City Airport Guide

  1. Home
  2. City Airport (Manchester Barton) Guide | Netflights.com

City Airport (Manchester Barton)

City Airport is also known as the Barton Aerodrome, and it was the first purpose-built municipal airport in the UK. Today it is used by a variety of different aircraft, such as commercial, private, military, police and air ambulance. It is also a heliport, has a flying school, and is a popular visitor attraction for families and flying enthusiasts.

Where is City Airport?




Situated in Eccles, in the city of Salford, City Airport is just five miles outside Manchester city centre. This means it has great access to all the business, retail and cultural attractions of the city centre, as well as Media City, Manchester Arena, the Trafford Centre, and two of the biggest football clubs in the world – Manchester City and Manchester United.

What can you do there?

With four grass runways, the aerodrome can be used by a variety of light aircraft. It’s also used as a refuelling point for light aircraft and helicopters, offering Avgas 100LL and Jet A1 fuel. The airport has parking and hangarage facilities for private aircrafts, and is a licenced heliport for the take-off and landing of helicopters.

The airport has become a very popular visitor attraction, offering great access to watch around 60,000 aircraft taking off and landing per year. There’s free parking for the general public, a children’s play zone, a picnic area, and food and drink facilities at the Sopwith Bar & Grill. There are frequent family events such as aviation shows, firework displays, funfairs and even live music events.

In recent years, the airport has established a thriving ‘aviation community’. This is a means through which aircraft owners and flying groups can meet and enjoy social events, and discuss and compare aircraft stored at the aerodrome, which includes helicopters, microlights, gyroplanes and paragliders.

Flying School

Perhaps the most popular facility at the City Airport is the LAC Flying School, which is the longest-running flying school in the Greater Manchester area. There are five full-time instructors and nine in total, and the school runs a large fleet of aircraft, which are all owned and maintained by the school internally. The school offers packages for different levels of experience and ability, including courses for two-seat or four-seat aircraft and which include membership of the LAC. Courses include:

  • LAPL (Light Aircraft Pilot Licence)
  • PPL (Private Pilot Licence)
  • Instrument Rating (restricted)
  • The Night Qualification

The school enjoys an excellent first-time pass rate, and offers dedicated instructors who don’t change, so that students can receive consistent instruction and build strong relationships. Two in-house examiners enable the school to carry out flight tests and written exams all within the LAC facility. The school has also been commended for its knowledgeable and welcoming reception staff.

History of the Barton Aerodrome and City Airport

Construction of a new municipal aerodrome at Barton near Eccles started in the Autumn of 1928. The grass airfield and one large hanger were completed by January 1930. By the summer of the same year, Imperial Airways was running scheduled services to London via Birmingham, with the flights running from Croydon airport in the evening and returning back to London the following morning.

By spring 1933 a control tower and associated wireless station was completed – it’s still in operation today and enjoys Grade ll listed status. In 1934, Railway Air Services started a Croydon-Barton-Belfast-Glasgow route, and gradually other airlines started operating through Barton, with routes to Liverpool, Blackpool and the Isle of Man.

However, World War ll intervened and Barton was requisitioned for the repair and overhaul of military aircraft, including Avro Ansons, Dominies, Fairey Battles, Fairey Fulmars, Hawker Hurricanes and F4U Corsairs. Only one scheduled air service was retained during the war – between Barton and Dublin – operated by Aer Lingus from 1940 to 1942.

Post-war, the Barton Aerodrome became home at various times to the Lancashire Aero Club, Manchester University Air Squadron and the No.2 Reserve Flying School. The latter flew Tiger Moths and Chipmunks, and offered training to volunteers who would later join the Royal Air Force.

In 2003, the land, hangers and buildings were purchased from Manchester City Council by a subsidiary of Peel Holdings Group. And in 2011 a new helicopter facility was opened, known as the City Heliport. New café and bar facilities were also built at this time and later refurbished in 2015, as part of a programme to open up the facility to a wider range of pilots, visitors and the general public. In 2020, the main building was extensively refurbished to become a bespoke ambulance operations base by Mersey Medical Services Ltd. This building was re-named Harrison House, in honour of Dr Reginald Harrison.

Over the years, the City Airport has featured in several films and TV programmes, including Brass, Mersey Beat, GBH and Island at War.

How can I get there?

The City Airport is easily accessible by car – leave the M60 at Junction 11 and follow signs for Irlam and the A57. You can travel by bus on the number 67 or 100 service, or by train using the Metrolink Eccles service. The airport can also be accessed by foot or bicycle if you live nearby.

Please remember that this is just a simple guide to City Airport. If you’re planning to land here, you must conduct thorough research and get permission beforehand. Any pilot or passengers flying to City Airport do so at their own risk.

Context Id: 890124dc-33a1-4ba8-b607-71ce83e70ee6