Departure
94%
vs 95% ▼ 1
MY FS FLIGHTS
MY FS FLIGHTS
Leicester Airport, also known as Leicester East, sits east of Stoughton village in Leicestershire, some six miles from Leicester city centre, and is home to the long-established Leicestershire Aero Club. It offers a mix of hard and grass runways within a busy general-aviation environment, making it a useful and characterful stop for the VFR pilot exploring the East Midlands.
Leicester Airport, known historically as RAF Leicester East and often referred to locally as Leicester East, is a general-aviation aerodrome operated by the Leicestershire Aero Club. It lies to the east of Stoughton in Leicestershire and provides elementary flight training, aircraft experience flights and a base for a wide variety of privately owned light aircraft. For the visiting VFR pilot it offers an interesting mix of surfaces and runway lengths, together with an active flying-club atmosphere that makes it a rewarding local destination in the East Midlands.
The airfield lies east of Stoughton, Leicestershire, about six miles from Leicester city centre by road. It operates as an uncontrolled aerodrome with an Air/Ground service rather than full air traffic control, and pilots should expect to integrate with other traffic using standard uncontrolled-airfield procedures.
Leicester has five physical runways. The main hard runway, 10/28, is 3059 ft long, lit, and used for the majority of fixed-wing traffic. Two shorter hard runways complement it: 15/33 at 1616 ft and 04/22 at 1611 ft. There are also two grass runways, 16/34 at 1381 ft and 06/24 at 1156 ft. The airfield's own information notes that its 10/28 grass strip is unlicensed and should be used with caution due to rotary traffic considerations.
The airfield is served by an Air/Ground radio station using the callsign 'Leicester Radio' on a frequency of 122.125 MHz. An NDB identified as 'LE' operates on 383.500 kHz. There is no ILS at the field, so arrivals should plan for a visual approach with reference to the published circuit procedures.
Circuit height for fixed-wing traffic is 1,000 ft QFE, with rotary traffic flying circuits at 700 ft QFE. Circuit direction varies by runway in use: runways 10, 33, 22, 34 and 24 fly left-hand circuits for fixed-wing traffic (and right-hand for rotary), while runways 28, 15, 04, 16 and 06 fly right-hand circuits for fixed-wing traffic (and left-hand for rotary). Standard overhead joins are preferred, and pilots are asked not to descend below 1,200 ft QFE on the dead side, to maintain separation from helicopter traffic operating at lower level. Prior permission is required before flying in, and this can be arranged online, by radio from ten miles out, or in advance through the airfield.
The airfield is located close to the village of Stoughton, which serves as a useful visual reference when approaching from the west or south-west. Pilots should be alert for concurrent rotary-wing operations, since all helicopter movements at the field are handled separately from fixed-wing traffic.
The airfield was constructed in 1942 as part of the former RAF station, RAF Leicester East, during the Second World War. After the war it transitioned to civilian use, and by the 1950s was accommodating private flying and small commercial operations. Its 'Grand Festival Air Display' in July 1951 was the first of many air shows held at the site, and the airfield became a popular base for aircraft operated by local businesses. The Leicestershire Aero Club, which traces its roots in the local flying community back to 1909, established a flying school at Stoughton in 1967, and the airfield's designation was formally changed to 'Leicester Airport' in 1974.
Leicester Airport is home to the Leicestershire Aero Club, which offers private pilot licence training, National Private Pilot Licence courses, an IR(R) instrument rating, night rating, aerobatics and tailwheel training, along with flying experiences and lessons for newcomers. The airfield welcomes visiting pilots throughout the year, with hard and grass runways and lighting on the main 10/28 runway and its taxiways. It is normally open every day from 09:00 to 17:00 local time, with late flying until 20:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, extended to include Wednesdays during the summer months. AvGas 100LL is available self-service, or assisted by fire crew at weekends, while Jet A1 fuel is available for all aircraft. Prior permission is required for all arrivals. Helicopter movements are handled separately from fixed-wing traffic at the field.
