Olympus69 From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 1737 posts, RR: 8 Posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 4535 times:
I stopped by the FedEx Hill spotting spot this afternoon, and was shocked to see that it is rapidly disappearing. I knew that it had been fenced off but not that it was being destroyed. A back hoe is digging it up and filling a continuous stream of dump trucks. The area where we used to sit or stand has been levelled, and they are working their way towards Derry Road.
At the rate things are changing it won't be long before all the good spots are taken away from us.
BA777-236 From Canada, joined Oct 2001, 673 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 4347 times:
Quoting Adriaticus (Reply 2): FedEx hill? Why was it baptized that way? Do share!
Simple! It's location! It was right across the 'street' from the large Fedex facility here..
They came right next to the fence so with even a small zoom camera, you could get sweet shots of DC-10's, A300's, 722's etc. Not to mention the fact that you were situated right in front of the most used runway at Pearson Airport! (5/23).
A lot of great YYZ pics were taken from that hill. It's a shame it's gone now
I like British Airways! I'm not sure why, but I do! ;-)
It was one of the best places to spot at YYZ. With nice action shots of landings and takeoffs as well as opportunities to get aircraft as they taxiied by. It will be dearly missed by myself and spotters all over the world who have had the pleasure of spotting from there.
Martinairyyz From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 1209 posts, RR: 7 Reply 6, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4161 times:
Quoting RickYHM (Reply 4): Does anyone know what is going in there?
The rumour is that a UPS facility will be built there...... it is a real shame, but it was a huge space of empty land right at YYZ.... logical to be eventually bought up!
KrisYYZ From Canada, joined Nov 2004, 1575 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 4149 times:
that sucks big time. So now whats the best place to catch the 05/23 action? I sometimes go to the parking lots off of Airport rd, but its not the best. I wonder what will happen once 05R/23L starts to be built.
Boeingfanyyz From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 991 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 4070 times:
Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 7): that sucks big time. So now whats the best place to catch the 05/23 action? I sometimes go to the parking lots off of Airport rd, but its not the best.
Good ole' Wendy's! Also, Dixie road is great for 05 action. Many a summer evening you will see folks with their children, etc, on the side of the road enjoying those beautiful approaches.
Quoting KrisYYZ (Reply 7): I wonder what will happen once 05R/23L starts to be built.
Actually, it's only going to be a 23L t/o rwy, as the old Canadian hangar is too close to the threshold for there to be t/o's from 05R. Still, it will relieve some traffic.
Cheers,
Boeingfanyyz
"If it aint boeing, it aint going!", "Friends are like condoms...they protect you when things get hard!"
ReidYYZ From Kyrgyzstan, joined Sep 2005, 536 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 3917 times:
Not being a spotter, I don't know, but has anybody been to the Brittania Rd. extension that goes right in front of the big Infield CARA kitchens? I would have figured it would be rather popular as it has a fence between it and 33L/15R at the south end by Mike taxiway, M1 and M3 high speed exits, but due to the grading of the ground, the top of the 8-10 ft fence would actually be at your feet/ankles. Granted, the GTAA ramp nazi's would most likely harrass anyone there as it is technically airport property.
Looking at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:TorontoPearsonArptAerial.jpg
It actually looks like this location would be half the distance that FEDEX hill was to 23/5.
As already stated, 23/5 is always more in use, however due to noise abbatement procedures, the 33 rwys are used alot on Saturday mornings to keep the noise down for all the NIMBY's to enjoy thier weekend morning coffee and shit.
AirbusfanYYZ From Canada, joined Oct 2002, 1406 posts, RR: 29 Reply 10, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3881 times:
Quoting ReidYYZ (Reply 9): Not being a spotter, I don't know, but has anybody been to the Brittania Rd. extension that goes right in front of the big Infield CARA kitchens?
Unfortunately this location only works if it's cloudy as the prime afternoon international traffic will mostly be backlit.
We're lucky at YYZ to have several great spotting locations such as Courtney Park Dr. for 33L/15R, Wendy's on Airport Rd. for 23, Arizona's on Carling view for 24R/24L etc...
