Wow, how lovely to see again the days when we had positive news about the region, on our telly. And, weren’t the presenters professional? A time when, despite economic difficulties, we saw the best of the Midlands, and I so miss those happier days. Did you see how we were called passengers, and they welcomed us to the airport to park our cars? Not like today where they want to charge you just for breathing. 40 years ago, a different era, really. Thanks for posting this, it is really enjoyable to watch😊
Such great memories, GM Bob Taylor knew the value of spotters who were prospective travellers, sadly those halcyon days disappeared with him, not the friendly airport any longer.
Do you know why and when they got rid of the plane spotting gallery? I remember going there in the late 1990s with my dad, but when I tried to go again in about 2012 they said it wasn't there, and the area was being used for something else.
@@ajs41 Hi Cannot recall the exact date, but when the first phase of the terminal extension occurred in the late 90’s into 2000 it closed, sadly the spectacular views over the security fences disappeared with the southern apron extension adjacent to the Eurohub as it was then. Security concerns after September 11th seemed to seal the fate of what was essentially a harmless pastime. Regards Bob
Now 12 million passengers a year from this terminal. I used to see Kay Alexander in Safeways in Harborne when I was a student in 1987 or so. Haven't lived in the Midlands since sadly.
I live in Lichfield, and could tell the time by the sound of the BAC1-11s flying overhead in the mornings and evenings, heading from and to Ireland and Scotland. Interestingly, the current aircraft are virtually silent by comparison.
We plane spotted as teens, we would clog up the viewing gallery and cafe in the old terminal in the 70's, long before the new setup. This would lead to me finally flying plane into Brum in 80's. Never know where things lead.
I visited the viewing gallery a few times in the late 1990s, but when I tried to go there again in about 2012 it wasn't available. The area was being used for something else I was told.
I remember it from the late 80s, particularly that atrium. Didn't they have an old airplane suspended from the roof at one point? Shame the Maglev didn't last, but that cable car thingy works well. It remains to be seen how well the refurbished security hall works, but the can't help thinking we're getting to the point where we need to knock it down and start again completely.
@@terrystevens5261 the main "shopping mall" feels oppressive now. No natural light, and where they mention being able enough see the aircraft, well that is mostly gone. Many of the discount operators dont use the air bridges so access is often up and down a lot of stairs, and quite usually narrow corridors. The "eurohub" is much more open, but feels disjointed from the main terminal and some of the gates again are in strange little corners or down corridors. The escalator down to the main passport hall seems to have been broken since before covid. And the baggage hall can't really cope with an A380 🤣 I love my local airport, but there are some definite friction points which can't really be solved without major infrastructure work. I hope the new security area addresses some of it, but I guess some is so ingrained into the building fabric, that starting again might be the only option.
sounds like us up at Manchester with terminals 1 and 3. Lots of snide corridors and low ceilings. Terminal 2 transformation scheme is addressing that supposed to be the full replacement for terminal 1. Sadly the first phase of terminal 2 extension the plans were watered down whereby a planned glass skylight was dropped and no natural light in that main circulation area, what we got was an LED lighting feature instead.
About this time the airport was financed by local West Midland councils. Was given a name, can never remember, was it West Midlands Metropolitan council?
Wow, how lovely to see again the days when we had positive news about the region, on our telly. And, weren’t the presenters professional? A time when, despite economic difficulties, we saw the best of the Midlands, and I so miss those happier days. Did you see how we were called passengers, and they welcomed us to the airport to park our cars? Not like today where they want to charge you just for breathing. 40 years ago, a different era, really. Thanks for posting this, it is really enjoyable to watch😊
Alan Towers and Kaye Alexander? Great archive of this airport's opening. I think 40 years on, the airport seems to be a success.
Such great memories, GM Bob Taylor knew the value of spotters who were prospective travellers, sadly those halcyon days disappeared with him, not the friendly airport any longer.
Do you know why and when they got rid of the plane spotting gallery? I remember going there in the late 1990s with my dad, but when I tried to go again in about 2012 they said it wasn't there, and the area was being used for something else.
@@ajs41
Hi Cannot recall the exact date, but when the first phase of the terminal extension occurred in the late 90’s into 2000 it closed, sadly the spectacular views over the security fences disappeared with the southern apron extension adjacent to the Eurohub as it was then. Security concerns after September 11th seemed to seal the fate of what was essentially a harmless pastime. Regards Bob
Loved Kaye Alexander and we sadly lost Alan Towers in 2008.
Proper newsreaders. Alan Towers was a legend, if you’ve not seen his final sign off from MT then have a search!!
Now 12 million passengers a year from this terminal. I used to see Kay Alexander in Safeways in Harborne when I was a student in 1987 or so. Haven't lived in the Midlands since sadly.
The days when BA served the region's. .
'London Airways'
My first jet flight was in a BAC 1-11, lovely little thing, flew in it on four occasions.
I live in Lichfield, and could tell the time by the sound of the BAC1-11s flying overhead in the mornings and evenings, heading from and to Ireland and Scotland. Interestingly, the current aircraft are virtually silent by comparison.
I read somewhere that Birmingham’s on the electric now.
We plane spotted as teens, we would clog up the viewing gallery and cafe in the old terminal in the 70's, long before the new setup. This would lead to me finally flying plane into Brum in 80's. Never know where things lead.
I visited the viewing gallery a few times in the late 1990s, but when I tried to go there again in about 2012 it wasn't available. The area was being used for something else I was told.
"International Jetset". Words you never hear these days.
Why don't we hear it now?
I remember it from the late 80s, particularly that atrium. Didn't they have an old airplane suspended from the roof at one point?
Shame the Maglev didn't last, but that cable car thingy works well.
It remains to be seen how well the refurbished security hall works, but the can't help thinking we're getting to the point where we need to knock it down and start again completely.
I flew to Jamaica and back last month from B'ham, no problem with the airport, but the roadworks around it were a nightmare.
@@terrystevens5261 the main "shopping mall" feels oppressive now. No natural light, and where they mention being able enough see the aircraft, well that is mostly gone. Many of the discount operators dont use the air bridges so access is often up and down a lot of stairs, and quite usually narrow corridors.
The "eurohub" is much more open, but feels disjointed from the main terminal and some of the gates again are in strange little corners or down corridors.
The escalator down to the main passport hall seems to have been broken since before covid.
And the baggage hall can't really cope with an A380 🤣
I love my local airport, but there are some definite friction points which can't really be solved without major infrastructure work. I hope the new security area addresses some of it, but I guess some is so ingrained into the building fabric, that starting again might be the only option.
sounds like us up at Manchester with terminals 1 and 3. Lots of snide corridors and low ceilings. Terminal 2 transformation scheme is addressing that supposed to be the full replacement for terminal 1. Sadly the first phase of terminal 2 extension the plans were watered down whereby a planned glass skylight was dropped and no natural light in that main circulation area, what we got was an LED lighting feature instead.
Certainly did have a biplane suspended from the roof over the central balcony loved the novelty factor of it.
302 Kilback Mountain
About this time the airport was financed by local West Midland councils. Was given a name, can never remember, was it West Midlands Metropolitan council?
West Midlands Combined Authority
First landing, a dc 10, that didn't live up to it's colloquial name. A good omen, I guess.
BA all over BHX - not now…