Incredible day out AIRSIDE at London Gatwick (Airfield Operations behind the scenes)

[@LeeShand]

Fun fact. When that Tower had been built, I was the fist civilian to ever have a visit it and an airfield tour. I was about 15'ish and wanted to be an ATC so I wrote to a guy called Brian Grinsted (I think) who was the Chief ATC officer? Or Airport Ops? He invited me and my family up. I'm now in my fifties :) Nice to see this. I never made made it as an ATC but my passion for aviation has always been strong.

[@BeanzAviation3967]

Awesome stuff!!

[@RetroAnts]

Cool!

[@mattvjmeasures]

That's fantastic! I was born and lived in Crawley for about 35 years. Gatwick airport was very much a part of my life, and it feels like home whenever I land there.

[@jon4]

It's fascinating to see how much coordination is involved in airfield operations beyond just air traffic control. It makes you appreciate the unsung heroes on the ground who keep everything running smoothly.

[@jamessmitka8066]

How incredibly accommodating these important employees of the airport were for all of us viewers of Flightradar24! One can sit at an airport with an aviation band radio and enjoy watching plane after plane but there is NO way to get as close as Gabriel did to video arriving and departing aircraft. Hats off to all of the people that don’t get enough credit for all they do for the traveling public that keep things smooth and SAFE! Thanks - Jim

[@briancattle669]

I’ve been a Gatwick based pilot for many years and this film was a great insight into what’s happening around me every day. Great to see all the different perspectives. Thanks. I also know what she means about the marshalling on the 140s-the first time I went on the 140s, both of us were wondering what the plan was! 😂

[@rupertgale537]

This film is so professional. National Geographic/Discovery should be calling...

[@danecowan678]

2:13 that Tui bounce 😂

[@pilot7u5h36]

I was gonna say that. 🤣

[@AustraliaDoesntExist]

lol

[@jo_magpie]

Should have done a go around, maybe?

[@danecowan678]

@@jo_magpie hmm probably not. If it was in the touchdown zone and everything else was stabilised then just have to suck up the harder landing. Plus they might have been about to deploy the reversers. And under no circumstances can you go around after reversers have been deployed

[@some1super451]

litterally the worst clip to include lol

[@nickgiles7568]

Brilliant. More of this please.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

Fascinating documentary. Just what KZbin was made for...10/10.

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Thanks!

[@fletcho909]

Last year I moved from Australia to spend a year in the UK. I worked casually as a Baggage Handler at LGW for a number of months before moving back home. It was so nice to see the roads I used to drive on to drop bags out to all the aircraft. The equipment I used to drive. Very nostalgic despite it only being 4 months since I left England.

[@terryjuggins1362]

Was so nice. brings back a lot of memories for me I worked there as a security patrol officer for 32 years. brilliant

[@mwintersteinsmith]

Very, very interesting. Thank you. What an excellent video. It’s very well put together video, and gives us an informative glimpse behind the scenes. I use London Gatwick very regularly and want to thank everyone who keeps us and the airport safe. Thank you for sharing 👍😎

[@LondonGatwickAirport]

🙏

[@k34xy4wmnb]

Every airport thankfully has such a department. It’s interesting to see the difference from airport to airport. At AMS, the group regarding Airside Ops is split in to three groups, Kieviet (Bird, wildlife and runway inspection), Charlie’s (Marshalling), Maintenance (Guides in addition to ensuring that the equipment is placed in case of a disturbance or maintenance) and Patrol (it’s in the name) All sub groups are allowed to guide and are also part of the emergency teams. Separate are the emergency services. During an emergency if need be collaboration does happen. The roles do not exchange and require different qualifications. Excluding the patrol, there are 5 groups with about 15 people per group excluding team managers and supervisors (1 resp 2 per group).

[@peterwoods3623]

Many thanks from Sydney, Australia. It's very comforting to know that all these folk are there and looking after us.

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Absolutely!

[@owsamadi]

Amazing video. I believe the majority of these people's hard work goes unnoticed by regular travelers. Kudos to all of them for the great work they do and their eagerness to explain in this video about it. Thanks!

