Carlisle Airport
CARLISLE: Civil regional airport, military aerodrome during WW2, later regional airport again
(Also known as CROSBY or more correctly RAF CROSBY-on-EDEN in WW2. Also known as CUMBERLAND AIRPORT?)
Note: In 2016 I noticed that the name had been changed once again to: CARLISLE LAKE DISTRICT AIRPORT
We have Mike Holder, a great friend of this 'Guide', to thank for providing four of these maps and pictures.
Note that the 1947 aerial photo shows the two shorter cross runways as being disused. The local area and area views are from my Google Earth © derived database.
ICAO Code: EGNC
Operated by: Post 1945: Casair Ltd
1965: Cumberland Aviation Services Ltd
1980s/1990s: County Borough of Carlisle
2000: Carlisle City Council
2009: Stobart Air
Military users: WW2: RAF Transport Command 44 Group
105 OTU (Dakotas)
109 OTU (Dakotas)
Activities: Post 1945: Airline, charter, GA business, private, training, parachuting and maintenance
British airline users: Post 1945: Air Ecosse, Air Navigation and Trading, Autair, BEA, BKS Air Transport, Derby Airways, BOAC, British Airways, Manx Airlines, New Air and Viking
Charter/air taxi: Post 1945: Air Navigation and Trading, Air Taxi (Cumberland), Casair
Flying school: Post 1945: Border Air Training, Carlisle Flight Centre, Casair, Cumberland Flying Club
1975: Oxford Air Training (Cherokees & Twin Commanches)
Maintainence: Post 1945: Air Navigation and Trading
Museum: Solway Aviation Museum (See museums article)
Location: N of B6264, 5 nm ENE of Carlisle
Period of operation: 1930s (?) to present day (military from 1941 to ?) I suspect this site was formed during WW2? The previous Carlisle airport site at KINGSTOWN being too small.
Note. These maps are reproduced with the kind permission of Pooleys Flight Equipment Ltd. Copyright Robert Pooley 2014.
Runways:
WW2: 07/25 1828x46 hard 01/19 1280x46 hard 13/31 1280x46 hard
1965: 07/25 1839x46 hard 01/19 1290x46 hard 13/31 1256x46 hard
1990: 07/25 1837x30 hard 01/19 1288x23 hard 13/31 909x46 hard
2000: 07/25 1837x30 hard 01/19 938x23 hard
NOTES: The airport has also been used in fairly recent years by military exercises using large transport types like the RAF Lockheed Hercules.
Note: Picture by the author:
There was an attempt to establish an aviation museum here. Has it become a success? In 1992 it appeared that the exhibits comprised a Gloster Meteor, an English Electric Canberra and an Avro Vulcan.
In the 1930s CARLISLE was also spelt CARLYLE so was this the same aerodrome listed in the 1939 Reading Aero Club airfield guide? I am much more inclined today to think that KINGSTOWN was the more likely site for the ‘regional airport’ in the 1930s?
DERBY AIRWAYS
The only airline I have discovered so far, to use Carlisle for scheduled services are Derby Airways in the early 1960s who called here en route from Derby (BURNASTON) to Belfast twice a week. From April 1963 Derby Airways introduced a twice weekly London (GATWICK) service, using Dakotas. Needless to say this region will always remain a ‘backwater’ within the UK and the services were quickly withdrawn due to lack of interest/support.
CAN THIS BE CONFIRMED?
It appears that in the 1970s, possibly earlier, British Airways were flying Viscounts into here to make connections at PRESTWICK with their trans-Atlantic flights.
THE LARGEST AIRLINER TO VISIT?
It appears that in December 1988, Pan Am arranged a charter using one of their Boeing 727s, (a type usually used on their connecting flights between major European airports - including HEATHROW), for grieving relatives to visit the crash site of Pan Am Flight 103, which came down on Lockerbie after a bomb exploded on board. (Lockerbie is 25 miles to the NW of this airport).
THE EDDIE STOBART CONNECTION
When the well known Eddie Stobart road haulage company purchased CARLISLE airport from the Council in 2006 it was said they intended to develop the “airport” into being a much more significant regional airport and possibly to develop an air-freight operation. I might be mistaken but even by 2012 little progress had been made?
Note: These views were taken in late September 2018 by Mike Charlton. The terminal is due to open in early 2019.
When I first heard of the Eddie Stobbart concern buying up Carlisle airport I had assumed it would be an air freight hub. It might well be, but it seems that passenger services could be the main focus.
Having long been a fan of the development of regional airports, not just in the UK but globally, I do hope this enterprise succeeds.
GREAT NEWS
Although this 'Guide' is intended to be of historical interest, there must be exceptions to 'prove the rule'. In 2020 I discovered that CARLISLE airport has finally got going, and despite the Covid 19 pandemic crisis, it would seem that the future is assured in a way it has never been in the past as it lurched from one failed enterprise to another.
Possibly the first operator to kick things off was Loganair, chartering aircraft from Nyxair based at Tallinn in Estonia, with a service to SOUTHEND for example. But now it seems, (in August 2020), easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air are offering flights ranging from Bucharest in Romania, to the 'Costa Packet' destinations in southern Spain. Do let us hope these endeavours continue.
Chris Baker
This comment was written on: 2017-02-03 20:17:21Gained my PPL here in the summer of 1964, flying Auster Aiglets and Beagle Terriers, with Cumberland Flying Club. I was on a 2 week RAF Flying Scholarship course, awarded while I was at Liverpool Institute CCF. Joined RAF in 1965. 12 years RAF and 18 years airlines. So this is where it all began, apart from gliding licence in CCF. Happy days!
Reply from Dick Flute:
Hi Chris, Many thanks indeed for those lovely memories. Best regards, Dick
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