BHX Airport Forum 2010

The "Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group"
held its annual enthusiasts "forum" at BHX on
Monday 17 May 2010

.

The evening was opened by Paul Kehoe, BHX's CEO (right),

who gave a presentation on developments at the aiport
including an update on the Runway Extension

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Additional presentations were given by Andy Davies,

Operational Planning Manager (above centre) and

Marc Watkins, Business Development Manager (left)
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The event was attended by 50 local aviation enthusiasts

and we were also joined by PC Ian Drewett, the BHX

Airport Watch liaison officer

.

Thanks as always to Birmingham International Airport
for hosting this important annual event
.
"Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group"
Promoting co-operation between Aviation Enthusiasts,

West Midlands Police and Birmingham International Airport

BHX Airport Forum 2009

The "Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group"

held its annual enthusiasts "forum" at BHX on

Tuesday 17 February 2009

.

Joe Kelly, Director of Birmingham International Airport, opens

the forum with an update on the proposed runway extension....
.

.... the event was attended by over 50 local aviation enthusiasts and

we were also joined by PC Ian Drewett, the BAESS liaison officer

and Tim Newman from the Manpads team - at the rear!!
.

Andy Davies, Aviation Planning Manager, give an update on

developments of the airfield - some of the photos shown

can be seen further down this page
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Gordon Stretch cuts the cake to celebrate BAEG's 10th birthday

helped by Andy and Marc Watkins, Business Development Manager,

who had earlier given an update on all the latest airline and route

news at BHX
.
A review of BAEG's first 10 years is also setout below together

with a look back at February 1999 at BHX
.

Thanks as always to Birmingham International Airport

for hosting this important event

BHX Airport Forum 2009 - Airfield update

Andy Davies, Aviation Planning Manager, gave an illustrated

update on developments on the airfield since the last forum

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A major taxiway rehabilitation project has been completed

- the resurfaced Taxiway Whiskey is shown above
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The 70 stands have reconfigured - the new stand 70 is shown above
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Taxiway Tango has been realigned for 777-300ER operation
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Work continues apace on the new International Pier....
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.... with the air bridges already re attached at Stands 40 and 41

BHX Airport Forum 2009 - BAEG at 10!!

Celebrating 10 years of the
“Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group”

.The “Birmingham Aviation Group” was formed on Thursday

18th February 1999 to provide “a forum for news, views and

movements at Birmingham Airport”. In doing so it became one

of the first “next generation” internet based aviation enthusiast

groups and it has continued to be “setting the standard” ever since!
.
The group has however remained loyal to that core aim to this day

and is the only local aviation enthusiast group dedicated to BHX and

the surrounding Midlands airfields.
.
The group’s activities have however expanded over the years. In

2002 it organised the first “BHX Airport Forum” of the modern era

– a similar event had been run by the “Midlands Counties Aviation

Society” in it’s hey day – a group many local enthusiasts were

members of in the pre internet age!

Subsequent “forums” were held in 2004 – 5th anniversary, 2006

and 2008 so this is now the groups 5th “BHX Airport Forum”. In

addition the group has organised visits to both the Air Traffic Control

tower and Fire Station at BHX and had a firearms demonstration by

the Airport Police.
.

On Saturday 16th July 2005 the group took to the air when it

chartered Beech 1900 OY-JRI to operate a daytrip to the Royal

International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford – flying direct from

BHX of course!
.
In 2005 the Group in cooperation with the West Midlands Police

and the Airport Company set up BAESS – the “Birmingham

Aviation Enthusiasts Security Scheme” – at BHX which is

designed to help aviation enthusiasts continue to enjoy their hobby

in these challenging times and at the same time help the Airport

Police ensure BHX remains safe and secure.
.

2007 saw the launch of BAEG’s “Midlands Photo Blog”

at - http://baeg.blogspot.com/ where member’s photos

record the daily movements at BHX and other local airfields.
.
In 2008 the Group launched its “Say Yes” campaign in support

of BHX’s proposed Runway Extension which was supported by

a www site at - http://rx-at-bhx-baeg.blogspot.com/

As of February 2009 the group has 320 members, all aviation

enthusiasts who have either joined “BAEG” through the

sponsorship of existing members or via BAESS – the

“Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Security Scheme”

Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group

Promoting co-operation between Aviation Enthusiasts,
West Midlands Police and Birmingham International Airport

http://baeg.blogspot.com/

BHX Airport Forum 2009 - 1999 and all that!!

