LASHAM Gliding Society (LGS) has been granted permission by a High Court Judge to apply for a judicial review into the Civil Aviation Authority’s (CAA) decision to grant what it describes as “a large and unreasonable amount” of new controlled airspace around TAG Farnborough Airport.

In October this year, following the CAA’s decision in July, LGS bit the bullet and mounted a legal challenge against the ruling, believing it to be “a flawed and unlawful decision”, which will have a seriously detrimental impact on gliding and general aviation pilots and organisations, having to share airspace in the busy south east of England.

According to LGS spokesman, John McCullagh, this important judgement means “the High Court has given permission for the case to go ahead, because it considers that the claim meets the threshold of arguability.”

Mr McCullagh continued: “This is good news for Lasham which, along with other aviation bodies, has been opposing the imposition of what they consider to be an unreasonable and disproportionately large amount of controlled airspace that would have a significant and negative impact on safety, and on Lasham’s operations and financial health.”

To help fight this case, LGS has set up a fund and asks all those supporting it to contribute what they can. The target for the fund is £100,000 and so far, £56,000 has been raised. Visit lashamgliding.com/pages/airspace-campaign for further details and to donate.

Lasham airfield is home to LGS which is probably the largest gliding operation in the world which, since 1951, has built itself into one of the very best organisations for training pilots and as a world-class centre for recreational aviation. It is also the base for several other aviation-related commercial operations, all of which will be seriously impacted by the TAG Farnborough decision.

TAG Farnborough Airport had previously used Class G airspace (uncontrolled airspace), which is shared with other airports and general aviation users. The change essentially means it would have its own airspace in which to operate.

Contrary to objectors’ fears, TAG insist their proposal will lead to “fewer flights at low altitudes” as “arriving aircraft will remain higher for longer and departing aircraft will climb higher more quickly”.

East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds, East Hampshire District Council and the South Downs National Park Authority are among those who objected.