GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
INDONESIA
No problems with security here and with most airports having viewing areas. There was no longer a requirement to obtain a visa on arrival this time and departure tax is now included in the ticket price.
Domestic flights can prove difficult to book as most airlines only accept credit cards from within the asia region. Air Asia website is fine. If you want to book on another airline then there are a few travel agencies online now that can do it.
Online check in is available 24 hours before which is great if you are traveling hand luggage only as it means you can get airside several hours before your flight if you need to. Very useful for places with no viewing area.
Jakarta – Nov 2016
No longer the fantastic place it used to be full off stored aircraft and B737 200’s unfortunately. A few stored aircraft remain but these are difficult to see.
LANDSIDE
Effectively two airports with terminals and a runway each side. You have to split your time between the 2 but about half a day on each side will get most stuff. There wasn’t much new on the second day so time may be better spent exploring other airports.
Terminal 3 – Garudas new terminal. There are some views from a café but through multiple layers of glass. Not worth spending any time here.
Terminal 2 - International Terminal and domestic flights by Air Asia, Nam and Swirijawa. See hotel for views.
Terminal 1 – All other domestic airlines - This half of the airport has 5 Waving Galleries as they are called in Indonesia allowing you to get most things on stand and views of this runway. They have now put up plastic fencing on some of them making it poor for photos. The viewing area at Terminal 1C probably has the best views if you want to spend time here. All runway movements on this side can be seen and it didn’t have the plastic fencing yet.
There is a free shuttle bus linking all 3 terminals, look for the bus stops on the departures level of terminals 2 and 3. It takes about 25 minutes to get from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.
AIRSIDE
Terminal 2 has views but nothing compared to what you can get in the hotel from landside.
Terminal 1 is terrible although you can just about see stuff
Terminal 3 looks like it would have good views.
HOTELS
Hotels – The Jakarta Airport hotel has reopened in terminal 2 (Formerly Quality Hotel) and provides excellent views of the runway on this side – All rooms have a view. Some of these stands can be seen but terminal 3 is out of sight. Unfortunately the restaurant and bar area are still under renovation so there is no food available at this time. They do bring breakfast to your room though.
From the reception area there is still a seating area where you can get drinks and get good views so you could probably spend time here even if you didn’t have a room. If you get a room to the right of reception at the far end it was possible to see views of both approaches, assuming they are landing from this direction which they nearly always are. The rooms are in a semi circle type shape. You would need SBS for stuff on the other runway. Wifi worked well in the room. The last room number is 82, I was in 80. I imagine anything from 75 upwards and maybe earlier would be ok.
FM7 Hotel – I haven’t stayed here but reportedly very good views from the rooftop area. Located along the perimeter but can take 40 minutes to get to due traffic. Aircraft on one runway can be read off but SBS required for the other runway.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Don’t expect to see anything much smaller than B737’s here, you have to go elsewhere to see ATR’s etc. Indonesia is a massive place with lots of airports and its very difficult to see all the smaller stuff. Garuda do offer about 4 CRJ 1000s a day though. Garuda, Lion, Citilink, Batik and Swirijaya all have lots of flight with Air Asia and Nam making up the numbers. You can expect most the fleet of Garuda but the other airlines proved difficult with lots of flights between secondary cities now.
Tip – It may be worth a visit to Pondok Cabe airport located in the city. Pelita have several aircraft WFU including 4 F28s and various other aircraft remain here including B737s and B146s.
Tip – TMII park has a DC3 and a DC9 PK-GNT preserved. This is located close to Halim Airport and could be combined along with Pondok Cabe as a day trip from the main airport. Traffic can be terrible in Jakarta though and the journey could take a few hours.
Jakarta Halim- Nov 2016
LANDSIDE
Landside – I read a report saying there was a good view of the ramp and runway after I returned. I didn’t realise and went straight airside so not sure if its still possible.
AIRSIDE
A small departure lounge allows decent views. You are at ground level with aircraft parked directly in front of you. The runway is just behind so any movements should be seen although departures may be too high by this time. There are some stored aircraft and small Biz parked on the other side of the runway and further along there are some hangers were larger Biz and other aircraft are parked. You can get some of these depending on where the aircraft on the ramp in front of you are parked.
The military base is out of sight.
A right seat for arrival is your best chance of seeing the Military stuff. You need your camera ready and its not easy. I was unable to get any regs from the photos but all 4 Fokker 28s were present. A left seat for arrival would allow good views of the hanger areas assuming they are landing from this direction.
A right seat for departure is best. Assuming they are departing from this end, aircraft have to taxi across the other side and straight past the hanger areas allowing good views of everything here and into the hangers if open.
HOTELS
No hotels seen at the airport itself
WHAT TO EXPECT
There used to be a lot more of the smaller airlines here but not much seen this time. Its possible there’s plenty parked in the hangers and not visible though.
Batik and Citilink both have quite a few flights and I noted 18 in two and half hours.
