A call has been made for a study to see whether the airfield at Leuchars could be transformed into a commercial airport.
North East Fife MSP Roderick Campbell has written to Fife Council leader Alex Rowley on the matter after The Courier revealed last week there is no guarantee commercial aircraft will be able to make use of the airfield at Leuchars once the RAF departs and the Army moves in from 2015.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed civil aircraft are again planning to land at RAF Leuchars for the 2013 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
However, the MoD said it would be “inappropriate” to speculate on future use of the airfield by civilian aircraft as use of the airfield facilities once the RAF departs remains under review.
In his letter to Mr Rowley, Mr Campbell said: “Following the removal of the RAF from the airbase in 2015, I am aware that the lengthy runway and additional resources and infrastructure will be retained at the site.
“I believe it would be an extraordinary waste of this ready-made asset if consideration was not given to utilising it in the most efficient, economical way.
“With north-east Fife set to be stripped of income-generating attractions, including the Leuchars Airshow and a reduction of personnel, it is vital consideration is given to alternative uses of the infrastructure being left behind.
“I am also aware the Ministry of Defence previously co-ordinated a feasibility study into this matter over a decade ago.
“It found the then spare capacity could be put to use by civilian and commercial aircraft, but plans were halted due to the perceived level of risk for the RAF.
“With the imminent removal of the RAF, however, this level of risk will have reduced.”
In the early 2000s the MoD carried out a study into the potential exploitation of spare capacity at the base, which might have included greater use of the base by civilian and commercial aircraft.
However, the possibility of low-cost airlines such as Ryanair or easyJet using RAF Leuchars was dumped at that time because none of the companies which put forward proposals was able to demonstrate significant benefits, with the “risk’’ also deemed too high for the RAF.
North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell said: “Over the years there have been several proposals to use Leuchars for large scale civilian operations.
“It should be remembered that if that were to be the case, it would be in direct competition with Dundee Airport.