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London Heathrow Airport

2008-05-29T18:14:50Z

ADE777: /* Rwy 23 threshold */

[[Category:England]]
{{categorywithregion|Europe|United Kingdom|England}}

{{infobox|fullname=London Heathrow Airport|location=London, England|iata=LHR|icao=EGLL|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.heathrowairport.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.471119,-0.455246&spn=0.030780,0.076484&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.7, 118.5|atcground=121.9, 121.7
|atcclearance=121.975
|atcapproach=120.4|atcdeparture=118.5
|atcatis=|atcunicom=}}

==Official Spotting Locations==

===The Queens Building===
On top of terminal 2. Shut, indefinitely.

===Heathrow Visitors Centre===
Located on North Perimeter Road, many spotters choose to spot from here. This location is good for spotting but no good for photography, because of the perimeter fence! From here runway 09L/27R has very close views and also from here views of aircraft parked in Terminal 1 Stands and part of Terminal 3 stands can be seen. Also from here the maintenance area has clear views, here park up South African (747's and A340's)and Qantas (747's). Also some executive and government planes can be seen. When the weather is right views of 09R/27L can be seen, the weather has to be perfect! Sometimes it is to hazy or sometimes too cloudy. Also at the visitors centre there is an [expensive] cafe - although this is only open on weekdays. But there is a McDonald's over the road. Also here is a a enthusiasts shop - where models, books, magazines, etc are sold. This location is only called the visitors centre, but really you are spotting in the car park it cost £1.00 per hour, so be aware of the weather. Happy Spotting at LHR, there are some interesting planes to be seen here, I have listed some further down the article.

The centre has now re-opened under a new name, of Heathrow Academy. It is open at weekends and school holidays from 10am to 4pm. Within the centre, there is a Ritazza coffee shop ( open from 7am to 4pm ), there is still a aviation model shop.

<googlemap lat="51.481102" lon="-0.441749" zoom="16">51.480608, -0.443187, Heathrow Academy</googlemap>

==Other Spotting Locations==
===Rwy 27 threshold===
Early in the morning, if traffic is coming down on 27R, you could get lucky and witness dual rwy ops/landings. In such cases most the BA heavies will opt for 27L whilst a lot of the T3 traffic will land on 27R.
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===Block 94 crash gate===
A real no-no, the Police will see you off from here quicker than anything! If you dare to venture into here, as it is open, be aware it's not advisable to hang around for too long. Shots of a/c lining up at B94 (for 27L) can be had though, should you get lucky.
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Or shots of landing a/c onto 27L also.
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Almost as good a spot is across the dual carriageway, which is perfectly fine, where landing a/c can be shot over the fence.
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===09L Field===
There's a field similar to that found at Myrtle Avenue, although this one is for 09L arrivals. Very nice in the mornings when light from the rising Sun hits the fans.
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===Hilton Hill===
Either walk from Myrtle Av. or from terminal 4. Expect a 15 minute walk from Myrtle, 5 from T4. The hill is on the side of the road that leads into terminal 4 itself. Plenty of space to not bother anyone. Very hazy in the summer though. Only good for 27L arrival shots, with a different backdrop from the "normal" LHR ones.
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===Line ups on 27R===
Shooting through the fence on the Northern Perimeter Road. Excellent spot on late summer evenings when the Sun is almost behind you.
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===Gate by Road Crossing===
Only good for 27R ops. Better for landing traffic than departing. Spot is by the mini roundabout near the white huts. Where the a/c cross the road from the airport to the maintenance area there's a red and white gate. Excellent spot for touch downs on 27R.
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Aircraft being tugged across the road are also easily shot here too.
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''This area has now been '''closed''' (as of mid March 2006) with the road being diverted around the back of the BA Maintenance Area, so any shots taken from the level crossing are now impossible.''

===Myrtle Avenue===
A field at the end of Myrtle Avenue, by the approach lights for 27L. By foot, either walk from terminal 4 northbound alongside the dual carriageway or southbound from Hatton cross tube. The field can not be missed; it's about a 10 minute walk from either end. <br />

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===09R banking/climbout shots:Tesco Dukes Green===
Excellent spot just outside the airport perimeter,located on the A312.About a 10-15 minute southbound walk from Hatton Cross tube station.A good spot for shooting banking,heavy takeoffs when 09R is use(about 30% of the time)especially for heavy A340s.

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{{anetlink|816157}}

===27L climbouts:Former Essso garage alongside the southern perimeter road===
Popular spot for capturing takeoffs from 27L.Hard to park the car here now as the slip lane as been coned off to prevent such activity!Possible to get a bus to the cargo centre but and walk westbound for about 10minutes.Brick bollards provide useful height for shooting aircraft climbing out slowly after a long takeoff run.

