Southampton Airport
Southampton Airport | |||
Location Map ( geo) | |||
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County | |||
Hampshire | |||
Next Primary Destinations | |||
Fareham • Southampton | |||
Other Nearby Destinations | |||
Eastleigh | |||
Southampton Airport is a major airport serving the south coast. Next to it is an intercity railway station designed to serve as a parkway from places along the M27.
Relationship with Motorway
M27 J5-7 was delayed by a debate over whether the road should cross land owned by local factories, or the airport. In 1979 the cheaper and easier airport option won, and the working length of the runway was shortened to reduce the risk to the road. A decision not to install a ground arrester was taken, leaving a 88-metre gap between the end of the runway and the road.
At the time of construction, the risk of a collision was perceived to be "minor" (one in 70 years), and options such as closing the airport or sinking the motorway were ruled out. The road opened in 1983 and the proximity of the motorway helped Southampton Airport to expand faster than its rival in Bournemouth.
In November 1992 an aircraft overshot the runway but stopped short of the motorway.
On the morning of 26 May 1993, a light corporate jet travelling empty from Oxford failed to stop on the runway during stormy weather. It was supposed to land while travelling northwards (away from the motorway), but the other direction was fitted with ILS. Realising they were not going to stop in the space available, the pilot attempted to increase the distance by swerving across the runway, but lost control and fell down the embankment. Despite the longer path, the aircraft came to a rest on the eastbound carriageway having collided with two vehicles, starting a fire. Nobody was killed but three members of the public were injured.
The investigation stated: "the proximity of the motorway to the end of the runway contributed to the severity of the accident". It recommended that a ground arrester be installed; a public safety zone should be established at the two ends of the runway; and it called for other safety hazards at the end of other runways to be investigated. Upon seeing that the aircraft would not stop, one of the airport's fire engines left the airport and joined the motorway via junction 5, which took "several minutes".
Routes
Route | To | Notes |
The WEST, London, Winchester (M3) | ||
Portsmouth, Fareham | ||
Eastleigh town centre | ||
Southampton, Swaythling | ||
Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh Football Club & Sports Grounds | ||
Error: C351 (Hampshire) does not exist | ||
Swaythling, West End (A27) |