Skyward Flight Training’s search back on for new site as potential deal falls through following Rougham Airfield exit

The owner of a Suffolk flying school has said he is ‘back to square one’ after a potential deal for a new home for the business fell through.

Skyward Flight Training was given a letter from Rougham Estate in February this year, informing Chris Shepherd-Rose that his school had to leave the site’s airfield, near Bury St Edmunds, in May.

And though it looked like the school was near to closing, a possible new home was offered at the 11th hour – subject to approval from the site’s owners.

But due to the death of one of the people who was organising the deal for the site near to Cambridge, that option has now gone.

Chris said: “It is a massive shame that this could not be completed and does leaves us back at square one.

“Most landowners who do have strips do one to two movements a week but when we tell them we do around 50 a month, it has put people off.

“It has been such a nightmare and demoralising over the last four months in this search. I have looked at around 24 possible airfields and I am not going to stop until we find a suitable place.”

Ideally, the 71-year-old would like to buy a plot of land as he feels that is the only way to completely secure the school’s future, but is more than happy to lease for the time being.

Chris said: “If we were offered a five-year lease from a landowner that would be great, but also we want to keep all our options open in the hope to find a home for the school that can be taken from us like before.

“We have a lot of loyal members who still stand by us and want to invest in the school, so raising the capital for a possible purchase of land would not be a problem.”

A possible site for the school, says Chris, would be in a place preferably clear of a lot of houses, and have an access road for the delivery of fuel and for students to use.

Meanwhile, in some good news for the school and its students, the owner of the site where its planes are being stored has agreed to let some flight training take place.

This has given Chris a chance to help some of the backlog of students he has get some air time.

He said: “We are doing probably doing around 30 to 40 per cent of what we normally do, which as a business is still not great, but it is helping some of our students get to where they want to be.”

As Chris’ search continues with a potential meeting with another landowner this month, he hopes to bring good news for the school soon.

He said: “We will just need to see how it goes with this one, I have my fingers crossed and hope it works out, but eventually I am sure we will find a new home for Skyward.”

If you do have a possible site and can help the school, please email c.shepherd.rose@gmail.com