GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
MEXICO
Mexico City – Dec 2021
LANDSIDE
Terminal 1 has no views. However there are fantastic views from the Hilton Hotel located within the terminal. The bar area near reception has window front views over the runways and all movements can be seen. Even if your not staying at the hotel you can sit here and buy a drink.
Terminal 2 is on the opposite side of the runways. Judging by its position and shape it looks unlikely views will be better from here if there any.
Terminals are connected by an overhead train and could provide views of some parked aircraft.
The locals spot from a footbridge which is on the main road into terminal 1. It has good views of the runway threshold and approach and is good for photos. From terminal 1 arrivals turn left and walk about 10 mins. It’s the footbridge with Mcdonalds on the opposite side.
A drive around the perimeter is worthwhile if you need the stored aircraft. Its not the easiest place to find your way around and for the most part is surrounded by local residences and high walls. However you can get views of some stored aircraft and other ramps. The stored aircraft are now parked off-airport on the east side, opposite the runway 23L threshold. In the north east corner there is a small compound containing 2 Gulfstreams, XC-LKS and XC-AA70. There is a road which runs past this compound and continues past the stored aircraft on the other side.
Health Warning – Mexico is full of corrupt police and if they see you using binoculars, cameras etc they are likely to stop you. We had no issue in the hotel but got stopped on the perimeter. He took us to one side and told us to give him money or be taken to the police station. Fortunately we only had about $50 on us with the rest being in the hotel. If your going to do it make sure there’s not much in your wallets. I have also heard of spotters being fined $300 in Guadalajara. The local spotters obviously get away with it so it could be a good idea to try and meet them.
AIRSIDE
Terminal 1 had views of the runways but there are bars running along the windows making it difficult. It looks like terminal 2 is similar.
HOTELS
Terminal 1 Hilton Hotel – Excellent views from the bar area and similar view from the rooms.
Terminal 1 - Camino Real hotel. The 8th floor overlooks the whole airfield. Rooms 8140 – 8150 have excellent views. The top 2 floors are club rooms which allows access to the lounge on the 8th floor which offers the same view. Non alcoholic drinks are available free of charge all day as is snack food from 5pm onwards. Two free alcoholic drinks during happy hour from 7-8pm and free breakfast.
Both hotels are excellent but the Camino is cheaper and with the club room option makes the preferable choice. All movements are easily seen from both hotels. The Camino is further back but higher. The Hilton is right next to the gates.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Aeromexico are obviously the main airline and operate from terminal 2. Most the mainline fleet should be seen and most of Aeromexico connect should also be seen.
Aeromar base there ATR’s here but have some flights from other locations. Volaris and Viva are more challenging. They base a lot of aircraft at Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana.
A day here is enough to get what's based with very little new stuff on the second day.
Mexican Police B727’s are usually parked in a hangar to the right of terminal 2 if looking from the hotels, although not easily readable. Several Mexican Air Force movements should be seen and they park to the left of terminal 2.
Interjet still has at least 8 SSJs WFU. Probably 10. They had 21 and 11 are at Toluca. I was only able to read 4:
XA-IJR, JBA, MRM, PPY
Several stored aircraft remain in a compound to the east of the field:
XA-ASS B727 mostly A/W with some resemblance of Taesa's yellow cls
XA-SXZ B727 mostly A/W with some resemblance of Taesa's yellow cls
XA-UIJ B727 Pan Am Air Cargo
XA-MEI B727 A/W
XA-RBD B737 A/W
XA-RSQ DC9 Aerolineas Internacionales
XA-UDH DC9 Aerocalifornia
XA-UDS DC9 Aerocalifornia
XA-UDF DC9 Aerocalifornia
XA-UEI DC9 Aerocalifornia
XA-SWG DC9 Aerocalifornia
XA-BCS DC9 A/W - Faint Aerocalifornia cls
XA-RSH C130 Aeropostal
XA-RYZ C130 Aeropostal
XC-AA27 Turbo Commander 690
XC-RAM Turbo Commander 690
XA-LMA Rockwell Sabre 40
Conalep Educational School - Off Airport just south of airport perimeter
N880SR CV880 Front Fuselage / Cockpit section at entrance
XA-DEJ DC9 Cockpit section preserved inside
XA-TBX DC9 is preserved off airport about 10 mins away. It has been converted into a library and is known as Biblioteca Virtual. If you type this into google maps it will find it. Not easy to find if you are driving yourself. A taxi maybe with worthwhile and could be combined with the stored aircraft.
Santa Lucia Air Force Base – 2017
Closed and under construction to be Mexico City’s new airport.
