Spectator balconies
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ConstantFlyer, I guess you must be referring specifically to the London airports because in fact a great many airports around the world continue to provide spectator facilities, and this even includes airports in the UK and the USA, post 911.
I want to reheat this thread, as I feel it is time for a renewed push to restore or create spectators' balconies, as part of a broader aim of making flying more about flying (and less about shopping).
I can think of no reason why airport authorities should provide facilities for spotters especially in these times of financial restraint and greatly increased security
As we are going down memory lane, I remember staging through Birmingham three years ago, waiting for my Eurocypria flight, there was a very nice viewing area above the terminal. You had to walk through a model shop, pay a small fee if you were a non-flying passenger (fair enough), but lovely view, behind glass and secure. I heard later that it had been closed, pity. Jersey had a lovely viewing open air viewing area above the terminal, anyone know happened to that ? And, of course I remember the Queens building at Heathrow.
Last edited by cyflyer; 2nd Jul 2013 at 06:24.
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Jersey spotting
Jersey still has its viewing area on the first floor of the terminal building, but it is enclosed and is only available when airside. The entrance is a little tucked away, and is immediately after the duty free shop on the way to the gates. Still, it's a good location and very peaceful, with plenty of seating up there.
Scott
Scott
Scott, at Jersey, I remember you could walk out onto the roof of the building, overlooking the apron, and not airside. Its been a long time, but you'll have me trying to dig up long lost photos.
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Jersey - cyflyer
cy-flyer - open-air viewing at Jersey is no longer possible (I confess that I don't recall it anyway) from the terminal.
The upstairs viewing area is pretty good - obviously it's all enclosed, behind glass. It used to be accessible landside but the terminal was redeveloped probably 7-8 years ago, security was enlarged and that meant the staircase accessing it was located airside.
I'm less familiar with around the perimeter of the airfield but the aircraft can still be seen both on the runway and at the terminal but I'm really not sure what the attitude of the Jersey police is to spotters.
Scott
The upstairs viewing area is pretty good - obviously it's all enclosed, behind glass. It used to be accessible landside but the terminal was redeveloped probably 7-8 years ago, security was enlarged and that meant the staircase accessing it was located airside.
I'm less familiar with around the perimeter of the airfield but the aircraft can still be seen both on the runway and at the terminal but I'm really not sure what the attitude of the Jersey police is to spotters.
Scott
Last edited by scott737; 3rd Jul 2013 at 08:31.
Yup - certainly in the mid/late sixties
I vaguely recall that you got to it by going up some stairs in T3 South Wing (the bit where BOAC Staff Travel and the Medical Unit were), but I might be wrong about that part.
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
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T3 viewing terrace
I worked in BOAC load control in 1966. This was a windowless shoebox of a room, located behind the check-in desks in T3. During my meal breaks, to get some fresh air, I sometimes wandered up to the viewing terrace, which overlooked the stands on the west side of the building. How I got up there I can no longer remember!
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Once you are airside and trapped in the terminal for several hours, watching the planes would be one of the best ways of killing time, but often until you get to the gate, you can't see anything at all of the airport from the terminal.
Certainly at Luton or Heathrow, until you get to the gate, you could confuse it for a railway station.
A bar / restaurant with an outside viewing area would do good business I bet.
Also alert spotters/passengers could help keep an eye on things, making sure engine cowlings were done up, that sort of thing...
Certainly at Luton or Heathrow, until you get to the gate, you could confuse it for a railway station.
A bar / restaurant with an outside viewing area would do good business I bet.
Also alert spotters/passengers could help keep an eye on things, making sure engine cowlings were done up, that sort of thing...
the terminal was redeveloped probably 7-8 years ago, security was enlarged and that meant the staircase accessing it was located airside.
If anyone is visiting Corfu this Summer there are two bars set into the sides of steep hills either side of the runway and approach offering great views of landing aircraft. There is a very narrow causeway/bridge linking the two across shallow water which passes very close to the end of the runway. no one sesems to be bothered about enthusiasts there!
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Dave Reid/LCY.(Post 40)
Would not most spotters be videoing or taking photo's,but there no doubt someone with a long neck could differentiate between a guy recording reg's,to a guy recording flight times,(which are amazingly avalible from the net.)
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I think it's such a shame Gatwick removed theirs. It was always buzzing when we used to go.
I think having a designated spotting area is only a good thing, it gets income for the airport and spotters would be very vigilant I think when it comes to knowing who is there for genuine reasons and who is trouble making if security is an issue for the airport.
They have no plans to make a spotting area.
I think having a designated spotting area is only a good thing, it gets income for the airport and spotters would be very vigilant I think when it comes to knowing who is there for genuine reasons and who is trouble making if security is an issue for the airport.
They have no plans to make a spotting area.
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Stansted spotters
The local police actively encourage spotters.
Airport Spotting Blog » Blog Archive » Stansted Plane Enthusiasts Scheme
Airport Spotting Blog » Blog Archive » Stansted Plane Enthusiasts Scheme