The short answer
Helicopter charter from Redhill Aerodrome reaches the London Heliport at Battersea in about 15 minutes, against 55 minutes by road, and Epsom Downs in 10 to 15 minutes. Redhill is Charter-A's home airfield, 5 miles from Gatwick, and passengers are met by their charter crew. It is VFR only and prior permission is required.
Flying from Redhill Aerodrome? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Site
- Redhill Aerodrome, Kings Mill Lane, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5JY (EGKR); Charter-A head office, Hangar One
- Hours as published
- Staffed summer 09:00 to 19:00 local, winter 09:00 to 17:00; fuel 09:00 to 16:30 (winter) or 18:30 (summer) and by arrangement; out-of-hours by arrangement, a charge applies (library check 29 September 2026)
- Prior permission
- Yes
- Customs and immigration
- By arrangement: Certificate of Agreement, General Aviation Report with 4 hours' notice inbound, 24 hours for Common Travel Area flights
- Flying rules
- VFR only
- Handling
- Passengers are met by their charter crew; no separate handling agent
- To Gatwick
- About 10 minutes by helicopter, 19 minutes by road
- To Battersea
- About 15 minutes by helicopter, 55 minutes by road
Where Redhill Aerodrome flights start and end
The map shows Redhill Aerodrome, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
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Redhill Aerodrome
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Sites that serve Redhill Aerodrome
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Redhill Aerodrome EGKR
- Address
- Redhill Aerodrome, Kings Mill Lane, Redhill, Surrey
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
Staffed hours summer 09:00–19:00 local, winter 09:00–17:00 local (ATS); 09:00–16:30 (winter) / 09:00–18:30 (summer) and…
Staffed hours summer 09:00–19:00 local, winter 09:00–17:00 local (ATS); 09:00–16:30 (winter) / 09:00–18:30 (summer) and by arrangement; out-of-hours movements by arrangement (charge applies)- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement
Charter-A's home base – Hangar One, Redhill Aerodrome. Surrey's main helicopter base south of London: passengers are met by their charter crew (no separate). Customs by Certificate of Agreement – GAR required with 4 hours' notice inbound, 24 hours for Common Travel Area flights.
Redhill, our own airfield
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. The head office of Charter-A Ltd is at Hangar One, London Redhill Aerodrome, Kingsmill Lane, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5JY. It is not a terminal and it is not a large airport: it is a small aerodrome with a cafe on site, a short walk from the car to the helicopter, and a crew that knows the site.
That matters for how a charter feels. Passengers are met by their charter crew and there is no separate handling agent to queue behind. Helicopter charter Redhill therefore tends to be quick to arrange, because we are on the field.
Journey times from Redhill Aerodrome
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Gatwick | 4.4 nm (5 mi) | 10 to 10 min | 19 min (8 mi) | About the same |
| Epsom Downs | 7.5 nm (9 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 29 min (11 mi) | 16 min |
| London | 15 nm (18 mi) | 15 to 15 min | 55 min (28 mi) | 40 min |
| London Heathrow | 20 nm (23 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 53 min (36 mi) | 35 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 23 nm (27 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 54 min (38 mi) | 36 min |
| Goodwood | 31 nm (36 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 1 h 17 min (50 mi) | 54 min |
| Southampton | 49 nm (56 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 39 min (80 mi) | 1 h 09 min |
| Oxford | 58 nm (67 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 45 min (80 mi) | 1 h 10 min |
| Cambridge | 61 nm (70 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 55 min (88 mi) | 1 h 20 min |
| Silverstone | 61 nm (71 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 03 min (99 mi) | 1 h 28 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 65 nm (75 mi) | 35 to 40 min | 1 h 53 min (92 mi) | 1 h 15 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 84 nm (96 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 29 min (115 mi) | 1 h 44 min |
| Birmingham | 95 nm (110 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 40 min (133 mi) | 1 h 50 min |
| Bristol | 97 nm (112 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 53 min (135 mi) | 2 h 03 min |
| Norwich | 102 nm (118 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 02 min (146 mi) | 2 h 07 min |
| Cardiff | 121 nm (139 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 31 min (173 mi) | 2 h 28 min |
| Manchester | 151 nm (173 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 4 h 25 min (215 mi) | 3 h 10 min |
| Liverpool | 162 nm (186 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 31 min (233 mi) | 3 h 11 min |
| York Racecourse | 168 nm (193 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 30 min (238 mi) | 3 h 05 min |
| Leeds | 169 nm (194 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 37 min (236 mi) | 3 h 12 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 171 nm (196 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 32 min (241 mi) | 3 h 07 min |
| Newcastle | 236 nm (272 mi) | 1 h 40 min to 2 h 05 min | 6 h 19 min (323 mi) | 4 h 26 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Hours, customs and what limits a flight
Redhill is staffed 09:00 to 19:00 in summer and 09:00 to 17:00 in winter. Fuel is available 09:00 to 16:30 in winter and 09:00 to 18:30 in summer and by arrangement. Movements outside staffed hours are by arrangement, and a charge applies. The aerodrome is VFR only, so low cloud or poor visibility can stop a flight; if the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
Prior permission is required. Customs is by Certificate of Agreement: a General Aviation Report with 4 hours' notice inbound, or 24 hours for Common Travel Area flights. For a full-time customs airport nearby, see Biggin Hill.