AIRCANL1011 From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 262 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3821 times:
The elevation on Fedex Hill was one of its greatest attributes. You were above the fence line and had a clear view right across to the terminals. Even if you are able to sit on the road now, you will not get that great elevation.
Its a real shame that the GTAA would never consider an aviation viewing park like at other airports. (Manchester comes to mind). With all the aviation freaks in the YYZ area it is almost surprising that they do not accommodate us in anyway.
YYZYYT From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 852 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3798 times:
Quoting AirbusfanYYZ (Reply 10): Unfortunately this location only works if it's cloudy as the prime afternoon international traffic will mostly be backlit.
We're lucky at YYZ to have several great spotting locations such as Courtney Park Dr. for 33L/15R, Wendy's on Airport Rd. for 23, Arizona's on Carling view for 24R/24L etc...
true, but nothing compares to the view you used to get on Silver Dart Drive, at the foot of 24R (before they made it impossible to stop there).
StarAC17 From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 3211 posts, RR: 9 Reply 14, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 3754 times:
Quoting AIRCANL1011 (Reply 12): Its a real shame that the GTAA would never consider an aviation viewing park like at other airports. (Manchester comes to mind). With all the aviation freaks in the YYZ area it is almost surprising that they do not accommodate us in anyway.
Maybe they will when they finish building and paying off that $4.1 billion terminal.
If we were willing to pay for it though then they might one day consider it.
YOW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 3646 times:
Quoting AirbusfanYYZ (Reply 10): Unfortunately this location only works if it's cloudy as the prime afternoon international traffic will mostly be backlit.
We're lucky at YYZ to have several great spotting locations such as Courtney Park Dr. for 33L/15R, Wendy's on Airport Rd. for 23, Arizona's on Carling view for 24R/24L etc...
T1 old's parking garage was the best...nothing will ever top it. It's such a shame there isn't an observation lounge inside of T3 or T1-New. Without FedEx, some of the best views nowadays (except for photography through glass) are from nearby hotels/rooms. It pays to not live in Toronto.
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1588 posts, RR: 17 Reply 16, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3612 times:
I meant to post a similar thread yesterday, as I had stopped by on a lunch-time break.
I spoke with the foreman of the contracting company who is moving the dirt. He HONESTLY has NO idea who is going in there. He pointed me over to an engineer, who also indicated that he was unable to tell me, as they have signed confidentiality agreements saying they won't say who it is..
(He also covered up paperwork he had in his hand.. LOL)
As for hte dirt.. the mound we stood on is now gone.. further back, towards Derry road, is still there.. The big mound of dirt we could see when looking back towards Derry (The biiiiig mound of dirt parallel to Derry) is next to be moved.
The contractor indicated that it would take roughly a month to move all the dirt, and they'd be moving approximately 8,000 truckloads of dirt..
Just to consol everyone, he told me that the dirt WE stood on is pefect for applications such as sod-laying, etc. So that soil is going to be used for something good.
The dirt further back parallel to Derry is crap, and will be hauled off to land-fill.
RyGuy From Canada, joined Dec 2005, 180 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3574 times:
I found the best spot for spotting in the world, I am sure everyone knows this one but still I LOVE IT!
It is right where that Air France airplane crashed Behind RWY24L and RWY24R I say you can also see very well from there Runways 33R and 33L aswell as pretty much all of them! I love it there!
CF188A From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3553 times:
Quoting RyGuy (Reply 17): found the best spot for spotting in the world, I am sure everyone knows this one but still I LOVE IT!
It is right where that Air France airplane crashed Behind RWY24L and RWY24R I say you can also see very well from there Runways 33R and 33L as well as pretty much all of them! I love it there!
That is quite old and not to mention "ILLEGAL" if caught stopped there. Every week fines are being distributed to any who stop. There are signs on the fence EVERY 15 Meters saying NO STOPPING! ... same with the highway before 24L/R. I think everyone needs to get over the fact that given the events of the past and what not, Toronto looked pretty bad given how close civilians could get to departing/arriving aircraft. My spotting pal and I however have another little spot which ... oh, is how do we say requires some good cover to not get detected But anyways, i think you all need to get over it. After all, YYZ, ETC ETC, is not meant to be a 24/7 airshow ... as much as I would love that, those who are not familiar with the aviation hobby world, do not want strangers coming near their planes on takeoff or landing or at all? They are not going to take people who want to watch planes... into consideration over a land settlement which would range in the near millions.