[@simonyapp]

Fantastic film with seriously cool dedicated staff, thank you 🎉

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ozzie-sk9dh]

I like the bird scarer. Cool job.

[@garypocklington3396]

Excellent video giving an insight into how Gatwick operates. Wonderful departing shot of the A380 at the end!

[@jasonday7378]

What a fascinating video. Don’t always fly from Gatwick and Stansted is my local but have flown from there a good few times lovely airport in my opinion

[@nonamernobrainer846]

Thank you so much for these fascinating insights! Straight to the point and no TV show drama, like those British shows about airports' behind the scenes. Very informative and excellently put together 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@liebnhaider]

Gabe delivers as always! Great Video!

[@markonline1.]

Bought back some memories. I worked in airfield ops at Heathrow for 8 years and did some of my initial training at LGW when we were still all BAA. Now an Ops Manager in California where the airlines do their own marshalling. Shame as I miss it, I’m sometimes tempted to ask if I can dust off my bats and bring one in.

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

That’s interesting to hear! Yeah they should let you do some marshaling for sure! 😎

[@ad4mpoole]

Hi mark, do you know Kevin? My dad who worked at Heathrow airside ops for a number of years

[@markonline1.]

@@ad4mpoole If your dad was Kevin Poole, then yes I do. I was on the same watch as him 👍🏻

[@realitywinner7582]

Very enjoyable ,Great group of people ..thanks -from Ireland 🙂

[@jackharrison6771]

Excellent video and thanks all round. My late Brother was a fire fighter with the RAF Fire Section. Different firm bit same job? I got to sit in one of their trucks on a visit once.

[@davidsmith5009]

24:53 I always used to see that plane when on the runway and wondered what it was. Now I know 👍

[@ohheyitskevinc]

Ah, Crawley International! Nice video!

[@jimbo6059]

He he.

[@aarong9378]

Just brought up LGW on FlightRadar24 and I see 5 service vehicles. Nice seeing the airport from their perspective. Please make more of these videos!

[@Highervibesofficial]

this is mint !!! gatwick being my choice of airport this was fantastic

[@MarkUKInsects]

Nine too, Heathrow is nearer for me, but LGW is easier to get to, and its scale is more human.

[@martynbragg2286]

Very informative and a great bunch of guys and girls giving us the information.

[@MrJb1963]

Miles from London, that always makes me chuckle

[@claycarter3535]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video and seeing the operations of an airport. I'd love to see more ground operations from around the world, especially in the more unusual settings with challenging factors. Thanks for another great video log.

[@Michael-ru3rt]

Highly interesting, thanks a lot. I knew that things like stand allocation and movement area inspections are part of their duty. This video presented detailed insights to lesser known facts like the variety of equipment and procedures for fighting spills or chasing birds off. I guess these people have one of the more interesting jobs at the airport where no two days will be the same. Keep up the good work (applies to both the operations staff at airfields and Gabe Leigh as the producer of these videos!)

[@timmotel5804]

Good Day. When I was in the U.S. Air Force my job was power lineman and airfield power and lighting specialist. All those lights at night were mine. I loved my job. Thank You for an Excellent, informing video.

[@AbelinVegas]

More of this please. Thank you.

[@That_transportation_guy]

So cool to see the BAW 777-200 in the great festival of creativity livery, as I have seen it at YVR

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

It's really nice!

[@jimbo6059]

Its Probably doing the Gatwick to Vancouver route.

[@jetcrazy7773]

Super interesting documentery.Thanks a lot.

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kiwiwhispers]

Super interesting. Love this kind of content. Thanks so much!

[@ricardosam8050]

This awesome I do love aviation , if I can visit departures n landing viewing I be there every week watching , but where I live now three hours drive 😮😊. Thanks 4 sharing

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@paulharvey7223]

Excellent vid on behind the scenes at Gatwick ! 👌🏻👍🏻 I was lucky to have a similar tour/visit on a Safa check while working in aviation safety😊

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Nice one!

