UK

The UK's second largest city doesn't have its second busiest airport, although Birmingham has come a long way in recent years, and a visit can be very productive. As well as the usual schedules (lots of 'regional' European stuff), there are a fair number of charters in the summer, almost daily freight flights from the US in connection with the local Ford/Jaguar car factories, and it's also one of the only places in the UK where you can see the BA/Maersk fleet.
Mornings tend to be the busiest time, and weekdays are definitely busier than weekends.

Luckily, Birmingham is one of the few remaining airports in the UK where the authorities have made any special provision for visitors and enthusiasts, meaning that it's possible to get plenty of good photos here.
Following the sun around in a clockwise direction, suitable locations are as follows:

a) There is an enclosed spectators viewing area on the top floor of the main terminal, with a cafe, shop, and various information about the airport. Although the overall view is now a bit limited due to the expansion work, some reasonable photos can be obtained through the windows.

F-GPVC Air Liberte DC-10

b) Probably the best place for photography is the dedicated viewing area located around to the right of the terminals as you exit. This consists of a large grassy bank, with benches and usually a snack bar provided. This overlooks the BA Eurohub terminal, and, if RWY 33 is in use, all other flights will also taxi past this point. Its main drawback comes from the presence of a very high chain link fence. This doesn't mean that you can't take good photos from here, but a tall stepladder will make things much easier. Perhaps the authorities could provide a few official 'photo holes' at strategic points, such as they do at places like Tokyo? Good until early afternoon.

N58101 Continental Boeing 757	EI-CNY Ryanair Boeing 737	G-MSKD British Airways Boeing 737	G-MSKN British Airways CRJ	EI-FKA Aer Lingus Fokker 50

c) Although it is possible to get reasonable RWY 33 landing shots from the viewing area, particularly if you've got a ladder, these are probably best taken from the long-stay car park, just a short distance further round. The sun is OK here until about midday.

F-GRSE Star Airlines A320	F-GSUN Corsair Boeing 747	CS-TEB Air Luxor L1011	EC-GHM Air Europa Boeing 767	I-DUPE Alitalia MD-11

d) To get any decent shots in the afternoon you'll need to go right round to the other side of the airport. Shortly before you get to the old terminal on the A45, there's a minor road leading to a crash gate (DON'T park here). Just next to the crash gate on the right there's a large field, from where you can get great landing and take-off shots on RWY 33. Suitable from early afternoon until dusk.

F-GKTA Air One Boeing 737	EI-CRD Eurofly Boeing 767	N605GC Gemini Air Cargo DC-10F	G-MSKC British Airways Boeing 737	D-AHFK Hapag Lloyd Boeing 737

e) General aviation and cargo flights now all use the old terminal area, and you may be able to get some shots from here. Opportunities really depend on where anything is parked, but if you're there when such flights are moving you should be OK.

I-AVJE Learjet 25	D-IHHS Cessna 525	I-LIAC Falcon 20

f) If RWY 15 is in use, things are much more difficult, although there is a footpath further round from the old terminal which follows the perimeter fence around by a golf course, and ends up quite close to the runway. A ladder will probably be necessary here.

Wrecks and Relics

G-AWZZ Trident 3

Visited on 19 May 1999	Top of page

Maps

Click on the icons below to see various maps and images relating to Birmingham airport. Note that, except for the aerial photograph, these are all external links to other sites, and will open in a new window.

Official CAA Birmingham airport map Courtesy of: NATS Ltd. Note that you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (v4.0 or later) installed in order to view this. Click here to download this from the Adobe site if you need it.		OS street map of the Birmingham airport area Courtesy of: Streetmap.co.uk		General map of the Birmingham area Courtesy of: maps.expedia.com		Aerial photograph of Birmingham airport Courtesy of: Streetmap.co.uk

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