Redhill and Gatwick
Redhill is 4.4 nautical miles from Gatwick, about 6 road miles. Gatwick accepts private aircraft only with a slot and a handling agent, so many clients who arrive on a scheduled flight meet us at Redhill instead: a car takes them across (about 19 minutes in free-flowing traffic) and drives airside to the helicopter. The full explanation is on our Gatwick page.
Our old page put the Gatwick link at around 15 minutes by road, and a meet-and-greet car can still be arranged through our chauffeur partner. Use the computed 19 minutes to plan.
Times from Redhill against the road
Epsom Downs is about 10 to 15 minutes by helicopter against 29 minutes by road. The London Heliport at Battersea is about 15 minutes against 55, and Heathrow 15 to 20 against 53. Ascot takes 15 to 20 against 54. Goodwood is about 20 to 25 against 1 hour 17, Southampton 25 to 35 against 1 hour 39, and Oxford 30 to 40 against 1 hour 45.
Birmingham is about 45 to 55 minutes against 2 hours 40, Bristol 45 to 55 against 2 hours 53, and Manchester 65 to 85 against 4 hours 25. See London to Birmingham for the corridor from the capital. Road times are free-flowing and so optimistic.
Surrey, Sussex and what clients fly for
Clients have flown to or from South Lodge Hotel, Nuffield, Lingfield Racecourse, Forest Row, Ashdown, Worth and Ardingly. These are meeting venues and race meetings in the Surrey and Sussex border country, and any landing at a hotel or private site is subject to landing permission and site suitability. For the sporting calendar, Epsom Downs is the nearest: Epsom, then Ascot and Glorious Goodwood.
The business case is the M25 south and the London commute that crosses it. Take a look at same-day business trips for the multi-stop format, and the south east England page for the wider area.
How to book from Redhill
Send us the date, passengers and weights, and where you are going. We confirm the aircraft, permission and departure time. Arrive 10 minutes before departure; luggage in soft bags. For cost guidance see Helicopter Hire Prices, and request a quote through the form.
Because we are based here, call us: the line is open 24 hours. The central London end is covered by Battersea.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Redhill Aerodrome, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is Redhill Aerodrome Charter-A's head office?
Yes. The head office of Charter-A Ltd is at Hangar One, London Redhill Aerodrome, Kingsmill Lane, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5JY.
How far is Redhill from Gatwick?
About 4.4 nautical miles. A helicopter takes around 10 minutes; a car takes about 19 minutes in free-flowing traffic.
What are the Redhill Aerodrome opening hours?
Staffed 09:00 to 19:00 in summer and 09:00 to 17:00 in winter. Out-of-hours movements are by arrangement and a charge applies.
Does Redhill have customs?
By arrangement: a General Aviation Report with 4 hours' notice for inbound flights, or 24 hours for Common Travel Area flights.
Can I fly from Redhill in poor weather?
Redhill is VFR only, so cloud and visibility can stop a flight. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
Is there a cafe at Redhill Aerodrome?
Yes, there is a cafe on site.
