What a great thread, where to start!
Joel;
Apparently the 200 acres of land (or however much it is) that the NEC have isn't big enough to get a chopper into.
Pretty pathetic for an International Conference centre.
Lets read what the actual International Conference Centre in Birmingham has to say;
The ICC, Birmingham - The UK's Premier Conference Centre
By Air
Birmingham International Airport (BHX) is located adjacent to Birmingham International Station. Travellers can access the city centre and The ICC quickly and conveniently by train or road.
Once You've Landed
Taxi
Taxi ranks are situated outside of the passenger terminals. Black cabs are the safest way to travel and each vehicle carries 5 people with luggage. The ICC is approximately a 16 mile journey by taxi from Birmingham International Airport.
Of course there's always The Edinburgh International Conference Centre;
eicc.co.uk :: Home
Whether you are travelling to the EICC from the UK or overseas Edinburgh is very easy to reach. Being located just 7 miles away, the EICC is easily accessible from Edinburgh International Airport; click here for information on how to reach the EICC after arriving by plane.
Then there's Harrogate ICC, Riviera ICC (Torquay) etc, etc. Funnily enough all with the same attitude you refer to, that being;
if the NEC don't want to allow heli's to land there then that's their prerogative.
