Aogdesk From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 933 posts, RR: 4 Posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 2905 times:
The company that I work for is planning to equip a small airport viewing area with benches, live ATC feed radios etc. I'm hoping that many of you A.netters who have been to the worlds best observation areas can enlighten me with some of the best features of airport viewing areas. What would be really cool to make the observation great for kids and adults?
Gjsint172 From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 64 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2905 times:
Just some off the cuff thoughts:
1) A compass on the ground.
2) A veiw as close to %100 of airport movements as possible.
3) Arrivals and Departures board. It would have to be protected from the elements and easily viewable.
4) Garranteed security relaxation (Probably would require going through TSA horse apples)
ANITIX87 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 3233 posts, RR: 14 Reply 2, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2905 times:
I'd like to see a fully interactive set-up, and while it may be a little too far-fetched to include all of my ideas, how about the following?
1) Airport diagram
2) Weather reports and radar, maybe?
3) ATC audio through either headphones or speakers, though the former is probably more useful since only real aviation nuts will go for it.
4) NO GLASS!!!! I can't tell you how disappointed it is when you go up to an observation deck and there's glass blocking everything.
I'm sure I can come up with more, but that's it for now, as I haven't been to too many observation decks that leave much to be desired.
TIS
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Pnwtraveler From Canada, joined Jun 2007, 2046 posts, RR: 12 Reply 3, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2905 times:
Advertise it or get someone to write an article in the local paper that is geared to the airport employees etc. YYZ had or has one but I can't recall the name. If you keep on the good side of the airport they may include it in their newsletter or website. YVR has a "Spotters Park" with picnic tables etc. and have talked about it in their PR Newsletter. If you go to www.yvr.ca you may be able to find it. Airline employees may actually drop by and the kids would love that. A good way to keep on the good side of the airport is to post signs asking people not to feed the birds. Make sure the trash is in covered bins. Flocks of seagull or birds make the airport nervous about bird strikes and make you very unpopular. Your local aviation supply store maybe interested in being involved or at least you can put a notice up advertising your venture.
Bok269 From United States of America, joined May 2007, 2105 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2865 times:
That is a very cool feature. That will surely make it a hit.
As others have said, glass and fencing obstructing the viewing area makes it difficult to take pictures. Also, make sure all security personnel, be it TSA, Police, airport employees, as well as FBO's and other employees around the airport know about the spotting area, its purpose, and what people are going to be doing there. This will allow spotters to fully enjoy the space without having to worry about people misinterpreting what they are doing, which is a major problem in this day and age.
Boeing74741R From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2007, 1103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2861 times:
Some ideas for a viewing area...
*Good observation mounds to allow viewers to look over the fence and get a decent shot of a plane
*Play area for the kids - let's face it they are not going to stand there for hours on end watching planes
*ATC/live weather feed played over loudspeakers
*Food/drink counter, with maybe a separate shop selling aviation stuff etc
*Toilets
*Have an aircraft on display for the public - whether it's a small classic single seater or a 737-200
*Easy access, so ideally easy to get to from the main airport terminal, and maybe an extra stop for a local bus service/shuttle bus from airport terminal to viewing area
The set up at MAN is good. Although not perfect it is one of the best facilities in the UK and maybe some inspiration could be drawn from there?
Tjwgrr From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2297 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2754 times:
Ours here in GRR is an excellent viewing area. We have:
-Picnic tables
-Live ATC broadcast on low-power A.M. frequency
-Porta-John (a permanent structure with real toilets would be nice)
-Raised parking and picnic area so you look over the fence, not through it.
-Centrally located so entire airport operations are visable.
-Monitored by airport police with video surveillance and vehicle patrols.
Other good ideas I'd like to see:
-Food stand or a mobile food vendor to serve snacks, drinks, and sandwiches.
-Play area for kids.
Direct KNOBS, maintain 2700' until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 26 left approach.
Aogdesk From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 933 posts, RR: 4 Reply 7, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 2707 times:
Thank you all, excellent ideas. We've got an excellent vantage point to start with, so it will be fun to pull together some of these ideas and make a true observation area, instead of just having makeshift parking lots and such.
Tjwgrr, you don't have any photos of the GRR observation area do you?
Connector4you From Canada, joined May 2001, 923 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2697 times:
Quoting Pnwtraveler (Reply 3): YVR has a "Spotters Park" with picnic tables
It appears that Vancouver will finally have a REAL OBSERVATION DECK by 2009. At least that's what a construction billboard display inside domestic terminal is bragging about. Hopefully is not gonna be one of those glass enclosed areas with post-security access only.
Had the chance to see Munich observation deck featuring a beautiful 180 apron viewing area, unfortunately all see-trough glass. It's definitely a no go for photographers! Needless to say the place looked deserted. No refreshments outlet on deck either. Sad to see brilliant ideas half way consummated
Tjwgrr From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2297 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2652 times:
Quoting Aogdesk (Reply 7): Tjwgrr, you don't have any photos of the GRR observation area do you?
Aogdesk,
No photos of the viewing area itself- I can take a few in the next couple days and email them to you if you'd like.
Bond007 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 5098 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 2652 times:
Quoting Tjwgrr (Reply 6): Ours here in GRR is an excellent viewing area.
Yes, I agree this is a great area
Restrooms and food/drinks are always welcome. I like ATC, but for the 'professional' spotter, the AM/VHF feed is sometimes a little frustrating as 2 or 3 freqs are usually scanned .. but we have our own scanners so not an issue really. It's nice for the general public for sure.
Jimbo
I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air, than in the air wishing I was on the ground!
Stylo777 From Turkey, joined Feb 2006, 2870 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2634 times:
Quoting Boeing74741R (Reply 5): *Good observation mounds to allow viewers to look over the fence and get a decent shot of a plane
*Play area for the kids - let's face it they are not going to stand there for hours on end watching planes
*ATC/live weather feed played over loudspeakers
*Food/drink counter, with maybe a separate shop selling aviation stuff etc
*Toilets
*Have an aircraft on display for the public - whether it's a small classic single seater or a 737-200
*Easy access, so ideally easy to get to from the main airport terminal, and maybe an extra stop for a local bus service/shuttle bus from airport terminal to viewing area
Visityyj From Canada, joined Jun 2000, 519 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2598 times:
Quoting Connector4you (Reply 8): It appears that Vancouver will finally have a REAL OBSERVATION DECK by 2009. At least that's what a construction billboard display inside domestic terminal is bragging about. Hopefully is not gonna be one of those glass enclosed areas with post-security access only.
YVR observation "room" will not be behind security but it will be fully enclosed by glass. Not a DECK at all, I'm afraid (you can now see it from airside as the scaffolding has been removed) but lots of glass.
Evan767 From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 2957 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 2598 times:
I love observation decks that are outdoors. It love the feeling of walking out on an observation deck in the morning, still dark, a little humid, and feel the jet blast breeze. What would be an even bigger bonus, is if you are more prone to weather wherever you are is to make half of it outside and half of it inside.
You might want to put up a few posters, with a few facts on aviation, etc. to attract a bigger crowd.
The proper term is "on final" not "on finals" bud...
NG1Fan From Australia, joined Aug 2007, 446 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 7 months 2 weeks 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 2592 times:
One of the best is at NGO Centrair Airport. Outdoors so you can smell and hear aircraft. Great view over the bay. Can be very windy. At the end of this really long open walk, you to the viewing platform - great view of apron movements on both sides and of course of the single runway.
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