Because you could back then
In a scenario that’s inconceivable today, I am on the tarmac as a casual member of the public at Glasgow Airport, recording this Inex-Adria Aviopromet Douglas DC9 being prepared for a holiday flight to Dubrovnik in the old Yugoslavia. How come? My father had achieved high rank with the Waterguard division of HM Customs & Excise, and Glasgow Airport came under his purview. On this occasion, he brought along my mother as well as 22-years old Yours Truly to show us some of the work behind the scenes. I do recall that he checked beforehand if we could go on the tarmac, the nod was duly given, but otherwise it was a simple as that - no hi-viz jackets, hard hats, disclaimer forms, security vetting or anything else. What innocent times...
Inex-Adria Aviopromet survived the breakup of Yugoslavia, becoming Adria Airways, the flag carrier of Slovenia. It operated scheduled and charter services before filing for bankruptcy and ceasing operations in September 2019.
I must add that my own flying days were still some years into the future. I took my first flight in 1977, LHR-GLA on the old BA Shuttle. It was only from the 1980s that flying became a more regular experience. By the time I retired in mid-2015, I had reached BA Gold Card status.
August 1972
Zorki 4 camera
Agfa CT18 film.
Because you could back then
In a scenario that’s inconceivable today, I am on the tarmac as a casual member of the public at Glasgow Airport, recording this Inex-Adria Aviopromet Douglas DC9 being prepared for a holiday flight to Dubrovnik in the old Yugoslavia. How come? My father had achieved high rank with the Waterguard division of HM Customs & Excise, and Glasgow Airport came under his purview. On this occasion, he brought along my mother as well as 22-years old Yours Truly to show us some of the work behind the scenes. I do recall that he checked beforehand if we could go on the tarmac, the nod was duly given, but otherwise it was a simple as that - no hi-viz jackets, hard hats, disclaimer forms, security vetting or anything else. What innocent times...
Inex-Adria Aviopromet survived the breakup of Yugoslavia, becoming Adria Airways, the flag carrier of Slovenia. It operated scheduled and charter services before filing for bankruptcy and ceasing operations in September 2019.
I must add that my own flying days were still some years into the future. I took my first flight in 1977, LHR-GLA on the old BA Shuttle. It was only from the 1980s that flying became a more regular experience. By the time I retired in mid-2015, I had reached BA Gold Card status.
August 1972
Zorki 4 camera
Agfa CT18 film.