New airport begins test flights

Doncaster Airport is due to open next year

Test flights have started at South Yorkshire's new airport ahead of its scheduled opening in spring 2005.

Robin Hood airport, near Doncaster, is expected to cater for 2.3m passengers and 50,000 tonnes of freight each year.

On Saturday, trials took place to calibrate the site's navigation and landing aids.

Training for ground crew and emergency staff is to begin in the new year. There are expected to be about 40 flights a day during this period.

The first commercial flights from the former RAF Finningley are already on sale and will take off at the end of April.