Heathrow spotters balcony...

[DaveReidUK]

BAA/Heathrow and the airport police used to support an organisation that called itself The Aviation Enthusiasts' Security Scheme:

Plane-spotters join terror fight

It was wound up about three years ago, not sure why.

[AndoniP]

Originally Posted by HEATHROW DIRECTOR

I was there for that and for the time car park 1 was the site of some scary explosions.

Reading about it, in all 3 attacks on Heathrow, no mortars exploded?

[akerosid]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

BAA/Heathrow and the airport police used to support an organisation that called itself The Aviation Enthusiasts' Security Scheme:

Plane-spotters join terror fight

It was wound up about three years ago, not sure why.

I think it was probably because it was a one way street; spotters weren't getting anything out of it. All takin' and no givin', to borrow a line from "Nine to Five" ...

That said, any spotter would, I am sure, report anything suspicious to the police.

Realistically, I don't see anything happening by way of a dedicated spotter facility at LHR.

[wiggy]

Reading about it, in all 3 attacks on Heathrow, no mortars exploded?

Sounds about right..I was there on one of those evenings for a late longhaul departure out of T4 and a decision was made to bravely run away to a local hotel for light refreshment and some sleep and then try again the next day.

[El Bunto]

PIRA launched 13 mortar rounds into Belfast Aldergrove in March 1976, without causing substantial damage.

They used the same design of improvised mortar, the Mk 6, as in the later Heathrow attacks noted above. One of its necessary items was a camera flash-bulb as the actual igniter. Remember those?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

AndonIP. Explosions certainly took place in Car Park 1. A bomb went off and ignited a whole row of cars. In the top of the control tower we thought the windows were coming in.

[AndoniP]

Originally Posted by HEATHROW DIRECTOR

AndonIP. Explosions certainly took place in Car Park 1. A bomb went off and ignited a whole row of cars. In the top of the control tower we thought the windows were coming in.

You're talking about the car park bombing in 1974.

19 May 1974: A bomb exploded on the third level of a multi-storey car park at Terminal 1 at Heathrow Airport, London. 50 to 100 pounds (23 to 45 kg) of explosive was in left a BMC 1100 car. The Press Association had received a warning at 11.05 a.m. and police were clearing the site at 11.17 a.m when the explosion occurred. Four people suffered minor injuries. Several vehicles were destroyed and others damaged. At 10.25 p.m. another warning was received about a bomb at the NAAFI headquarters in Kennington Lane. A police search found a bag containing about 30-pound (14 kg) of explosive at the rear of the building. The bomb was defused.

[DaveReidUK]

The 1994 mortar attacks came from outside the airport perimeter.

Some were launched from a Micra in the car park of the Excelsior Hotel on the Great West Road (causing only damage to several adjacent cars) and others from waste ground on the southside of the airport (one landing on the T4 roof). None of the mortar shells exploded.

[Geezers of Nazareth]

Originally Posted by AndoniP

You're talking about the car park bombing in 1974.

I was up on the QB terrace when this happened, and they quickly moved us off and assembled us in the area of the bus station. I can't remember how long we were waiting, but I do remember a column of smoke rising up from the T1 car park; I can also remember Ronnie Corbett doing a bit of stand-up comedy from the top of the steps to the Control Tower building.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

One of my colleagues returned from a break, having been to the QB. On arriving in the tower looking badly shaken we asked him if it was bad. "Bad? Too right - a traffic warden got his book of tickets blown out of his hands!"

[El Bunto]

Wet Saturday afternoon led me to rummaging on the shelf for the 1974 edition of UK & Eire Commercial Airports. By Airline Publications & Sales Ltd, Noble Corner, Hounslow.

Here are some examples of Viewing Facilities listed:

Aberdeen Dyce: Vicinity of terminal.
Alderney: Vicinity of terminal.
Ashford Lympe: Enclosure adjacent to apron. Admission free.
Barra: Edge of beach.
Belfast Aldergrove: Enclosure on part of pier-roof (open-air) and in terminal building.
Benbecula: Vicinity of terminal.
Birmingham Elmdon: Enclosure at W end of main apron; admission free. First-floor viewing lounge in international temrinal; admission free.
Blackpool Squire's Gate: Large enclosure adjacent to terminal with chairs, tables, refreshments. Admission: adults 5p, children 2p. Features an 18-hole crazy-golf green overlooking the apron. [FOD!!]
Bournemouth Hurn: Enclosure fronting terminal; admission free.
Bristol Lulsgate: Enclosure on terminal roof; admission free.
Cambridge: Restricted; prior permission required for entry into airfield. Reasonable vantage points available on boundary roads.
Campbeltown: None.
Cardiff Rhoose: Terrace at top of terminal building, with buffet and reached by external staircase. Admission free.
Carlisle Crosby: Enclosure adjacent to terminal; no charges.
Cork: Two roof balconies above terminal provide fine view of apron and main runway. Admission free.
Coventry Baginton: Smart lounge, light refreshments available.
Dublin: Roof of link building between two piers (admission 5p).
East Midlands Castle Donington: Balcony along front of terminal. Further spectators' area with children's playground adjacent to terminal. Admission free.
Edinburgh Turnhouse: Open balcony fronting restaurant, with commanding view of apron. Admission free.
Exeter Clyst Honington: Enclosure fronting terminal; entrance free.
Glasgow Abbotsinch: Enclosure on part of East Pier (international flights) roof. Buffet facilities available. Small enclosure also propvided along part of front of main terminal building, at first floor level. Admission to both free.
Gloucester-Cheltenham Staverton: Pleasant lawn and terrace area, with seating and umbrella tables, fronts terminal. Entrance free.
Guernsey: Two viewing decks on main terminal roof -- excellent vantage points. Admission free. F
Hull RAF Leconfield: None.
Inverness Dalcross: Area within some 50 yards of terminal building.

More later...