Exploring the Abandoned British Airways Flight Training Centre (Part 1)

In this video, we begin our exploration of the massive British Airways Flight Training Centre, near Heathrow Airport, London. We head to the roof to get a sunrise overview of the entire site, before venturing through the never-ending offices, lecture theatre, canteen, mock planes for demonstrations and remaining motion simulators.
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• Exploring an Abandoned...
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[@michael-johncherrington9283]

I was cabin crew for BA. I did my annual recurrent training there. So strange to see it abandoned. Lots of memories.

[@user-mn1rj9ve6y]

Lol same I’m the king of england

[@aborted4196]

You guys old like boomers 😂

[@OfficialSamuelC]

@@user-mn1rj9ve6y Idiot? You realise thousands of people were trained here every year.

[@pricelessppp]

What did it look like when it was open? What year did the facility close?

[@callumdean]

@@user-mn1rj9ve6y I mean thats invalid cause we dont have a king for 1, also, prince philip is dead so I think you lost that one

[@rickmunderhill]

I was there in the late 1960s. Learnt to fly the Boeing 707 and the 747. Also in 1969 learnt how to navigate using the stars with a sextant. Primary trans oceanic navigation at the time !!!!! I was also a training Captain in the 1990s

[@bbhybris]

Wow cool history! Did you fly the 707 commercially? I've never heard of navigating with stars!

[@Dreadpirateflappy]

@@bbhybris "I've never heard of navigating with stars" just in relation to planes or in general? It was the primary way to navigate on ships etc hundreds of years ago. Even now large ships carry Sextants as modern instruments can fail.

[@BarryPaffey]

I spent the first two years of my working life in that building training to be an aircraft engineer. Brings back fond memories, although it's very sad to see its pitiful state now.

[@aviatorboss9978]

lmao,"15 state of the art flight sims ranging from 747s to jumbo jets"

[@siesaw1]

noticed that too lol

[@ak02.9]

I started laughing my ass off 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@viktorekman863]

Bruh🤦‍♂️

[@benderandownz]

*Confused Pikachu face* insert Spiderman meme

[@sujaykumar]

Exactly, what I was about to comment. 🤣

[@sterni70]

16:50 that's so called 'Flat Panel Trainers'. Normally there are pictures of the different cockpit sections on this panels, where pilots train their cockpit procedures before they go to the full flight simulator. The panel above the 2 seats you're wondering about depicts the overhead panel.

[@claire4234]

I started my training here when I joined as ground staff in 2004 and then came back 8 years as a trainer. So many memories from that canteen so strange to see it abandoned.

[@russwilliamson968]

Sad to see Cranebank like this I've been taken on visits with my Dad since I was about 4 or 5 . We had the BOAC staff's kids Christmas parties in the Canteen every year .My dad was a Flight Engineer instructor there from Jan 1958 to late 1991 . He also took cabin crew on Emergency Procedures (SEP) We used to go down the escape slides which they had in there . He was qualified on Britannias, Comet 4s,707s, Vickers VC10s, early Seattle 747 course 1969 , Conversion courses on the 757 . I remember being in the Computer room for the 747 Sims (IIRC) in the 1970s a big room full of what looked like reel to reel tape players and had frictionless air (cushion) bearings . Could probably do it all with a tablet now . Thanks for putting this up . The visits fed my interest and joined the RAF and ended up working on Britannias,VC10s and after I came out Comet 4s,707s,747s,737,s727,757,767s, and about another 20 types .

[@Thematt11]

I know a lot of sim cockpit builders that would give anything to get the internal framework and remaining controls from that cockpit.

[@CLHall]

I was thinking the same thing. Surely some savy simmer would go in there to yoink some of the parts

[@Unknown_Ooh]

@@CLHall or someone steal and sell them

[@martinklamper2695]

I would take the jokes, have to try to find out how 😁

[@YEETMAN-dt9mb]

Hopefully they still work. Maybe they can be rewired. Honestly I would just snag a yoke or thrust levers and put them on my wall.

