PILOTS flying into the Stapleford Flight Centre could soon be able to land in poor weather conditions.

From 2019 the flight training school and private flying club plans to use a GPS-based instrument approach system on its main runway.

With the centre's navigation beacon to be removed in the new couple of years and no instruments that can guide pilots safely to the ground, currently aircraft planning to land at the aerodrome have to divert to another strip if visibility is low.

Colin Dobney, head of training, said: “The implementation of the instrument approach would allow approaches to the aerodrome to continue when the weather is poor, when there is a low cloud base or poor visibility.

"It will improve the safety of operations during deteriorating weather conditions.

"We do not anticipate the proposed new system would be any significant increase in traffic locally.”

A consultation into the system has begun and runs until March 26, with an open day at the aerodrome on February 13 providing further details.

To access the consultant document and to book in for the Open Day drop in sessions click here.