Rochester, Kent, United Kingdom
Rochester Airport is fully licensed with good grass runways. Avgas 100LL and JetA1 are both available. Visiting pilots, PPR essential by calling the main number and selecting 'control tower' through the switchboard.
5 features verified at Rochester Airport
Typical foot-traffic by hour, sourced from Google. Live conditions may differ.
Busiest on Mondays around 12 pm — usually busy.
Friendly and very helpful , delivered a plane there by road from Lydd airport today. Great staff
Update to my previous post. Visited Rochester airport today & the 'new' Control tower is still not in use & apparently from what I could gather they have run out of money to complete the fitting the interior out with the necessary/required ATC equipment
Outstanding day out for sons 16th birthday. 30 minute flight only PS65 which I felt was very good value for such an experience. There is a cafe and a museum there as well as a viewing area. Can't fault it
Fantastic welcoming and friendly environment, great for a little spotting and great facilities such as free parking and cafe
Rochester Airport is a small regional airport located in Chatham, Kent, serving the Medway area and the surrounding county. Unlike major commercial hubs, this airport primarily caters to general aviation, flight training, private aircraft, and occasional corporate charters. It is home to several flying schools and clubs, making it a busy hub for student pilots and light aircraft enthusiasts. The single asphalt runway is suitable for light aircraft, turboprops, and smaller business jets. Despite its modest size, the airport plays a valuable role in supporting local aviation, emergency services, and recreational flying. It is not served by scheduled commercial airlines, so travellers seeking passenger flights would typically use London's airports or Kent's other regional options.
Rochester Airport sits approximately 3 miles south of Chatham town centre, within the unitary authority of Medway. The address is Airport Service Road, Chatham, Kent ME5 9SD. The airport is easily reached by road, located near the A229 dual carriageway, which connects to the M2 motorway at junction 3, about 6 miles away. From London, the journey takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour via the M2 and A229, making it a convenient alternative to the capital's larger airports for private flyers.
Public transport options are limited. The closest railway stations are Chatham and Rochester, both about 15-20 minutes away by taxi. Bus services run along nearby main roads, but no direct bus serves the airport entrance. Most visitors arrive by car or pre-booked taxi. On-site parking is available, including designated accessible spaces. For those arriving by bicycle, local roads are generally quiet but not cycle-friendly on the approach road.
Confirmed amenities at Rochester Airport are focused on accessibility and basic comfort. The terminal building features:
The airport offers on-site services such as fuel (Avgas and Jet-A1), hangarage, aircraft maintenance, and flight planning facilities, primarily for pilots. However, for passengers waiting for charter flights or arriving by private aircraft, the facilities are basic. There is no café or restaurant confirmed, but vending machines may be present. Given the low passenger throughput, travellers should bring their own refreshments if needed. The airport also has small meeting rooms available by prior arrangement.
Rochester Airport sits in the heart of Kent, famously known as the 'Garden of England' for its lush orchards, hop fields, and picturesque countryside. The Medway area has a rich maritime and industrial heritage, once home to the Royal Navy's Chatham Dockyard, a major shipbuilding centre from the 16th to the 20th centuries. Today, the dockyard is a historic attraction, alongside Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral, over 1,400 years old. The city of Rochester is closely associated with Charles Dickens, who lived nearby and set many of his works in the area's streets and inns.
Business and industry in the region include aerospace, engineering, and logistics, with the airport itself supporting local enterprises and transport links. For leisure travellers, Kent offers attractions such as Leeds Castle, Canterbury, the White Cliffs of Dover, and the scenic North Downs and Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Medway towns also host cultural events and festivals, including the Rochester Dickens Festival. The airport serves as a gateway for private visitors, corporate charters, and medical or emergency flights to this diverse region.
The airport is not open every day; operating hours vary, and it is typically closed on weekends or public holidays except by prior arrangement. Peak activity hours are around noon and 1 pm, coinciding with lunchtime flight training sessions. Travellers should check the website or call ahead for opening times, especially if arriving for a charter flight or to use the facilities.
Parking is free for short stays, with long-term options available on request. Fuel and handling services require advance booking for non-based aircraft. The airport has no customs or immigration facilities, so it is only suitable for domestic flights or private international arrivals that have prior clearance at other entry points.
Rochester Airport
Award winning airport. Short and long stay carparks right next to the terminal and up to 8 trains an hour taking you to London in less than 45 minutes.
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More about Rochester Airport
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More about Rochester Airport
Award winning airport. Short and long stay carparks right next to the terminal and up to 8 trains an hour taking you to London in less than 45 minutes.
A designated UK Port of Entry, no runway slots and an exclusive 6 minute helicopter transfer service to and from the heart of London. Ranked in the top three in the UK and top ten in Europe, London Biggin Hill Airport has grown to become a significant economic force in its sector. The three pillars of our strategy are designed to make us: - A London gateway for business - An aircraft home base - An aircraft service centre
London City Airport (LCY) is the capital's most central airport, located in East London, just five miles from the City of London. Speedy, convenient and pioneering, LCY connects with over 30 destinations across the UK and Europe. It took innovation, imagination and collaboration to create an airport on an old seaport site in 1987. We continue to apply those values as we support the UK's transition to net zero emission flight, shaping the future of aviation in London and the UK.
London Gatwick Airport is a major international airport in Horley, Gatwick (RH6 0NP). It's the second busiest in the UK with two terminals offering flights worldwide. The popular London airport has a wide range of facilities, including restaurants, cafes, shops, lounges, & airport hotels. Gatwick Airport has excellent transportation links too, including train & bus services. The airport also offers on-site London Gatwick Parking (https://parking.gatwickairport.com/) which offers flexible booking with free cancellation and parking options for different travellers, such as short-stay parking, valet, and long-stay parking, where customers can enjoy 2 hours free in long-stay. Official London Gatwick car parks are the closest to the Terminals.
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