Whats missing from all good airports

what did you expect? 😉 I keep pointing out ZRH is uniquely crap.

Actually, come to think of it, there is supposed to be a shop on the viewing terrace at ZRH, I can’t confirm as it’s the best part of ten years since I was there (if I can find a camera with some decent memory, I may well make a trip to ZRH soon, though…)

www.buchair.ch

I know, that’s why I put it!! LOL!!

Every airport should have a decent viewing terrace in my opinion.

No matter what the vandals and idiots seem to spoil it.

Such a shame really because i’m sure it was a popular little shop and still would have been I wish i was rich LOL i’d open up a shop at the drop of a hat cause i’m sure it’d be a winner.

Is there anywhere else locally (GLASGOW AREA) you guys buy your stuff from or do you all do it all through mail order now

Cheers

Mail order and internet sites for me generally. Can’t think of anywhere in the Glasgow area that caters for aviation enthusiasts apart from the odd general model shop and electronics places like Maplins for scanners. WH Smith in the terminal does however sell most of the main aviation magazines and a limited selection of (toy) model aircraft.

Break in’s and vandalism I’m afraid,

No matter what the vandals and idiots seem to spoil it.

Such a shame really because i’m sure it was a popular little shop and still would have been I wish i was rich LOL i’d open up a shop at the drop of a hat cause i’m sure it’d be a winner.

Is there anywhere else locally (GLASGOW AREA) you guys buy your stuff from or do you all do it all through mail order now

Cheers

Years ago Cumbernauld Airport (EGPG) Near Glasgow used to have an Aviation Enthusiasts shop but for some reason it closed down i’m not sure if because it’s a small private airfield and not a lot of people used it but maybe some of the guys here in the forum from Glasgow know why it closed down

Break in’s and vandalism I’m afraid, I bought my first scanner there and the guy was very helpful indeed, Stuart Sim I think his name was.
They used to sell Jeppesen/Aerad charts, headphone hire etc and was quite popular, shame.

Of all the airports i’ve been to in the last 4 weeks, and i’ve been to quite a few, lol, the only one which had a enthusiats shop was MAN. I was really dissapointed to find that there was nothing in ZRH!

what did you expect? 😉 I keep pointing out ZRH is uniquely crap.

Oh! Is the Aeropark still there, then? 🙂

I thought it had closed.

Years ago Cumbernauld Airport (EGPG) Near Glasgow used to have an Aviation Enthusiasts shop but for some reason it closed down i’m not sure if because it’s a small private airfield and not a lot of people used it but maybe some of the guys here in the forum from Glasgow know why it closed down

EMA has an Aeropark with a number of aircraft in it (Vulcan, Varsity, Canberra, egg-whisks, etc), an “aviation trail” – a footpath all around the airport where views can be had – and several picnic tables situated in an area immediately adjacent to the 27 approach, plus of course the shop in the terminal. Sadly, at the current time, there are no views from within the terminal unless you’re flying.

Andy

Ah right, I bet if BAA would have taken over, EMA would have had no spotter facilities!

Far be it from me to defend an anti-competitive cartel like BAA, but am I right in thinking that EMA has no official spotting facilities? :confused:

AMs has a good shop but it may just be models. I was passing through AMS between 10pm and 7am and it was closed 🙁

Your right, AMS terminal has mostly models with a tiny selection of magazines, books, T-shirts and curiosa. The other store has a lot of models too, but really focusses more on books and airfix/revell/hasegawa/etc models.

AMs has a good shop but it may just be models. I was passing through AMS between 10pm and 7am and it was closed 🙁

That may very well be true, LBARULES, but the splendid shop at EMA has been there since long, long, before MAPLC took the place over.

Ah right, I bet if BAA would have taken over, EMA would have had no spotter facilities!

I remeber it being there when i flew from there back in 1993!

That may very well be true, LBARULES, but the splendid shop at EMA has been there since long, long, before MAPLC took the place over.

It’s years since i have been but i remember FRA having a cracking aviation shop.

A very good point Jim. When I was made redundant from aviation the first time in 2001 (It happened to me twice that year) I investigated the possibility of opening just such a store at STN in collaboration with a very well known enthusiasts supplier based in Southern England, but I discovered two very big obstacles in my way, both supplied by the good ol’ BAA:

1. Ground footage rental within the terminal is expensive even for the “chains” already there, and the percentage “rake off” from your takings would make items unfairly expensive.

2. The general attitude of the BAA was one where I don’t believe that I was taken seriously and I don’t think that they really wanted a store of that kind “marring” their pristine LoCo shrine.

I investigated other possibilities nearby but none of the premises examined were really up to it so reluctantly I abandoned the idea.

A shining example of what can be achieved for the enthusiast when a local and enthusiastic entrepreneur and a progressive people friendly airport authority get together is the Airtrans shop in the terminal at EMA. I would highly recommend this store to anyone. It is well stocked, always busy with the travelling public as well as EMA employees and aircrew and is a credit to its owner Steve Gensler and the guys upstairs who run EMA, who seem to be very “pro-spotter”. This store was the model that I would dearly have loved to have brought to STN, now that I have resumed my career in aviation maybe someone else will have a go. In the meantime I shall continue to journey the long haul to EMA! p.s No I don’t have shares in Airtrans!

And of course, East Midlands owned by the Manchester Airport Group who seem to be so supportive to spotters.

DUS for example has a huge aviation shop. Full of modells (gemini, herpa, etc) books, sun glases, wooden props etc..

Quite cool and quite dangerous a it is directly in front of the access to the spotters terasse.

I take it the danger is maxing out the plastic? LOL

A very good point Jim. When I was made redundant from aviation the first time in 2001 (It happened to me twice that year) I investigated the possibility of opening just such a store at STN in collaboration with a very well known enthusiasts supplier based in Southern England, but I discovered two very big obstacles in my way, both supplied by the good ol’ BAA:

1. Ground footage rental within the terminal is expensive even for the “chains” already there, and the percentage “rake off” from your takings would make items unfairly expensive.

2. The general attitude of the BAA was one where I don’t believe that I was taken seriously and I don’t think that they really wanted a store of that kind “marring” their pristine LoCo shrine.

I investigated other possibilities nearby but none of the premises examined were really up to it so reluctantly I abandoned the idea.

A shining example of what can be achieved for the enthusiast when a local and enthusiastic entrepreneur and a progressive people friendly airport authority get together is the Airtrans shop in the terminal at EMA. I would highly recommend this store to anyone. It is well stocked, always busy with the travelling public as well as EMA employees and aircrew and is a credit to its owner Steve Gensler and the guys upstairs who run EMA, who seem to be very “pro-spotter”. This store was the model that I would dearly have loved to have brought to STN, now that I have resumed my career in aviation maybe someone else will have a go. In the meantime I shall continue to journey the long haul to EMA! p.s No I don’t have shares in Airtrans!