The short answer
Helicopter charter to Donington Park uses East Midlands Airport at Castle Donington, which sits beside the circuit, is open 24 hours and has customs on site. Birmingham is about 20 to 25 minutes away by helicopter and Silverstone 25 to 30. Race dates are announced each year: ask us for the current date.
Quote this event Tell us the date and the number of guests; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Event
- Race meetings and track days, Donington Park, Castle Donington, Derbyshire and Leicestershire border
- Usual season
- Spring to autumn
- Dates
- Dates are announced each year: ask us for the current date
- Where we land
- East Midlands Airport (EGNX), 2,894 m runway, open 24 hours, customs on site, no slot restrictions for business aviation
- East Midlands to Birmingham
- About 20 to 25 minutes by helicopter; at least 51 minutes by road
- East Midlands to Silverstone
- About 25 to 30 minutes by helicopter; at least 1 hour 17 minutes by road
- East Midlands to Manchester
- About 25 to 30 minutes by helicopter; at least 1 hour 55 minutes by road
The nearest landing site
East Midlands Airport is the site we plan around for this event. Permission and times are confirmed with your booking.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. East Midlands Airport is at East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby. Open it in Google Maps.
East Midlands Airport
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East Midlands Airport EGNX / EMA
- Address
- East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- Airport 24 hours (customs). No slot restrictions
- Permission
- No PPR published; we still confirm before you fly
- Customs
- Yes – on site
- Runway
- 09/27 – 2,894 m × 45 m asphalt
Helicopter charter East MidlandsOfficial websiteOpen in Google Maps
Why is Donington one of the easier circuits?
Helicopter charter to Donington Park starts from a favourable fact: the circuit sits beside East Midlands Airport. The airport has a 2,894 metre runway, runs 24 hours with customs and fuel at any hour, and business aviation is exempt from the airline slot rules, so we simply arrange handling. A short road transfer completes the journey to the circuit, and that is the only ground leg.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. Jets that do not meet Chapter 3 noise certification are not permitted from 23:00 to 07:00, which does not affect most charters. See helicopter charter East Midlands for the airport and Derbyshire for the wider area.
Journey times to East Midlands Airport
Typical helicopter times against the car from the nearest cities, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 27 nm (31 mi) | 20 to 25 min | 51 min (38 mi) | 28 min |
| Manchester | 46 nm (53 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 55 min (78 mi) | 1 h 27 min |
| Silverstone | 47 nm (54 mi) | 25 to 30 min | 1 h 17 min (63 mi) | 49 min |
| Oxford | 60 nm (69 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 45 min (88 mi) | 1 h 10 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 61 nm (70 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 1 h 45 min (90 mi) | 1 h 10 min |
| Liverpool | 63 nm (72 mi) | 30 to 40 min | 2 h 01 min (96 mi) | 1 h 26 min |
| Leeds | 63 nm (73 mi) | 35 to 40 min | 1 h 55 min (92 mi) | 1 h 17 min |
| Cambridge | 67 nm (77 mi) | 35 to 40 min | 1 h 53 min (99 mi) | 1 h 15 min |
| York Racecourse | 68 nm (78 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 1 h 48 min (94 mi) | 1 h 08 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 70 nm (81 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 03 min (104 mi) | 1 h 23 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 72 nm (83 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h (107 mi) | 1 h 20 min |
| London Heathrow | 88 nm (101 mi) | 40 to 55 min | 2 h 12 min (118 mi) | 1 h 24 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 89 nm (102 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 26 min (127 mi) | 1 h 36 min |
| London | 92 nm (106 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 32 min (119 mi) | 1 h 42 min |
| Norwich | 95 nm (110 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 3 h 03 min (134 mi) | 2 h 13 min |
| Epsom Downs | 99 nm (114 mi) | 45 to 60 min | 2 h 38 min (139 mi) | 1 h 45 min |
| Bristol | 101 nm (116 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 2 h 43 min (139 mi) | 1 h 48 min |
| London Gatwick | 110 nm (126 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 2 h 54 min (157 mi) | 1 h 56 min |
| Southampton | 113 nm (130 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 2 h 58 min (155 mi) | 2 h |
| Cardiff | 114 nm (131 mi) | 55 to 65 min | 3 h 10 min (163 mi) | 2 h 10 min |
| Goodwood | 120 nm (138 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 19 min (171 mi) | 2 h 16 min |
| Newcastle | 133 nm (153 mi) | 60 to 75 min | 3 h 37 min (178 mi) | 2 h 29 min |
| Edinburgh | 200 nm (231 mi) | 85 to 110 min | 5 h 43 min (296 mi) | 4 h 05 min |
| Glasgow | 212 nm (244 mi) | 90 to 115 min | 5 h 35 min (300 mi) | 3 h 52 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
Times from the Midlands and Silverstone
From East Midlands Airport, Birmingham is about 20 to 25 minutes by helicopter against at least 51 minutes by road, Manchester 25 to 30 against 1 hour 55, Silverstone 25 to 30 against 1 hour 17, Oxford 30 to 40 against 1 hour 45 and Cheltenham 30 to 40 against 1 hour 45. These come from our route data, and the road times are free-flowing floors.
Silverstone, 46.6 nautical miles from the airport, is the other major circuit in range; see Silverstone. For the Birmingham start, see Birmingham.
Race days, track days and hospitality
Donington hosts national race meetings, club events and track days across the season. Tickets, paddock access and hospitality are arranged through the circuit and the series organisers; we arrange the flight. Corporate groups often combine a day at the circuit with a business meeting in the Midlands. Our race circuit page and business helicopter charter page explain both.
Landing at a private site next to the circuit is possible only with the owner's permission, subject to landing permission and site suitability. We ask first. Executive Global Travel can arrange cars.
Planning notes
Arrive 10 minutes before departure, supply weights and keep bags soft. Race weekends are busy, so ask for handling early. If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
Nottingham's helicopter sites are 9.6 and 10.5 nautical miles away; see Nottingham. The Midlands region page gives the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Where do helicopters land for Donington Park?
East Midlands Airport, which is beside the circuit. A short road transfer completes the journey.
Is the airport open at night?
Yes, it is open 24 hours. Some noisy jets are restricted from 23:00 to 07:00.
How long is the flight from Birmingham?
About 20 to 25 minutes.
When are the race meetings?
Dates are announced each year: ask us for the current date. The season runs from spring to autumn.
Can you arrange tickets?
No. Tickets and hospitality come from the circuit. We arrange the travel.
What if the weather stops the flight?
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
