Post by viscount on Apr 4, 2015 11:41:46 GMT 1
AINTREE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING, APRIL 2015
HELIPAD VIEWING
HELIPAD VIEWING
With the Aintree Grand National Meeting soon, perhaps it is timely to post instructions on how to get to the best public position to view and photograph the helicopter action from. Originally posted 2012, largely rewritten for 2013, and again for 2014, now checked, updated, copied, pasted and posted again for 2015.
Finding the best viewing point
Instructions for finding the best viewing site, which is an open field alongside the public access footpath of the Trans-Pennine Trail, by car or Merseyrail electric:
By Northern Line Merseyrail
Some years for convenience, I have used Merseyrail to Fazakerley Station. Came out, turned left onto Longmoor Lane A506, with University Hospital Aintree buildings on the right, over the other side of the dual carriageway. Ignored left turn Adlam Road. Next left into Signal Works Road, shortly straight ahead across Adlam Road at a minor crossroads. Signal Works Road peters out at a high green security fence. There is however a pedestrian gate through this fence and across the electrified railway line. Continue ahead up a clear track through scrub woodland. On left tall wooden fence then Barlow's Lane garden fencing on left before the woodland opens out into a paddock of rough grassland with shrub trees. Ahead is the high double black fencing around Aintree Races, with Beecher's Brook jump visible through it. Around half a mile, 10-15 mins walking.
By car
Coming from the City centre direction; at the "Black Bull" pub, take the right fork and keep straight for about 3/4ml. You are on the A506 Longmoor Lane. On the left, once past the cemetery you will see a Somerfield supermarket and a school, the next traffic lights is the "Grey Chaser" pub, and the turn left into Barlow's Lane.
Coming from the M57 junction 6 head towards Liverpool along Valley Road/Longmoor Lane dual carriageway A506, at traffic lights ignore the Lower Lane turn on the left, with Aintree Hospital buildings immediate after on the left, through the new traffic lights outside the hospital (Station is over on your right) and on the top of the railway bridge you will see the "Right turn only" lane marked on the road. It is here where you turn right into Barlow's Lane past the "Grey Chaser" public house on the corner. They should be the 8th set of road & pedestrian lights you reach after the Motorway.
Once on Barlow's lane note that the road eventually splits! Ignore Croft Lane, Sherburn Close and Barlow's Lane to the right and Red Rum Close on the left ie effectively keep straight ahead on Barlow's Lane until road bears around to the right and eventually dead-ends. The path through to the 'viewing' paddock is straight ahead as the road ends. Please park considerately for the residents of the cul-de-sac houses as the narrow road leaves little room for manoeuvre - we did have one rather annoyed resident blocked-in Saturday 2013 (and a very embarrassed photographer), so do use common sense and be prepared to walk for a few minutes rather than fight for the nearest position. As an alternative to the tight cul-de-sac end of Barlow's Lane, park a little earlier, on the right, just beyond the mini-roundabout before the faded red painted section of road. Here the official footpath crosses the road. Go right along the tarmac footpath for under 5 minutes, at the end is Barlow's Lane field.
Further information regarding helicopter movements
Official helipad operators site for 2015, with instructions for visiting pilots www.rotarywing.co.uk/page3.html Takes a while to load.
Thursday 9th & Friday 10th April operating hours 0830 to 1900, aerial activity must cease 10 minutes before the start of a race until 10 minutes after the end of a race.
On Saturday, 11th April 2015, the operating hours are 0830 to 1900, with strictly no movements from 1315 until after the end of the Grand National race and all horses have left the course. The landing area is situated on the 9th fairway of the golf course, within the race track. New for 2015, if granted permission by the CAA, there will be a parachute drop by the 'Silver Stars' on behalf of "Help the Heros". As a result all helicopters on the ground have to have their rotors shut down by 1215, the helipad closed for 30 minutes then open again 1245 until shut down at 1315.
Weather minima: 600ft cloud base and 3km horizontal visibility. Less than this and helicopter movements will not be permitted until met. conditions improve.
'Aintree Radio' for all visiting helicopters: 132.900 MHz.
From observation in past years little happens before 1000 though, the majority of morning movements being in the period 1020-1245 approx., with in 2013 a peak of activity around 1100 noted.
From the Barlow's Lane field, the view over the fence is excellent of helicopter movements, landing or departing, although the actual landing site is out of sight around to the left, beyond a tree and domestic garden fences. Best weather is a westerly (27) breeze on a sunny day (sun is behind you) as the helicopters descend right in front of you, right to left. With an easterly (09) wind the arriving helicopters are further away but clearly seen descending in front of you, departing helicopters rising close and straight ahead of you, left to right.
Activity in Past Years
In 2014 a total of just 19 helicopters visiting, with 43 landings noted Saturday morning (in damp dreary conditions), this compares with in 2013 a total of 22 helicopters arriving with 39 landings noted on the Saturday morning. While in 2012 there were 26 different helicopters, with 43 landings, and in 2011, 23 different helicopters and 35 landings, around the same number of different helicopters as in 2010 in perfect conditions, which was a few less than in 2009, when there were 27. So (given decent weather) the pattern for slightly fewer helicopters, but more movements may continue, but I will have to wait until after the event to analyse if that trend does continues this year or not.
Photos, visitor listing, times, comments etc for previous meetings:
Saturday 4.4.09: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/4609/aintree-racecouse-4th-april
Saturday 10.4.10: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/2923/aintree-helicopters-gnd-saturday-10
Thursday 7.4.11: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=5971
Friday 8.4.11: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=5980
Saturday 9.4.11: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=5989
Thursday 12.4.12: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=9221
Friday 13.4.12: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=9231
Saturday 14.4.12: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=local&action=display&thread=9148
Thursday 4.4.13: no report located, weather was poor.
Friday 5.4.13: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11934/aintree-grand-national-2013 towards the end of the page
Saturday 6.4.13: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/11979/saturday-6th-april-aintree-helicopters?page=1
Thursday 3.4.14: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14722/aintree-races-helicopters-thursday-14
Friday 4.4.14: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14729/aintree-races-helicopters-friday-14
Saturday 5.4.14: www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/14736/aintree-races-helipad-saturday-april
Thursday 9.4.15: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17892/aintree-races-helipad-thursday-april
Friday 10.4.15: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17900/aintree-fri-10-04-2015
Saturday 11.4.15: derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/17911/aintree-races-saturday-11th-april
Finally
Hopefully the weather will be as good as it was in 2010. Westerly breeze, blue sky and sunshine is best for morning photography - it has been sunny or cloudy bright 2011-2013, then drizzle, grey and cool in 2014; but with an easterly breeze the last four years so approaching helicopters were further away to the north. We must be due a westerly breeze this year, but hopefully some reasonably dry and sunny weather too.
With a bit of luck, will meet up with the ever growing band of regulars again, and hopefully a few further 'first timers' this year. GND morning at Aintree has become the NWAN Member's Annual Convention, with 24 of us present last year! No ladders required (it is not the RVP), but a folding chair and a flask eases an otherwise long, cold stand-up. If you are a 'first timer' don't be shy and do own up to your username and be introduced to many of the regulars.
