Observation Deck at YVR - Your Input Requested

[robbreid]

Online questionaire


Vancouver Airport Authority is developing an observation and information area at YVR that will be open to the public in 2009. Along with a large space to view activity on the airfield, we are considering a number of additional elements for this area, with the goal of informing, educating and entertaining our customers and those who live in the local community.

[C-FABH]

Thanks for the heads up, great to see an airport here in Canada pursuing this - even if it's just in the data collection stage.

The one in Zurich has it's own staffed screening checkpoint and they also make money off it.

I was quite disappointed when Gatwick shut their viewing area. I've been harassed enough times trying to watch airplanes as is!

[Cobra64]

I did the questionnaire and commented that they should have a mock control tower, with screens showing the radar scopes, and scanners on the frequencies. I would pay money to visit that, and the would probably have to ask me to leave every night. I wish YYC had something like this. the parking lot on Mcknight is ok, but if 16 is in use you don't see much

[CD]

Winnipeg has had their observation deck open for years (hope the new terminal includes one as well) that includes ATC communications. I also recently discovered that Moncton also has an observation deck.

[JBI]

Thanks for posting that.

Just to add, Halifax also has a nice little observations lounge.

A few years ago I was spending a few hours in the observation lounge at YWG between flights. There were the usually types of kids there: playing, kind of noticing the planes but in more of a "oh that's neat an airplane.... oh my goodness that dog has a poofy tail!" distracted sort of way. But there was one kid who was about 5 that in rainman like fashion could rattle off each type of plane and where they were probably going. It was incredible, he could tell the difference between a WestJet 737-200 and 737NG for example. I know some pilots who can't do that. It was a good thing that YWG had an observation lounge cause the mother would take the kid there on a weekly basis and it'd keep him entertained for hours.

[xsbank]

There IS an observation deck already at Vancouver, called the Flying Beaver. Not only do you get to observe the cheesy aircraft but pilots, mechanics and various females go there too. Or should that be 'aircraft and cheesy pilots?'

When I was small, there used to be an observation deck at the main terminal - my dad took us there once to wave off my mother who was travelling to London via Calgary, Winnipeg, Montreal, Gander, Frobisher Bay, Sonderstromfiord, Reykyavik and Prestwick in a DC-6B (I can't remember if FroBay and Montreal were in there. Took 24 hours of flying and they all had to troop off the plane at each fuel stop).

[desksgo]

Rob, don't jump. I will be along shortly to talk you down.

[FastFlyBy]

I always thought that they should have turned the old tower into an observation deck or restaurant.
Probably not practical as it didn't meet earthquake standards, but otherwise it would have been perfect.

[FSS]

xsbank, believe you could take out YUL and YFB as in the early 70's the DC6's would pass by Churchill enroute to Stond, and onward to Great Britain. Use to enjoy talking at these guys, as they would switch to VHF and place bets with the RO's on the outcome of hockey and football games, asking on the way back who won. As far as I know, all bets were paid off. One I remember was getting the score of a game and wasn't able to pass on VHF as a/c outa range so the ICAO op passed on HF. Calgary 10, Winnipeg 12. This was followed by YWG ICAO asking "What were those temperatures again??"