New Birmingham Airport Viewing Facility

[Jon Dempsey]

I thought this forum was bit better than that

Oh, please!!

 

[Hassaan]

109 signatures. I don't know how many it'll need but if you could all help spread the word that'd be great.

 

[Hassaan]

Anyone know of who to try and get on board? I've tweeted various plane spotters.

 

[Hassaan]

Someone on the flyintobhx page came up with this. What do you think?

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Someone on the flyintobhx page came up with this. What do you think?

Where are the airport fire service going to train/practice?

 

[Coathanger16]

Whilst any new viewing area would be a boost for BHX, might is be worth holding off until the new master plan is released. The site proposed above would be pretty useless if the airport decides to build a new runway and terminal over by the proposed HS2 site.

Alternatively, there were rumours a while back that a new LCC terminal could be built on the site of the old Elmdon terminal by the control tower. A rooftop viewing area would be pretty good and wouldn't require any land take from anyone.

As I say, best to wait and see what the airport has planned for where. No point proposing something if the airport want to build something there.

 

[58terminus]

Sorry but surely most people realise that the airport is not interested in a viewing area now or probably in their
expansion plans however many signatures a petition gets.
There is nothing in it for them.
They can point to the Sheldon Country Park which is in fact a better public viewing than you get at most airports.
We all miss the viewing gallery but it is gone because it was unprofitable and the airport they could make better use
of the space.Get over it.

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Great to see there is still interest in this, as many have said and its a fact the airport are not bothered about spotters, familes or visitors watching planes, so anything that was created would have to be a completely independent site or constuction, this is why I suggested the site of the sports field where the Exiles practice.
The concept was for a multi purpose building containing facilities for both sports watchers, families and aircraft enthusiasts, it could be a large building not unlike the facilities at the old Hall Green Dog racing stadium, but with a top open level that being potentialy 20-40ft high would give un hindered views over the runway to the terminal area and also both approaches to runways 15 and 33, and also any that do airways spotting.
Add into the mix a decent shop or two and full refreshments and all other facilities expected from a building like so.

E.

 

[58terminus]

i'll bow out of this thread.Cannot decide its serious or not

 

[Elmdon80slad]

i'll bow out of this thread.Cannot decide its serious or not

Strange reaction ?????

E.

 

[Hassaan]

Is the area in front of the tristar hotel still a good spot or is there too much earth there now for it to be a good spot?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't think it's accessible anymore? I may be wrong though as I haven't been there for a while?

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Is the area in front of the tristar hotel still a good spot or is there too much earth there now for it to be a good spot?

Wasn't all that area flatened by the airport company and now has the A45 running over it? certainly looks it on the areal shots I have seen.

E.

 

[Hassaan]

Wasn't all that area flatened by the airport company and now has the A45 running over it? certainly looks it on the areal shots I have seen.

E.

Not that bit I don't think - the hotel is still there. I think there's just a lot of earth in front of the hotel.

 

[wolfheze]

Drove past today . There is a sizeable earth mound at what I would call the back of the hotel

 

[58terminus]

There is a sizeable earth mound at what I would call the back of the hotel

It's what we all call the back of the hotel.(sorry i couldn't resist it)

 

[Elmdon80slad]

Directly across the A45 from the Tristar Hotel is where I have been on about - on the grounds at the front of the Exiles Rugby Grounds, there is a clearing and with a tall enough building say two-three story, it would give un interupted views right over the airfield and along both runway approaches.

E.

 

[Hassaan]

Directly across the A45 from the Tristar Hotel is where I have been on about - on the grounds at the front of the Exiles Rugby Grounds, there is a clearing and with a tall enough building say two-three story, it would give un interupted views right over the airfield and along both runway approaches.

E.

I got a response from Gordon Stretch. His response was very much the general "Who's going to pay for it?", which is a fair enough response. Problem is I haven't got much of an argument against that. Do you have any ideas?

 

[CL44]

To answer your question No-one!
For a building 2-3 storeys high (to make sure you have a good enough view) would cost an absolute fortune compared to what you "might" recoup from entrance fees and parking. A large number of people do not pay for the multi storey car park on the Elmdon side. What makes anyone here think that people would pay a charge for a viewing site which is further away from the Airport? Unless and until BHX adopt the same idea that MAN had with their viewing area (which is looking less and less likely) we are stuck with what we have now. Sorry to burst anyone's bubble but economically the idea is dead in the water (unless someone has a major lottery win)

 

[Ray Finkle]

Totally agree with CL44.

Sheldon Country Park, the current viewing area and the Elmdon Car Park are all great spots with fantastic views, what's more, they are all free. Getting people to actually pay for access would require a view better than all of those, which unfortunately means building it on airport land and they're not interested.

It's only my opinion but I think making more of the current viewing area in car park 5 is about the best that we could hope for. Add a few more benches, maybe some grass and even a high level platform and it wouldn't be a bad spot at all.