Before the third runway and IT expansion

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Seeing Grahame's photos in response to UTA Caravelles and retro-schemes prompted me to search my photos from around that time.

These photos were taken from the southern viewing area of the International Terminal before expansion. Date is April 1990 (Anzac Day to be exact).

As you can see you got great views of Botany Bay, Kurnell etc.

The thing I noticed most is the complete absence of runway/taxiway marker boards to indicate taxiway and runway intersections.
Nigel C may be able to indicate when these actually started to be installed and interestingly a/c would have needed ATC/Ground instructions to get around (as well as their airport maps). Presume you were around in those days Nigel, if not, someone else may have the info.

[Dan Collins]

Excellent photos! I love looking back at these 'retro' shots.

Peter, your photos are taken in the same month my family and I landed in Australia immigrating from the UK. We flew aboard a Cathay Pacific B747-400. Can't remember the exact date off the top of my head, but it would've been early April 1990

Cheers,

Dan

[Geoff W]

Good stuff Peter.

Thanks,

Kind regards,

Geoff

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Nice coincidence Dan. Cathay only had a few 400's in 1990 and one of their first 'in service' was in fact Air NZ ZK-NBS seen at Singapore in March 1990.

[Nigel C]

Originally Posted by Peter Agatsiotis

Nigel C may be able to indicate when these actually started to be installed and interestingly a/c would have needed ATC/Ground instructions to get around (as well as their airport maps). Presume you were around in those days Nigel, if not, someone else may have the info.

With all due respect Peter, I was still in high school back then. When I started here in 1999 MAG signs were all over the place.
Airport lighting guys are in tonight...I'll see what they can tell me.

Cheers

[James Smith]

Peter, on the airbands instructions were given by ATC to international aircraft something along the lines of, "Speedbird 9 cross runway 25, then take the first taxiway left and next right for bay 7." A lot different now with more taxiways especially on the western side and all the lego block signs.

[Nigel C]

The plot thickens Peter...I've asked some of our old timers, and they can't remember exactly when the MAGs came about. There is a thought that they might have been introduced around the time of the third runway being built, but no-one on tonight can be sure.

I have one ace up the sleeve, but I probably won't get an answer til after I get back to work tomorrow night.

Cheers

Update: one of the lighting guys had a trawl through some archived stuff...it appears the first illuminated information signs were installed around early-mid '95, although apparently there are still some illuminated mandatory signs on the field from as far back as '87. My 'ace up the sleeve' will have more definate info.

[Mark Fahey]

And it looks like the VOR has moved since the photos were taken. In the photos it seems west of RWY16 and now the VOR is on the eastern side on the runway.

Cheers,
Mark

[Peter Agatsiotis]

Oops, sorry Nigel didn't realise I was going back 20 years, my apologies.
I'm the ancient one!!

Info is great but what does MAG stand for?

[Paul Hunter]

Peter,

Movement Area Guidance (MAG).

I seem to remember alot being installed from 1996 when I started in Sydney Tower.

Regards.