Mexico City Other Locations – Dec 2021
Tlaxcala - Temático Tizatlán Park 11/12/21
3504 B727 Mexican Air Force - Preserved on side of mountain as an attraction
Zumpango Town center Mall 11/12/21
3503 B727 Mexican Air Force - Preserved in compound behind the mall. Seen from local roads around the back of the mall.
Pachuca 11/12/21
N412JT Gulfstream WFU
Cuernavaca 14/12/21
XA-SKC B727 Preserved off airport AeroMexico cls with LSV on tail. XA-LSV not taken up
XA-UII B727 A/W - No markings
XA-SNW B727 A/W - No markings
XB-VRM Gulfstream - Reg does not exist. Color scheme matches that of XB-PHA and can't find any other candidates.
Zombie Amusement Park 14/12/21
XC-LKM Gulfstream
AMT-212 AN32 Metallic Fuselage
3104 AN32
XA-UFW B737
XA-UGF B737 B/U several parts
Queretaro – 12/12/2021
This is about 200km north of Mexico City and has a technical school with some old aircraft.
C-FNRJ CRJ C/N 7002
XB-NST and NSU B737 200s
WFU
XA-TXS DC8
XA-TBC DC9
XA-UUM METRO
XB-LQG METRO
JU8889 B737 Aztec Alliance
Views of these from the car park near the terminal.
TAR also had several E145s parked up.
Toluca – Dec 2021
LANDSIDE
There is an unofficial viewing area next to the taxiway at the threshold of Runway 15. Plenty of locals watching planes along with a local spotter. No problem taking photos from here. Regular security patrols went past inside the perimeter with no issue.
To access the hangar area there is a security gate. You are allowed to enter. You just have to provide ID. I write for a website so I emailed maybe 15 different FBOs before I went requesting access and got no replies. I tried requesting access at a couple of hangars when I was there and got declined saying I should email in advance!!!
Anyway you are able to get some stuff by driving around but it's very frustrating knowing how much is inside all these hangars. Don't try taking photos around here or getting out of the car to use optics. Security guards are on every hangar door.
The multi storey car park also offers some views of Biz and hangars.
Perimeter roads allow good views of the storage ramp.
HOTELS
One Toluca hotel. High floors have views over the storage area, Interjet Ramp and Runway 33 threshold. Would be ideal if they landed this way but never seen it. Departures can be read but challenging as already very high by this stage.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Primarily Biz movements with a large chunk of Mexico’s Bizjets based here. Unfortunately most of them are hiding inside hangars but the airport is fairly busy with movements as well. There were also a few cargo movements with FedEx and Aeronaves.
Compound Next to Fiesta Inn Hotel:
XA-SXV DC9 Fuselage Taesa cls
XA-SZC DC9 Fuselage Taesa cls
Several smaller aircraft are inside but a large wall surrounds it and difficult to identify anything else.
Storage Area:
XA-SQO B727
XA-RRB B727
XA-TWR B737
XA-UMQ B737
XB-KQL 1-11
XB-KCE 1-11
N192WF Gulfstream
Many other smaller Biz WFU but I didn't log them
Interjet Ramp
SSJs
XA-OUI, JLP, JLV, NGO, LME, BMO, NSG, ALJ, ABM, OAA, LLV
A320 - XA-PAL plus another parked within the Biz hangars
Flymex Hangar
XA-ALA D328 Fuselage wreck after incident 24/10/16
Guadalajara – Dec 2021
LANDSIDE
Nothing from the terminal. The multi storey car parks may have views. However they are directly overlooked by the control tower. To see the Biz you will want to walk to the Hangar Inn hotel. There is a pedestrian bridge that you have to cross over the main road which gives views of the Biz ramp. Just be careful using optics here.
AIRSIDE
The terminal had good window views, most gates can be seen and you can see the runway. A left seat for arrival and right for departure is probably best to see the stored aircraft.
HOTELS
Hangar Inn - No views but a decent hotel and walkable from the airport. A good bar restaurant is next door that does offer distant views of movements.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Volaris and Viva are the main carriers with based aircraft. Many of which you won’t have seen at Mexico City. An early flight is ideal to see all the based aircraft during the morning rush.
2 DC9’s of Aerocalifornia remain WFU alongside the runway. XA-UDD and UDE. A third DC9 is WFU in what looks like Taesa cls but can’t identify it.
Off Airport:
XA-DEL DC9 Preserved - Fuselage and Wings only, no tail - AeroMexico cls. Search for Emersim-Tornado Aviation Training Center on google maps.
Leon - Dec 2021
About 2 and a half hours drive from Guadalajara or Queretaro.
XA-RRA B727 Painted as XA-SEM but reported to be XA-RRA ( XA-SEM was a previous reg for a different B727 XA-RRB, but this is still at Toluca so it can't be that one ) - Preserved in Parque Metropolitano de León. parked on the north side of the lake. You need to enter the park to see the aircraft up close which will involve a 2km walk. Otherwise you can just see the top of the aircraft from the road.
Monterrey – Dec 2021
LANDSIDE
No views from the terminal area.
AIRSIDE
Decent views from the main terminal allow most gates and all movements to be seen.
HOTELS
Hilton Garden Inn - