Airside visit/tours - London/Southern England airports

[Dim Sum]

Hello folks,

I'm doing a course: 'BTEC National Diploma in Aviation Ops' and currently/will be learning about all aspects of 'operations' at an airport, e.g. ramp handling, airport emergency ops, health and safety. A visit to an airport (landside/airside) would be hugely beneficial to let us see behind the scenes or what you don't see as a passenger.

I know due to unfortunate events of the past decade that security is a tight as ever, but I'm thinking at least one airport still do escorted tours..?

Do BAA airports do escorted tours, or is it easier at the smaller airports like Biggin/Southend? Heathrow would be first choice as its nearest and the biggest.

Cargo:
Do cargo companies do tours of their facilities (at the airports, e.g. Stansted)?


Thanks in advance

[Tuckerr]

I know it is not much help but I did my work experience at the beginning of September airside at Heathrow with airfield operations, so by all means is it not at all possible to get in. If you get in contact with a duty manager there they should be more than happy to help you out and sort out the relevant security/information checks etc.

[Malaysian28]

I gained a Work Experience placement at American Airlines at London Heathrow in Feb 09, I got to experience a range of different areas, (Check In, Managment, Tow Operations, Bagagge Handling, Fueling Ops and special visit to the Control Tower to name a few.)

So it is still possible to get airside visits/work experience placement.
Ask your college/school if their any contacts in an airport/airline enviroment.

Malaysian28.

[Dim Sum]

Tuckerr: if you don't mind, could you PM me with the contact details of any duty managers (of course getting their permission first).

Malaysian28: if you don't mind too, could you PM me with some contacts at American. I need to do a work placement next year and would like to find something myself rather than rely on the college.


Thanks!