EGBB BHX Aviation Spotters

EGBB BHX Aircraft Spotters

Looking over an airfield you’d be hard fetched to find much human connection. A production line of air propelled tubes delivering and departing, destinations known, their contents often unknown. Under this hidden exterior reveals one of the most diverse and complex samples of human life.

Airports often capture our imagination, the word ‘gateway’ is often used in an almost extraterrestrial manor, transporting humans from one geographical location to another in a blink of an eye. Airports thus become places which offer a step out of home comforts, whether there is mystery in the destination or years of visitation. Watching over an airfield is unknowingly witnessing personal stories played out like a game of chess. The air traffic control organising gaps in traffic for another set of passengers to start their journey. Flying in are old friends, a loved one or someone less desired. In contrast, flying out from the place you know best, saying goodbye, hard for the long-haul explorer or not so much for a businessman taking on their drawn-out daily journey to work. In between the glamour of everyday life flies out a singing superstar, off the back of a one night only performance. A football team journey’s off to represent the country, whilst another representative flies back in, a serving veteran damaged by conflict in a distant land.

You build up this image of a complex international space bridged by an airstrip, yet amongst the assemblage the only audible noise is the huge engines of an Emirates a380, taking off on its nightly departing to Dubai.

Upon reading, you must be thinking, where do ‘plane spotters’ come into this. Well you must think of the ways you are inspired. Associating a place with excitement immediately evokes an interest. Aviation enthusiasts started off with a journey on an aircraft and in whatever form that is expressed, a hobby is formed.

This book captures just one airport and the aviation enthusiasts who occupy it. Over three months I’ve observed and conversed, learning and understanding a hobby some may not take seriously.

Birmingham Airport International Civil Aviation Organization airport code: EGBB International Air Transport Association airport code: BHX

The main four locations for the Birmingham Airport enthusiast appears as followed. Each with their own perks, some may suit spotters, others photographers.

Location1: “The Hillside” “Other side of the A45” “The Field”

South of the runway, the raised viewing area and fields beyond are a recent addition to the portfolio of spotting locations. 2014 saw this new area open which included greater viewing access from a public footpath placed 100m behind.

Previously the view had been obstructed by trees. You don’t get too many up here, parking is a real pain but the footpath certainly offers classy picnic hotspots.

Steve Charlton and his two sons John & Micheal. Residence of Sheldon, close to the airport, Steve has been a photographer for 30 years. His two boys have followed their father and are now found recording video media of aircraft for their very own Facebook page.

Location2: “Ontop of the car park” “The NPC” “The multistory”

To the west of the runway sits what is the pièce de résistance, the NPC car park.

Arguably the most popular of all spots around the airport, the NPC is very rarely unoccupied without an aviation enthusiast. An unwritten ruling that seems to override any set parking tariffs, visitors to the car park can expect a free stay at their own risk. Though I’ve never witnessed a jog back to the car, it has been said a parking attendant would have a field day.

Harry (left) & Gavin Holmer. On their way, back from an air show in Carlisle. Gavin lives local and works for a Logistics firm which has connections to Birmingham Airport. Harry his Dad, after moving to Bristol still photograph’s aircraft each week at Bristol Airport. Both had stopped through on the way to Bristol and were waiting for the Qatar Dreamliner to take off.

Paul (left) & Ian. Avid aircraft photographers who run their own website specialising in commercial aircraft. Ian describes photographing with his brother as “one of the few times we get on�. Both live in Banbury and were up for the day.

John (right) & David Mason. Both big fans of aviation photography in particular. Saturday mornings after David’s football training they head up to the airport to see what aircraft are about.

Location3: “Sheldon park” “Down the grass bit at the end of the runway” “Country park”

Sheldon Country Park, just bring everyone. In my time spent on this project there isn’t a spot which has attracted so many different walks of life. Men, women, children, dogs, cats, foxes, horses. At one point two chaps parked their vans up parallel to the benches to observe, before five minutes later an ice cream van joined them (There isn’t even a road through the park). All this abiding to the consensus that something so big and loud needs to be watched. The park sits around the far north point of the airport/runway, much of the time aircraft taking off towards its location (South to North). This is a fantastic point for photographs as the aircraft taxiway sits on higher ground to the view point. Although a walk is needed to get to the spot, there is plenty of seating if you plan to watch a whole day’s performance.

The top of the car park gives unrivalled views right across the runway. It is directly

Christopher Leaman, a window cleaner from Marston Green with his dog Roxy (stresses he didn’t name it). He enjoys merging dog walks with a spot of aircraft spotting when he gets the chance. “It’s taken a while for Roxy to get used to the noise”.

Location4: “Airport car park” “The benches” “Taxiway spot”

To the East of the runway sits the Airport carpark viewing spot, the main difference between this and the ‘NCP’ is that this is an official spot setup by the airport. The other difference being after your 15 minutes parking you won’t get much change out of a fiver. This is only accessible by road, train or a walk/bike ride down a duel carriageway. What you do get for your effort is air side views of aircraft taxiing on or off the runway. This is often a preferred place for spotters as each aircraft registration is easy to identify.

Zac, a plane spotter from London. On the day of meeting, Zac had popped up on a day trip to Birmingham airport to tick off some aircraft registrations.

He described London airports as “fantastic for jumbo jet, not so good for smaller aircraft like dash 8’s”

Aircraft Spotting: Logging down aircraft registration prefixes Aircraft Viewing: Those who photograph aircraft and are more interested in the designs (livery)

Many Thanks - Falmouth University Lecturers, Family & BHX Aviation Community