New Birmingham Airport Viewing Facility

[Elmdon80slad]

Its like I said - the manager of the Rugby Club at the Sports field facing the Tristar hotel, was/is on our side and was prepared to meet up and discuss this, this may still be an option if someone local could do this.

There is nothing to loose and possibly a lot to gain


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[Elmdon80slad]

Hi folks, great pics of the diversions on here :good:

I hope the owner of this pic I have hijacked off the site :whiteflag: doesn't mind, but I want to show in an accurate picture what the viewing/sports centre could look like regarding its possible dimension and relation to the runway, as I have said it would give great views over the apron and the 33 approach.

Have a look at the pic folks to see what I am on about :smile:

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[jfy1999]

How would the view be when they're landing on Runway 15, though?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'll try to get down and take some pictures of the view.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

How would the view be when they're landing on Runway 15, though?

I'm not sure :dunno: It would take test from the location and at the kind of height(2nd storey building level) to find out, I would imagine flare out shots and 15 take off shots would be great, also ramp shots without wire fencing would be great :good:

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[Elmdon80slad]

I'll try to get down and take some pictures of the view.

Great stuff mate :good: but from ground level might be a bit misleading as the building if built would be two levels high with a viewing terrace on top of that, so someone say sitting down would still be 25-30feet high up

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[Elmdon80slad]

Just another bit of info folks - I have sent off a covering letter to Vince Essex the C.A.O of Cello Aviation at BHX, as I understand he shares a love for aircraft and the airport, Here is what I have sent to him -


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Good Evening,

Can I introduce myself, I am an aviation enthusiast and photographer, I have been a long time fan of BHX as it was for many years my second home, I have been working on an idea for many years to see a decent visitor/viewing facility constructed that would overlook the airport and provide a viable - attractive and decent long term attraction watching the ever expanding Birmingham Airport.
I have been in touch - only briefly with the manager of a sports ground near the airport, just over the A45 not far from the old Tristar Hotel, this gentleman has shown an interest in the venture and has said he would be prepared to look into this with more detail possibly providing the Important land and interest in building a Purpose built building that could cater for both sports watchers - Football/Rugby etc, and anyone else with an interest in the airport and planes.
The Important missing link for this Superb venture is a Financial backer who shares the love of aviation and planes, and more importantly Birmingham Airport.
This is what has drawn me to you Vince.
I have posted and talked about this very subject in a Forum called - Forums4Airports under Birmingham Airport Viewing Facility, have a look to gauge an idea of peoples feelings about this.
I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Hassaan]

I contacted Paul Kehoe and he said it wasn't one of their priorities at the moment. If it's not now it's not going to be in the future realistically though is it? There are some interesting views on the flyintobhx Facebook group so I'll try and get them to pass their ideas on.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

I contacted Paul Kehoe and he said it wasn't one of their priorities at the moment. If it's not now it's not going to be in the future realistically though is it? There are some interesting views on the flyintobhx Facebook group so I'll try and get them to pass their ideas on.

With all honesty It will have to be a totally independent venture and not connected to the airport company.

The complex by the International Station/NEC complex is out of bounds due to the Airport.
The Golf course space down by the Mound is not welcome by the Golf club.
Elmdon country park by the 15 End is Birmingham Council and they do not want to be involved.
Any space to the N.E of the A45 is Airport property if not now soon will be.
The Long stay is just a Token measure and will never be allowed to be any better.

This only leaves One place where a reasonable option for a joint sports/viewing centre along similar lines to the GRA Dog racing Stadium grand stand building, at Hall Green, this way it could not only provide an All weather building for both sports watching and aircraft spotting/watching, but would potentially be supported by the Sports/Rugby club as it would give them better facilities for sports followers and general families day/night out.

Just needs some boots on the ground to push this further with a few meetings and then the important key ingredient of a Financial backer, then a Business plane can be put together to see this Superb venture take flight.

We deserve an alternative to Manchesters Viewing facility lets make us two the only viewing centres like it in the UK........ :good:

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Something like this - just a quick drawing but you get the idea?

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[Ray Finkle]

I still think the area of waste ground by the ATC Tower would make an amazing viewing area, right next to the action. It would mean getting the airport company on side though which wouldn't be easy.

In other news the current viewing area is closed until further notice for repairs. I've not seen it myself but there are reports that the gravel has washed away and the concrete is now cracking.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

I still think the area of waste ground by the ATC Tower would make an amazing viewing area, right next to the action. It would mean getting the airport company on side though which wouldn't be easy.

