JUMBO jets could be roaring over the top of Marlow if Booker Gliding Club succumbs to the proposed stadium, a former airline pilot has warned.

Mike Post, of Bisham Road, fears that the “free-flying space” which protects light aviation and gliding would be lost, opening the door for big airliners.

This 60-square mile area west of the air park currently has s a 4500ft-high altitude limit which he argues prevents aircraft taking off or landing at Heathrow from flying over Marlow. “It’s a big slab of air space that keeps the jumbo jets out,” explained the retired pilot.

“But [if light aircraft activities were lost] there would be no aeronautical reason for blocking them.”

He claims that the protected space – which stretches from Thame to Hambleden – ensures heavy jets are routed north and south of Marlow.

And he is concerned that airspace authorities would seek to take advantage of any change in activity at the air park.

“What could happen is that because the authorities at Heathrow are trying to spread the noise evenly, they might well redirect their planes over Marlow,” he said.

“You just have to look at the aviation map to understand what would happen.”

And Booker Gliding Club member of 25 years Ron Hone – who also fears for the club’s future – is concerned that jet planes may soon soar over the Marlow sky.

“If Booker [gliding club] was not there, there would be the possibility of them going over at low altitude – it’s a real concern… “The gliding club would cease to exist – it’s as simple as that. I don’t think there is any possibility [it would survive].”

Last month Wycombe District Council planning chief Gerry Unsworth insisted that the loss of Booker Gliding Club was not a forgone conclusion.

He said: “It's not the worse case scenario that some people have suggested that everything will be annihilated at the site.”

And he added that the council is “hopeful” the air park can co-exist.

Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Richard Taylor also moved to quash fears that, even if the gliding club were lost, commercial airplanes would change their flight path.

“If there is a rugby stadium light air craft would not be able to fly over it,” he explained.

“That will impact the immediate area but it won’t affect things on a larger scale - it won’t affect traffic out of Heathrow… “These air corridors would not be changed because of things on the ground - airspace over the UK is very complicated and very congested.”