YVR Opens new Public Observation Area, images and report & video

[Henry Tenby]

First, here is my video from yesterday's ceremony (I had some colour
problems with my video cam):
http://www.airlinetv.net/view_video....4fa21c4840dff0

And here is the written report...

YVR Opens Public Observation Area, by Henry Tenby

On Thursday, July 16, 2009, YVRs much anticipated new public observation
area was officially opened before a crowd of invited VIPs, the media, and
other invited guests.

During the past 30 years, the primary purpose of the international airport
has been to safely facilitate passenger flow and cover costs. There has
been little to no emphasis placed on providing public space that allows
passengers to visually connect with the workings of the airport with
unobstructed and expansive views of the aircraft and airfield.

Larry Berg, YVRs President and CEO, presented an opening speech in which
he explained, When the airport opened back in the 1930s, the community
often came out to look at airplanes. And in those days, they had a very
close connection with the airport and the aviation world. Vancouver
Airport has of course gone through extensive changes during the past 80
years, and For the past 30 years, there has not been an opportunity for
the public to connect in a visual manner with what is happening on airside.
Members of the public have asked us many times over the years, those who
remember bringing their children out here to the public areas, if we could
see a way to create another public viewing area. Starting today, they can.

Anne Murray, YVRs VP Community and Environmental Affairs added This is
really a community space, and we think this space speaks for itself which
is surely does.

The new observation area is massive, and will surely attract aviation fans
from all over the world as the view and facilities are nothing short of
impressive. Facing west, the massive enclosed room is accessed via
escalators from the pre-security food court in the public area of the
Domestic Terminal, and is open 24H with no admission fee.

The 500 square metre space features 42 metres of non-tinted floor to
ceiling windows with unobstructed elevated views out over the apron between
the Domestic Terminals B and C gates towards the Strait of Georgia.
Aircraft landing and departing on the west end of runway 08/26 are visible,
as are all aircraft that taxi from the International Terminal for departure
on the south runway.

The new space features interactive exhibits that illustrate the different
operational aspects of the airport, as well as explaining about airports
history, and future growth. A large scale model of the airfield provides a
birds eye perspective of the airport, and many information panels and
interactive kiosks are geared to educating children about the workings of
airplanes and airports, ATC, and the points of interest around the
airfield.

Several months ago YVR sent out a survey asking what people would like to
see in the new observation area. This was circulated widely among the local
aviation enthusiast community, and other than the facility being indoors,
it seems YVR has listened carefully and done a fantastic job in making this
amazing space enthusiast friendly. A fantastic space like this will surely
inspire young people to the pastimes and careers of the aviation world. The
windows have minimal tinting without panels and beams to get in the way,
thus the facility is as good as it can be for aviation photography and
videography. As the observation area faces west, mornings are best for
filming.

When the existing main terminal was opened in Vancouver in 1968, the
facility had an open air observation deck, which was closed in the mid 70s
due to security concerns. In the decades that followed, most international
airports (with exception to Japan, Zurich, Geneva, Frankfurt, Manchester
and a few others) closed their observation decks and airfield viewing
facilities.

Kudos to YVR for bucking the trend and being the only airport in North
America to open a brand new airfield viewing facility of this magnitude in
the past several decades. And for that, the local community and the
international aviation enthusiast community is greatly impressed.
Congratulations to forward thinking YVR in making this dream a reality, and
their extremely generous gift to the community at large. Hopefully other
airports will follow suite.

by Henry Tenby, webmaster
www.AirlineHobby.com DVDs
www.AirlineTV.net
www.AirlineFan.com
www.HenryTenby.com