To download the latest version of the Google Earth Airfields Map file, click on the icon and save the file to your computer’s download directory.

To use the file, simply double-click the downloaded file. It can be useful to make a shortcut for the file and place it on your desktop if you use the file regularly.

If you don't have Google Earth on your computer, download it free by clicking here.

Google Earth Map File Notes

Each airfield is normally plotted at the midpoint of its longest runway. In some instances, where there is an obvious focal point such as an intersection of runways or the centre of a triangle of runways, this is used. At first sight, the icons seem to miss the runway centre points until you zoom right into ground level.

The icons are labelled as follows and have distinguishing colours:

A = general aviation aircraft & airliners (blue)

G = gliders (orange)

H = helicopters (pink)

M = microlights (green)

Y = autogyros (red)

After the airfield name the number of based civil aircraft is given in brackets. Note the following interpretation comments on this quantity:

• the quantity refers to the number of civil aircraft given in the LAAS British Isles Civil Aircraft Register 2010 (BICR) publication plus those on the Foreign Registered Aircraft based in the UK website listing in mid-2010 to give an idea of total based civil aircraft.
• military aircraft are not counted in the total
• a single nominal base is assumed for airline fleets e.g. all British Airways aircraft are counted in Heathrow’s total. No attempt has been made to split out the fleet across its operating bases (there hasn't been a need to do this)
• not all aircraft at a base are necessarily there all the time; for example, some gliding and microlight sites may include aircraft which normally fly from there but which are stored at the owner’s home and towed by trailer to the site for flight.
• where the quantity is zero, there are no known aircraft based. This could, for example, refer to airfields in the Outer Hebrides – including one which is on the beach and active at low tide but is flooded at high tide.
• where no brackets ( ) are shown, no data on based aircraft is currently known

In the left hand listing of airfields, if the airfield is wholly a helicopter base, it will say ‘helicopters’.  If there is a mix of types of aircraft (e.g. some or all of: airliners, general aviation, helicopters, microlights, autogyros) but with a significant proportion of one type e.g. helicopters, it will say ‘(helicopters)’. This notation applies to all types.

Microlights refer principally to flex-wing microlights and fabric 3-axis aircraft such as the Sky Ranger.

In one or two instances, additional notes are added e.g. where only one brand of aircraft is present.

 

We would be grateful for any comments, criticisms, suggestions that you may have on the mapping; presentation, clarity or usefulness of the different features. This is the first draft; if you have ideas on how it could be improved, please let us know, at pocmapping@laasdata.com.