Dusseldorf Spotting

[dubh12000]

I don't know how familiar the board members are with Dusseldorf, but seeing as I fly in and out of Dus pretty regularly, and had a couple of hours to spare last week, I went up on the viewers balcony. It was fantastic, but I couldn't help thinking was "wrong" with the fact that I had ended up looking down on half a dozen planes without passing through any form of security or even having my bag checked.

It just felt wierd.

[ATNotts]

Is it possible that the UK attitude to viewing terraces is "wierd", and the german one refreshingly "normal"?

Virtually all German airports have excellent viewing facilities, though some are none too good for photography as you can be shooting through glass.

I would recommend Hannover and Nürnberg as having good viewing opportunities off the beaten track (DUS / FRA and MUC).

[Avman]

First of all I can confirm that DUS does not have glass around either of itīs two terraces. Secondly, thereīs security personnel walking around at all times. Whenever thereīs a hightened security alert, bags are searched. Any terrorists with minimal intelligence know that donīt have to bring attention to themselves in full view on a busy open terrace when they can prepare completely unseen in the forests/woods very close by. Incidentally, my car wasnīt searched at Manchesterīs viewing park - and I can hide a lot more in a car than in a bag!

[the_fish@blueyonder.]

I was impressed with the viewing area at DUS when I went through there in summer 2007. On more recent trips to Germany I have also had the chance to spend time at the viewing areas at BRE (Bremen) and HHN (Hahn) which also offer excellent views of the apron/runway activity, although Hahn is a little limited to Ryanair and some fairly distant cargo airliners and is behind Glass, it's still a nice addition. Bremen is outdoors however, has a museum and also offers a more varied range of aircraft and airlines.

I definately think the UK and other countries should follow suit with German airports and viewing facilities. At BRE and DUS they were quite busy with passengers just passing time, of course there is little/no money to be made from them as there is no room to fill them with shops and bars and many people would probably not pay a lot to use them (although DUS charges and was still popular) which may not be of much interest to many airport operators these days.

[trident3A]

I think the Germans still have the notion of trying to create an attractive public space rather than purely an oppurtunity to squeeze as much cash out of travellers as possible

[Skipness One Echo]

Hear hear. Lots of security,quite reassuring really, as it's not UK style pointless security theatre.

[boeing_eng]

Before the superb viewing facilities on the roof of Terminal 1 were closed at Frankfurt, it used to be the most popular visitor attraction in the area.....!