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| Pembroke Dock Airport | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pembroke Dock Airport |
| Iata | PBD |
| Icao | EGFP |
| Type | Public |
| Owner | Pembrokeshire County Council |
| Operator | Pembroke Dock Airport Ltd |
| City-served | Pembroke Dock |
| Location | Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Elevation-f | 14 |
| Runway1-number | 06/24 |
| Runway1-length-m | 1,494 |
| Runway1-surface | Asphalt/concrete |
Pembroke Dock Airport is a regional civil aerodrome located on the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, Wales, adjacent to the town of Pembroke Dock. Originally established as a Royal Air Force seaplane and flying boat station, the site has historical links to Short Brothers, Supermarine, and maritime aviation during both First World War and Second World War. Today it functions as a small public airport supporting general aviation, charter operations, flight training, and occasional scheduled services.
The airfield occupies land with aviation roots dating to the era of Royal Naval Air Service and early Short Type 184 operations during the First World War. In the interwar period, facilities expanded under companies such as Short Brothers and Supermarine, which contributed to flying boat development that connected the site to imperial routes including links to Imperial Airways services. During the Second World War, the station was active with Coastal Command detachments, conducting anti-submarine patrols in the Irish Sea and supporting operations against Kriegsmarine U-boat activity. Postwar demobilisation saw military use decline and the transition toward civil aviation under the oversight of local authorities including Pembrokeshire County Council. In the late 20th century, projects involving Welsh Government initiatives and regional development funds sought to revitalise the airport, attracting light aircraft clubs, flight training schools, and small commercial operators linked to British Airways franchise concepts and independent charter firms.
The airport features a single primary runway (06/24) surfaced with asphalt and concrete suitable for light to medium twin-engined aircraft such as Beechcraft King Air types and regional turboprops like the ATR 42. Ancillary infrastructure includes hangars capable of accommodating general aviation types and maintenance organisations with approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom). Navigational aids and aerodrome services support visual flight rules and limited instrument operations; air traffic connectivity relies on nearby approach sectors controlled in coordination with Cardiff Airport and UK upper-tier centres including NATS Holdings en route services. The site retains historic fabric, with former seaplane sheds and ramps reflecting its association with corporations such as Short Brothers and legacy organisations like Harland and Wolff that influenced coastal industrial architecture.
Scheduled services at the airport have historically been intermittent, with regional carriers, charter operators, and flying clubs providing routes to destinations such as Isle of Man and short links to mainland hubs. Operators that have used the airfield include independent commuter airlines and bespoke charter companies operating turboprops and light jets. The airport also serves as a base for business aviation linking to economic centres such as Cardiff, Bristol, London City Airport, and regional airports serving the West Midlands and South West England. Seasonal and event-driven charters connect to tourist gateways including Anglesey and ferry-linked nodes that integrate with cross-channel services to Ireland and the Isle of Wight.
Annual movements predominantly comprise general aviation, flight training sorties, and business charters, with occasional freight and emergency services call-outs linked to organisations like HM Coastguard and National Police Air Service. Passenger throughput has fluctuated with economic cycles, regional tourism trends influenced by attractions such as Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and policy shifts from the Welsh Government. Operational coordination includes surface movement control, firefighting categories appropriate to the aircraft types commonly handled, and adherence to UK civil aviation regulation under the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom) and European Aviation Safety Agency frameworks historically.
Over its long operational history, the site has recorded incidents involving flying boats, seaplanes, and later fixed-wing aircraft. Notable historical events include wartime losses during Second World War coastal operations and peacetime occurrences involving small general aviation types; investigations have been conducted by bodies such as the Air Accidents Investigation Branch where applicable. Preservation groups and museums that document local aviation heritage, including organisations associated with Fleet Air Arm Museum and regional historical societies, chronicle these events in the context of maritime and military aviation history.
Ground access is provided via the A4139 and A477 corridors linking the airfield to Pembroke Dock town centre, the port facilities at Milford Haven, and rail services at Pembroke Dock railway station. Connections to bus networks and coach services tie into regional routes serving Haverfordwest and coastal communities within Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Road links facilitate transfers to ferry terminals offering services to Ireland and access to strategic road corridors toward Cardiff and Swansea.
The airport contributes to the local economy by supporting tourism driven by attractions such as St Davids Cathedral, recreational aviation, and niche aviation services including maintenance and flight training. Development initiatives involve partnerships with regional entities like Pembrokeshire County Council, private investors, and tourism bodies promoting sustainable growth compatible with conservation priorities of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. Proposals over time have included expanding hangar capacity, enhancing business aviation facilities, and integrating the site into broader economic strategies linking maritime sectors at Milford Haven Port and cultural tourism anchored on historic shipbuilding and aviation legacies.
Category:Airports in Wales Category:Pembrokeshire Category:Transport in Wales