The sky’s the limit for the rapidly evolving Cotswold Airport, according to its new manager Nick Howard.

And, as a qualified pilot with a lifelong passion for aviation, he is well-placed to help take the facility into an exciting new era.

The 44-year-old has been tasked with the day-to-day running of the airport, near Cirencester, which was formerly known as Kemble Airport.

And with many major new projects in pipeline, which will see an expansion of both the facility’s aviation and ground-based activities, he is determined to help Cotswold Airport achieve its position as one of the best general aviation centres in Europe.

The married father-of-three said: “Whatever I have done, it has always involved an element of management and this new role enables me to take that on to the next level.

“I am here to take the airport forward during what is an exciting time for the site.

“People have a romantic view of aviation but there is so much more involved in the running of an airport. We have such a wide market and are in the ideal situation to be all things to all people.

“The airport obviously attracts enthusiasts and has retained its aviation usage but there are also dozens of ground-based businesses, which create hundreds of jobs.

“My aim is to maintain and further improve the relationship with those businesses, whilst at the same time building on the first class ties we already have with the surrounding community and retaining the airport’s rich aviation heritage.”

Nick has aviation in his blood, as his father served for many years as a pilot in the RAF and later flew commercially.

But he decided initially to take a different career path and battled rough seas and gale-force winds as a trawlerman in Scotland.

After five years on the sea, he decided to return to land and worked for the Forestry Commission, specialising in often delicate work around pylon lines.

He moved to Gloucester in 1989 to work as a self-employed aborist/forestry contractor  but, in 2005, he decided to turn his aviation hobby into work and trained as a microlight flying instructor.

After becoming a qualified instructor and achieving his light aircraft pilots’ licence, he took up a role as a flight information service officer (FISO) at Kemble, where duties included working in the airport’s operations division

He then moved to Gloucester Airport at Staverton, where he did an air traffic controllers’ course, but returned to Kemble recently as manager, replacing the long-serving David Young, who is now concentrating on running his popular microflight school at the airport.

Nick, who lists flying, cycling, climbing and trekking as his favourite sparetime activities, now lives in Gloucester and is a big fan of the city’s rugby club.

In his new role, he hopes to oversee the arrival of dynamic new companies to the airport, as well as encouraging more aviation-related business to the site.

He said: “Being the manager at Cotswold Airport is a great challenge and we need to keep moving forward. Offering something slightly different is the key to the future.

“We have everything here to offer among the best facilities for general aviation and ground-based business. We also stage some fantastic shows here and attract a large number of enthusiasts.

“Hopefully, the rebranding of the airport will enable us to attract even more people and, at the same time, secure a larger slice of the tourist market.”