Spotting Trip to MAN

[Merlin]

Would anyone be interested in going over to Manchester for a day trip?

Probably wouldn't be until the New Year. I know that some of you made a trip earlier in the year but if I recall correctly it was a 2-day trip.

Hopefully the only costs would be the flight/parking.

Apparently Translink has a service to Dublin airport that runs throught the night, has anyone used it?

[Dave]

I'd possibly be up for it after the new year. The girlfriends staying with me until 8th January and as I'm already dragging her to Amsterdam for a day of spotting, I'm not sure she'd be up for a day at MAN so maybe when she heads back to Finland.
 
The bus operates from the gates of Europa's bus station (stations closed after midnight) every hour, on the hour. Costs around £18 I think. I use it often getting down to Dublin and is not usually too packed with people.
 
A day trip might be abit limiting at MAN as the south RWY ceases operations at 10.30, hence by the time your flight arrives in MAn, and you get to the spotting lcoation, you only have 1 to 2 hours left on the southside RWY.
 
The light at the Aviation viewing park isn't good until 4pm, by which time the sun's already setting.
 
The only thing I can think of is to walk under the tunnel of the south runway and go to the end of the northern runway and get shots like these... (All photos taken by the famous Jid Webb)
 
When RWY 5L is in use;
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6694280
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6691894
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6457543
 
Or when 23R is in use;
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6442088
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6441594
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6418106
 
Might as well post some of the shots you can expect to take on the south runway in the winter sunrise...
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6448271
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6450477
 
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6450620
 
I'm sure you'll agree, Jid has some stunning shots from around MAN.

[Merlin]

BMIBaby are currently offering return trips to Manchester for £10 each way, first week of August.

[Dave]

If anyone else is up for it, I might be up for a trip near the start of August, anything after the 5th.

[Angry Turnip]

Dave,how to you have time and money to do all these spotting trips?
I wish I had a job like yours!
 
 

[Dave]

Dave,how to you have time and money to do all these spotting trips?
I wish I had a job like yours!
 
 

Ohh trust me, you wouldn't  It's only a temporany job until I can find myself a proper job within the aviation industry (any idea's?), doing the odd nightshift. The only good thing about it is I can easily swap shifts with other people so I can clear gaps for these spotting trips and most other holidays The fact that I don't drink saves up the money I guess.

[Angry Turnip]

Job wise your best bet is to try Bombadier/Shorts or what ever you want to call them.
 
You try NATS and become an ATC-something I wish I had done,but my maths isn`t up to much.
My older sister is an accountant,so that used up all the maths braincells in our family;I think I got the left overs after my brother.   I get lost when I run out of fingers
 
You could also try some of the Ground Handling Agents-I worked for Servisair for 3years at BFS-very hard work,but good getting to work with aircraft.

[kingsavo]

I had my heart set on being an air traffic controller when I was in school but unfortunately NATS have very strict rules on eyesight. I think they had a limit of 3.0 correction factor on glasses or contact lenses or even laser eye surgery. My eyes are a shocking 5.75 and 3.5!