In other news the current viewing area is closed until further notice for repairs. I've not seen it myself but there are reports that the gravel has washed away and the concrete is now cracking.

Ray I don't believe the Airport are going to allow or want any type of viewing facility and will hold on to or grab any of their own territory, they view anything that isn't deemed as brownie point gathering, or financial gain, gone are the days when real aircraft loving people where involved in the management at airports, the last at Brum was Bob Taylor, he encouraged it at Elmdon in his days.

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[Hassaan]

I contacted the TriStar Hotel themselves to see what they made of it. I thought I'd contact Adam Golder again (of Free Radio) who I discussed this with briefly.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Ray I don't believe the Airport are going to allow or want any type of viewing facility and will hold on to or grab any of their own territory, they view anything that isn't deemed as brownie point gathering, or financial gain, gone are the days when real aircraft loving people where involved in the management at airports, the last at Brum was Bob Taylor, he encouraged it at Elmdon in his days.

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It's a real shame isn't it.

My only concern about the rugby club is the distance from the runway and that there are trees, a hotel and a noise bund in the way. A very high structure could potentially overcome this but it would need someone with deep pockets to get it up and running. Even with a high level viewing terrace would people pay to use it when Sheldon Country Park and the car park viewing are free and closer to the action? Just thoughts really :smile:

Below is the Google Street View image from the A45 with the rugby club one side and the airfield the other. If people do a 360 degree look around they can see what the area looks like and the potential obstructions. It would be interesting to get peoples thoughts?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.44552 ... 312!8i6656

 

[Hassaan]

I think that's the main point, it needs to be really close to the action. The TriStar hotel just seems really good for that sort of thing, although it's not like Manchester though where aircraft are taxiing very close past whereas in that particular spot they'd be whizzing past, but what is usually a bigger draw, take-offs/landings or taxi-ing?

The project on the whole needs people to back it. Any idea of who else we could approach? Maybe we should try and get those who run the Manchester Viewing Park to back it? As it's not a competitive thing.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

I'm just trying to put back a bit of the Airport-visitor/viewing experience like what was available upstairs in the terminal, it cant be done in the same way these days as the airport do not want or appreciate or even value people with a love or interest in aircraft.

I know spotting and photography can be done in several locations around the airport perimeter, but to me its not the same as having a centre designed for all year round viewing, somewhere that people would travel to from all over the uk, because frankly if you have just travelled for hours on say a train to spend as day spotting and photographing planes here, you wouldn't want to have to spend the time on foot walking around the perimeter or sit it out on the grass down the park.
People/families and the like would expect-need facilities.

Like the famous saying from a certain film - "Build it and they will come"

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[Hassaan]

The council wrote a response to the petition I set up earlier in the year:

Birmingham Airport is not controlled by the Council, which is a minority shareholder. Together with partners in the neighbouring local authorities, a visitor economy strategy was recently developed which outlines our priorities for the area. A viewing facility at the airport was not identified as an opportunity in any of these discussions, and although it may be considered a useful facility which could potentially be commercially viable, it is not something which we consider a priority at present in the context of our financial constraints. I have, however, written to the Chief Executive of the Airport to ask him to consider the potential for improving such provision, and will ensure you receive a copy of his response.

I'm struggling to find more justification. If it's not a priority that shouldn't mean that it can't be done. I'd assume there is a team that could take care of it as it's a side project.

Anyone else got other thoughts as to most importantly why it should be done?

 

[Ray Finkle]

After the equal pay fiasco Birmingham City Council is on it's backside, financially speaking, even projects such as the Christmas Parade to switch on the lights have been cut and that brings big revenue to the city. In times such as these I can't see how the Council could justify the financing of a spotters viewing area to the tax payers.

I wonder if it's time to start a bit of sustained pressure on the airport from various angles? Nothing too heavy but if enough people keep asking then maybe they may start to give it serious consideration?

 

[Hassaan]

Who would we target, who could possibly argue the case?

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Within the airport boundary it would have to be the Airport Committee, but outside this I think the best bet would be a company or individual who has a few million knocking about, I would imagine a company possibly along the lines of Monarch or Fly Bee, etc, or an aviation spotting millionaire etc, I have even tried Gary Numan but I don't think the email got to him.

Those kind of people may open the doors - just takes some work at digging and searching.....

E.