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Note : The garage has now re-opened. ( July 2007 )

===Perimeter road in north-west corner 27R climbouts===
The perimeter road in the far north-west corner also provides some excellent opportunities for 27R climbout shots although the sun is not far round enough for this spot to be effective during the winter and autumn months.

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===27R final approaches from the mini trading estate===
Given the road works and the imminent closing of the 'road crossing road' this area may not be around for too much longer.This spot is on a small trading estate,just off the perimeter road,comprising a series of mainly single tier buildings and is generally quiet at the weekend.Parking the car is not advised here as it is a private estate.Others prefer to shoot from the roundabout on the perimeter road and the little patch of land next to it but I personally find that you are a little too 'under' the aircraft compared to the trading estate spot.

{{anetlink|818386}}

===Runway 27R touchdowns===
Like the 27R climb outs spot,the light here is only good about 1/2 of the year as you are facing south but it is perfect for evening photography.A few different angles can be had from along the north perimeter road depending on where exactly you shoot from.

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==Airside Spotting Locations==
===Airside - Terminal 1; Gate 8 - bmi domestic Lounge===
Glazed floor to Ceiling overlooking the eastern end of the Northern Runway (27R/09L). Touchdowns on 27R, and taxiing aircraft visible. Aircraft landing on 09L have mostly left the runway and those for Terminal 3 turned away before getting close.

{{afleetlink|25901}}
{{afleetlink|25182}}

===Airside - Terminal 1; Gates 36-56 ===
Gates 36-56 are located in a glass and steel building at the extreme eastern end of the central area with views over runway 23 and B pier of Terminal 1. There are plenty of windows that line up with gaps in the parked aircraft and photography is best in the afternoon. On the down side the northern most gate offering the best views can be closed off by moveable barriers if it is being used for flights to Israel.
WARNING:If you don't know the gate your flight is departing from allow time to walk back to the main departure lounge (without a moving walkway)to check the monitors there.

===Airside - Terminal 4 ===
In addition to the windows behind the duty free shop the Gate 23 area has windows overlooking the southern taxiway and 27L holding point.
WARNING:If you don't know the gate your flight is departing from allow time to walk back to the main departure lounge (without a moving walkway) to check the monitors there.

==Locations to Avoid==

===Airport Car Parks===
I used to use the airport short stay car parks to spot, but since security has rose the BAA security move you on VERY quickly. These are very expensive anyway, MY HINT IS TO NOT SPOT FROM THE CAR PARKS!

==Regular Traffic==
British Airways, BMI British Midlands, Heavies from Asia,EU Carriers, 777/767/747 from America.

==Facilities and Transportation==

Heathrow airport is connected directly by Tube (Piccadilly line) and Rail (Heathrow Express) to central London. The Tube is not too expensive for a day ticket, and it takes about 45 minutes from Kings Cross. The Heathrow Express is much faster, but it is a lot more expensive and doesn't allow you to stop at Hatton Cross, which is a more advised station than Heathrow Terminals 1,2&3.
There are also a number of buses which go to Heathrow from cities in the southeast, but I have not used these myself.

Get off at the Hatton Cross tube station to catch 27L&R Arrivals and 9L&R Departures, with most of the named sites not a long walk away.

From Heathrow airport itself (T's 1,2&3) you can catch a free bus to the new Terminal 5 site where you can see 27L&R Departures and 9L&R arrivals not a long walk away.

South West Trains runs a regular service from Central London / Clapham Junction to Feltham, where it is easy to board the 4 times hourly Service 285 to Hatton Cross Tube Station, where it is an easy walk to view 27L/R arrivals.

Manchester Airport

2008-05-29T18:13:49Z

ADE777: /* A.V.P. - Aviation viewing park */

[[Category:England]]
{{categorywithregion|Europe|United Kingdom|England}}

{{infobox|fullname=Manchester Airport|location=Manchester, England|iata=MAN|icao=EGCC|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk|mapurl=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=53.354138,-2.279320&spn=0.029493,0.076484&t=h&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.625 (23R/05L)119.40 (23L/05R|atcground=121.85|atcclearance=121.70 (delivery)|atcapproach=118.575 & 135.00 & Director 121.35 |atcdeparture=118.625 & 119.400|atcatis=128.175 (Arrivals) 121.975 (Departures)|atcunicom=}}

In 2004, Manchester International Airport (Ringway) was voted Britain’s premier spotting airport by a well-known aviation magazine, and anyone who has been there will probably agree with them. It is not a question of which is the best place to watch planes at Manchester, more a question of which spot do I want to choose?

