Bembridge Airport

Bembridge Airport (IATA: BBP, ICAO: EGHJ) is an unlicensed aerodrome located about a mile south-west of the village of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, England. It is one of four airstrips on the Isle of Wight, and one of two large airfields, the other major one being Isle of Wight/Sandown Airport about four miles to the south-west.

Bembridge Airport
IATA: BBP ICAO: EGHJ
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Vectis Gliding Club Ltd
Location	Bembridge
Elevation AMSL	53 ft / 16 m
Coordinates	50°40′41″N 001°06′34″W
Website	https://eghj.extremelynice.net/eghj/
Map
EGHJ Location on the Isle of Wight
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 12/30 827 2,713 Concrete
Statistics (2007)
Movements 13,354
Sources: Aerodrome information from Bembridge Airport[1] Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2][3]

Bembridge Airport is open to non-residents PPR (prior permission required).^[4]

Gliding no longer takes place from Bembridge.^[5]

History

Bembridge opened in 1920 with commercial airline service starting in 1934.^[6] In 1965, Britten-Norman began production, adjacent to the airport, with their prototype Islander aircraft.^[7][8][9]

Accidents and incidents

2000

7 October

A Piper Cub towplane and a glider collided over the airfield. The Piper Cub had released a different glider and was returning to the airfield. Both pilots survived the collision.^[10]

2010

4 September

A Mooney M20J, and a Vans RV-4, "participating in the Merlin Trophy Air Race, which started and finished at Bembridge Airport", collided 3.7 nm from the airport. The Mooney broke up and crashed killing both occupants. The Vans was able to land at Bembridge, with both occupants receiving minor injuries.^[11]

2016

16 February

A Cessna R172M Skyhawk inverted following a nose-over with minor injuries to three occupants.^[12][13][14]

2018

12 July

A Beagle B121 Pup experienced loss of power after takeoff and made a forced landing outside the airfield. Both occupants survived with injuries.^[15][16][17]