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RAF Northolt is a Royal Air Force station in South Ruislip, west London, and the oldest continuously used airfield in RAF service, having opened in May 1915 for the Royal Flying Corps. Today it combines military flying with private and government VIP traffic, sitting close to Heathrow's approach paths on the western edge of the capital. Its single long runway, full radar and approach service, and ILS make it a distinctive and historically rich destination for a simulated visit.
RAF Northolt is a working Royal Air Force station in west London that also handles private and government VIP civil flights under its role as London's designated VIP airport. It is the oldest RAF airfield still in continuous use, predating the founding of the Royal Air Force itself, and its role in the Battle of Britain and later as a hub for BEA services make it a rewarding stop for a pilot interested in aviation history as well as procedure flying in busy London airspace.
The airfield lies in South Ruislip in the London Borough of Hillingdon, western Greater London, about 2 nautical miles from Uxbridge and roughly 6 miles north of Heathrow Airport. As an active military station close to Heathrow's approach and departure paths, it sits within the dense and highly controlled airspace of the London area.
Northolt has a single physical runway, 07/25, of hard grooved surface with runway lighting. Runway 25 is 5,486 ft long and equipped with an ILS; runway 07 is 5,186 ft long. There are no other active runways at the field.
Published frequencies include Approach 126.45 MHz, ATIS on 125.125 MHz and 300.35 MHz, Departure on 120.325 MHz and 129.125 MHz, Director 130.35 MHz, Ground 121.575 MHz, Operations 132.65 MHz, Radar (talk-down) 125.875 MHz, and Tower on 120.675 MHz and 281.175 MHz. An ILS serves runway 25.
Northolt's origins lie in a 1912 proposal to develop the site as
Northolt today functions as a busy military station supporting around 2,000 personnel drawn from 38 resident units across all three armed services and government departments, collectively known as Team Northolt. Resident flying units include No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron and No. 63 Squadron RAF Regiment, the latter serving as the King's Colour Squadron, alongside the Central Band of the RAF. Alongside its military role, the station continues to handle private civil flights of up to 29 passengers under its function as London's VIP airport, a role that grew out of its earlier use for scheduled civil services during the construction of Heathrow.'.split.','.join.','}},