MAN has 2 parallel runways, 23R / 05L (Runway 1) and 23L / 05R (Runway 2) . Aircraft movements are generally inbound on 23R and outbound on 23L. However the wind direction shifts approx 20% of the year and this flow is reversed. During the quieter period of each day from 12.00hrs to 15.00hrs, the airport reverts to single runway use and uses 23R / 05L (Runway 1) for both inbound and outbound flights.

==Official Spotting Locations==

===Multi Storey Car Park Terminal 1===

13th Floor of Multi storey car park - Terminal 1 - Views of Runway 1 where you can view aircraft landing and taking off, also close views of aircraft parking and moving from Terminals 1 & 2 plus a good view of the Cargo area. Level 13 now being used by the Car Rental Companies. But there isn't any facilities here any more. Toilets are situated in the Terminal 1 arrivals area, just get the lift down from Level 12. Some thoughtfully provided camera holes are in the security fences. Be warned however that this is a short-stay airport car park and is very expensive to park your car!

'''The Aviation shop''' is now situated near the Car Rental Desks, Information Desk, and Post Office which is in Terminal 1 arrivals and stocks everything for the enthusiast, binoculars, telescopes, models, airband radios, scanners, DVDs, notebooks, pens, postcards, and the SBS Radar System.

===A.V.P. - Aviation viewing park===

The A.V.P is located approx 2/3 way along Runway 23R (Runway 1) and offers excellent views of both flying and taxiing aircraft. It has 3 raised platforms for better viewing and photography, a very good snack bar, Family picnic areas and clean Male and Female toilet facilities. There is also a well-stocked aviation shop selling books, aircraft models, binoculars and radios etc.

Signposted from main terminal areas and railway station. There is a small charge for admission £1 for pedestrians, £4 for a car & Driver and £1 per passenger, children under 5 free. This area also contains a '''British Airways Concorde G-BOAC''' (which you can book a tour of, for approx £12), '''BAe Avro 146-RX100''', '''Monarch DC-10''' nose section, De Havilland Vampire jet fighter (at the moment been removed for restoration), and a '''BEA British European Airways Hawker Siddley HS-121 Trident 3B G-AZWK''' aircraft resplendent in full BEA Colours, which you can have a tour of.

The A.V.P is situated off the A538 between Junction 6 of the M56 motorway and the airport tunnels.

From the Junction 6 Roundabout follow signs for Wilmslow. After a very short distance you will see Sunbank Lane on the left with a sign post for “Concorde”. Turn left here and then immediately right at the crossroads onto Wilmslow Old Road and follow to the end.

You can get to the A.V.P by bus from the "The Station" at the Airport, which is situated mid-way between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 . Journey time by bus is approximately 5 minutes. The Swans Shuttle bus 200 operates year round on weekends and Bank Holidays. Buses leave The Station at 09:16, then every hour until 17.16. Buses leave the Viewing Park every hour 09.25 until 17.25. The fare is around £1.50 for a return ticket.

Arriva North West operates a regular daily service (bus 18, 18A, 20, 20A) stopping at the rear of the World Freight Terminal from where the Aviation Viewing Park is approximately a 10 minute walk. Full timetables for the service can be found at http://www.arrivabus.co.uk but generally there are four services per hour in each direction between The Station (Stand K) and the Freight Terminal. Some evening services are operated by service number 19. The adult single fare is £1. From the Freight Terminal bus stop, turn left out of Viscount Drive on to Avro Way and follow the road to where it bends round to the left. Walk into the junction on the right - you should see LSG SkyChefs on your right hand side, and a yellow and black car barrier ahead with a bollard to allow pedestrians through. Pass the barrier and turn left up the lane (Wilmslow Old Road, as in the directions above.) The AVP is about 6-7 minutes walk, right at the end of this lane.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===South Side (Runway 2 - 23L/5R)===

A disadvantage of the official Aviation Viewing Park (AVP) is that it faces into the sun until late in the day, making photography more difficult. Better photography is often offered by heading around to Runway 2 on the South side of the airport. Going there is easy by car. By public transport is possible too, but a bit of a handful.

The closest bus stop to Runway 2 is at the Moat House Hotel (Holiday inn) on the A538 Wilmslow road . Bus service no 288 runs along the A538 and there is a stop near to the AVP at the junction with Sunbank lane – from the AVP this means walking back towards the main road (approx ½ mile). From this bus stop it is then 2 stops along to the Moat House Hotel (Holiday inn). The bus runs every 30 mins.

