Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Woohoo.. just came back from a fantastic day. Pieter pm me last Nov. as there will be an A.Net meet today, with some "special tours" organized. Boy was I happy I joined in. This really shows what a spotter friendly airport this is. So first things first - I went to the SR technich's parking lot to shoot my host for the day... as he arrives in ZRH, LX737 arr.8.50am. Pieter is that you? nope, false alarm. Winter laa... still dark in the morning, cannot see properly... but the sun seems to be coming out... looks like its going to be a good day Ah.. here he is.. Pieter, where are you sitting laa... So I went to the terminal, met with Pieter and went straight to the spectators terrace on Dock B. Then Pieter whipped out his enhanced equipment.. bigger and longer than his old one... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 The Dock B terrace is quite good for spotting as you get quite close to some of the gates... but it is cold! You get to see some rnwy16 departures: and rnwy 28 departures too: Planes come quite close as they park at their gates: Edelweiss A330: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 At 11am, all the A.Net people (I think about 40 people from all over Europe and even a few americans) gathered and got onto a specially arranged bus that took us to Dock E. Passengers usually take an underground shuttle train to Dock E. But we got to drive around in this bus, through a tunnel that goes under rnwy28. There is also a viewing deck there, but it is only open in the summer. Today, the nice folks at ZRH opened it just for us! View from Dock E - control tower is far in the background, and behind it is dock B. Check out the solar panels on the roof. While you can only see a bit of rnwy28 from dock B, from dock E, you can see the whole of runway 16 and 28. So there is quite a lot of movement to see. We were also given a tourguide who was very knowledgeable. He told us that 43% of ZRH passengers use public transportation to get to/from airport... there are something like 290 trains a day passing through the rail station at ZRH. He was also obviously a boeing lover... "airbuses are slower than boeing.. that's why airbus usually needs to check if there was a birdstrike from behind" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 After an hour on Dock E, we got back into the bus and drove around a bit. It was quite interesting to see that there is something like a forest between rnwy14 and 16. We drove quite close to all the aircrafts so it was really . Then we stopped at a spectators spot at the rnwy 16/28 crossing. Here you get very close to the action! Forgot your scanner? They provide those speakers in the middle of the picture, tuned into the tower! The runway is probably less than 100 metres away. So as a heavy rotates in front of us, the following wind can really knock you down. This is a 70mm shot. No cropping! Usually this spot is only open in the summer (in winter it is sundays only), and usually, the bus will allow you to be there for only 10 minutes to catch one heavy departing. But today, we were there for almost one hour! (Most of us would stay there the whole day if they would let us!) Coming up next - behind the scenes at the airport - bagage distribution system, plus a walk around an A340 !! Stay tuned!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yuh Loh 0 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Nice photos Azman, lucky you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Norman 1 Report post Posted January 21, 2006 Waaa.... nose shot at 70mm When is this going to happen in KLIA Azman, Very nice shots.... especially Pieter's IndiaXray... you caught the strobe Thanks for sharing... I'm sure more will come.. Pieter.... cute bazooka there ... waiting for your ZRH's catch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seth K 3 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Can't wait for the pix of baggage distribution system, I never see what happen to the baggage after check in , may be if one of fellow MW can make a visit to KLIA and make a trip down there, and of course write a trip report here after that Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TK 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Azman and Pieter in ZRH...best nye.. weather was a lot better now, nice one from ZRH. need to request ZRH for Kicap and Milo delivery soon!!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Azahan 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 one good thing i cant have in klia is a clear view of the pilots in the cockpit. those are really good crystal clear picture u have there. standing almost next to runway......it is a NO NO in KLIA.... azman,pieter....please upload more. wonder if u have a clearest nose shot. i would be happy to see the pilots...... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sing Yew 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Wow. Looking forward to more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Min Chun 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 (edited) Spotters in ZRH r so lucky! Edited January 22, 2006 by Min Chun Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan Kong 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 really nice stuffs! Cool pictures from Zurich! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 After all that bussing around and lunch, we started the airport tour in the afternoon. We were split into 2 groups, luckily Pieter tarik me into the smaller group so we have more freedom to take pictures... First... walk past all the airline counters, including Pieter's favourite airline (sorrylah, a bit blur because I did not want to flash the ladies) . This is inside the main departure hall.. airy, spacious, gives a calm feeling, much like KLIA... Anyone with kids can use the nursery. Those little aeroplanes look tempting! And then we went into the restricted area... and what's this... a 340 crew bunk? Yes, but it is one of the portable ones... just put it into the cargo hold if you need it! More coming! