Pilot reviews of Elstree Airfield

The Airfield has come a long way in recent times, the restaurant is nice, the taxi ways have been improved, the maintenance facility is great and the staff are nice and welcoming.

The guys in the tower are much nicer now

I just want to second what others say about the ATC here. Those providing the 'service' are the rudest, most incompetent and most unhelpful I have ever encountered.

The runway slopes up from East to West and there is often a lot of turbulence over trees when landing. Both these aspects are inevitable given the lie of the land.

What is not inevitable is the poor state of the runway, with several potholes near the centre line. The grass taxiways linking the apron with the 08 threshold and the narrow uneven concrete taxiways to the fuel point are also in substandard condition

Although Pooleys specifies 'standard overhead join' there is nothing standard about the vast strangely-shaped noise-abatement circuits at Elstree which are flown by based aircraft and anyone in the know. There is therefore a good chance that pilots arriving for the first time on a standard overhead join will come into conflict with aircraft already in the circuit and approaching from unexpected directions. (When a pilot announces 'downwind' one can only guess where he is and in which direction he is flying)

Expect little help from the FISO in the tower. In hundreds of flying hours using airfields in several countries I have never encountered such rude, unhelpful ATC as I have here.

Never again! It started with my own foolish mistake leaving a bag in the cafe with important valuables. The tower put the phone down, they were too busy. The cafe number does not work, goodness knows whose number it is and the restaurant flatly refused ( with some choice language) to go next door. Fortunately a flying instructor known to a friend helped out 24 hrs later.

GA is probably the friendliest sport I have known. What a shame that a great airfield cannot get it right.

Brilliant. What more to say. Found really good videos on youtube to watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gvjZSNOfqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1f4d2aZdi0

Flew into Elstree Saturday May 12th. Fantastic airfield. FISO was very busy and did a brilliant job. Friendly welcome. Landing charge very reasonable for such a well maintained busy airfield close to London. Will definitely visit again.

Being a young student pilot at Elstree, it is an absolutely wonderful airfield to be based at. I am a member of the recently opened 'Falcon Flying School' where the support and general all round atmosphere is phenomenal, all the instructors are all very considerate and teach phenomenally. The airfield itself is also very good (especially for training) the 08 and 26 approaches are very fun and relatively easy to execute unless under turbulent winds. The FISO is very good and is very helpful at the same time. Flying relatively often, I know the airfield back to front, with the hangar, the pooleys shop (which has all the equipment for flying), and the restaurants (The Elstree Aerodrome Café and The 3 Greens restaurant). Overall EGTR is a brilliant airfield to be at, especially as a student, and I thoroughly recommend not just for its flying, but for its phenomenal atmosphere and all round friendliness!

Elstree is improving all the time. It has done significant work on the runway and is now an excellent place to go to if you want to head into London.

There is a new school there FLY ELSTREE LTD. Worth looking at if you want to start or continue to learn how to fly. (Ab Inito, IMC, night ratings, etc).

There are also new owners in the old aeroclub. I went there Saturday for a bacon sandwich and a latte and could not move - the 3 Greeens restaurant was not so busy.

Cabair has now gone from Elstree.

I have always found the FISOs to be very helpful.

Despite some misgivings it proved a pleasant enough experience. My partner and I had lunch at the new 3 Greens restaurant (premises taken over from the previous sad cafe). An excellent meal (the owners mum is the chef!), although the plates could have been warmed (we're slow eaters).

Afterwards we went for a stroll around the nearby country park. Pity the good people of Watford have to make do for what is a poor substitute for Hampstead Heath. The kids were having fun in the "100 Aker Wood".