Radar Field

[Beau Chenery]

Hi Guys
Just wondering if the Radar Field in Sydney has opened again?

Cheers
Beau

[Nigel C]

It's still a construction zone, and I believe that it's going to get a whole lot busier in there soon (if it hasn't already...I'm still on holidays so I can't confirm).

I think it would be best to avoid it.

[Micheil Keegan]

Any word of special concessions for Sunday morning?

Micheil

[Nigel C]

As I said in the previous post I'm still on holidays, so I don't know what's planned nor what's been happening in that part of the world for the past 2 weeks.

Cheers

[Gareth Forwood]

This may be a stupid question, but how do you get to the radar field? Is it the area to the left of the M5 just before you go into the RWY tunnel westbound?

[Nigel C]

That's it. Easiest way is to follow the Gate 16 signage (visible from any direction near the Foreshore Rd, GHD intersection).

Just be aware that there may be parking restrictions around that area.

[Beau Chenery]

thanks for the info lads

[Tony G]

Any word of special concessions for Sunday morning?

Micheil


I am keen to go on Sunday Morning if you like Micheil, or anyone else. Please let me know. With the earlier sun rises, you can get some great shots from about 0630am. Oh how could i forget the A380, that is a great place for a photo :)

[Gareth Forwood]

Thanks for the help there. I will definitely be there on Sunday morning - sunrise is 5:46am, so I will try to get there around 6ish. Hope to meet some of you there!!

[Tony G]

Thanks for the help there. I will definitely be there on Sunday morning - sunrise is 5:46am, so I will try to get there around 6ish. Hope to meet some of you there!!

I'll be aiming for about the same time. Hope to see you there Beau and meet some members there.

[Steve C]

Are you folks planning on hitting the radar field? Is it open again? It definitely would be the best spot that time of the morning?

Steve

[Sarmad Al-Khozaie]

I will be trying my luck there first since Nig is unable to provide in-site enjoying a much needed annual leave :P..... if not then tower mound will be a winner :)

[Raymond Rowe]

For any photo's the radar field is the ultimate.There will be some magic shots taken there on sunday morning when the A380 arrives especially if the dirt mounds are still there.

[Nigel C]

I presume you guys are expecting a 34L arrival?

How does the Radar field go for 16R action?

[Steve C]

I presume you guys are expecting a 34L arrival?

How does the Radar field go for 16R action?

OK for rotations and statics, not so good for landings. QANTAS drive is best for landings, or perhaps the obs deck or container terminal, but at that time of morning the light is no good from the latter two due to strong backlight.

I am assuming 34L for a no of reasons. Noise, and the A380 can then taxi to Hanger 96 with a minimum of taxiing.


Steve

[Mark T]

I think, given the weather forecast for Sunday, that it may be a 16R arrival.

I departed Sydney a week or so ago and the dirt mounds were still there, so a greta place for photography with ladders not needed.

Cheers
Mark

[Nigel C]

The A380 can't taxi to Hangar 96 due to insufficient clearances. Dom-1 is only a Code E taxilane. The aircraft will have to be shut down short of the entrance, and then towed to the Hangar.

In terms of noise, the A380 is rather quiet compared to most other jet types that use Sydney.

Weather forecast at this stage is for SW winds, so probably expect a 16R arrival.

[Steve C]

That's where ATIS will come in handy!

Steve

[Carl F]

Hi All,

I will try and make it there, if I can hopefully I will meet some of you.

So what is the go? Qantas drive for 16R arrival and the radar field for 34L?

Cheers
Carl

[Gareth Forwood]

So what is the go? Qantas drive for 16R arrival and the radar field for 34L?

That's pretty much my plan. hopefully it will be 34L tho!!

[Beau Chenery]

Tony,

Unfortunately I live in BrisVegas although will be down in Sydney rather soon I imagine as I have to visit the inlaws..

Cheers
Beau

[Tony G]

Tony,

Unfortunately I live in BrisVegas although will be down in Sydney rather soon I imagine as I have to visit the inlaws..

Cheers
Beau

No worries mate.

BrisVegas...oh well i guess some people have to populate the other parts of Australia:p.
Being a combination of A380 and Qantas should be here on the tarmac when you make your way down:o.

Hopefully is does a good service for Qantas, They need a break and some 747-8:D.

[Gareth Forwood]

I've never been to the radar field, so I had a quick look around the area today - the only way I could see to access it is by walking along the M5 and then across the field. This route, however, involves walking through a whole lot of very tall grass - snakes anyone :eek: ?? Is there any other way to get to the mound there?

[Brenden S]

shouldn't be any snakes etc. No one has ever seen one in the radar field.

[Greg McDonald]

shouldn't be any snakes etc. No one has ever seen one in the radar field.

And lived to tell the tale......:D

[Paul Hunter]

We've had a red bellied black snake in the control tower carpark sighted about 2 weeks ago, so they are about.

Use caution.

Regards.

[James Smith]

Yips. First there were snakes in the plane, now there could be snakes in the control tower. Watch out Paul! :eek:

[Beau Chenery]

Still a construction site?