By car, from the Junction 6 Roundabout off the M56, follow signs for Wilmslow along the A538. Approximately 1 mile along this road you will drive under the 2 runway tunnels. As you exit the 2nd tunnel you will come to a roundabout. Turn left at this roundabout and then turn immediately right before the gate - Then park up on the left before the bridge, as this road becomes the Moat House hotel car park beyond the bridge. Do try to tuck your car into the hedge, as the hotel mini-bus screams up and down here every half-hour or so and its a narrow road!!

'''DO NOT''' park anywhere between the roundabout and the gate - you '''WILL''' get a ticket or a '''TOW''' - even on the grass verge.

Once you have reach the Hotel, you have two options. There are raised viewing mounds running the length of runway 23L. These are segregated by the road tunnels which allow the A538 to go under the runways. So your choice is to cross the road and go left and past the new fire station to get to the mid point and beyond of runway 23L for views of aircraft rotating and taking-off OR go right to the start of runway 23L for close-up taxiing and line-up views of aircraft.

====Runway 23L - taxi and line-up====
From the Hotel entrance, turn right and walk through the car park, over the small stone bridge and up to the top of this road. On the right is a black cattle gate. Walk through the gate and follow this footpath for approx half-a-mile. The path finishes at the runway security fence and you will see long earth mounds either side of you which offer superb elevated views of the first 1/3 of runway 2.Further around to the right is an elevated mound which is directly in front of the link taxi-way between runway 1 and 2 - you can practically count the rivets on the aircraft as they line-up !!!

====Runway 23L - rotation and take-off====
The second option is to walk from the hotel back to the roundabout. On the other side of the road you just came in on, you will see a footpath of steep steps rising to the top of the hill. Follow this path for roughly 15 minutes past the side of the new fire station and up to the runway security fence.

From here, you can go left and follow the path parallel to runway 2 down into a valley and then back up again to raised mounds which offer superb views of aircraft rotating on runway 2 for take-off.

As an alternative, turn left after the fire station and follow the path downhill to the lowest lowest point of the valley. Then turn right and follow the river through the tunnel under runway 2. As you exit the tunnel turn right up the hill for a viewing spot half way between runway 1 and runway 2

Please note that runway 2 is usually closed between 1200 and 1500 hours. Also check before making any journey which way the aircraft are flying!. For approx 20% of the year, the wind shifts and the flying changes direction.

=== Junction of Ringway Road & Shadowmoss road ===

Not far from Terminal 1, this area gives excellent views of aircraft on final approach to Runway 23R. Be warned that car parking is limited because of parking restrictions. The local residents get rightly annoyed when thoughtless spotters park cars that partially block access to their driveways and the hand-painted yellow lines outside some houses show the level of feeling about this – please be considerate.

=== Airport Hotel Public House ===

Next to the final approach to Runway 23R, the beer garden of this pub offer great views of landing aircraft and also aircraft holding for departure. Because it has become so popular with spotters, the pub has a pay-and-display car park.

==Locations to Avoid==

None really - just be sensible - don't park in-front of crash gates and stay on the public side of the security fences and you will be ok.

The areas offered as alternatives to the AVP (the mounds and the area beyond the new fire station) are public footpaths and you wont get more than a passing glance from the security staff when they are patrolling airside.

The airport and council have always been fairly spotter-friendly so just read the notices and don't go or park where it says you shouldn't.

==Regular Traffic==
British Airways, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, PIA, US Airways, Monarch Airlines, My Travel Airways, First Choice Airways, Jet2.com, Thomsonfly, Air France, Lufthansa, Swiss Air, BMI, Finnair, Turkish Airlines, CSA Czech Airlines, Ryanair, Aer Lingus, Centralwings, plus many more, check with for a full list (which Terminal) on this link http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk. Plus you never know what will turn up, there has been a few surprises?.

==Facilities and Transportation==

===Public Transport===

The Railway Station is situated at the Airport between Terminals 1 & 2.
Services from most of the UK mainline stations.
The Bus & Coach Station is adjacent to railway station. Also served by National Express.
Bus service number 200 serves the viewing park from the airport bus station every Saturday and Sunday at 15 minutes past the hour from the bus station and 25 minutes past the hour from the viewing park at a cost of approx £1.60p adult return.

==Travel tips==
If traveling by car and you do not wish to pay for the airport car parks, you could always park your car at Heald Green Railway Station and catch the train to the airport for a cheap day return costing £1.10 or a single will cost £1.00 each way, fares may vary due to the general increase in fares.

http://www.spotterswiki.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=29#p29

==External links==
One page spotter guide for print out - contains radio frequencies, airport map and a brief description of the spotting spots at MAN.

http://www.plane-spotter.com/Airports/UK/MAN/SpotterGuide_MAN.pdf