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Guys, wait ahh... I will post more aircraft pics once I finished this mini trip report of ZRH "behind the scenes"... So, we went down down into the baggage sorting area. Under the main terminal, it starts with the conveyor belt, and sorting them into trays (taken at ISO 1600) Then when it has been decided which dock the bags must go to, the tray will flip and the bag will fall into the specific tray for the specific dock. (ISO 800) Then, like a rollercoaster, the bags are sent at high speed.. no more conveyor belts, but a magnetic system... kinda like Maglev I suppose. The blue boxes on the tracks are magnets. Each bag is in one tray and it shoots away at 36km/h...(ISO 800) This is the tunnel to Dock E... 800 meters long, and by the end of it, the bags will be travelling at 70km/h.... . The right side, bags are going to Dock E for departures, and left side, bags are going back to the terminal for arrivals. In the caged area, is the high speed maglev thing. I suppose if that breaks down, they can use the backup conveyor belt on the bottom. I think in KLIA they use only the slow conveyor belt (so called world's longest), plus no cage so anyone can steal your stuff (ISO 400) Finally the bags slow down and go back onto conveyor belts and are dumped at the appropriate gate. There a person will load the bags onto the trolleys to be pulled to the aircraft. The bar codes will also bring out a red signal on the screen if you try to load the wrong bags or before the plane is ready.... interesting... . The machines and the workers are quite rough with our bags. I quote our tourguide, "now you see that you should not buy expensive luggage, but at the same time, remember that the luggage handler carries an average of 13,000kgs of luggage in an average shift". Holy crap... no wonder they don't bother being gentle.... This tiny ah-moi is also helping out.. (ISO 800) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TK 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 thats under ZRH ground.... as long as my bag sampai (arrive) ok laaaa.... you go kitchen or not... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Walter Sim 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 did you go to the catering thingy? I'm longing for something like these to happen in KUL! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Denny Yen 0 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Is this a regular tour or specially arranged tour? I'm surprised to see they even allowed photography in baggage handling area. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Ah.. here he is.. Pieter, where are you sitting laa... Sitting on seat 15F, so about the 10th window from the REAR...love the white wingtip-strobe light do you see me waving ? Home flight was on another A319 (great aircraft to fly in, btw) HB-IPR and seat 3A for your information: airtime AMS-ZRH 1 hour 1 minute. and for ZRH-AMS 1 hour 10 minutes. Denny, this was a SPECIAL organized tour by Swissport; normally, not possible...the Unique Airport bus-tours normally operate a different schedule and time, so even that bus-tour (to the photo-spot) was a special arranged one...you can check a full report of yesterday by different spotters on the following link: http://www.airliners.net/discussions/gener...d.main/2562827/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
T Azahan 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 oh gosh!! u guys went everywhere...inside, outside, upper floor and underground....... thanx for the ahmoi pictures especially the one in the underground..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Guys, Here's another link, which very well represents the fabulous event, both Azman and myself joined in ZRH on 21jan06...enjoy !!!: http://www.orselina.net/gallery/anetzhr0106 On which pictures do you recognize me, guys ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 When we came out of the baggage sorting area, we saw right in front of us... HB-JMB... Swiss A340-313x.... Look at the wheel dimensions... 1400/530R23 My car uses 225/45R17. So I guess there is a difference... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Of course, then we went in. The aircraft was all cleaned up and ready for A.nutters to mess up. Main Economy cabin. Yeah... a bit dull... The smaller economy cabin in front of the main one. If you ever fly Swiss in Economy, ask for seats in rows 20 something which are in this cabin. Usually some are reserved for elite members but if you ask you might get it. And of course, where would I find Pieter... in 1st class! Yeap, 2A. You can see the legroom and the Ottoman which can be electronically moved toward you. Same as the new MH I suppose. But I have to say, these are the same seats as in the retired MD-11s, but in MD-11, the cabin was bigger! After that, I was spent! Slowly we made our way back to the main terminal... said goodbye... slowly made my way back home. Pieter, thank you very very much for taking me along!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Ok, back to spotting pics - you guys wanna see pilots flying the plane? Here are some, plus some Azahan style pics: this one @300mm this one @210mm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pieter C. 5 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Pieter, thank you very very much for taking me along!!! No problem, bro, I knew you would love it... and.............both we did: it was great fun to go to these off-limit spots and even see the A340 (HB-JMB) before her departure Really love your wide-angle shots of her !!! ofcourse, I had to try the First Class seat (no possibility at KLM anymore ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Azman MN 1 Report post Posted January 22, 2006 Hi Pieter, so where are your pics? Can't wait to see them! TK, Walter, No this time we did not go to the catering thing... would be an idea for next time. But I know the answer already... taraakk kicap over there laa... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
