Private jets at RAF Northolt
RAF Northolt is an active Royal Air Force station in west London that accepts private flights at fixed times only: weekdays 08:00-20:00 and weekends 10:00-17:00. Every flight needs a booked slot and prior permission, aircraft are limited to 29 passengers, and military flights always come first.
- Longest runway
- 1,683 m
- Codes
- NHT · EGWU
- Business aviation handling
- Gama Aviation
One of six airports in our London guide.
Business aviation handling
Civil passengers use the business aviation terminal on the south side of the station, run by Gama Aviation, with an executive lounge. Everyone must first pass the MOD security gate (Whitehouse Gate) with photo ID, which is checked against the flight manifest. Passengers are escorted through security to the aircraft.
Gama Aviation
The only passenger and crew handler at Northolt, named in the RAF's September 2026 terms. Runs the business aviation terminal and executive lounge, security screening, meet and greet, baggage, ramp transfers, customs and immigration assistance, catering and transport arrangements. Took over from Universal Aviation in 2026.
Worth knowing before you fly
- Northolt is the closest business aviation airfield to west London, but it only accepts civil flights in its published hours (weekdays 08:00-20:00, weekends 10:00-17:00 local). Early starts, late returns and evening arrivals usually need another London airport.
- Military and government flights always come first. A confirmed slot can be moved or cancelled at short notice, so a back-up airport such as Farnborough or Luton is worth keeping in mind for time-critical trips.
- Every passenger needs photo ID that matches the manifest at the RAF gate, and names must be with the booking cell at least 4 hours before the flight. Last-minute passenger changes, and anything to or from Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (SO15 approval, 12 hours' notice), need planning.
- Aircraft size is limited: no more than 29 passengers, a runway of about 1,600 m usable, limited fire cover and no routine hangarage, so the aircraft type must be checked against Northolt's limits before booking.
Operating information
For business and private flights. Details change, so we check them again for your date.
Airport
| Opening hours | Civil (business aviation) hours are Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 local and Sat, Sun and public holidays 10:00-17:00 local (UK Military AIP and RAF Northolt terms). The AIP gives these in UTC as Mon-Fri 0800-2000 UTC winter (0700-1900 UTC summer) and weekends and public holidays 1000-1700 UTC winter (0900-1600 UTC summer). The first slot of the day is 15 minutes after opening and the last is 15 minutes before closing. Out-of-hours movements need special arrangement, carry a surcharge and are not guaranteed. The Commercial Booking Cell is staffed Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00 and weekends and public holidays 10:00-17:00. Fuel is available during airfield hours only. |
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| Prior permission | PPR is required for every flight, and aircraft without PPR will not be admitted. Bookings go to the RAF's Commercial Booking Cell on its booking form; the PPR number carries a slot time and is issued the day before the flight. The AIP (AIRAC 09/26) gives minimum notice of 4 hours for flights from the EU and 24 hours for all other flights, including from the Common Travel Area. The RAF's terms (v15.4, Sep 2026) give 4 hours for flights from the EU and 12 hours for all others. Same-day requests are not routinely accepted. The booking must include the operator, aircraft type and registration, airworthiness and insurance certificates (with the AVN95 Civil Use of MOD Airfields endorsement) and, within 4 hours of the schedule, crew and passenger names and nationalities. |
| Customs and immigration | Customs and immigration are by arrangement (UK Military AIP). Northolt is not a designated port of entry and has no permanent HMRC, Border Force or SO15 counter-terrorism presence; if they are not available, slots can be cancelled or changes refused. The handler, Gama Aviation, escorts passengers and crew to HMRC and Border Force. A General Aviation Report is filed with Border Force. Flights to or from the Common Travel Area need SO15 approval with at least 12 hours' notice. |
| Slots | Civil movements come from a shared pool, given first come, first served, and no operator can take all of a day's slots. A slot is valid 15 minutes either side of the assigned time. Late running without agreement can lose the slot, and an arriving aircraft may be diverted. Cancelling within 4 hours, or not turning up, incurs a lost-slot charge. Short-notice military or government tasks can move or cancel a confirmed slot. |
