Aviation pictures - A new airport

Aviation pictures - A new airport

The new States Airport in 1937, and below, the grass surfaces used as the first landing strips, with St Peter's Barracks in the foreground. It can be seen in the picture below that the main landing strip in use when the airport opened was across the picture from left (north) to right (south) and right to left, depending on wind direction. As the entire surface was grass, the direction of landings and take-offs could be adjusted to cope with crosswinds. Today's single runway is aligned approximately due east and west. When the airport first opened, the land behind and to the left of the terminal building, on which the eastern end of the main runway would be built, and which is today all within the Airport boundary, was still in private ownership as cultivated fields

Planning

Aerial photographs taken in 1933 of the site for the planned airport

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  The original plan of the airfield layout, later substantially altered
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  This plan shows the airport, much as it was constructed. However, initially the west-east runway shown on the plan only extended as far as the terminal building and the triangular section on the right of the plan, behind the buildings, was not acquired from the farmers who owned it and continued to grow crops there.
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  The plans for the building
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  A model of the original design
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  The architect's elevation of the new building

The builder's workforce ready to start work on the airport

Building

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  The steel framework for the airport terminal goes up
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  Another view of construction work
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  The building takes shape
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  Nearly complete
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  A new airport in 1936
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  1936: the airport is complete airside but work continues on the forecourt and hangar buildings. Cultivated fields in the foreground reach to within feet of the terminal building
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  An aerial view in 1936 shortly before the Airport opened
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  Jersey Airways DH86 in 1936, before the official opening of the Airport
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  British Airways Electra in 1936
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  Official approval from the UK of the Airport as a customs airport
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  Ground preparation

Opening

Five Jersey Airways biplanes fly in formation over Jersey to mark the opening of the Airport

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  It is not generally known that flying started from the Airport in 1936, some months before its official opening. Here the forecourt entrance is given a wash and brush-up ready for the big day
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  The Airport ready for its opening in 1937
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  Opening day
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  A bouquet for Mrs Coutanche
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  Alexander Coutanche and his wife on the apron
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  The official opening ceremony of Jersey Airport in 1937
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  Alexander Coutanche and his wife in front of a DH 86
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  Mr Coutanche with the first consignment of mail
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  A ceremony to mark the opening of an air mail service to and from the island
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  The observation platform
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  Official guests on an opening day tour leave the observation platform for the forecourt
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  Opening day in 1937
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  The plaque in the entrance hall unveiled
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  Opening day

The first emergency vehicles

Operating

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  The date of this picture of the forecourt is uncertain. The cars suggest 1930s, the coach appears later
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  An aerial view of the new aerodrome
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  An aerial view in 1937
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  An aerial view of the new airport in 1937
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  An aerial view in 1937 with St Peter's Barracks in the foreground and the Airport terminal behind
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  The original airport control building
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  The Airport buildings from the north-west in 1937
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  The new building from the front
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  The terminal building in 1937 from the air side
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  The forecourt in 1937
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  An Airport fireman in 1937
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  Radio operator in the 1930s
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  Radio operator in 1938
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  Air traffic control in 1937
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  Air traffic control
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  Air traffic control
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  Air traffic control in 1937
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  Air traffic control
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  The 1937 baggage hall
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  Baggage weighing area
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  Navigation beacon
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  A landing beacon in 1937
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  Using a signalling light
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  Lobby, 1937
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  Lobby, 1937
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  Approach control in 1937
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  The observation platform
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  The airport restaurant in 1937
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  The entrance hall
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  Another view of the entrance hall
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  The forecourt in 1937

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  The apron and terminal building
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  The Airport terminal from the airside
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  Passenger check-in and baggage weighing
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  Control room
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  The main entrance from the forecourt
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  Entrance hall
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  No 1 hangar
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  The public observation balcony
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  Inside the main entrance hall
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  The internal stairs to the observation balcony
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  A view of the Airport from a DH 86 in 1940
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  The Airport's first commandant, Charles Roche
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  The terminal in the early days
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  The new Airport building from the airside
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  The airport in 1939
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  A met officer releases a weather balloon
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Flying

A busy apron

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  DH86 in front of the new terminal. This aircraft was later involved in a fatal crash
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  Jersey Airways 1937 timetable
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  A Flight Magazine picture of the Airport in 1937
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  From an advertisement promoting 'Cerrux' which was used on the terminal exterior surfaces
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  Two de Havilland aircraft land together from the south at Jersey Airport
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  July 1937
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  Jersey Airways' La Saline Bay
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  Airport from above in 1937
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  The newly erected perimeter fence
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  A milkmaid attends to a cow grazing the Airport's grass
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  Father Christmas arrives by air
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  Before the opening
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  A busy apron
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  Air display
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  St Peter's Barracks and the Airport
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  From a 1937 family album
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  From a 1937 family album
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  The newly opened airport and St Peter's Barracks in the foreground in 1937
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  A De Havilland biplane on the apron
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  1937 aerial view

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  Jersey Airways aircraft line abreast on the apron in 1937 ...
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  ... mimicking the sight which became commonplace on the beach at West Park before the Airport opened

The new airport seen from the air in 1939

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