The Aviation Experience

[CL44]

This is probably old news to most of us on this site, but the Aviation Experience at BHX has shut its doors.

Speaking to someone who used to be heavily involved in photography at BHX it would appear that due to ill health the owner decided it was time to call it a day and closed up shop. I think this affects the shop over at EMA as well (if anyone can confirm this please do so).

It is a shame that this has happened. I still remember the old shop at the viewing gallery (Ron Swinborne if memory serves me) with his treasure trove of goodies ready to be sold for the right price (of course). I remember going over to the shop on the day the video came out for Euro 96 showing the visitors into BHX during the Championship (I was there ready and waiting for the shop to open before going into work).

I hope someone will take up the reins for this site and open up with an outlet for models etc as I (for one) prefer to actually see the model I am buying before paying for it.

 

[Aviador]

That is very sad news CL44. Air Supply which served spotters, pilots and enthusiasts around my local airport also closed it's doors only last year. This part of the aviation industry seems to be in terminal decline these days, probably because of online shopping. It's is sad in many ways, when I was a child I used to love visiting my local shop to look at all the models in close quarters. It's not the same looking at them in magazines or online. Hopefully somebody will be able to takeover the business.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think this affects the shop over at EMA as well (if anyone can confirm this please do so).

I read the other day on another forum that the Aviation Experience had 'gone out of business' at both BHX and EMA.

Seems to confirm your post about EMA closing as well.

 

[Hassaan]

Now the only indoor spotting area at BHX appears to be the international pier (for passengers only) and the terminal.

 

[Aviador]

Most airports seem to be discouraging spotters and enthusiasts from their terminal buildings. This is a shame. I am sure spotters must make a significant contribution to the takings of shops and restaurants, after all spotters spend a good few hours at the airport. Does Birmingham have a dedicated outdoor area? Manchester is the only airport I know that seems to encourage spotting. The outdoor aviation viewing park costs around £6 just for a couple of hours which is expensive in my view, not to forget all the money people spend on top of the parking charges in the cafe there.

 

[Hassaan]

It was relatively underused, apparently.

Maybe if they were to open a similar shop, somewhere which provides better views than the Aviation Experience (the runway was blocked by the Pier), and is easily and actively accessible so that people are encouraged to use it.

 

[Aviador]

I think these days you have to make it attractable to the general public not just spotters. There isn't enough of us around to make these kind of attractions work without interest from the public.

 

[Ray Finkle]

One problem about having a viewing area in the terminal buildings is car parking. It's either arriving by bus/train, on foot or paying very expensive airport car parking charges and families with a couple of young kids in tow would probably see it as too much hassle, especially when Sheldon Country Park is free and there's plenty of room for kids to ride bikes or kick a football around etc...

The only people who regularly used it were one particular group of spotters and school trips. I think once the building works had been completed blocking apron views it totally killed it off.

 

[Hassaan]

It's a shame, really. As there's no current indoor spotting facility and I'd expect that movements are going to become more interesting once the runway opens. They can't use the same spot. They can't go any higher, can they? There is the option to move it to something on the ground but this ties in with the idea for a new spotting facility which is being discussed on another thread. Maybe merge the two?