had been incorporated as part of the

Taxiway by the deposit of grit and gravel over the years the Taxiway had been in place. This would

apply particularly to the areas either side of the Taxiway, adjacent to the hangars nearest to the

clubhouse where the most erosion had been seen to have taken place.

16 As the photograph at Appendix 5 demonstrates, the new tarmac Taxiway width varies as to

something between 4.8 metres in width and 5.4 metres on average. Whilst it is possible that there

may be areas which were widened slightly, due to the necessary reinforcing of the edges of the

Taxiway, I believe as I have said above that overall the tarmac surface area has not increased.

APPEAL B: JET TANK - (APP/G2713/C/15/3087177)

17 There are currently two mobile fuel tanks on site, the Red Fuel Facility and the Blue Fuel Facility.

The Tank that forms part of the Red Fuel Facility (the Red Tank) was the subject of enforcement

action by the Council in its previous position to the south of the runway. At this point the Red Tank

was freestanding and replaced a previous tank that had been there since well before Mr Scott’s

ownership of the Airfield in 2006, having been installed sometime in 1992. The previous tank was

known as the ‘Total Tank’ as the photograph at Appendix 6 shows it was a large tank on wheels

contained within a concrete bund and could hold up to 20,000 litres of Jet A1 fuel. In 2011 it was

replaced by the Red Tank, which can hold up to 13,000 litres of Jet A1 fuel (but placed on the floor

of the concrete bund, rather than on wheels).

18 The original Red Tank at that time was in a fixed location within a bund, which Mr Scott was made

to remove following that enforcement appeal.

19 Since the time of the enforcement appeal decision, the Red Tank was taken off site to be mounted

on the red trailer. The red trailer was purchased on 29 July 2014 by Mr Scott from R&I Platt

Farming for the sum of £5,500 + VAT (invoice attached at Appendix 7). It was delivered to the

Airfield on 30 July 2014. The Red Tank was mounted onto the trailer using the facilities at Oliver’s

Transport located in Rainton, Thirsk. Fabrication work was required in order to safely secure the

Red Tank to the trailer. The works included lifting the tank onto the trailer and securing it in

position with bolts, the pipework was then connected by Ashley Lawson for a cash sum of £25.00

taken from Petty Cash on 30th July 2014. Apart from the connection works, the fabrication works

were undertaken by me at Oliver's Transport using some of their equipment prior to delivery of the

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tanker in full working order. The choice of trailer was dictated by its size (sufficient to carry the

Red Tank and the plant required to deliver the fuel, its ability to bear the weight when fully loaded

and its use of agricultural tyres, minimising damage to the ground when being positioned anywhere

at the Airfield. Due to this the trailer/tank solution was thought to be a better option than a lorry

tanker which can damage the land when trafficking, particularly in wet weather.

20 Once mounted on the trailer and secured in place, the Red Tank together with its accessories (pump

housing generator and the like) was towed back to the Airfield with the tractor. The facility is

entirely self-contained and is powered by a freestanding diesel generator, which is located on the

trailer. It requires no external power source to operate. The fuel facility is moved around the site to

whichever aircraft requires refuelling. Photographs at Appendix 8 show the Red Tank at different

locations around the Airfield.

21 When the Red Tank requires repair it is road worthy and can be towed off the Airfield by a tractor

using the tractor number plates. It requires routine maintenance annually for pressure testing and

calibration and a biennial internal clean. This takes place on site but if major repair work is required

the facility is taken off site. Attached is a maintenance invoice (dated October 2015) from

Yorkshire Aviation Services for this facility (Appendix 9).

22 In relation to the Blue Fuel Facility (Blue Tank), Mr Scott does not own this facility. It is on a free

of charge long term loan from Cyma Petroleum. A mobile tank on the trailer was ordered by Mr

Scott from Cyma, but the size was not specified. Cyma Petroleum delivered the 25,000 litre

capacity Blue Tank on 24 July 2014 by articulated wagon, including fuel. Attached at Appendix

10 is an invoice for the delivery of the Blue Fuel facility together with fuel.

