gonnabapilot From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 14 posts, RR: 0 Posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 2120 times:
Hey guys,
Drove up to PDX today and was gonna stop by Marine Drive and watch planes for a while but the turnouts were all blocked off with road cones. Anyone have any idea why? If this topic has already been posted, my apologies.
flashmeister From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 2864 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 2079 times:
They've been closed for a while, at least since the end of last summer. Don't know why but I suspect it's either for "security" sake or to prevent people from parking in the turnouts and running across Marine Drive to the river path. It's been dangerous with people darting across in the summertime.
It really sucks, though, since it eliminates decent spotting at PDX (with the exception of NE Cascades Pkwy but that's only really decent when flights are using 28L for landings).
MountainFlyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 378 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 2052 times:
It actually has nothing to do with security. It has to do with the fact that since it is a flood control dike, they cannot get federal insurance coverage if they allow parking on it.
CGKings317 From Canada, joined Nov 2005, 303 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 2036 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW CHAT OPERATOR
It has nothing to do with security and everything to do with flood control and flood insurance. PDX is situated in the flood plain of the Columbia River. What prevents PDX and nearby businesses and homes from getting flooded more often is a system of flood-control dykes. The only thing that stands between 10L/28R and the Columbia River is one of these flood control dykes. This dyke is currently or very recently underwent federal re-certification under the strictest structural integrity standards so that businesses and homes it protects can remain eligible for FEMA flood insurance.
Why parking for several minutes at a time watching planes take off and land would weaken the structural integrity I don't know. I hope that these parking spots will re-open in the not too distant future.
~CGKings317
I love ✈ & volcanoes but the 2 of them dont get along, just ask KLM867 & PH-BFC
kbmiflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2004, 113 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 2013 times:
I was there last month, and surprised to see the pulloff area's blocked. There is still a small dirt lot further west on marine drive, across from the boat ramp and the Sextant, that had some cars in it. However, it isn't really an idea place to spot unless planes are landing on the 10's. I was only there about 20 minutes, and no one came to bother me or the other 5 or so other cars sitting there.
cschleic From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 1052 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 1997 times:
That's too bad. There were several good pull-out spots along there. Even after the viewing lot closed after 9/11, lots of cars would park outside the gate and nobody bothered you. One option...park in the lot west of the airport and walk or ride a bike back along the path on the dike.
RWA380 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2221 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 12 hours ago) and read 1936 times:
There have also been several car thefts and vandalism to cars unattended, there is also a lot of fatal accidents on Marine Drive, yesterday part of Marine Drive was closed due to trees blown down onto the road. The cars going in and out of those turnouts into traffic going upwards of 50-60 mph (well above the posted speed limit) has caused multiple accidents. But yes, the main reason is the flooding issue and the dikes, at least that's the official Portland explanation.
Next Flights: AS PDX-SAN-LIH on 739/738 in F, HA LIH-HNL-KOA-OGG on 717 in Y, AS OGG-PDX on 738 in F
gonnabapilot From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 14 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 1842 times:
Interesting. Thanks for the info.
Flashmeister, I really like that spot too. Today the winds were blasting out of 170 so they were landing on the 10's so I went up to level 7 of the parking garage. Got to see some cool crosswind landings. A couple Delta 767's and a freshly painted Southern Air B772 taking off back to BFI.
flashmeister From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 2864 posts, RR: 7 Reply 8, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 9 hours ago) and read 1772 times:
Quoting gonnabapilot (Reply 7): Today the winds were blasting out of 170 so they were landing on the 10's so I went up to level 7 of the parking garage.
Have you been chased out of there? I spotted there once years ago and security made it clear that they'd prefer that I didn't.
HPRamper From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3702 posts, RR: 8 Reply 9, posted (1 year 3 months 1 week 6 hours ago) and read 1694 times:
Quoting flashmeister (Reply 8): Have you been chased out of there? I spotted there once years ago and security made it clear that they'd prefer that I didn't.
We had a small A.net meet on the top level some years back and didn't have any issues. Probably depends on the security personnel, since we all know there are no regulations prohibiting spotting.
cschleic From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 1052 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 3 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1525 times:
I've never had a problem up there. In nice weather, people set up lawn chairs in the backs of pickups with their kids to watch the planes. TSA people even hang out there eating lunch or taking a cigarette break.
atcgod From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 658 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1310 times:
Quoting gonnabapilot (Thread starter): Drove up to PDX today and was gonna stop by Marine Drive and watch planes for a while but the turnouts were all blocked off with road cones. Anyone have any idea why?
I was disappointed to learn about this also. I recently went to work in the tower there and saw that they'd been blocked off. I grew up in Longview, so I used to drive down and watch from those lots all the time. Of course, now I have a much better view.
Quoting gonnabapilot (Reply 7): A couple Delta 767's and a freshly painted Southern Air B772 taking off back to BFI.
That was fun, wasn't it? Took them about 2800' of runway and climbed away very steep.
geedo From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 366 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 1227 times:
The 772 you saw would have been headed for PAE, not BFI, just for accuarcy's sake.
I've thought it unusual that they would cite the erosion of the dyke, yet they spent a lot of time out there with heavy machinary tearing out the turnouts. That, plus the staedy rains here have to be a bigger, more tangible conecrn with regard to erosion than folks pulling over to take photos, or park for some activies on the bike path. I have given up on spotting at PDX with the exception of some quick visits to the garage. The authorities have ruined a great situation.
RWA380 From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 2221 posts, RR: 4 Reply 14, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1190 times:
Yeah, at one time there used to be a fairly permanent roach coach parked out there for snacks and drinks, times have changed indeed. I spent many days and nights parked out there in my yellow mustang wishing I was flying out on almost every plane I watched take off. A great mix of widebody, narrowbody, 4 holers, 3 holers & 2 holers back in the day.
Next Flights: AS PDX-SAN-LIH on 739/738 in F, HA LIH-HNL-KOA-OGG on 717 in Y, AS OGG-PDX on 738 in F
gonnabapilot From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 14 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (1 year 3 months 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 1137 times:
Quoting flashmeister (Reply 8): Have you been chased out of there? I spotted there once years ago and security made it clear that they'd prefer that I didn't.
I have never been chased off for watching airplanes and being an airline employee of the last 5 years, I know theres nothing against spotting.
Quoting atcgod (Reply 12): That was fun, wasn't it? Took them about 2800' of runway and climbed away very steep.
Yeah that was awesome! That was a pretty impressive climb. The F-15's were pretty cool too.
Quoting geedo (Reply 13): The 772 you saw would have been headed for PAE, not BFI, just for accuarcy's sake
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