[@GuySwarbrick]

From 747s to Jumbo Jets... That's quite the range...

[@Pipsicle330]

Another cracking video. Still getting over the shock of seeing inside the Flagship Centre that I used to work in!

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Those "strange desks" are Paper Tigers... An industry term used for a practice device for pilots to practice checklists on.

[@optical_ideas]

wow, this cost millions and is now just like "who cares about the money", but nature is happy to claim this back. great explore, thanks

[@mnecraftnoobpvp6313]

Yeah but it would’ve cost more to get rid of all the asbestos apparently

[@catherineburton195]

The library wasn’t full of books. It was the department which updated the documents, manuals and charts on the aircraft. It was largely made redundant when we went to electronic flight bags.

[@daleferrier3050]

I think another reason that sim was left is likely because it’s of a 737-400 which is an older type which BA no longer operate, and perhaps they couldn’t get a buyer for it.

[@simonrobinson5863]

Having spent many an hour in both the 737-400 Sim's there, as a outside contractor, it is very sad to see the building in this state. Cannot wait to see part 2

[@BordersBoundaries]

I trained crew there a few years until we moved to the new building. So sad to see how it's been left! Many a happy day spent in those rooms 😭

[@helenearley]

So many fond memories, I did my initial cabin crew training there in 1996, and was there every year for recurrent training until 2007.

[@johnniec9097]

OMG, now retired I’ve come across your video after 25 years service at BA . I did my welcome to BA cabin crew career in that lecture hall followed by 20 years of recurrent yearly training ! Such memories but also sad to see the state of the establishment. The 747 mock up was called the City of Elgin .

[@danielpeti3885]

I went for an interview there for a cabin crew position. Never got the job at the end but this video brought back some good old memories. Thank you

[@michael42158]

You guys are recording living history that no one else is providing. . You cannot get this anywhere else. Brilliant work.

[@dannyseville2543]

Ranging from 747s to jumbo jets? 🤣 Awesome video though and I am surprised you found some of the sim chassis.

[@scottirvine121]

Ha yes I commented the same lol

[@MrTimothyCase]

yeah haha like 747's are the only jets that were really called 'Jumbo' so I can assume now that they only had 747's and nothing else lol

[@Essex_Rs]

I was coming to comment this 747 to jumbo jets 🤣

[@Darklord-iq3ov]

Yes I was confused

[@anasmaaz5731]

To be fair, you can call any large aircraft a jumbo jet. For instance, the A380 is referred to as the Super Jumbo.

[@jimking3288]

I like your videos because they have a good combination of visual appreciation of what you guys are seeing and your commentary is very factual with no foul language or "paranormal" stunts !! My encouragement is to keep the bar where you have set it already !!

[@jeffcicale]

Well done mate, looking forward to next week's video!

[@geoffsmith7596]

It's amazing how you find the places you explore and this one is incredible.....captivating viewing from start to finish and thank you for sharing.

[@jackwoods3664]

Awesome! Thanks for capturing

[@nataliesmith303]

This place is great even with the damage. Can’t wait for part 2 guys 😀

[@christopherprice721]

Great video guys looking forward to part 2.amazing too see how much stuff is left behind and wasted all that furniture .

[@nikkitronic80]

This place is featured on A Very British Airline. British Airlines Behind the Scenes. Episode one is on KZbin. Very interesting to see how dilapidated it has become in just six years. Nature takes over where humans leave off. Great vid guys! Thanks

[@ninerlives]

The pilots do not go from “0 flight time” when they start training in the sim. You don’t apply to work at an airline without an already extensive flight portfolio. The sims are for flight training on that particular model of aircraft as well as procedures and airline specific procedures, etc. you need at least a commercial pilot license with 1,500 hours in most cases to even get an interview at an airline. Also 747’s are jumbo jets.

[@mrfrenzy.]