TransNusa had a Fokker 70 and according to Flightradar an ATR72 based but I seemed to have missed it arriving and departing so keep your eyes open. TransNusa’s ATR42 that was W/O here, PK-TNJ was parked by the side of a hanger and seen from the aircraft taxiing out along with there B146 which has Victory News titles. A Travira B737, an Indonesian Air Transport ATR and a Fokker 100 were the only other local stuff present.
Several Aircraft are still WFU here. Both Shorts 360s (DSH and DSS), a couple of F27s (ZMM and ZMV), a Sky F50 (ECH) and an unmarked ATR42.
About 20 Biz were parked between the various ramps and a MyIndo B737 was parked.
Surabaya – Nov 2016
LANDSIDE
Waving Gallery in the old terminal has reportedly been replaced by an Ibis hotel. Not sure about the Garuda / International terminal on the other side.
AIRSIDE
Airside – The centre of the old terminal between gates 4 and 5 provides good views. The ATR’s turn of early so you need the windows on the left hand side to see these arrive.
HOTELS
An Ibis hotel is located in the old terminal and rooms reportedly have good views.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Known for the Merpati Dump. 8 F27’s, 2 F28’s a F100, 7 Y7s and several B737’s remain in storage. A right hand seat for landing with the camera at the ready, assuming you land from the right direction can do a good job. It may be possible to get access to the Merpati hanger by asking permission, but make sure you turn up early on a weekday for this and hope the manager is available. You will need to take a taxi here from the old terminal. From the Garuda / Int’l terminal it may be possible to walk.
Expect 4 or 5 ATR’s based here – In 2011 this was the same group of ATR’s that you will see in Bali, not sure whether that’s still the case. A few Garuda CRJ 1000’s and a Kalstar ATR were seen during a morning.
Bali – Sep 2011
LANDSIDE
Not sure – didn’t look
AIRSIDE
Domestic had limited window view of the runway
HOTELS
Hotels – Patra village hotel in Kuta. Pull up a sun bed and a good pair of binoculars will get you all movements while you laze around all day. Alternatively walk down the beach to get closer to the action, or take a boat out to the reef and spot while you surf. The hotel is quite expensive for food and drink but the local shops around the corner will serve you beer and soft drink for a fraction of the price. About a 15 min walk down the Boardwalk into town or a cheap taxi ride.
Apparently there is another hotel on the other side of the airport in Nusa Dua but don’t have any details on this. Kuta is the main part of town where the majority or Bars and Restaurants are and would recommend staying there.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Upto 6 Wings Abadi Air ATR’s should be seen in a day. The same ones that are based in Surabaya.
Air Asia are based so most of there fleet should be seen.
Garuda base there older A330’s here on international duty.
Merpati with upto 3 Y7’s, a Fokker 100 and some B737’s
Several flights to OZ mainly by Virgin Australia.
A few international flights to the asia region
Balikpapan – Sep 2011
LANDSIDE
Waving Gallery and Restaurant allow all movements to be seen.
AIRSIDE
Some views but not greet. Better staying landside.
HOTELS
None seen
WHAT TO EXPECT
Expect some smaller stuff here, ATR’s, Casa’s, DH7’s etc, and a good mix of traffic. Kalstar are based here but only had a couple of flights
Ujung Pandang / Makassar – Nov 2016
LANDSIDE
No views from the terminal area
AIRSIDE
Its possible to stay airside here even if you have bags to collect. All civil movements can be seen easily but military ramp is well out of view. 1 Runway runs parallel to the terminal but there are 2 others. 1 can be seen at a distance from the end of the terminal.
HOTELS
Ibis hotel is situated inside the terminal. Reasonable price and decent rooms but no views. There are computers and a printer in reception so you can do online check in and go airside early if you are traveling hand luggage only.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A good place to see a few smaller aircraft with several ATRs and several CRJ 1000s based. Indonesian Airforce B737 200s are based here but goodluck seeing them. They are hidden away on the other side of the airfield. I was fortunate that one was doing circuits. A left seat on departure from runway 03 would give you views of the ramp. However they are a distance away and my photos were just too blurry to identify them. 3 out 4 were parked up. I was able to identify AI-7304 as it’s the only one without installations attached either side of the tail.
Kupang – Nov 2016
LANDSIDE
Didn’t really explore but no views from inside the terminal. From the side of the terminal it was possible to see 2 Y7s and the Fokker 100 WFU here.
AIRSIDE
Traffic parks directly in front of you and all movements can be seen.
HOTELS
None at the airport but the Hacienda hotel was located a couple of miles away. Very cheap taxi ride and they returned me to the airport for free the next morning. Cheap hotel but decent including breakfast.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Not Particularly busy but the morning rush can be productive with 4 Wings ATRs and a couple of TransNusa aircraft seen. A few stored aircraft remain here. PK-MJD F100 was W/O here in 2009 and is still parked next to Y7s PK-MZI and MZP. On departure I taxied past another Y7 and a Sky F50 but was unable to confirm the identity. Possibly PK-MZL and PK-ECG?
Batam - Sep 2011
