Christchurch Airport History

[Aviator 1]

Have any of your read the updated version of with great foresight the history of Christchurch airport. Also where are the good plane spotting locations at the only one I know is at the end of the strip and near the fire station.

[Ian Warren]

I had both copies of "With Great Foresite , History of Christchurch International Airport" by Tony Phillips the early copy I gave to another and kept the updated one, it is well worth its $65.00 Dollars, as for plane spotting, many other spotting locations in the area , even the Canterbury Aero Club has brilliant views from the club-room balcony.

[Lindstrim]

By the fire station is one, corner of Pound Rd and Ryans Rd by the VOR if it's a 02 day or further up Pounds Rd.

Also just North of the NZ post building you can walk towards the perimeter fence and I think there's a slight mound there, I've seen people there and have seen their work on FB. (Orchard Rd and Harewood Rd corner)

[Ian Warren]

Added to the the road that cuts just in front runway 29 on the Northwest days, that is a brilliant spot but requires that weather.

[Aviator 1]

Cheers I will take a look next time I do know where that road is. I forgot about the aero club it has been along time since I was in there last when I flew in a Cessna,

[LMerraine]

I remember many many years ago filming planes from the aeroclub balconey.

When the a340 made it's first flight into ChCh, one of the instructors took me out to the grass runway to film it.

I questioned him, in this world of terrorism, would it be ok, he replied - if you were a terrorist you would of thrown a mattress over the barbed fence at 29 and jumped across that way.

I do miss the roof viewing that ChCh had. I work under the flight path near Perth airport now, and get some awesome views of the planes landing, as well as been to the dedicated viewing area at the end of the runway.

[Ian Warren]

That is the one thing with the design of the airport was it could have been built with an external roof, even a small charge to go to take photo's or just be there for the day .. but nah !

[Aviator 1]

Its just the way of the times with health and safety and security. it does spoil it for the rest of us but really its all about moving passengers from A to B.

[Ian Warren]

That is all a load of baloney regard to H &S and security and it is made up out fear by liberals, lot can say its just the money thing - , the book "With Great Foresight" was correct for those 50 years and even before the terminal of the 1960s was put in, today , If the book was re-writen be called "Lack of any Foresight" , the old excuse, never had a problem with the locals and it is easy to make it safe as it use to be, trouble is with security , it today's standard to let down by a lack of hard time ... other countries around the world do have setups for interested public.