[@rmd4209]

Amazing insight into the airside operations of London Gatwick. Keep it up!! 😍😍😍

[@gatwickspotteregkk4585]

Haha Ben! He showed me around Gatwick honestly he’s the best !

[@Scott.Marshall]

I can remember being diverted to Gatwick when a passenger on board had a heart attack the flight was from daliman to Manchester but had to land ASAP and I can remember the plane went down soo fast and broke so hard it was so exiting as a kid. Ambulance and fire engines chased us down the runway and we then had to wait 30 mins for the brakes to cool down.

[@NintendoFanboy21]

thank you so much for this vid! I aspire to work at Gatwick soon! 👀👀

[@hectorpilot1]

Wonderful video folks...more like this please!

[@ricka006]

Had an interview for the same role down in Southampton Airport but when I could of got the job I had already accepted another role. Gutted was an understatement.

[@paulfreeman5756]

Wow appreciate you sharing your moment with us I liked n shared with 3 people I know

[@aidenisgoat1]

My local, always wanted to see behind the scenes here. Thanks

[@Suursaadik]

2:10 - Behold, a mighty landing! 😮

[@wrcfan2024]

HELLO FROM LATVIA COME TO RIGA AIR BALTIC IS GROWING

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

We’ve been there before but maybe a revisit is in order!

[@WilsonEduardoHerreraAngarita]

What a nice video. Greetings from Bogota, Colombia 🇨🇴

[@randyburton]

Tha for the video I work at a airport and is always cool to go in the runway

[@RoDuSu]

Great video. Thanks Gabe.

[@TonyTheYouTuba]

Thank you, as an avgeek I found this super interesting. They might want to change their met office PIN if that’s important though 😂

[@duncanrogers5762]

very good duncan

[@user-un4ov2rk4c]

This is actually so cool 👊🏾

[@tomarmstrong1281]

A glorious day for glider flying.

[@deesalkelly3069]

hands on stirring wheel....btw great video

[@robmurphy1558]

Great video, more of this please 😊

[@unit3400]

Brilliant…

[@hanostrydom3859]

By the way. My dad from South African airways gave me the two Remove Before flight keychains you gave him. He’s the captain who asked you, when he was doing the walking around, to not film him. Just so that you remember who it was. So I just wanted to say thanks for the key chains!!😊

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Hey nice, glad you got the keychains and are enjoying them!

[@Icecoldgaming-vlogs]

Great video well done at 20 mins you can see the whiteboard with the Met office pin number by the way which anybody can use because he’s not blurred it if they want to login

[@k3dono]

Respect, Sir 🙌🏾🤍

[@NigelFortune]

FYI Gatwick is nearly 28 miles south of London.

[@jimbo6059]

Charing cross maybe, but only around 14 miles max from the London borough of Croydon,

[@cpallot1]

Very cool video, thank you!! :)

[@sam.v4]

this is cool

[@AviationADC]

2:12 that's crazy bounce

[@MarkUKInsects]

I took part in a wildlife survey at Gatwick a few years ago, really nice people, and an interesting site. I was doing insects, they don't upset the aircraft, but they may attract bird that do.

[@MarcLiberts]

Very cool - great video - thanks!

[@emercycrite]

Yay it’s Gabe the babe! ❤

[@LondonGatwickAirport]

♥

[@SkyPilotXSX]

The folks behind the wheels of those ground cruisers really ought to invest in autopilot because, let's face it, they're pulling off some serious multitasking without even touching the wheel!

[@jj__king__]

This is so good! This is content, amazing video, thank you Fr24

[@JenniferinIllinois]

I swear every time Gabe gets in a big truck, he becomes an 8 year old. Hehehe...

[@Flightradar24DotCom]

Yes!

[@RetroAnts]

​@@Flightradar24DotCom haha nice

[@lancebudd2006]

For an airport that’s not actually in London this is decent

[@212MPH]

Gatwick has 2 runways. Only 1 used.