[Raymond Rowe]

Hopefully accessable for the spotting weekend.

[Nigel C]

It is, and will be for some time.

Don't expect easy access.

[Ian Knight]

Are there any updates on the Radar field and if it's accessable, or what "no easy access" means?

[Kurt A]

'No easy access' means that the only real access into the Radar Field is through the Gate of a Construction Site. Whereby this is technically trespassing!!

Whilst the area currently lacks sign's similar to 'No Entry' or 'Construction Site' or 'Authorised Vehicles Only', common sense tells me it's certainly not a general public "Spotting Area" as such.

I visited the area last weekend for a short period of time to assess its viability, however I do not recommend the visit. And yes, snakes could very well be a problem considering the long overgrown grass on the hill beyond the Construction Site.

The Spotting Weekend for example, will not promote the area and therefore recommends the group sticks together at the Mound in the Morning and then the 34L Beach Car Park in the afternoon.

[KrishnaM]

Hi is there any update on this I had a friend go out there last week and said it was open again..

Can some one please confirm if you can get out to the Radar mound..

[Gareth Forwood]

Yes it is possible to get there via the construction zone (at least it was a couple of weeks ago), but according to the AFP it is private property and you may be asked/told to leave. Also, ensure mobile phones are off as you are quite close to the ILS equipment (this is what I've been told, it's not first hand) and it can evidently interfere.

[Lee G]

Can't wait for Nige to fire up on this thread.:D

[Grahame Hutchison]

Can't wait for an aerial photograph of the Radar Field from Nigel.

[Lee G]

Haaaa Haaa Haaaa ! Nice one Grahame!:D

[Nigel C]

I'd suggest you all refer to Kurts post #32. Nothing has changed.

Just for you Lee...;)

There are signs at the start of the road off Foreshore Drive that say it's a restricted parking area. One of these days there'll be a spotters car get towed for illegally parking and there'll be a great big whinge on this forum from the fool who parked there complaining that they've had to pay a fine to get their car back, all the while claiming innocence (more likely arrogance) about the fact that they were there without authority and that 'I didn't know I couldn't park here'.

Yes it is possible to get there via the construction zone
That's right. It's a construction zone. Don't enter!:rolleyes:
You wouldn't go just go driving onto the Desalination plant construction site to take photos of aircraft on approach, so why do it anywhere else where it's obvious and common sense you shouldn't enter?:confused:

according to the AFP it is private property
Bingo! So best to stay out.

The bottom line is, the area is earmarked for future developments (possibly new corporate apron) and is currently being used for already active construction projects. It also has equipment and facilities that I'm sure the owners wouldn't want unwanted 'guests' hanging around.
Personally I can't see this area ever being opened up like it was in years gone past, so you're best avoiding it in case you or your car is towed away.


Grahame, I'm yet to see a rainbow at this particular location on my shift, so I strongly suggest you see Google maps for the aerial photograph. It may be a couple of years old, but you can still see it's a construction compound in there.

[KrishnaM]

thanks...

[Lee G]

SOMETIMES not even billionaires get their way.

Take Lang Walker, the property mogul whose plans for a 23-metre-high hangar to house two large corporate jets at Sydney Airport have been knocked back.

The Federal Government's air traffic controller, Airservices Australia, has ruled that the proposed hangar - about the size of the buildings used by Qantas for maintenance on its passenger jets near the domestic terminal - could interfere with navigation equipment.

Mr Walker, the 12th richest Australian and who has been chartering corporate jets since selling his Falcon 900 in 2007, had wanted to operate the hangar as a ''commercial operation'', leasing space to businessmen, including the shopping-centre billionaire Frank Lowy.

The property developer believes Sydney Airport is dogged by a lack of private hangars for corporate jets. This has become more apparent since the Lowys - who own two Global Express jets, a Challenger 604 and an ultra-long-range Bombardier Global Express - had to tear down their hangar more than a year ago to make room for the double-decker A380 superjumbos.

The hangar had been proposed for the southern side of the east-west runway, adjacent to General Holmes Drive between the airport's fire station and the control tower.

The site is one of the most critical parts of the airport because it is close to navigation equipment.

It is also near where the controversial $200 million shopping and cinema complex scuttled by the Federal Government in 2006 was to be built.

The Herald understands the proposal had been going backwards and forwards between Sydney Airport and AirServices Australia for months.

But AirServices Australia rejected the proposal because the hangar could interfere with navigation equipment such as the airport's radar and equipment which allows incoming aircraft to measure how far they are from the runways.

''The proposal in the current form has been assessed by Airservices as having an adverse impact on navigation aids, including our precision runway monitor,'' a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Mr Walker said the airport needed more private hangar space and the businessman was ''very keen'' to discuss alternative sites.

''At this point the application is dead because Airservices knocked it back. [But] there does seem to be a need for more hangar facilities out at the airport,'' he said.

http://business.smh.com.au/business/private-hangar-plans-dont-fly-20090816-embk.html

Maybe we can give Mr Walker some support - if he puts up a spotters lounge on the rooftop. :D