news | Cotswold Airport

Kemble Friday 7^th February 2025, Cotswold Airport, formally RAF Kemble, today announced the appointment of Paul Waite to its board of directors.

Waite brings over 38 years of Air Traffic Control experience, most recently at NATS, the UK’s primary air traffic services provider, working at Cardiff, Birmingham and St Athan prior to taking up his current role for NATS as Head of Safety Performance & Improvement at Heathrow Airport. Waite’s appointment will further strengthen the board’s oversight on airport safety and operations procedures.

Suzannah Harvey, CEO Cotswold Airport who is currently attending World MRO Middle East in Dubai stated, “We are very excited to have Paul join us on the board of Cotswold Airport. From our initial conversations I knew that his unique experience, enthusiasm and expertise would be a huge asset to the airport and initiated discussions to entice him to join us. I am so glad that he was suitably excited by our operations and the opportunity that he decided to accept our invitation.

“We are a thriving hub of all things aviation, and having such experience and expertise on hand to advise us as we continue to grow is invaluable. As we work with our tenants and partners with a continued focus on sustainable aviation, we need to ensure that we develop our procedures and protocols to ensure a safe and enjoyable aerodrome for everyone who works, visits or flies here.”

Waite added, “Cotswold Airport is such an interesting proposition that I was extremely excited and honoured to be asked to join the board. There are so many different types of aviation stakeholders at the site, doing different things that present unique challenges.

I am future focussed and like to be involved in positive change, and there is so much of that at Cotswold Airport. From sustainable aviation with Zero Avia and Vertical Aerospace, Air Salvage International (ASI) leading the way in the recycling of aircraft and the installation of Solar on the aerodrome hangars as part of a drive to net zero… It’s a very exciting place to be involved with!”

Prior to joining NATS Waite had a successful career in the RAF, serving at various bases including the London Air Traffic Control Centre. As a radar and tower controller for 25+ years, Waite has also managed various ATC projects including the delivery of a new control tower, a runway extension, and RNAV SIDs.

Waite was initially introduced to the Cotswold Airport team whilst organising a visit to the Boeing 747 ‘Negus’ that now resides as a visitor attraction, conference and event space at the airport.

Waite added, “Everyone who works in aviation tends to be an enthusiast, and I’ve been trying to sort a visit to Negus for the past two years with the Ops staff who were on duty for her last flight from Heathrow to Cotswold Airport back in 2020. It was a sad day to see the queen of the skies go out of commission, but who knew that it would lead to this!”

Fairford – 2^nd October 2024 – Fairford Rugby Club today announces the signing of a Major Sponsor deal with Kemble based Cotswold Airport. The three-year sponsorship deal will see Cotswold Airport as main kit sponsor for the senior teams along with pitch side signage and advertising.

Fairford Rugby Club, founded in 1994 by George Ellis, has its grounds at Coln House in the picturesque Cotswolds town. The club fields men’s (The Badgers) and women’s (The Vixens) senior teams in the Dorset & Wilts North league. In addition to being an active sporting club, Fairford Rugby Club also hosts a successful summer festival weekend that sees an additional 3 thousand visitors to the club’s playing fields annually.

Michael Wrona, Sponsorship Secretary Fairford Rugby Club commented, “We are a small club with a large heart, so support from local businesses such as Cotswold Airport is key to the success and growth of the club and really means the world to us. Sponsorships like this help us to continue to build the club and drive us towards our goal of establishing our own clubhouse at the ground.

“We are fortunate to have such a thriving aviation hub nearby that is willing to support the local community. As a team we have always had a strong connection with aviation with members from the RAF and nearby Airbus. We look forward to reciprocating this sponsorship by making the most of the great facilities at the airport especially the AV8 restaurant for those all-important breakfasts!”

Cotswold Airport, formally RAF Kemble, is situated 15 miles from Fairford and provides a convenient aviation hub in the heart of the Cotswolds.

Suzannah Harvey, CEO Cotswolds Airport said, “We are really proud to sponsor both the women’s and men’s senior teams of Fairford Rugby Club over the next three years. Grass roots sport is such an important part of our community, we are happy to get behind this. I look forward to providing further encouragement from the sidelines and we can’t wait to welcome the club’s members and supporters to the airport, and obviously anyone wanting to fly in for the weekend for a match is also more than welcome!”