[@nathannathan7976]

Brillliant video. Love LGW

[@Cupilot]

LGW is my happy place 😂

[@MegaThelegoshow]

Amazing work what date was you there as I was flying to EDI on the 02/05/24

[@TheTeessideTravellerUK]

Wow so cool - how did you pull this off?? !!

[@Unstoppable56678]

finally realised who was the weird guy filming outside when I looked out of the window of the plane

[@CEKUPALA]

Documentary about malaysia airport airfield operations

[@25k_jlv61]

2:11 ok that landing looked painful 😭

[@gh0st_twitch451]

@4:23 Was wondering if they were close to the north or south terminal. Definately can see the Bloc Hotel in that shot

[@trevor7016]

South Terminal. At that time they’ve just come off 08R at Mike 1.

[@bbt305]

Im a Heathrow guy but Im always flying in from the USA so yeah. (Miami-London British Airways A380 baby)

[@jamiesworld1690]

If u are doing airport operation next do Edinburgh or Glasgow

[@PortuguesePirate99]

Yep would love to see Edinburgh, ideally morning to afternoon when you see the American carriers and Qatar Airways arrive otherwise its just non-stop RyanAir and EasyJet which gets very boring haha

[@trevor7016]

The trouble is, is that there is so much going on in a day like this you really struggle to get it all in to a 30 min feature. The fact that there’s another video with just clips of aircraft from the day (showing all the different aircraft.) shows it’s a difficult task. Admittedly the first wave at Gatwick has the long hauls but the filming didn’t start till 9am We loved showing what we do and hoped it gave an idea of what goes in to keeping all safe on the airfield.

[@AlonsoRules]

Gatwick needs a second runway urgently

[@jimbo6059]

It may have the go ahead to use the Northern Runway as It may be moving the centre line 12 metres north to meet safety requirements. This will be takeoffs only though.

[@JacquesShotts-p8x]

Shemar Common

[@lloydbrock2711]

Great video........but Gatwick isn't "in London", it's flippin' miles away in West Sussex!

[@jimbo6059]

Only half an hour from central london by train though.

[@lloydbrock2711]

@@jimbo6059exactly…….lots and lots of miles away!

[@jimbo6059]

@@lloydbrock2711 only 10 minutes b6 train to east Croydon.

[@lloydbrock2711]

@@jimbo6059still not “in London”.

[@jimbo6059]

@@lloydbrock2711 So what. It is called London because of its convenience to London.

[@jumpingjeffflash9946]

I'd like a career in aviation when I retire from the fire department, I'd love to work for an airport fire department but it's a near impossible task. I tend to use Gatwick when I fly to London, i'm just used to the trains to get into where I stay and it's not a bad airport it seems. Danyell is quite fetching too!

[@DavidAviation-k2w]

how can you go there i want to

[@ryanessex7978]

Blondie 🔥

[@Osaruge]

Gud afternoon the graet Britain my greetings to you guys one luv

[@thomasreeves5580]

obviously

[@markpunt9638]

Absolutely fascinating - thank you. Just to clarify your geography, despite the name the airport is not in London. It is in Sussex. West Sussex.

[@jimbo6059]

Only just in Sussex and only a Sussex airport since 1974 boundary change.

[@jimbo6059]

And only 30 minutes from London bridge,

[@cR84au]

Any idea what the orange button was behind the vehicle steering wheels?

[@trevor7016]

It’s a microphone. You can press and hold it to talk on the radio rather than pick up the microphone that is down by the gearstick. . We don’t really use it tbh.

[@teddy_123.]

NICE

[@knivectsh]

This guy constantly looks high 😂

[@TheAviator808]

ok, give me this pass now please 😅🤩

[@Global_News_UK]

hall alot of air traffic...

[@antonkristiansen673]

Why do several Airlines fly both to Heathrow and Gatwick?

[@nathannathan7976]

Demand!

[@eurouc]

Stand? Do they mean Gate?

[@AntoniosSpiliotopoulos]

Yes, but they call it stand.

[@RetroAnts]

Gates have jetways, stands are just a parking spot where a stair truck is used