A look back at February 1999

- the month BAEG formed

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In February 1999 the main “based” operators at BHX were –
.
Airtours (AIH) operating Boeing 757’s and 767’s on IT flights – including

to Orlando Sanford
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Air UK (UK) operated BAe 146’s and Fokker 100’s to Amsterdam
.
Air 2000 (AMM) operated Airbus A321’a and Boeing 757’s on IT flights
.
British Airways (BA) operating Boeing 737-200’s and -300’s to wide

range of UK and European destinations. Brymon Dash 8’s operated the

Aberdeen service.
.
British Midland (BD) operating a Fokker 70/100 to Brussels
.
Britannia (BY) operated Boeing 757’s and 767’s on IT flights
.
Jersey European (JY) operated BAe 146’s, Friendship’s and a Short 360

to a range of UK and Irish destinations. They also operated the Air France

(AF) service to Paris CDG under a franchise agreement
.
Maersk Air (VB) flying as British Airways used Canadair CRJ’s and Boeing

737-500’s on UK and European routes with a Jetstream 41 serving Newcastle.
.
Monarch (MON) used an Airbus A321 on IT flights

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Visiting airlines included AB Airlines (7L) with a daily BAC 1-11 to Shannon,

Aer Lingus (EI) with Fokker 50’s and BAe 146’s to Cork and Dublin, Air Malta

(KM) with Boeing 737’s to Malta, American (AA) with a daily Boeing 767 to

Chicago, BASE (5E) with a twice daily Jetstream to Rotterdam, Continental

(CO) with a daily Boeing 757 to Newark, Crossair (LX) with Avro RJ85’s and

Saab 2000’s to Basle and Zurich, Cyprus (CY) with an Airbus A320 to Larnaca,

Love Air/Regional (VM) with a Jetstream to Caen, Lufthansa (LH) with

Avro RJ85, Canadair CRJ’s and Boeing 737’s to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich,

Kyrgyzstan (K2) operated a weekly Tupolev 154 to Bishkek, Manx (JE) with

BAe ATP’s to the isle of Man, Ryanair (FR) with Boeing 737’s to Dublin,

Sabena (SN) Avro RJ 85’s to Brussels and Turkmenistan (AKH) served

Ashgabat with Boeing 757’s.
.
IT flights were also operated by Air Europa (AEA), Flying Colours (FCL),

Futura (FUA) and Spanair (JKK).
.
On the freight side TNT operated a twice nightly service routing Belfast-BHX

-Liege while executive aircraft operating on behalf of BMW were regular

visitors to the western (Elmdon) apron

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Thursday 18th February 1999 – the log!

Highlights –

OE-ILB Electra Amerer Air – for TNT

- from Belfast/to Liege and return
G-TNTL BAe 146QT TNT/Air Foyle

- from Belfast/to Liege and return
N327AA Boeing 767-200 American -

- from/to Chicago
N513MW Gulfstream 5 BMW

- from/to Munich
D-CMTM Dornier 328 MTM Aviation – for BMW

- from/to Munich
G-OBWB BAC 1-11 British World

- from/to Exeter
G-MCEA Boeing 757 Airtours

- to/from Arrecife
HB-IZD Saab 2000 Crossair

- from/to Zurich
VP-BNZ Gulfstream 3

- from Northolt
EC-GXR Boeing 737-400 Futura

- from/to Arrecife
.

More memories from 1999 in due course!!

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Photos: Mike Hollick

BAEG Autumn Forum and BAESS Briefing

The BAEG Autumn Forum and BAESS Briefing was held at

BHX on Monday 10 November 2008

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The Forum was opened by Inspector Williams of the Airport Police

Unit who reviewed the success of BAESS - the Birmingham Aviation

Enthusiasts Security Scheme - and the important role it played in

helping Police the airport

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PC Fran George of the Manpads Neighbourhood Policing team,

supported by PC Tracey Crebbin and PC Dave Townsend, then

briefed everyone on the role the local aviation enthusiast could

play in airport security and in particular detecting "manpads"....

.

.... just in case anyone was in doubt what a SAM missile launcher
looked like they had brought an example!

The Group watches a Video highlighting the threats posed by
SAM missiles. One of the actions that the Manpads team are
taking is establishing a "Community Engagement Register"
and details of this will appear here in due course
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Two Officers from the Airport Firearms unit then gave a firearms demo
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Joe Kelly, Director of the Airport Company, then joined the Forum

to review developments at the Airport since his last update back in

January 2008 - topics covered included the Runway extension

planning application, the new Ryanair new base, the impact of

the recession, business aviation facilities on the Elmdon site,

viewing facilities for enthusiasts, security barriers in front of the

terminal and those bus shelters!

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Thanks to PC Ian Drewitt for organising the presentations by his

colleagues from the Airport Police and to Joe Kelly for not only

agreeing to host the event but again updating the local enthusiast

community on all things BHX!!

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PC Ian Drewitt, the BAESS Liaison Off icier, with PC Fran George
on the Manpads Neighbourhood Policing team

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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
BAESS is a joint initiative of the West Midlands Police based at Birmingham
International Airport and the Birmingham Aviation Enthusiasts Group
and is sponsored by Birmingham International Airport Limited
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It has the following aims:
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+ The use of enthusiasts' knowledge of the aviation environment and their
observation skills to report any suspicious activity
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+ To promote responsible behaviour amongst enthusiasts, discouraging
the small minority that cause damage, obstructions etc
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+ To promote greater understanding of the enthusiast's cause and
consultation on enthusiasts' issues with both the West Midlands Police
and the Airport Company
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An ID badge is issued (free of charge) to all members of the "'BAESS" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++