There are buses, and then there is the biggest Airbus, image by Airside Tarmac Tours
Something unique is about to disappear at Sydney Airport. There are only 13 weeks left before Airside Tarmac Tours closes on June 30, on the expiry of its commercial licence with the airport’s owners.
No-where else in the world can the public access a major gateway airport on a sight seeing excursion into areas you will never see by being inside a terminal, or an airliner.
No-where else can you watch close up the landing and takeoff of everything from pocket rocket corporate jets to something as big as an A380, and Sydney is currently a major centre for the operations of the giant Airbus, alongside Dubai, Singapore and London Heathrow.
The 'Wunala Dreaming' Qantas 747-400 taking off, up close
So why is it ending? A Sydney Airport spokesman expressed admiration for the tours but said that in the post 9/11 world the agreement it made with the company would not have happened.
The tours have been appreciated by school groups and social clubs but from a security perspective, any non-essential vehicles entering the airside area involve an element of risk. The benefits that the tours provide must be balanced with the risks that are created.
Sydney Airport knows that this will be a disappointment for some people, but it is a fact that the aviation security environment has changed.
The operation was founded by Peter Bamford in the late ’90s and sold to the current owner Frank Monardo in 2003.
“I’ve always been an aviation enthusiast” Monardo says. “Not a true spotter, like those who know each jet’s complete history, but we are passionate about aviation and airliners and like to share our enthusiasm with people and show them the complete workings of the airport, and how it is the heart that keeps business activity circulating in Sydney.”
In truth, there are two iconic Sydney tours that give people a dramatic insight into the city. The harbour bridge climb, and the Airside Tarmac Tours. After June 30, there will only be one.
6 Comments
Done the tour and would recommend it to anyone interested in aviation.
Shame. But how has it worked 9 years ‘post sept 11′ without incident and now needs to stop?
What about Adelaide Airport ?… before, you could park your car close up to the perimeter fence. Before it was ‘redecorated’ there was a promise that the same thing would exist after Adelaide was redone… didn’t happen. The ‘car stop’ was gone.
I remember being hauled up by security in 2003, with this, 9-11 terrorist clap trap. “We saw you driving around”. I was showing someone(10:30PM) who was catching a flight on a regional airline, the next morning… don’t send the taxi driver here, go here etc, pulled up at the viewing platform INSIDE the airport and the excuse was 9-11. It was parroting rubbish. Even the security bloke was grinning as he said it. It makes you wonder why some of us end up turning to conspiracy theories.
I remember when all you needed to get access to the entire tarmac was a 6 inch yellow circle of contact on your bumper. Straight through the gate at the bottom of Robey Street. The only interaction with security was a cheery wave. Oh for a simpler world.