Actually in Europe there are not as many small commercial operators like in the states so we don't have the 1500 hours rule, there simply would not be any pilots that qualify. British Airways, Lufthansa, Ryanair and many others have cadet programs that train pilots from scratch.

[@mikef5762]

This is such an excellent video. Really great watching the exploration around the site.

[@dsds3968]

I had a look round here recently. Security out front at the gate all day but I wasn't disturbed. The whole place stinks of damp plaster and mould. There's some really good, photogenic scenes in the building connected to the simulators. There's also running water coming through the ceilings in the main block and the flat roofs were a few inches deep in water. I went round to talk to security after my visit and they said it was going to be demolished.

[@matthewcochrane3750]

Yasssss I got mentioned. Made my day, thanks guys

[@TheA91rod]

I did my cabin crew training here , so sad to see it all destroyed! I am surprised they haven’t knocked it down yet ! The new training centre is far far better though :)

[@niallmcardle7]

I just...love this channel. You really set the scene. 🙌

[@CharlieGolfAviation]

Wow, fascinating place! Great explore.

[@oldmanc2]

I used to eat in that canteen - we'd come over from the East Base to see Cabin Crew (we were young lads) Terribly sad to see it all in this condition

[@deltaindiabravo]

wow .. wow .. wow 🙌🤩; only by chance I stumbled upon this channel, and can't stop watching your Videos ever since. I have no clue how to make videos but here I can say "Great content, guys". The background info, the narration, the Excitement while filming. 🙏 And of course, as an Hobby aviator, this ONE here (and Part 2) really got me. 🤣 .. keep doing what you're doing. 🙏

[@izzydmg5750]

‘Braincrank’ is looking very sorry for itself. Great vid and many memories for all of us who worked there. Thanks for posting.

[@kiatsumi7355]

It's so disappointing to see the simulator demolished like that. If it was in a better state I'd definitely want to try and sit in it. You never get to touch things like that as a mere aviation fan.

[@mstrmren]

You can book simulator flights, although they can be very expensive

[@cheboyard]

@@mstrmren how?

[@mstrmren]

@@cheboyard In Germany there is one company that I know, it's called Aerotask, and at Frankfurt Airport you can book a Simulator Flight aswell I think. I don't know if there is something like that in the US or UK

[@Fynnley525]

@@mstrmren I know there is at least one in the UK and there is one in the Netherlands but I havent checked much about the US, i think i remember seeing one in Florida?

[@eagleaviator252]

@@Fynnley525 there's two in SoCal

[@whatdidujustcallme]

They could’ve re-developed it into a museum that holds old pieces of airplanes, educative information on how staff and pilots are trained and practically the history of travel and flying in the UK as a whole. It feels like such a waste rotting away like that, although, it must’ve been a pretty insightful tour to walk through, thanks for showing us❤️

[@mnecraftnoobpvp6313]

Yeah but like they said it was shut because of asbestos found everywhere in it

[@gezzy8095]

Great video! I’m totally against copper theft as it’s always the final straw for a building once removed, it usually can’t be saved after such destruction, mostly because when they remove the copper they leave water pouring into the foundations and soaking the architecture of which was the only reason for saving the building in the first place. Let the buildings decay in peace until someone can hopefully save them. Looking forward to the next video! 👍😁

[@Urbandoned]

We agree, the destruction taking place badly affects the structure in order to get the wires. It matters more when it is a dated building, but I guess you could say every building is special to someone. Thanks for the response :)

[@lorddarlo6194]

There was on old pub down the road from my old primary school and it was closed and apparently had been stripped of copper all the plaster decorations and Interior were stripped I think or were stripped before it was demolished 5 years after I finished Primary School nearly at the end of Secondary which was a few years ago. It had Sky judging by the Satilette dishes I saw looked fairly big had a big garden from What I could see was overgrown was right by the Canal so possibly had potential to be a decent pub. The Interior might have been ok but the Cellar Ruined or the Cellar was fine but the Boiler and or Water Tank, Toilets, Pipes, Wires, Fixtures and Fittings Ruined it. It had several Danager keep out signs and in it's last year or two was set on fire reveling the Interior as the front bay window was destroyed I expected to see stuff like maybe what it used to look like looked Bare Brick inside so was very much Ruined. I had a weird dream that was reopen and that I had been to the Hospital down the road from it and me and my dad went in it was fairly busy and was being refurbished/Rebuilt as we were in the bar and the room opposite was having stuff done. Strange Dream/Maybe Immgination running wild

