David began his career in the Royal Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller and rose to become a Wing Commander. He joined Birmingham Airport in 2007 and took on positions of increasing seniority, becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2014. David became CEO of London Biggin Hill Airport in 2019 and is responsible for managing overall airport operations and setting the company’s strategic direction.
How does the airport engage with the local community to ensure it benefits from your operations?
We are committed to ensuring that our community feels the benefit of our airport so that when we succeed, so do local people. Our Community Fund supports a range of partnerships and initiatives with local charities and organisations, totalling £98,000 since 2015. Most recently, we became a lead partner for Bromley Football Club Community Sports Trust’s Women and Girls Strategy, which aims to drive participation and create equal opportunities for women and girls, of every age and background.
What’s a key focus for the airport in 2024?
We are passionate about engaging young people and opening the door to a career in aerospace and engineering from an early age. That’s why we are investing heavily in training opportunities and working closely with local schools and colleges. From apprenticeships to work experience, school visits and our Futures Week, we have an opportunity for every learning style and career path, and this will continue to be one of our key ambitions in 2024.
What role does the airport play in local job creation?
We are one of Bromley’s largest employers, with over 70 companies on the 500-acre site employing more than 1,400 people. Over the last decade, sustained investment in new infrastructure has attracted global business, including Formula One and Bombardier – the world’s leading manufacturer of business jets. We want to create even more opportunities and make sure local people are benefiting directly. The recent opening of The Landing Hotel and expansion of Bombardier’s hangar has provided more jobs as the airport site continues to evolve.
How do you minimise noise and what efforts are made to address local concerns?
We are committed to keeping aircraft noise to a minimum and work continuously to be the very best neighbour we can be. Our Noise Action Plan includes a number of commitments aimed at managing the noise impact on local residents of aircraft using the airport. This includes regular community noise surveys and reporting. We attend local resident association meetings and neighbourhood forums to maintain a two-way dialogue, ensuring we are always being the best neighbour we can be.
What’s next for London Biggin Hill Airport?
We are focused on investing in the airport estate and infrastructure to create job opportunities and provide an economic boost to the region. We want to be a centre for technology and engineering innovation. New fuel technology will mean that aircraft operating from London Biggin Hill in the future will be quieter, and emissions will be reduced. We want to be at the forefront of this change, delivering a cleaner, greener and leaner business for everyone.