Landing site near the NEC
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Landing site near the NEC
Does anyone know a lnading site near to the NEC except the airport? I used to use the Motorcycle Museum but they have stopped allowing it, NEC no go, any help would be great
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I'd be interested to know too. As far as I know the Airport is the nearest place.
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.
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.
Joel
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Yes, I understand that but with a venue where thousands congregate I'd have thought a proper helipad/parking would have been in the plans. Then again .............. 
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If you think that is bad, the Museum of Flight at East Fortune near Edinburgh, refused me permission to land at the their former RAF airfield because they hadn't done "A Risk Assessment" and they "didn't like helicopters". ( I thankfully phoned before setting out). They may have relented since but their attitude was shocking. (Gov funded)
Tarman
Tarman
Tightgit
Coleshill Manor Business Campus has a helipad
Coleshill Manor
5 miles from the NEC in betweeen the M6 and M42 Links
Coleshill Manor Helipad
Why do the NEC need a helipad, they're right next to a firkin great airport (where, I have it on good authority, you can park a helicopter)?
Or do you really mean, why don't they have a free or at least cheaper than the airport, helipad?
Coleshill Manor
5 miles from the NEC in betweeen the M6 and M42 Links
Coleshill Manor Helipad
Why do the NEC need a helipad, they're right next to a firkin great airport (where, I have it on good authority, you can park a helicopter)?
Or do you really mean, why don't they have a free or at least cheaper than the airport, helipad?
If you're going to the NEC, then I'd use the airport! They're used to PPL(H)s coming in and very friendly, but you'll need a ground handling agent - i think i used Servisair (0121 767 7767) when i last went there a few years ago. They charge about £70, but they'll also drive you to the NEC and pick you up when you're ready to come back
TTB
TTB
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I tried hard and failed with the NEC with regard to landing in the grounds and that was with some "inside help".
As far as using the airport instead, it's not so much the cost; but more the inconvenience of the traffic queues on busy event days.
As my passenger once pointed out, it only took about 40 minutes to fly him to Brum from London, but it took over an hour to get the couple of miles round the link roads to the NEC, longer on the way out.
As far as using the airport instead, it's not so much the cost; but more the inconvenience of the traffic queues on busy event days.
As my passenger once pointed out, it only took about 40 minutes to fly him to Brum from London, but it took over an hour to get the couple of miles round the link roads to the NEC, longer on the way out.
ST - I may have been lucky, but I used to go up for the bike/car shows and the main roads were a bit sticky, but I seem to remember the Servisair guys used a route that got me the the NEC in c. 10 mins. If you phone them 15 mins before you're ready to leave, they'll send a car to collect you so it's ready and waiting for the return trip. And all complimentary!
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ttb,
Thanks but the flights aren't for my own benefit and when landing at EGBB I always do use the handling agents (have done many times). Yes, they provide the limo and chauffeur, always booked in advance for the pax. The folk I bring don't "visit" the shows, they are corporate guests, or higher 
. And the NEC still won't let us land there... 
Thanks but the flights aren't for my own benefit and when landing at EGBB I always do use the handling agents (have done many times). Yes, they provide the limo and chauffeur, always booked in advance for the pax. The folk I bring don't "visit" the shows, they are corporate guests, or higher . And the NEC still won't let us land there...
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I think the final decision was made for "H&S" reasons.
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Getting a bit tired of the "if you can afford a helicopter you can afford the landing fees' type of comment. Its presumably made by those that don't have one or pay to use one. 
Heli pilots don't usually baulk at paying to land somewhere if it's an appropriate charge for the service they receive. This weekend I was obliged to negotiate a landing fee at a hotel down from £100 to £50. The hotel has an "H" and the bloody room was only £49.
I can park my car at this hotel for free, but not my helicopter. If I'd turned up in a Bugatti Veyron costing twice as much as my machine I could have parked it in their car park for free. Blatant profiteering.
To the two guys that have commented, do you actually own a helicopter or pay personally to use one? Given that one of you is called FSXBOY (Flight Simulator x ???) I suspect not. If you do, I'm surprised at your comments, as I'm sure others will be.
With regard to the NEC, and any other similar venue, the idea behind use of a helicopter is to get as close as possible to the venue. In terms of the NEC, it has absolute acres of land, 000's of corporate visitors and should IMHO (and many others) facilitate landings there. I'm certain that many of their visitors would like to attend by helicopter as they do at other venues attracting corporate clientèle.
Joel
Heli pilots don't usually baulk at paying to land somewhere if it's an appropriate charge for the service they receive. This weekend I was obliged to negotiate a landing fee at a hotel down from £100 to £50. The hotel has an "H" and the bloody room was only £49.
I can park my car at this hotel for free, but not my helicopter. If I'd turned up in a Bugatti Veyron costing twice as much as my machine I could have parked it in their car park for free. Blatant profiteering.
To the two guys that have commented, do you actually own a helicopter or pay personally to use one? Given that one of you is called FSXBOY (Flight Simulator x ???) I suspect not. If you do, I'm surprised at your comments, as I'm sure others will be.
With regard to the NEC, and any other similar venue, the idea behind use of a helicopter is to get as close as possible to the venue. In terms of the NEC, it has absolute acres of land, 000's of corporate visitors and should IMHO (and many others) facilitate landings there. I'm certain that many of their visitors would like to attend by helicopter as they do at other venues attracting corporate clientèle.
Joel
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Could be worth checking with the Marriot Forest of Arden hotel, when I used it a few years ago there was a heli parked on the front lawn pretty regularly.
It's still listed on Helipad.co.uk and is a taxi ride away from the NEC.
RC
It's still listed on Helipad.co.uk and is a taxi ride away from the NEC.
RC
Tightgit
Joel
It may be that you have a helicopter so that you can get as close as possible to where you need to be. The aim of events run at places like the NEC is to get as many pairs of feet through the doors as possible. As most of those feet will arrive in cars then that is where the profit is to be made. The amount of cars they can get in an area the size of the footprint of your helicopter will make them more money than reserving the space for you and charging you a suitable fee! It's hard to believe but the world doesn't reserve around your convenience
It may be that you have a helicopter so that you can get as close as possible to where you need to be. The aim of events run at places like the NEC is to get as many pairs of feet through the doors as possible. As most of those feet will arrive in cars then that is where the profit is to be made. The amount of cars they can get in an area the size of the footprint of your helicopter will make them more money than reserving the space for you and charging you a suitable fee! It's hard to believe but the world doesn't reserve around your convenience