Comments on: Backyard approaching lighting at Adelaide Airport

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:02:14 +0000

According to Wikimapia the installation at Modbury was a NDB (Non-directional beacon), callsign MBY.

http://wikimapia.org/9738066/Modbury-NDB-ID-MBY

It was removed from operational use in 26 May 2016 as part of Airservices Australia’s ‘Navigation Rationalisation Project’:

https://docplayer.net/44935638-Navigation-rationalisation-project.html

The project saw a swathe of ground-based navigation aids (NDBs, VORs and DMEs) switched off, with pilots switching to GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) for navigation.

https://australianaviation.com.au/2016/05/airservices-to-begin-turning-off-ground-based-navaids-from-may-26/

By: Malcolm Young

Malcolm Young — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 05:51:59 +0000

I’ve also driven around those sites at West Richmond where the approach lights are multiple times over the decades, and always been fascinated by them – especially how they’re in such bizarre places, like footpaths, between properties and in back yards.

As an aside, runway 23 used to have an outer marker (2 radio beacons) at a fenced- off field in Modbury (Smart Road). These towers were removed in either late 2018 or early 2019. They can still be viewed in google street view if you change the date to pre-July 2019: https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-34.8327716,138.6988205,3a,75y,27.7h,91.7t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sAc0dgvVtSlArYgOMLdvhVQ!2e0!5s20180501T000000!7i13312!8i6656

A nearby sidestreet was appropriately named “Radar St”.

By: Getting 'hugged to death' by Hacker News - Waking up in Geelong

Getting 'hugged to death' by Hacker News - Waking up in Geelong — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 05:04:06 +0000

[…] story starts when I published a piece on the backyard approaching lighting at Adelaide Airport to my […]

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Sat, 07 May 2022 11:56:52 +0000

In reply to Julian Sark.

Thanks!

I found some lights between houses for Düsseldorf runway 05R here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2761656,6.7451646,3a,75y,345.41h,101.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scqZYIDdBzSqqrfvhjk3iig!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

And in a paddock for 05L:

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.2799696,6.7405931,3a,37.6y,59.39h,92.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1shvgMUwAYNZrHLNerGAEcXQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

By: Julian Sark

Julian Sark — Sat, 07 May 2022 11:51:04 +0000

Interesting.

Btw, Düsseldorf Airport in Germany also has runway lights in residential areas.

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 03:53:07 +0000

In reply to Michael.

Nice find – there is also a set of Airservices Australia radio towers a little down the road.

https://www.google.com/maps/@-41.5608128,147.2258463,3a,75y,280.98h,94.25t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1soFB47jP3J2FD7qj9OwSJhA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

By: Marcus Wong

Marcus Wong — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 03:44:36 +0000

In reply to Kurt. I'm guessing Adelaide Airport has bought houses along the runway corridor whenever they come up for sale, ready for any future upgrade to the runway approach lights.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:54:31 +0000

The master plan map you’ve included seems to indicate the airport also owns the three properties on Trennery and Ralph with lights on the land in addition to the four empty properties pointed out. If that’s the case, it’s interesting those houses have not also been razed.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:28:03 +0000

Vividly remember as a kid in the early-mid 80’s being shown these by my parents when we lived there, went for a drive thru there soon after installation, amazed that these could be put in front and back yards. I seem to remember they were installed to allow international flights to go into Adelaide. Moved to Launceston in late 90’s, Launceston airport approach from the south has similar, 2 lights in the back yard of a property at 437 Evandale Rd and thru the paddocks