AN AFGHANISTAN veteran has taken over the controls as manager at Cotswold Airport in Kemble.

Keen flyer Christian Ackroyd has joined the former home of the Red Arrows from the Army Senior Leadership Team with the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers Regiment, where he served for 20 years.

His record of active service includes Bosnia, Kosovo, twice in Iraq and twice in Afghanistan.

Christian takes up his post at a time when the airfield, which faced a bleak future after the departure of the US Air Force in 1993, is home to a growing aviation community and looking to expand its activities.

He said: "I am delighted to be working at Cotswold Airport and am excited about what the future holds for both aviation and non-aviation business. The aerodrome has incredible potential for growth."

Christian also served in Canada, Poland and the US for operational training, including a two-year exchange with the US Army.

He holds an engineering degree and masters in defence studies and strategic leadership management.

The newcomer's role is to streamline the operational development of the aerodrome, with a focus on enabling increased operational capability in adverse weather for general aviation and commercial airliners.

Overall he will be widening the type of aviation activities at the airport and developing a five-year strategic plan to grow this sector of the business. Christian's long-standing passion for aviation includes obtaining his Private Pilot Licence two years ago. He takes to the skies regularly and will be flying in and out of the Gloucestershire airport as frequently as his role allows.

The new appointment has been made as the airport prepares to mark the RAF's 100th year with a range of activities over the Easter weekend.

Christian will be tasked with developing the airport's Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a new technology that basically enables aircraft to fly in with greater accuracy via the use of satellite systems, making it more commercially viable, in particular to business jets and small, privately-chartered aircraft.

He said: ‘I am delighted to be working at Cotswold Airport and am excited about what the future holds for both aviation and non-aviation business. The aerodrome has incredible potential for growth and new GNSS approach will undoubtedly change the operational face of the business.'

For more information visit www.cotswoldairport.com