Plane spotters assemble
Dublin Airport has announced that a planning application for a brand new plane spotting facility has been lodged.
The facility is set to be constructed on the popular plane-spotting area known as “The Mound” on the Old Airport Road.
For years, people have travelled up to The Mound from near and far to watch planes take off and land on the south runway of the airport.
The new facility will have a dedicated car park with 22 parking spaces, bike parking, and an elevated covered platform with seating and lighting.
In November last year, DAA (operators of Dublin Airport) hinted that they were “exploring potential options” around the beloved area.
Great news for plane-spotters! Dublin Airport has lodged a planning application to create a new dedicated viewing area beside our South Runway. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/yGafJOKAz6
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) June 11, 2024
Dublin Airport lodge planning application for plane-spotting facility
In a statement to JOE on Tuesday afternoon, Graeme McQueen, media relations manager of DAA said: “Dublin Airport has today submitted a planning application to create a new dedicated viewing area for the public to watch planes take off and land on the airport’s runways.
“The proposed Aircraft Observation Facility will be located on the site of the current informal airport viewing point on Old Airport Road, locally known as “The Mound”. The site is fully owned by Dublin Airport.
“The facility will provide a comfortable and safe space for the community to view aircraft movements, with a clear view of the south runway (10R/28L) and the cross-wind runway (16/34) at Dublin Airport.
“Facilities include a dedicated car park with 22 parking spaces (including two spaces for people with reduced mobility and two dedicated family spaces), bike parking, and an elevated covered platform with seating. The facility will be fully lit, with power provided by solar panels located on the site.”
Gary McLean, Managing Director of Dublin Airport, added: “Aircraft observation facilities are a feature of airports around the world.
“As well as providing a plane-spotting platform, the facilities also create an interface between the airport and the local community, helping aviation enthusiasts to engage with the airport by observing aircraft movements and airport operations.
“This location has been an informal ‘plane-spotting’ area over the past 40 years and we think it’s time to put a more formal facility in place.
“It’s a rite of passage for kids in Dublin to be taken to ‘The Mound’ to watch the planes landing and taking off at the airport.
“This new facility would make it safer and more enjoyable for users and we think it’s a facility that the local community will enjoy.”
Header image via /DublinAirport/X this article originally appeared on Joe.ie and was written by Simon Kelly.
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