Quoting Olympus69 (Thread starter): At the rate things are changing it won't be long before all the good spots are taken away from us.
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1588 posts, RR: 17 Reply 20, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 3551 times:
Quoting RyGuy (Reply 17): I found the best spot for spotting in the world, I am sure everyone knows this one but still I LOVE IT!
It is right where that Air France airplane crashed Behind RWY24L and RWY24R I say you can also see very well from there Runways 33R and 33L aswell as pretty much all of them! I love it there!
I can assure you, that once the police discover where you are, you will be asked to leave, and they will patrol the hell out of that area..
Anywhere east of Britannia on Convair Drive, you will most CERTAINLY be asked to leave..
If you get to spend more than 10 minutes there, I'd be surprised..
Lnglive1011yyz From Canada, joined Oct 2003, 1588 posts, RR: 17 Reply 22, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3381 times:
Quoting RyGuy (Reply 21): When I was there filming for a school project i spent a good 30-40 minutes there.
Boy I was in Heaven!
Then you were in very very good luck that day my friend
And yeah, it's a nice place.. Not really good for photography though.. too many fences in the way, and you're shooting at an awkward angle to the sun during the prime-aircraft hours.. (330-8pm)
YYZflyer From Canada, joined Feb 2006, 3636 posts, RR: 5 Reply 24, posted (6 years 11 months 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2680 times:
It's a shame that the wonderful viewing is now gone. Now we'll have to go somewhere else to go spotting.
If it's still possible to get on the road maybe if you have a very high vehicle you could just climb on top of it. I wonder if it would work.....
R.I.P Fed Ex hill
Avoid hangovers, stay drunk.
25 Olympus69: I just found out what's going in there - a Holiday Inn Express. It's going to have a rooftop observation deck, open to everyone for a nominal fee, not
26 RickYHM: I have learned tonight that UPS will be announcing shortly that they will be moving one of the fights from YYZ back to YHM around the middle of June.
28 Lnglive1011yyz: HAHAHA What you need is one person driving, with you hanging outta the window with your camera (if you have one!) HAHAHA. It worked for AirbusfanYYZ
29 AirbusfanYYZ: Yeah I was driving and Malcolm got one shot from the 401. The rest of the AF358 shots were from a secret location. Might have to start using that spo
30 Bmacleod: So now where is the best airport viewing spot that won't attract police patrols??
31 AvroArrow: Guess I'll have to start borrowing my Dad's motorhome for YYZ spotting runs, throw a couple of chairs on the roof and have an afternoon of fairly good
32 YOW: Are there any Torontonians on here that are members of the YYZ Airport Watch program? With such a membership do you get recognized as being given bett
33 Skidmarks: Sad to see "The Hill" going. I'm glad I experienced it before it's demise. I trust the YYZ crowd will have some new and exciting locations sorted out
34 AirbusfanYYZ: Yes many YYZ a.netters are indeed part of the YYZ Airport Watch Program including myself. Yes thanks to the good work of the organizers at YYZ airpor
35 KaiGywer: I'm surprised nobody else has mentioned the irony of a UPS building possibly being built on FedEx hill
36 Lnglive1011yyz: I'm part of the YYZ Airport Watch, and like Kaz has already mentioned, we do have the jackets and caps that make us easily identifiable. Being part o
37 Olympus69: I'm a member, but I joined too late to get a jacket - they were out of my size. However, we will be picking up our T-shirts this weekend. As LH101 st
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From Canada, joined Jun 2002, 1737 posts, 
At least we still have the road if we bring chairs.
From Mexico, joined May 2004, 1112 posts, 
From Kyrgyzstan, joined Sep 2005, 536 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
But anyways, i think you all need to get over it. After all, YYZ, ETC ETC, is not meant to be a 24/7 airshow ... as much as I would love that, those who are not familiar with the aviation hobby world, do not want strangers coming near their planes on takeoff or landing or at all? They are not going to take people who want to watch planes... into consideration over a land settlement which would range in the near millions. 
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