Birmingham 26/08/10

[copperbob]

Decided as I had a day off to visit BHX for a bit! And with the Villa playing at home against Rapid Vienna, went to see what was in for that. Not been for a day for a fair while, so, did 6 hours. So, logged from 9am till 3pm.

Fly Be
DHC-8's ECOA/ECOH/ECOI/FLBC/JECJ/JEDI/JEDL/JEDM/JEDU/JEDW/KKEV
E190's
FBEA/FBEB/FBEF/FBEK/FBEM
SF340
LGNF

BMI Baby
733's
BVKD/TOYD/TOYF

Monarch
A320's/A321's
OZBI/OZBP/OZBR/OZBS

Thompson
737
CDZM
757's
OOBA/BYAI
767
OOBK

Thomas Cook
757's
FCLF/FCLK

BMI
E145
RJXG

Eastern
JS41
MAJY

Ryanair
738's
EI/DAC/DHB/DHE/DYX/EBG

Aer Lingus
320's
EI-DEM/EDS
AT72
EI-REP

Air France
146's
EI-RJK/RJR

KLM
737'S
PH-BGC/BGF

Lufthansa
B733's
D-ABIB/ABER
CRJ9's
D-ACKE/ACNG

Helvetic
F100's
HB-JVC/JVF

Continental
B757
N58101

Emirates
B777
A6-EBT

Mahan Air
A310
F-OJHH

Tyurkish
B738
TC-JFE

Brussels
146
OO-DWE

Austrian
A321
OE-LBF

Travelservice
B738
OK-TVO

NIKI
A320
OE-LEF

SAS
CRJ9
OY-KFG

Koral Air
A320
SU-KBD

And on Elmdon, freight and biz

SA227's
EC-JIP/ECGPS

ATP's
G-BTPF/BTPH

AT72
EI-FXH plus 1 other unidentified

and biz
N85CL F900 (Randy Learner, Villa owners jet)
OE-GPS C560
M-IRNE HS125
G-CXLS C560
G-SVSB C680
G-RAJJ 146
G-IPAX C560
VP-BKZ G5
G-LEAF/G-TURF C406's

I hope this is of use to someone, and not too long!!

Bob

[viscount]

I too have not been to BHX for a while. How many of the spotting spots remain. Has the terminal there followed MAN and LPL trend of preventing 'landside' access to apron view windows? Where did you spend the six hours?

I always find these visit reports of much more interest if there are details of spotting locations used, parking, security reaction (if any) etc for airports and approachability/friendliness (or ortherwise) for smalller aerodromes.

While over the past week there has been comment over short posts, with rapid-fire multiple posting on the same thread - I personally have no problem with longer threads/lists etc and would encourage them (mind you, as the poster of many of the longest, wordiest posts, I would!).

You appear to have had a good day out. Many thanks for sharing your log with us.

[copperbob]

Viscount, thanks for the comments, like me you love a ramble!!!

Anyway, BHX. Viewing is easy, there is still the public area on the 3rd floor, entrance a £1.00 (Or free if flying from there) accessible from terminal 1, and a well stocked shop also, with hot drinks machines and food crisps/sweets etc and a newish burger king open on the lower level! The spot is warm, comfy and has plenty of chairs, tables etc. Also the windows are reasonably clean but not great for photography. They overlook part of terminal 1, with some stands in terminal 2 visible, but everything comes in front of you if going off on 33. You can;t see the remote stands, but the locals will tell you whats in if anything of interest (i believe there is a path near the railway line but I have never used it)

With the new building gone up the views are slightly restricted if the aircraft are landing from the right (15) then if they turn off short, you may miss them (but get them on leaving) if on 33, the main usage runway then they land straight in front of you. The GA/cargo area is still viewable, but again, slightly restricted (ie, where the Fed Ex atr's and G-RAJJ tend to park is out of view) But you need good binoculars for these especially if hazy (doesn't happen a lot in Brum)
For the stuff on terminal 2 follow the stairs from the viewing deck to the bottom, exit right, and follow the line of the terminals to the end, then you come towards the long stay car parks, and can see whats on the stands there. For more views of GA follow the line of the fence for about 200 yards, then you can view whats in the area, and also gives you reasonable shots on landings etc. This is by the fuel farm.
If you are a photographer, and they are landing on 15, The country park next to Marston Green station (1 stop down , trains 3-4 an hour) is excellent for pics, as they literally land over you. Very much like at JLA and Also, its good for shots of aircraft waiting to take off.
Brum is not busy, by say Manchester standards, but it gets some interesting stuff in, and a lot of biz, depending whats on at the NEC etc. I made 6 yesterday, which for me was excellent! and with being warm, dry and hydrated, makes a nice pleasant morning/afternoon
I hope this is of use to you and anyone else
Feel free to drop me a line if anyone wants any more info

Bob

[ddave]

As an ex mancunian now living in warwickshire on the flightpath to BHX's 33 runway - yes it is very quiet but does get quiet a few gems that MAN does not see.

Currently sat/sun morn 9.00AM LH flight is a eurowings 190
Usually do quite well for newish Ryanairs on DUB flights
New EK777 ECY/Z regular visitors
Berlin 320 on sat11.20AM and 737 on sunday2.50PM - and we have had lots of newish frames on those flights
Koral blue 320 on thursdays
Lots of ad-hoc frieght charters
Medivac flights for Birmingham hospital with RAF C-17's which have also seen belgian herc's in to take medivacs onward to thier homeland
Mahan 300/310 sat/sun - still rumours of an upgrade one day to 340??
Cityjet fleet in and out all the time.

Lots of Biz as was mentioned

And from sept 26th (i think) Armenia 319 6.20AM arr - Dep 10ish

The airport in general is spotter friendly, i have flown out a few times with work and always have my bins with me and everyone seems ok with it. Lond stay car park is ok for spotting and security dont mind - also the car park on the Elmdon side overlooking the biz area. One note though - if your airside waiting for a flight there is not much of a view over the apron.

So very slow but something different and interesting.

Dave