In fact, some residents of El Trapiche and Benamocarra consider that flights from, to and over the airdrome are a “grave inconvenience and a danger”, caused by its “constant” air traffic.

Those that oppose the airdrome started organising themselves by creating a social-media platform and have now moved on to collecting signatures, both via Change.org as well as physically going out and collecting them.

“I have been living near the aerodrome for ten years but it was only a year ago that there has been an increase in air traffic, so much so that pupils in the junior and high schools have to put up with it on a daily basis,” explained the Spokesman of the movement, Victor Morales.

This group has delivered letters to Vélez-Málaga Town Hall, to the Agencia Estatal de Seguridad Aérea (AESA) and to the Delegación de Educación, demanding that the Aerodromo de Leoni Benabu, as it is officially known, take steps, urgently, to stop light aircraft flying over nearby villages.

Leoni Benabu Airdrome was first opened in 1995 and is managed by the Real Aeroclub de Málaga, and two flying schools operate out of it, One Air and Aerodynamics.

Apart from the inconveniences caused by the noise and the concern that there might be another flying accident, the protest group has taken up legal proceedings through their lawyer, Carlos Jiménez, denouncing supposed “building irregularities on the airdrome itself. They are also following a legal avenue over the allegedly lack of collaboration from the Velez-Málaga Town Hall.

On the other hand the Chairman of the Real Aeroclub de Málaga, which was founded in 1931, Jesús Guerrero, they receive complaints in “bursts.”

“The majority of those complaining are foreigners who have bought houses in the countryside, which are not legal as they were constructed under building licences only for an apero (tool shed) but are being used as tourist accommodation,” he said.

The Chairman said that all of the flights taking off from the airdrome are “authorised” by Aviación Civil (in other words, they have approved flight plans) and scrupulously stick to their flight paths over built up areas, keeping to a height of over 300 metres. “The airdrome is where it is and to land or take off, flights have to approach the landing strip,” he said.

As for the said Town Hall, they say that they have been trying for several years to expand the airdrome so that comercial (cargo) flights can use it, as well as private jets. However, the proximity of the river is complicating things because the landing strip would need to be extended from its 1,150 metres by another 400 metres.

Last September, GENA-Ecologistas en Acción lodged a complaint about the inconviences and dangers caused by light aircraft within the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, asking for an agreement between the Town Hall and the Real Aeroclub be struck which would guarantee that there would be no flights over towns and villages.

(News: Velez-Malaga, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Photo: E. Cabezas)