I have recently heard that the BAA are likely to be closing the Gatwick viewing terrace shortly, to add on another bit to the South terminal. I think that this is absolutely stupid and it just adds to the tally of things they have taken away from us, including the Heathrow terrace. The Herald that was in the ‘skyview’ area is now being moved to the Gatwick museum, and a picture here shows that it has already been moved on the 10th September. I really can’t believe that they are doing this, we can’t go any where else near gatwick without the police on our tails, can’t the BAA see the amount of people that like to use such facilities. It’s not just us spotters that like to use the facilities, whenever I’ve been up there the place has been crowded with tourists and other passengers, just out of interest to watch the planes in amazement.
By: Bmused55 - 8th October 2003 at 13:50
Well so Far they’ve left us lot in EDI alone.
We get the odd police van driving by buts thats about it.
I was even there at 6am in the morning to film my grandmothers flight leaving for amsterdam…. no problems. (I had taken her to the airport too of course)
Ya’ll should start spotting up here theres plenty of room 😀
By: Willow - 8th October 2003 at 12:42
Are the multi-storey car parks at LGW a ‘no-go’ area the same as at LHR? I remember having great views of landing traffic from the top level.
Actually, doesn’t BAA stand for Bloody Awful Airports?:)
Willow
By: dcfly - 1st October 2003 at 18:11
At last a positive response (Ihope) buildings have been emerging it seems, almost overnight at LGW, it bloody frustrating when eveywhere you look theres scaffolding or a builder prancing about in his little yellow waistcoat, and everyone saying to everyone else “did you get that one?” cos we cant see the runway anymore, with easyjet soon to be operating 319s it gonna be bloody impossible to see em ,
I have heard a rumour that the police at LHR are pressuring BAA to reopen the viewing area only so they can keep spotters in one place…..even if they charge for the privilege just so long as they reopen it, the visitors centre is ok but restricted in what and when any a/c can be seen…..who knows maybe they might build a nice new one at T5 (I can dream)
dave
By: mmitch - 27th September 2003 at 19:20
Biggin has got a small enclosure just inside the gate but of course you cannot see the whole airfield.
When Rochester was taken over by the group trying to keep it open, they put up an enclosure by the main gate. When an airfield (big or small) is threatened and they want the locals onside this can help.
I have yet to see an enclosure at North Weald…..
mmitch.
By: robbelc - 27th September 2003 at 16:30
I had heard that the LGW situation was only tempoary. It was due to building work below the deck and it was due to health and safety.The BAA situation is crazy. I think that the deck at LGW a few years ago was the south’s second busiest tourist attraction in terms of number of visitors. The trouble is that they think we will just go away, we wont. I have been spotting for 26 years and don’t intend to give up now. We need to point out that they could actually make money out of us from entry changers,food and shops.
BAA now have Southampton which has gone the same way. The newish multistory carpark now has CCTV and security guards remove anybody within 5 minutes.
The trouble this attitude is spreading to light airfields too. One of my locals, Fairoaks, used to be the ulimate spotter unfiendly place now its become the norm. Redhill used to be a good place, now its no go, same with Goodwood,Stapleford,White Waltham amd Biggin Hill.
By: A330Crazy - 26th September 2003 at 21:09
If anyone is on airliners.net forums can you please put the word out. I will do so on PP.net forums and airlinepics.com forums.
Same for JP.net, anyone ther can you put the word out?
Many thanks to all who help. 🙂
By: martin_EGTK - 26th September 2003 at 18:40
Good point, I think we’ll just have to post adverts where ver we can, on Airliners.net and similiar forums.
By: wannabe pilot - 26th September 2003 at 16:31
Sounds good Martin. I’m looking forward to seeing it! How are we gonna ‘advertise’ the website so that other spotters other than those on these forums get chance to see it?
By: A330Crazy - 26th September 2003 at 14:59
Thanks Martin. 🙂
By: martin_EGTK - 26th September 2003 at 13:13
Just a quick update on the ‘NO WAY BAA!’ web site. It should be up and running over the weekend, there will be a forum where you can post your views and a guestbook that you can sign showing your support.
By: wysiwyg - 26th September 2003 at 13:10
This is such backward thinking by the BAA. Surely it would be in their interest to create ultimate viewing areas where they could centralise viewing creating improved security and even generating a small revenue. As previously stated they are currently upsetting the people who are potentially their greatest security allies.
By: A330Crazy - 26th September 2003 at 12:10
Going into the Gatwick Aviation museum next door the airport. Peter Vallance offered to give it a home, and his offer was taken.
So I heard.
By: Guzzineil - 26th September 2003 at 00:18
anyone got any news on whats happening to the Herald ??
Neil.
By: Woundsinger - 17th September 2003 at 00:50
The closure of these areas by BAA is obviously cr.ap as others have already pointed out…
What I would like to see from BAA is A valid reason for these closures..Has this been done…
I know that everyone is saying its a security measure but have BAA actually issued a statement confirming it..
I am just interested as I would personally like to see where this percieved ‘threat’ is..
I haven’t been anywhere near an airport in qiute a while..
Can they not search individuals (or do they already) wishing to use the viewing facilities if they fear a direct threat(when I say search I would be looking for two way radios and even mobile phoneswhich could be used to contact others waiting on the outskirts with the intent of attacking a specific flight/airline)..As for photographs..I have heard mention of ‘they look like guns’ elsewhere in the forum..
This is crap..
The main reason for preventing the use of cameras in areas of high risk is because of what is termed as ‘zoning’.
This is where an individual/individuals gain photographic views of the area with regards to intellegence gathering for placing of bombs ,incendiary devices etc..and positioning of security cameras etc..
Thus at the risk of becoming very unpopular around here I would be able to understand the banning of cameras in these areas.But closing down completely has no value as far as I can see..
If anything the viewing area of an airport would be of benefit to the security of the area..How many off us would raise the alarm if we saw anything suspicious?Loads of us would…
By: steve rowell - 16th September 2003 at 05:06
It’s the same in Syd and Melb, it’s happenning all over the world
By: martin_EGTK - 15th September 2003 at 22:20
Sure, that’s sound great and it’s very clear for BAA! I’ll get it up by the weekend!
By: A330Crazy - 15th September 2003 at 21:27
Lol, good one ren, go with that.
Martin a short introduction about what its all about. and the a poll, with the same options as we have on the poll on the forums..
Is that OK?
Cheers mate.
By: martin_EGTK - 15th September 2003 at 19:35
Funnily enough I was thinking of that as well!
By: Ren Frew - 15th September 2003 at 19:22
How about “NO WAY BAA/” or does that sound too familiar ?
By: martin_EGTK - 15th September 2003 at 17:39
Has anyone got any ideas for a name for the web site? I’m going to start work on it this evening. I can’t do too much until the weekend because I have my final stages of pilot selection this week, but I will endeviour to get it online and looking respectable ASAP.
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September 14, 2003 at 1:45 pm