Aerodrome

An aerodrome was constructed at Dounreay during World War Two as part of the air defences for the fleet stationed at Scapa Flow, Orkney, though it never saw any action.

Known as HMS Tern II, it was operated by the Admiralty from 1944 and maintained after the war. In 1949, it transferred to the Air Ministry.

In 1953, when Sir Christopher Hinton identified Dounreay as his preferred site for Britain’s fast breeder reactor experiment, the land belonged to the Air Ministry. At the time, the airfield feature in the UK defence plans in the event of war with the Soviet Union.

In a letter dated December 10, 1953, the Minister for Supply gave five undertakings to the Secretary of State for Air as part of the development of the land for nuclear research.

  • The Air Ministry would be consulted about the siting of the atomic energy buildings, including any future runway extensions.
     
  • The main Dounreay runway and its approaches would remain unobstructed, and full consultation must take place prior to sanctioning the construction of any buildings that might interfere with planes landing or taking off.
     
  • That certain existing military buildings would be left intact for use in a future war.
     
  • That in the event of a war, the runway and associated buildings would be immediately available for operational use, irrespective of whatever construction stage the atomic energy plant was at.
     
  • That the atomic energy organization would at no future time erect buildings or take any action which would interfere with the wartime availability of the main runway, without the agreement of both the Air Ministry and the Admiralty.

The construction and operation of Dounreay therefore took place against a requirement that the main runway of the airfield would be maintained in a state of operational readiness.

Buildings that had been built during the war for air crew and ground staff were converted to accommodation for the construction workforce. The arrival of the permanent establishment in the late 1950s preceded the completion of construction work in Thurso on new housing, and many of the earliest scientists and engineers were quartered in wartime accommodation at the Boston Camp to begin with.

Two cross-runways were not retained and parts of Dounreay were built on top of these.

Regular UKAEA flights started to use the airfield in 1970. These continued until the airfield ceased in 1993, as part of an agreement between UKAEA and the Scottish Office to upgrade the civil airport at nearby Wick.

The main runway was 1006 metres in length. The main access road to the site bisected the runway and needed to be closed every time an aeroplane took off or landed. Site records show there were numerous incidents when the control of vehicles crossing the runway was ineffective.

By 1975, the number of aircraft movements stood at 1316 per annum. In 1985, it was 1350.

The inaugural operator of the UKAEA service to Dounreay was Northern Air Taxis of Leeds, which flew to Manchester for links to the UKAEA design office at Risley and onto London where the UKAEA was headquartered.

When Vern Air won the contract, they used Liverpool as a destination and replaced the Beagle 206 aircraft with a 10/13-seater Beechcraft Queenair. Kingair turboprops later appeared on the route. The last contractor was Northern Executive Aviation.

The airfield was used on a number of occasions by Prince Charles at the controls of an aircraft in the Queen's Flight. The purpose of the visits is not recorded but they were not believed to be connected to the nuclear site.

Regular charter flights ceased in June 1990. Following the closure of the aerodrome in 1993, the runway was converted to an off-site car park.

The air traffic control tower was located on the south side of the runway. In 1960, the ground and first floors were converted to an exhibition centre for visitors. In 2007, the property succumbed to weather damage and was demolished, a year ahead of its scheduled closure.

In the early 1990s, UKAEA developed plans for a new visitor facility located on the south side of the A836. A theme proposed for this facility was the wartime role of Dounreay. However, the plans did not proceed due to financial restraints at the time.

Dounreay’s health and safety files record a number of inquiries into incidents involving the aerodrome from 1970 onwards:

  • 26.01.1972 - An Aztec light aircraft carrying UKAEA personnel was being taxied from its hangar to the DERE aerodrome when, due to pilot error, one of its wings was damaged when it came into contact with a wooden fence post.
     
  • 17.03.1972 A Royal Naval Heron aircraft took off from the DERE aerodrome without the intersection made by the runway and the main site access road being controlled by UKAEA Constabulary.
     
  • 06.07.1972 - At Northair's hangar on the DERE aerodrome aviation fuel was being transferred via an electric pump from a 45 gallon drum to a 5 gallon container when a spark, most probably from a faulty brush spring, ignited the fuel in the area of the elec pump.
     
  • 30.06.1972 - A twin engine light aircraft landed safely on the DERE aerodrome after the pilot reported an engine failure to low oil pressure.
     
  • 21.05.1973 - A Vickers Shipbuilding Group aircraft left the paved runway and came to rest with its port wheel in the grass strip bordering the runway.
     
  • 23.07.1973 - The UKAEA chartered aircraft on flight from Dounreay to Ringway, due to partial engine failure, returned to Dounreay aerodrome.
     
  • 04.05.1973 - A complete loss of electrical power on the DERE aerodrome (later found out to be a blown fuse) required an arriving aircraft to adopt emergency landing procedures when radio contact with the Air Traffic Controller was affected.
     
  • 12.10.1978 - A Piper Aztec aircraft en route to DNPDE was landed without clearance from the ATCO and without the DNE Fire Appliances in attendance.
     
  • 02.09.1985 - A driver of a Highland Omnibus failed to halt at the cross runway warning lights and caused a Vernair 404 aircraft to abort its takeoff.
     
  • 16.12.1985 - A charter aircraft (crew only) on arrival at DNE aerodrome was landed heavily and damaged the aircraft’s propeller.
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HMS Tern II

Image: The layout of the original aerodrome at Dounreay, overlain with the names given to the different buildings constructed around it.

The layout of the original aerodrome at Dounreay, overlain with the names given to the different buildings constructed around it.

Air traffic control tower

Image: The air traffic control tower was where those in charge of the construction work at Dounreay initially set up up their offices. This photograph is thought to date from 1955.

The air traffic control tower was where those in charge of the construction work at Dounreay initially set up up their offices. This photograph is thought to date from 1955.

Boston Camp

Image: The Boston Camp, seen here in the 1950s when it was used as quarters for the site construction workforce.

The Boston Camp, seen here in the 1950s when it was used as quarters for the site construction workforce.

First UKAEA flight at Dounreay

Image: The inaugural flight of the UKAEA air service to Dounreay in 1970 used a Beagle 206 aircraft.

The inaugural flight of the UKAEA air service to Dounreay in 1970 used a Beagle 206 aircraft.

Royal Flight at Dounreay

Image: An Andover of the Royal Flight at Dounreay in 1974 carrying the Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to the Royal Navy\'s adjacent Vulcan site.

An Andover of the Royal Flight at Dounreay in 1974 carrying the Duke of Edinburgh on a visit to the Royal Navy's Vulcan site.

Dan Air at Dounreay

Image: An Avro/Hawker Siddeley 748, operated by Dan Air, was used to transport Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to Dounreay in 1979.

An Avro/Hawker Siddeley 748, operated by Dan Air, seen here at Dounreay in 1978 on a VIP visit.

Plane crashed on take off

Image: Plane crashed on take off

A twin-engine Piper PA 31-350 Navajo operated by an air charter company crashed with seven passengers on board while taking off in May 1987. No-one was injured.

Dounreay Exhibition

Image: The air traffic controller in 2006 when it was used as an exhibition about the site.

The air traffic control tower in 2006 when it was used as an exhibition about the site.

Dounreay Exhibition

Image: The ground and first floors of the air traffic control tower served as an exhibition for visitors to Dounreay from 1960 until 2006 whenthe building succumbed to the weather. It was demolished in June 2007.

The ground and first floors of the air traffic control tower served as an exhibition for visitors to Dounreay from 1960 until 2006 when the building succumbed to the weather. It was demolished in June 2007.