| Noise and night restrictions | No separate night quota is published; civil flights are limited to the published hours (weekdays 08:00-20:00, weekends 10:00-17:00 local). The AIP sets noise abatement procedures, including a minimum 500 ft per minute climb and no turns before 700 ft. APU running is limited to 15 minutes after arrival and 15 minutes before engine start. |
| Aircraft parking | Parking is on the aircraft servicing platform; the first 120 minutes are free and longer stays are charged. Hangarage is not routinely available to civil aircraft; it can be requested through the Commercial Booking Cell for engineering needs only. Civil aircraft must be left ready to be towed (brakes off, nose wheel disconnected) because the RAF may move them for military needs. Some stands are limited to a 24-metre wingspan. Crews must leave the station within 1 hour of closing. |
| De-icing | By arrangement only. One vehicle with Type II fluid can de-ice one aircraft in about 15 minutes, and crews must book it the evening before through Station Operations or the Commercial Booking Cell. Military aircraft take priority. There is no engine-running de-icing and no anti-icing (UK Military AIP and RAF terms). |
| Other restrictions | Civil aircraft are limited to 29 passengers, the runway's strength (PCN 30; aircraft above ACN 33 need specific authorisation) and the fire cover (ICAO category 6, up to 7 with 12 hours' notice). Declared take-off run is 1,594 m on runway 07 and 1,558 m on runway 25. Runway 07 has no ILS, only radar (SRA or PAR) approaches, so crews must be trained for PAR; PAR is only guaranteed Mon-Fri 08:00-22:00 and weekends and bank holidays 10:00-18:00 local (Military AIP Supplement 012/2026). Single-engine aircraft need specific approval. Only non-scheduled flights are accepted. Insurance must meet set minimum sums by weight and carry the AVN95 endorsement, and an indemnity administration charge applies. Firearms need a UK firearms licence and 72 hours' notice to Gama Aviation. Pets: only domestic cats and dogs arriving from within the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Ireland are accepted. No photography past the security gate. |
Runways
| 07/25 | 1,683 m, grooved marshall asphalt |
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By road
| Central London | About 15 miles by the A40 (RAF Northolt booking site); Ruislip Gardens and South Ruislip stations are within walking distance |
|---|---|
| London Heathrow | About 6 miles to the south (Gama Aviation) |
Flying times
| To | Distance | Light or midsize jet |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 128 nm | About 35 min |
| Paris | 190 nm | About 45 min |
| Geneva | 410 nm | About 1h 15m |
| Nice | 565 nm | About 1h 35m |
| Ibiza | 765 nm | About 2h 05m |
| Marrakech | 1,244 nm | About 3h 10m |
| Mykonos | 1,379 nm | About 3h 30m |
| Dubai | 2,968 nm | Long-range jet |
| New York | 2,993 nm | Long-range jet |
Nearby airports
More airport guides nearby: London Stansted Airport, Manchester Airport, Hawarden Airport, Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
Questions
Is there a private terminal at RAF Northolt?
Yes. Civil passengers use the business aviation terminal on the south side of the station, run by Gama Aviation, with an executive lounge. Everyone must first pass the MOD security gate (Whitehouse Gate) with photo ID, which is checked against the flight manifest. Passengers are escorted through security to the aircraft.
What are RAF Northolt's opening hours for private flights?
Civil (business aviation) hours are Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 local and Sat, Sun and public holidays 10:00-17:00 local (UK Military AIP and RAF Northolt terms). The AIP gives these in UTC as Mon-Fri 0800-2000 UTC winter (0700-1900 UTC summer) and weekends and public holidays 1000-1700 UTC winter (0900-1600 UTC summer). The first slot of the day is 15 minutes after opening and the last is 15 minutes before closing. Out-of-hours movements need special arrangement, carry a surcharge and are not guaranteed. The Commercial Booking Cell is staffed Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00 and weekends and public holidays 10:00-17:00. Fuel is available during airfield hours only.
Can I clear customs at RAF Northolt on a private flight?
Customs and immigration are by arrangement (UK Military AIP). Northolt is not a designated port of entry and has no permanent HMRC, Border Force or SO15 counter-terrorism presence; if they are not available, slots can be cancelled or changes refused. The handler, Gama Aviation, escorts passengers and crew to HMRC and Border Force. A General Aviation Report is filed with Border Force. Flights to or from the Common Travel Area need SO15 approval with at least 12 hours' notice.
Checked 20 October 2026 from published airport, government and handler information (aidu.mod.uk, irp.cdn-website.com, londonvipairport.com, gamaaviation.com). Not for operational use; we confirm everything for your flight.