[@Mat0305]

I can understand why the thieves target these abandoned buildings, it usually be a gang of guys carrying sharp tools so a lone security guard won't tackle them and don't think police are going to prioritise an abandoned buildings it's easy takings. Having worked as an electrical engineer when the buildings are closed it would probably be better to go in and strip all the services out and cap the incoming pipes and cables. It deters metal thieves and prevents damage from flooding. Also chances are if property developer takes over the building there would be a good chance of them needing to strip out or redo the services anyway.

[@k1lmo]

I’m glad you didn’t fly your drone in such close proximity to the airport

[@lightning1975]

Epic explore! Very interesting video! 👍🇬🇧

[@kpurban1310]

Very nicely done.

[@kylestrain3231]

This is a great video, being a fan of aviation. This is an amazing find.

[@halcyondaystunes]

Loving your channel mate. Working my way through your videos. I'm a fan of the Proper People channel and I can see an influence in your videos. Hope that's OK to mention 😉 and even though I don't need subtitles, it's always good to have them. That reminds me of Shiey, which is another compliment 😁😁 keep up the great work and content 👍🏻

[@ForgottenBuildings]

Nice video! You always kind of forgot the existence of training centers like these and just how big they'd have to be. Looking forward to the next one!

[@ronb6688]

Great video !

[@thebagfather4633]

nice one do find these places a bit spooky ..keep them coming

[@KingOfBongoo]

Crazy thinking about how my Mum was trained right where you walked... Your best video so far 100% 🙌

[@vindruendk6278]

“A380 mockup” that triggers every single avgeeks brain and want them to watch more! Nice vid

[@Nae395]

Fascinating!

[@tamarahenderson5241]

Love this

[@paulanderson7796]

I was lucky enough to get a visit here in early 1982 at the age of 11. Next door neighbour was a maintenance technician on the simulators themselves. There were many defunct simulators there and a new BAe 1-11 simulator which I had the fortune to fly. It was a full motion sim and, although visuals were nighttime only on account of limited computing power of the era, it did have a full cross cockpit collimated display. You look out of the window and into the distance, the virtual image being focused at infinity by a huge collimating morror. This is completely different from looking at a screen, no matter how far away the screen is.

[@sarahlouisegillard1082]

It’s really sad. I did my cabin crew Training here. Was amazing in it’s Time.

[@alanschwartz1157]

All I can say is WOW! Outstanding video work. It's amazing the damage both water and human that has occurred in 6 years. I made a mistake and watched episode 2 before I watched 1. Oh well, it was fascinating either way. I'd love to have one or two of those Business Class seat with the wrap round and reclining seats. The ONLY problem is that they run on 28VDC. I did a lot of flying in military aircraft (50 y.o. KC-135's) as a military pax.

[@brsrc759]

Epic!

[@paulhancock9952]

Looking forward to part 2

[@Fran_SG]

Cool!!

[@curbyourshi1056]

Very good score that lads. Next time - wellies!

[@edcameron]

This facility featured in a 2014 BBC documentary about British Airways called A very British airline.

[@neilt]

More than 20 years ago, I knew a BA employee who arranged for a group of us to visit there and play in one of the simulators. It's one of the coolest things I've done. I did a take off and landing from San Francisco - they wouldn't let my fly under the Golden Gate Bridge sadly!

[@Jellytotkid123]

Loved this explore! So sad to see the building in the state that it’s in. Makes me so cross when you see all the furniture and other items which could be recycled or used as part of history/memorabilia. Would have thought BA would have had this demolished by now. Looking forward to Part 2! Well done.

