As so often happens, I found this completely by chance. I'd heard stories of about a dozen TBM's currently working in Hong Kong and was spending the day trying to track them down.
I suppose it was a success of sorts, even if I was a little early to that particular particular party.
To be honest my first guess was a water tower with maybe a beacon of sorts on top for the old airport just next door. Seeing as the gate was currently open I went for a closer look, which didn't seem to bother the men in vans too much. After a little while one of them came to see what I was up to and I managed to learn that this was something to do with the old airport, was decommissioned government property and that they definitely weren't going to let me inside.
A little research came up with the following -
Airport Surface Detection System — Model X (ASDE-X) is a surveillance system using radar, multilateration and satellite technology that allows air traffic controllers to track surface movement of aircraft and vehicles. It was developed to help reduce critical Category A and B runway incursions.
The ASDE-X alerts air traffic controllers of potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways. By collecting data from a variety of sensors, ASDE-X is able to track non-transponder equipped and transponder equipped vehicles and aircraft on the airport movement area.
It would make sense that what was ranked sixth in the list of worlds most dangerous airports would have everything possible in the way of safety systems.
I've no idea when this was built and I can't find any information about it at all, but I guess it's safe to say it stopped being used in 1998 when the airport closed.
It's pretty empty inside and all the tasty stuff has long since been stripped out, but it's not like anything I've seen before and there is a certain derpy charm to the interior. It's quite the Tardis too, it felt much bigger than it looked from the outside.
Downstairs has a variety of now empty rooms with the only thing of real interest being a decent sized Cummins turbo genny set.
The power is still on and the lights all worked, as did the lift, which I decided against using..
The stairs are worth taking the time to walk up anyway.
Once you're up to the top there's a few more rooms and a bit more stuff to see, but sadly none of the transmitting gear that would have once been there.
There is still a fairly hefty fire suppression system though, which looked to still be charged. I didn't bother checking that too closely either.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/tZZXrE]
Ta.[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/upcTwD][/url]I suppose it was a success of sorts, even if I was a little early to that particular particular party.
To be honest my first guess was a water tower with maybe a beacon of sorts on top for the old airport just next door. Seeing as the gate was currently open I went for a closer look, which didn't seem to bother the men in vans too much. After a little while one of them came to see what I was up to and I managed to learn that this was something to do with the old airport, was decommissioned government property and that they definitely weren't going to let me inside.
A little research came up with the following -
Airport Surface Detection System — Model X (ASDE-X) is a surveillance system using radar, multilateration and satellite technology that allows air traffic controllers to track surface movement of aircraft and vehicles. It was developed to help reduce critical Category A and B runway incursions.
The ASDE-X alerts air traffic controllers of potential runway conflicts by providing detailed coverage of movement on runways and taxiways. By collecting data from a variety of sensors, ASDE-X is able to track non-transponder equipped and transponder equipped vehicles and aircraft on the airport movement area.
It would make sense that what was ranked sixth in the list of worlds most dangerous airports would have everything possible in the way of safety systems.
I've no idea when this was built and I can't find any information about it at all, but I guess it's safe to say it stopped being used in 1998 when the airport closed.
It's pretty empty inside and all the tasty stuff has long since been stripped out, but it's not like anything I've seen before and there is a certain derpy charm to the interior. It's quite the Tardis too, it felt much bigger than it looked from the outside.
Downstairs has a variety of now empty rooms with the only thing of real interest being a decent sized Cummins turbo genny set.
The power is still on and the lights all worked, as did the lift, which I decided against using..
The stairs are worth taking the time to walk up anyway.
Once you're up to the top there's a few more rooms and a bit more stuff to see, but sadly none of the transmitting gear that would have once been there.
There is still a fairly hefty fire suppression system though, which looked to still be charged. I didn't bother checking that too closely either.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/tZZXrE]
Ta.[/url]
Have rock climbed near this tower too and remember thinking how low the planes were at the time.
