GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
INDIA
Mumbai – Jul 2016
LANDSIDE
No known locations and not advised due to security
AIRSIDE
A new domestic terminal has been built here and views of the runway are decent. However they are still using the old terminal and it depends on which airline you fly and also which specific gate you go from so views may not always be that good. The old terminal has ok views of some stuff but expect to miss some.
The international terminal is pretty terrible. A few windows exist and you can get limited views of the runway so most movements can be seen. Don’t expect to see much at night though when most flights occur from here.
HOTELS
Taj Santacruz
A report ftrom December 2018 confirms this hotel as having excellent views. Its connected to the domestic terminal and they offer runway view rooms on their website. A little expensive but should be worth it.
Holiday Inn - Reported as having good views. Looking at google earth its set back a bit from the internatinal terminal so not sure if SBS would be required or not.
Orchid Hotel
The rooftop pool still has some views although they seem to be trying to block them as much as possible. There is a strict rule against using binoculars and they have security guards patrolling. They are pretty switched onto sbs as well so its not really worth it unless you can get a room with a view.
The main reason the view is restricted is that the hotel have built a new wing of rooms. Room 707 is the best. However you are looking out at an angle towards the runway which makes reading stuff off a bit difficult. Wifi works well in the room so if you are using flightradar or sbs then nothing will be missed. 706-701 would have a view but not great and you would have to rely on flightradar/sbs. Assuming the floors beneath have the same room numbers then 601-607 and possibly 501-507 should be ok? These are club rooms and allow access to the lounge which has free drinks and snacks and also free alcoholic drinks during happy hour. At the end of the corridor there is a window looking straight out towards the runway which is ideal. However there is a security guard permanently walking around to stop anyone using binoculars.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect to see a good chunk of the major airlines fleet here in a day or so. A day at Delhi would get you most of the rest.
Don’t expect to see too many ATRs or DHC8’s though. Only 1 or 2 a day make a visit.
A large number of Biz should be parked on the other side of the runway.
Very little if any military stuff here.
Delhi – Jul 2016
LANDSIDE
No particularly good locations known about and probably not advised due to security.
AIRSIDE
The new terminal 3 has excellent views from airside. The domestic end allows views of runway 29/11 but anything on the old terminal and runways will be missed.
The International side has views of all runways although its hard to find one spot from which to see everything easily. If you are using sbs then its probably possible to monitor all movements from the end of the pier. If you want to read stuff off then you will probably miss some stuff. Its easier if they are landing from this end which also means all departures off runways 09 and 10 will taxi up towards you. A long transit through the international terminal would be a good way to do this place. I had no problems using binoculars for the few hours I was here.
The old terminal will have some views but its not ideal and a lot will be missed. They generally only let you check in 2 hours before for domestic flights as well.
HOTELS
Vivanta by Taj, Dwarka
Located close to the runway 11 Threshold. Great views and possible to log most stuff. If using sbs then nothing should be missed. Rooms 530-549 all look across towards terminal 3. However the higher room number the better. The windows at the end of the corridor next to room 549 have views of the approach to runway 10 and its possible to read them off. From the room its possible to read stuff arriving on runway 11, and monitor stuff arriving on runway 10, however traffic is coming from behind you so its advisable to have flightradar or sbs running so you know what to expect. If they are departing from the other end then I imagine it would be more difficult to read them.
This hotel is actually quite a distance from the terminals so allow 45 minutes during peak times due to traffic congestion. Early morning it took 15-20 mins with no traffic.
The hotel is located very close to Aeroplanet where the fuselage of A300 VT-EFW and CRJ VT-SAO are used for educational purposes.
Radisson Blu Delhi Airport
Its no longer as easy to get stuff. Runway 29 is used for most of the the stuff using the new terminal. Also lots of overgrown trees and new buildings means views are greatly obstructed.
However all movements can just about be seen so with an SBS you should get everything. You just have to pay attention and concentrate on whats going on. If you don't have an SBS with you then you can read stuff departing on runway 28 and maybe a few of the stands. Room 472 had good views of the Spicejet DH8 stands but 456 - 474 ( even numbers ) would have a similar view. You can also see the IL76s from here. Only 1 was parked up this time - K3012.