[@matthew1hyndman]

The simulator you showed that was left was for an model of plane, the Boeing 737-400 that BA retired from its fleet in 2015. It probably made no sense to move an similar for an jet type BA were no longer flying, and no longer needed to train its pilots on.

[@jpeg42069]

What a unique location!

[@video99couk]

6:39 It's a U-matic format video recorder, model VO-5630 or similar. Multi-standard I believe so it can play tapes from anywhere in the world. Probably low band only, it looks to be in good condition. Probably worth about £100 on eBay. 19:45 Sony VO-9600P high band Umatic video recorder, worth about £200.

[@fabricartUK]

Oh the memories..... BRACE BRACE. BRACE BRACE.. UNFASTEN YOUR SEATBELT AND COME THIS WAY.... WAIT WAIT SLIDE INFLATING. I bet those words are still echoing around there!

[@tr_nt.]

Epic video, I'd really want to go to this place at some point! Just to let you know, Jumbo Jets are the same as Boeng 747s, they were recentley withdrawn.

[@anthonyglee1710]

Copper wiring is a huge commodity. Any smart organisation would sell for recycling. I did this at my last company - legitimately. Recycling companies will buy most metals, computer circuit boards, PCs monitors, server room equipment, office chairs and furniture. The surprising difference is that we’d strip the building back to the concrete structure. Floors, ceilings, A/C & power out. I’m surprised BA left so much hardware and paperwork. Not good.

[@philipmcdonagh1094]

Finally a place pigeons can fell at home. Great explore, don't forget to leave seats and trays in an upright position.

[@elizabethspedding1975]

It looks a wonderful place to train.✈️✈️✈️

[@christopherbatty3837]

17:20 "CARREL #25" this is a procedural trainer" - basic sim. allowing practise of sequences of checks/emergencies/non-normal ops. Hence overhead panel which would illuminate replicating cockpit roof display. Hence the "two seats" you mention. Astonished at the scale of waste.

[@wynhughes9072]

Cranebank..attended there for various aero engine courses during my BOAC apprenticeship 1971/72

[@stendecstretcher5678]

I went on a visit there in the early 2000 s very sad to see it in that state now.

[@penjani]

dope vid

[@harryslovelyworld7325]

I trained there many years ago. So strange to see it like this

[@lekoman]

The last 737-400 (which that sim was for) left the BA fleet in 2015. You'd generally expect them to be able to upgrade the sim for a more modern version of the 737, though, since the basic layout of the cockpit has stayed essentially the same. You'd just need to swap in some new modules to represent the newer avionics, and upgrade the control computer to mimic the minor differences in handling. Then again, those projectors up top look like they're pretty old, too, and they're super expensive to replace... Who knows, maybe it was just worn out.

[@pezzermra]

There wouls also be a room somewhere o where they train to restrain a passenger if needed. BRILL video

[@cjmillsnun]

17:02 They would stick mockups of flight decks on those weird structures. They were used for pilot training.

[@bengtkarlsson9747]

21.20 flowerfield blomsterang boeing. Well that was cool. Had no idea that a tail painting was made from Sweden 😎

[@ADuckOnQuack97]

I think I remember this place being featured in a show about the airline and it’s FAs. , pilots and ops centre

[@danielsgrunge]

05:24 the BA Concorde on display in the distance, beautiful

[@caviwhy]

19:42 they didn't bring it to the new facility because there would be no use, British airways retired the 737 (which the simulator is a 737-400) the same year they abandoned the building, probably before that happened.

[@TheFatNumpty]

Pretty sure the 737 simulator you showed was the one I flew as part of an experience day I did back in 2015, I literally must have been one of the last people top fly it. As we got shown into the building they were already in the process of decommissioning it, the floor tiles were all up and there were cables strewn everywhere. Sad that it got left there!