23 The Blue Tank was brought to the Airfield to provide additional storage of Jet A1 fuel, primarily

for use of Mr Harpin’s resident helicopters but also it is used for refuelling visiting helicopters or

aircraft that use Jet A1. Mr Harpin's helicopters are G-HPIN and G-ORDH, they are both hangered

at Bagby in a single sole occupancy hangar. He uses these helicopters for business purposes and

commuting.

24 The Blue Tank can be towed by a tractor or by an articulated wagon as it has a dolly unit attached

to enable towing. This fuel facility is also moved around the Airfield to locations where the aircraft

land. Photos of it off site as well as being in different locations and being moved around the Airfield

are appended at Appendix 11.

25 We have not been required to take the Blue Tank off site for maintenance due to the nature of the

loan. If there were any issues, we would ask Cyma Petroleum to deal with any maintenance of this

facility at which point it would most likely be taken away and replaced with another tanker. The

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Blue Tank is however road worthy and self-contained which requires no external power source

much like the Red Tank .It is intended that it be used in the future for collection of fuel should this

be economically advantageous, indeed I recommended to Mr Scott that in future any replacement

tanks should be fully integrated and road worthy so that we can secure fuel direct from the docks

if the price allows, giving us much more flexibility than has been enjoyed in the past.

26 From my experience visiting General Aviation (‘GA’) Airfields, it is normal practice to have both

fixed positions of fuel facilities as well as mobile fuel facilities on trailers towed by tractors or by

tankers. A couple of examples are Baxby Airfield located three miles south of the Airfield at

Husthwaite, nearby Wombleton Airfield, and Durham Tees Valley Airport.

27 It appears to be the assumption of a few residents of Bagby Village that if the Airfield is forced to

get rid of fuel facilities than this will end all helicopter aircraft movements. This is not the case not

least because helicopters use both Avgas and Jet A1. Whilst the heavier helicopters, commercially

operated tend to use Jet A1, these in my view cause least annoyance for the simple reason that they

tend not to operate at weekends (when more people are likely to be at home). I understand that Mr

Scott would replace the current mobile fuel facilities, if he was required to remove them, with fully

road-going fuel tankers or towable fuel bowsers (an example is given at Appendix 12), and he

would continue to provide mobile fuel facilities, in particular for Jet A1 fuel.

28 Finally I would confirm that since 2011 all ATMs are recorded in the Airfield log book, this being

a compulsory requirement of the Airfield along with the maintenance of a compliant book. On the

few occasions that a flight takes place that is not recorded I will ensure as far as I can that the

details are completed in the log and similarly all part time staff are instructed to undertake this

function so that no flights go unrecorded. As I am at the Airfield many hours a day I am confident

that flight recording is accurate but in any event I would point out that there are now a number of

Apps (software applications) available on the market that ensure that aircraft in a particular locality

can be monitored so that numbers in a given time period can be tracked if anyone finds it necessary

to verify the figures kept by the Airfield.

Dated this day ……26 April 2016……………

STEVE HOYLE

SH Appendix 1:

Taxiway Photographs Prior August 2014

SH Appendix 2:

Chesterton Quote for works to Taxiway

SH Appendix 3:

Invoice from Chesterton for Taxiway Works

SH Appendix 4:

Digger Invoice

SH Appendix 5:

Photographs of the Taxiway post works

SH Appendix 6:

Photographs of the Total Tank

SH Appendix 7:

Invoice for Red Trailer

SH Appendix 8:

Red Fuel Facility Photographs

SH Appendix 9:

Red Fuel Facility Maintenance Invoice

SH Appendix 10:

Invoice for the Blue Fuel Facility

SH Appendix 11:

Photographs of the Blue Fuel Facility.

SH Appendix 12:

Advert for towable Airfield Fuel Bowser