Indigo, Spicejet and Go all still use the old terminal and therefore mainly use runways 27/09 and 28/11 which are directly in front of you. If you look to the left you can just about see arrivals and departures from 29/11
Room 472 is a business class room. Room 456 is a premium room. Not sure about the others inbetween. The business class room includes free alcoholic drinks and snack food between 7pm and 9pm as well as an excellent breakfast and airport transportation.
The visibility was also pretty bad. Couldnt see anything till 8am and couldn't read anything off till 9am.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Old terminal 1 – Spicejet, Indigo and Go based here
New terminal 3 – Air India and Jet Airways based here.
Expect to see a good chunk of the fleet in a day or so with a visit to Mumbai getting most of the rest.
5 Spicejet DH8s and 4 Jet ATRs seen. These wont be picked up on SBS. ATRs park on T3 domestic and DHC8s on T1 midfield ramp.
All the biz and stored aircraft are parked nearer the old terminal. Your only real chance of getting these is hoping you taxi past them. Even then its hard to get more than a couple of the stored aircraft which are now mostly Indian Airlines A320’s. Domestic flights on Indigo, Go or Spicejet are the best chance. A seat on the left is probably your best chance but it all depends on which runway and taxiways you use as to what you will see.
Indian Air Force have a large base here and you can expect several movements a day with B737, E135, AN32, IL76 etc. They are not that easy to get though, unless they taxi past the terminal.
Aeroplanet India (http://aeroplanetindia.com/) is located close to the airport and contains a preserved A300, VH-EFW and a CRJ, VT-SAO still with Jetlite titles. You can't see these on google earth because of the buildings. There is reportedly a roof terrace on one of the buildings that they charge to go up, allowing good views of arrivals if arriving in this direction.
The co-ordinates on google earth are approximately 28.33 56 79, 77.04 01 27. Its not far from the Vivanta By Taj Hotel.
Chennai – Feb 2013
LANDSIDE
There was a viewing area located inside the international terminal. However I suspect that is no longer there after seeing they have built a new terminal. Otherwise there are no views available.
AIRSIDE
The new international terminal looked like it would have excellent views but can’t be sure.
The domestic terminal serving Air India and Spicejet has decent window views and all movements should be seen. This is a very old shed like building greatly in need of knocking down.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
3 Spicejet DH8's start the day here.
4 Jet ATR's start the day here.
Otherwise a general mix of the main carriers can be seen along with some international flights from the region. Tiger A320, Malaysian B737 etc.
Blue Dart Cargo are based but can’t be seen from the terminal area.
There are presently a number of stored aircraft here which can’t be seen from the terminal area. A left hand seat for arrival or departure assuming they are using runway 07 would help, with your camera at the ready. If they are using runway 25, which in 3 visits I haven’t seen, then you would need a right hand seat.
7 Kingfisher ATRs stored:
VT-KAE M-ABFE
VT-KAF M-ABFI
VT-DKH M-ABFD
M-YRGN
A more recent report also had VT-DEA stored here
EI-EYB A321 and VT-ADR A320 Kingfisher stored.
4 F27's still present and presumed to be VT-NEC, E, G and K from previous reports
M-YRGP E170 Paramount Stored
VT-BDG and BDI B732 Blue Dart Stored
Hyderabad – Feb 2013
LANDSIDE
Its possible to log some stuff from landside. 6 Spicejet DH8's nightstop and they can all be logged from the departure ramp at night. Everything is very well floodlit. A few other gates can be seen. I wouldn’t plan on spending too much time here though with security driving by occasionally.
AIRSIDE
Excellent new terminal here with good views of all movements and most gates. If you are international then most gates would probably be out of sight but all movements would be seen. Spicejet allowed me to check in early as only had hand luggage. Spicejet offer on line check in for hand luggage only but they will only let you do it if you booked with an Indian credit card.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
6 Spicejet DH8s nightstop
1 Jet ATR nightstops with 3 more visiting by 0830.
A good mix of the other carriers make up the rest. Worth a visit to get the smaller stuff based in the area that won’t be seen elsewhere.