[@vindruendk6278]

19:48 the reason is probably because it’s an old “737-400” and they they were retired from BA’s flight a long time ago!! They are also very old, the -400

[@michaelfittonsfxprops3844]

It wasnt just BA, alot of airlines used this faility as part of thier SEP training. I have photos of our crew in this place in 2002 which seem so recent and familiar, seeing this was a shock which makes me feel about 320 years old.

[@pilotgrrl1]

It's a shame that such a piece of history was left to rot like that! I would have been interested in taking a tour, and I'm sure others would have wanted to do the same. The campus could have been a great museum. I disagree with people vandalizing buildings to rip out copper wire. Buildings should be dismantled whenever possible, and all recyclable/reusable components should be salvaged. The sale of those components could cover any additional costs involved in dismantling the building as opposed to demolishing it.

[@02Dobby]

I'd be more concerned with the sheer amount of asbestos debris left behind by thieves ripping the wiring out (you can see the smashed up firebreaks, usually AIB). God knows how much exposure they've had ripping it out let alone walking around/disturbing it.

[@hotcols1171]

Looks like its directly fed the art and design of Portal 2!

[@NakulDalakoti]

Of course... BA abandoned the 737-400 simulator as they don't fly this type any more.

[@bruceaisher]

Great video lads. Crazy how much is left there. You'd think stuff like kitchen equipment etc would be just taken to the new site. It's crazy those sims are just left there. Wondering if the missing parts inside is because they took them out to reuse them in the new SIM?

[@nickroberts3658]

It's possible but the 737-400 type it's based on is really old tech nowadays...

[@manufan2007]

Another brilliant video. Please may I ask what the background music played around 4:30 is?

[@giuseppebosa257]

salve signori .non potete immaginare quanto vi ringrazio per questo video ;sapete ,io ci sono stato tanti anni fa' con il mio vicino di casa lui e un pilota e un istrttore di volo e mi ha portato li a me per il mio compleanno perche io facevo lavori a casa sua senza farlo pagare e un mio vicino e amico e lui un giorno mi ha portato per ringraziarmi di tutto.abitavamo a londra all'epoca lui adesso non pilota piu e anziano, ho riconosciuto il simulatore erano gli anni 90 si re il 1997 per esattezza che riocordi mi sono commosso al filmato .vi ringrazio tantissimo per averlo condiviso.

[@hdns6678]

I see why it hasn't been demolished it probably would be quite expensive with the size and the fact it has asbestos. It's also amazing what type of furniture is left I thought the filing cabinets would be taken to the new site.

[@spruceg00se]

“Drone problems” Was your drone location locked and prevented from flying near an airport?

[@interceptor001]

That beauty in the background at 05:21....

[@ChristinaGXL]

Oh my gosh I really hope someone saved the BA Training Umatic tapes :o

[@sammydingdong4540]

Amazing video I can't believe the lack of security here some mad guy could mount a surface to air missile on the roof and cause all sorts of mayhem.

[@rundattmedia2106]

Yeah coz most people wake up and decide to launch a surface to air missile from a roof 😂

[@scottirvine121]

@@rundattmedia2106 he has a point though given it’s proximity to Heathrow and the number of planes above it

[@Avgeek1564]

@@scottirvine121 and people trespassing on such a site, might give those people ideas.

[@curiousmatt]

News flash: there are plenty of public-accessible areas right by airports, "some mad guy" wouldn't need to go to the bother of breaking in to a facility like this. Stop being sensationalist.

[@rundattmedia2106]

@@scottirvine121 more chance of getting hit by a flying plane than it happening though. Lived in London for 36 years, no one's launched a SAM as of yet.

[@jatoboi4777]

those copper theifts hit the most devious lick

[@MrChriswo29]

I was at heathrow airport 12 years ago. I had no idea this place existed. As for the copper theivies question, I know I’m too late. But I know it’s wrong to steal whatever the reason. It’s nice to know the problem exists in other places, no only here in the states.

[@jimmyelliott7473]

Well I see you got in the same way as the secret vault got in. he made several visits to that place to explore it