MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fairford to replace Brize Norton.

Aircrafts from the Royal Air Force base of Brize Norton near Oxford will be operating from Fairford for a four month period at the end of the year.

During four months from November until March, the runway at Brize Norton is being resurfaced and all aircraft will be operating out of Fairford which currently hosts US Air Force units.

Fairford is around ten miles from the Oxfordshire Royal Air Force base and twenty eight RAF transport and tanker aircraft will operate from the base along with aircraft chartered by the Ministry of Defence.

Personnel at Brize have informed residents at Fairford of the temporary move, saying every effort will be made to minimise noise disturbance. These aircraft will use the same routes, approaches and departure procedures as other aircraft.

Traffic noise around the area is likely to increase as passengers and freight move to and from Fairford and due to operational commitments, an RAF spokesman says it is inevitable that some noise will encroach into the local communities, occasionally during quiet hours.

The departure of this weekend's flight from the Falklands to Brize Norton has been delayed by one day due to a ?Stop the War' protest being held at the Oxfordshire base.