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London Southend Airport or '''Southend Airport''' is a regional airport in south east England , in the county of Essex . It mainly operates ad-hoc passenger charter and business flights, cargo flights, pilot training (in both aircraft and helicopters), and recreational flying. Maintenance services to aircraft up to Boeing B757 and Airbus A321 size are available. The airport is closer to Rochford than it is to Southend . A frequent rail service runs from Rochford (3/4 mile away) to London (Liverpool Street) with a journey time of approximately 50 minutes, and taxis are available outside the terminal. The airport is run by London Southend Airport Co Ltd , which employs between 50 to 100 people. Southend Airport has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P801) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee (Regional Airports Limited) Civil Aviation Authority Aerodrome Ordinary Licences . The airport has planning consent to build a new terminal and railway station on the eastern boundary of the airport. This could be operational in 2009. The only regular public air service is a scheduled flight to Jersey on summer Saturdays, operated by Flybe. On June 7th 2006, a regular service commenced between Southend and Cologne, operated by based airline Flightline on behalf of a private business to transport its employees. This service is unavailable to the public. In terms of percentage growth in passenger numbers, Southend was the fastest growing airport in the U.K. during 2006, according to CAA statistics. Aircraft can be chartered from based airlines Flightline , Trans Euro Air and 247Jet [http://www.247jet.biz . Ground handling at the airport is provided by the airport owned 'Southend Handling', who can assist companies, groups or individuals in chartering aircraft to or from the airport. Annual seafront airshows off Southend and Clacton fronts result in extra aircraft being based at the airport for the duration of the displays. BAe 146 aircraft lands at London Heathrow Airport . Flightline is a charter airline based at Southend Airport.]] Companies located at and around the airport employ over 1000 skilled workers, providing services such as engineering and maintenance work on airliners, including re-spraying, refurbishment, upgrades to avionics, manufacture of aircraft seats and the installation of new or hush-kitted engines. The airport's ambition to restart passenger flights dovetails with Government aims outlined in the White Paper on airport development and the strategic 'Thames Gateway' development. Undoubtedly the airport will have a supporting role to play in the 2012 London Olympics in East London, for which it is well situated. In 2002/3 a debate centered on the possible relocation of a Grade 1 listed church further away from the side of the main runway. This would have enabled passenger aircraft, of a size already regularly seen at the airport for maintenance purposes, to offer passenger flights to UK and European destinations. However this was strongly opposed by English Heritage, local residents, local Councillors and the Church Authorities themselves. When the Planning application came before Southend Council, it failed to secure any votes at all & was rejected. However, a compromise scheme, that sees the church remain where it is, was implemented, and licensed by the CAA, at the expense of slightly shortening the available runway lengths. This means that passenger flights have been able to be restarted, using aircraft of a size similar to those in already in use both at Southend and at London City airport. ATC (Lasham) is the major engineering company at the airport, in previous times known as ATEL ( Aviation Traders Engineering Limited, founded by the late Sir Freddie Laker of Skytrain fame) and Heavylift Engineering. Other companies include Air Livery, Avionicare, BAC Engineering, Flightline Aircraft Engineering, IAVNA, Inflite Engineering (previously 'World Aviation Support' and 'BAF Engineering'), IPECO and JRB Aviation. Southend Airport has an excellent weather record, which means that smaller airliners use it as a diversion alternative when adverse weather or other incidents cause aircraft to divert from either Stansted or London City Airport . The airport is also popular with film-makers, who find that the airport is able to accommodate their needs better than busier airports. It has a cafe/lounge for passengers, spectators and private pilots, and a photo booth. Bus services are available from the public road fronting the airport entrance to Southend town centre and Rayleigh. A preserved Avro Vulcan may be seen from the road into Rochford. The Vulcan usually undertakes fast taxi runs along the runway once or twice a year. Vulcan Restoration Trust The Airport is home to several Flying Clubs: There is no longer a museum at this airport which once reverberated to flying car ferries such as the piston-engined Bristol Freighter and the Aviation Traders Carvair . MILITARY HISTORY The airfield was established by the Royal Flying Corps during World War I . In 1939 the Air Ministry requisitioned the airfield and it became RAF Rochford during World War II . It became a satellite base. In World War II it became a fighter base squadrons of Supermarine Spitfire s and Hawker Hurricane fighters, as well as the Bristol Blenheim fighter-bomber. Many of the 50 Pillboxes , that were design to protect the airport from Paratroop landings, still survive, as does the underground defence control room, which is near to Southend Flying Club. A further 20 or so pillboxes also remain in the surrounding countryside. In 1946 the airfield was decommissioned from military use and civil aviation returned in 1947, as did the Southend Municipal Airport name. Canewdon , a couple of miles to the north east of the airport, was the location of one of the World War II Chain Home Radar stations. One of the 360 foot high transmitter towers can still be seen near Great Baddow (2007). AIRLINES AND DESTINATIONS
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