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Cranfield Airport

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About Cranfield Airport

Cranfield Airport is an airport near Cranfield, in the Central Bedfordshire council area, East of England, England. The site sits at 360 ft above sea level, and open data lists one runway (03/21), the longest about 5,902 ft (1,799 m), surfaced with ASP. We have not yet checked its own website for a helicopter policy, so treat it as unconfirmed. The nearest major towns and cities are Milton Keynes (6.4 miles), Towcester (16 miles) and Northampton (17 miles), measured in a straight line; the closest railway station is Lidlington, 3.2 miles away; the nearest hospital with an A&E department is Milton Keynes University Hospital, 6.0 miles away. A typical twin helicopter could fly from here to Battersea Heliport in London in roughly 29 minutes, about 39 nautical miles in a straight line. It is one of 9 landing sites we list in Central Bedfordshire.

Compiled from open data (OurAirports), the council and postcode lookup, railway station and hospital data, and the site's own website where it says anything about helicopters. It is information only; confirm everything with the site.

Weather here

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TypeAirport
NationEngland
Nearest placeCranfield, Central Bedfordshire
Position52°04′19.9″N 0°37′00.0″W
52.07220, -0.61667
Elevation360 ft
Map and directionsOpen in Google Maps · Directions
Official websitecranfieldairport.co.uk
Helicopter informationNot yet researched
Not yet researched
0321N

Runway layout drawn from open data (not to scale).

Rules, contacts and pilot data

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Daylight

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UK night is from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. Times are UK local time, calculated for this position.

Local council and planning

Council areaCentral Bedfordshire
RegionEast of England, England
Nearest postcodeMK43 0DA

In England, planning law gives a right to use land for certain temporary purposes for up to 28 days a year. Whether that covers a particular helicopter landing is a question for the planning authority, and some land is excluded. Read the landing rules.

Find this council’s website · Planning Portal

Getting there

Nearest railway stations

  • Lidlington 3.2 mi · about 8 min by road
  • Ridgmont 3.3 mi · about 9 min by road
  • Aspley Guise 3.6 mi · about 9 min by road

Straight-line distance; road times are rough estimates (approx.). Check your own route.

Eat, drink and stay nearby

Pubs and restaurants

  • Reggie's restaurant · 0.5 mi
  • The Swan pub · 0.5 mi
  • Cross Keys pub · 0.5 mi
  • Cranberries restaurant · 0.5 mi
  • CSA Bar pub · 0.5 mi
  • Blue Indiya restaurant · 0.5 mi

Places to stay

  • Number 25 guest house · 0.7 mi
  • Travelodge hotel · 2.7 mi
  • Willowmead B & B guest house · 2.8 mi
  • Moreteyne Manor hotel · 2.8 mi

Data from OpenStreetMap contributors. Not checked by us: confirm opening times and whether they welcome fly-in guests.

Safety

Nearest hospital with an A&E: Milton Keynes University Hospital · 6.0 mi

Hospital helipads nearby:

For information only. In an emergency, call 999.

Flight times from here

ToDistanceAbout
London (Battersea)40 nm29 min
Birmingham53 nm36 min
Southampton76 nm47 min
Norwich78 nm48 min
Bristol82 nm50 min
Cardiff102 nm59 min
Manchester103 nm1 h 00
Leeds109 nm1 h 03
Newcastle178 nm1 h 36
Jersey181 nm1 h 38

Approximate: a typical twin helicopter at 130 knots, with 5% for routing and 10 minutes for start-up and arrival. Not a flight plan; weather and routing change it.

Towns, cities and venues this site could serve

Main towns and cities nearby

Event sites and venues within 25 miles

Other airfields and heliports close by

Distances are straight-line; road times are rough estimates.

More landing sites in Central Bedfordshire

See all 9 sites in Central Bedfordshire

Questions about Cranfield Airport

Can helicopters land at Cranfield Airport?

We have not yet confirmed this. Many airfields welcome visiting helicopters, but policies differ and prior permission is common, so contact the airfield before you plan to land.

Do I need permission to land at Cranfield Airport?

Yes. Always get permission from the landowner or the airfield operator before you land. Many airfields ask for prior permission (PPR) by phone or email, and some charge a landing fee. Members can see any prior-permission note, contact and fee we hold in the rules section of this page, and the landing-rules guide explains planning, noise and airspace.

Where is Cranfield Airport?

Cranfield Airport is an airport at 52.0722, -0.6167, in the Central Bedfordshire council area of East of England, England. The nearest major town or city is Milton Keynes (6.4 miles in a straight line). The closest railway station is Lidlington (3.2 miles).

What is the nearest A&E to Cranfield Airport?

The nearest hospital with an emergency department that we have on file is Milton Keynes University Hospital, about 6.0 miles away in a straight line. In an emergency, call 999.

How long does it take to fly from Cranfield Airport to London?

To Battersea Heliport it is about 39 nautical miles in a straight line, which a typical twin helicopter flying at 130 knots could cover in roughly 29 minutes including start-up and arrival. It is an estimate, not a flight plan.

When can I land at Cranfield Airport?

Many private sites only accept landings in daylight, and UK night is counted from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise. The daylight table on this page is calculated for this exact position. Check the opening hours and any seasonal restrictions with the airfield.

Information only. Hours and policies change: confirm with the airfield before you fly. Private sites need the landowner's permission. Is this your site? Update or add your details.