Cotswold Airport has appointed Lee Myall as its new Chief Executive Officer, with Suzannah Harvey stepping back from the role after two decades at the helm of the Gloucestershire airfield.
For those who follow activity at Kemble, the change comes at an interesting time for the airport. Cotswold Airport has continued to develop well beyond its traditional general aviation role, with business aviation, aerospace development, aircraft testing and new aviation technologies all becoming increasingly visible parts of the airfield.
Myall now takes over as the airport enters another period of development.
A new face at the top
Lee Myall brings aviation industry experience to the role and will oversee the next stage of Cotswold Airport’s development.
Suzannah Harvey has led the airport for around 20 years, following in the footsteps of her father Ronan Harvey, who acquired the former RAF Kemble site in 2001.
During her time as CEO, the airfield has evolved considerably. While Kemble remains a familiar destination for light aircraft and general aviation, the airport has also established itself as a base for business aviation and a location for a growing number of aviation-related companies.
For spotters, that changing mix has been one of the most noticeable features of the airport in recent years.
Kemble’s changing aircraft mix
Cotswold Airport continues to handle a varied selection of aircraft, ranging from light general aviation types and helicopters through to business jets and larger visiting aircraft.
The airport is also home to a number of companies involved in aircraft engineering, maintenance and aviation technology, helping to create the unusual mixture of aircraft that can be seen around the site.
That variety is likely to remain a major part of the airport’s identity as the new management team takes over.
The airport has also increasingly become associated with next-generation aviation, with companies including Vertical Aerospace and ZeroAvia carrying out development and testing work at Kemble.
Vertical’s Valo electric VTOL programme and ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric aircraft development have added some particularly unusual aircraft and test activity to the Kemble scene.
Development and more aviation activity
The leadership change comes as Cotswold Airport continues to invest in its facilities and expand its aviation offering.
Recent developments include additional facilities for aerospace companies, new hangar and operational capabilities, and continued investment in infrastructure across the airfield.
The airport’s role in sustainable aviation is also becoming increasingly prominent. Aircraft testing and development programmes based at Kemble mean that spotters are now watching not just for visiting aircraft, but also for prototypes and technology demonstrators that may appear as part of ongoing flight-test programmes.
For an airfield with such a strong historic connection to military aviation, it makes for an interesting combination of old and new.
What does it mean for spotters?
A change of CEO does not necessarily mean an immediate change to day-to-day flying at Kemble.
The airport’s established general aviation and business aviation activity will continue, while the wider development programme provides the potential for further changes to the aircraft and operators based on or visiting the airfield.
For spotters, the most interesting aspect will be seeing how Cotswold Airport develops under its new leadership.
With aerospace testing, business aviation, general aviation and increasingly advanced aircraft programmes all operating from the former RAF station, Kemble’s aircraft scene is considerably broader than it was just a few years ago.
And with Lee Myall now taking the controls at the airport, the next chapter of Cotswold Airport’s development is about to begin.