I GREW up in Coopersale and North Weald. I now am based both in Germany, near Stuttgart, and North Weald. It was this proximity to North Weald airfield which led to my own interest in aviation and I fulfilled a lifetime's ambition by gaining a private pilots licence in 1999. I now fly from North Weald in some of the aircraft based there whenever I have the opportunity.

My business is partly involved in aviation and we hope to set up a base on the airfield in the near future to develop our aircraft sales and aviation supplies business.

If the airfield's long term future was secure, I am sure other aviation business would be keen to relocate to North Weald as well.

My personal view on the airfield is that it has great potential for small to medium-sized business aviation in addition to expanding the current leisure activities (including sport flying) which take place there now.

With increased congestion on the roads and unreliable public transport, the value of light business aviation is growing and being increasingly recognised by the business community.

Overseas business people could fly into Stansted from abroad and be transferred to small business aircraft less than 20 minutes down the M11 at North Weald and reach most parts of the UK within an hour.

Also, North Weald would be an attractive destination for business travellers from the Continent wishing to use light aviation to for business trips to London and the south east.

Likewise it is an ideal location for executive flights to the Continent and other parts of the UK, for the UK business traveller wishing to avoid the bustle and delays associated with the major airports, the roads and public transport network.

Also, since the major airports are reaching full capacity, the small to medium end of business aviation-general industry is being forced out of the major airports and needs to relocate to smaller airfields with good communications.

Even the Government has recognised the value of general aviation and the network of GA airfields as a valuable asset in its recent white paper on the transport system.

North Weald has an excellent, long main runway, control tower and hangarage facilities and well-established maintenance organisation.

The airfield, when compared to others in the area such as Stapleford, is greatly underutilised. The approaches to the main runways avoid the need to overfly residential areas.

Even the North Weald Fire Service, which is in fact financed and run by a group of private enthusiasts, has facilities and equipment that are the envy of much larger airports.

With modern general aviation aircraft becoming quieter and more economical, air transport of this type can be very effective with a minimal effect on the local environment.

It appears perhaps that because the airfield's owner Epping Forest Council did not see its long-term future as an active airfield but perhaps as a speculative investment for later development, they have not undertaken any of the relatively small investments necessary to get the airfield licenced (runway lighting, permanent fire cover, upgraded air traffic control).

There are many far more basic airfields (Beccles in Norfolk is a classic example) with far less facilities than North Weald which are licensed.

This enables them to operate flights on a commercial basis such as for flight training, air taxis and business travel.

Stapleford too is licensed but not North Weald. If North Weald were to be upgraded to a licensed airfield it could fulfill its true potential and become a viable base for light commercial aviation, which would also attract related business and create more employment for the area.

TREVOR ARCHER, High Road, North Weald.

July 9, 2002 11:30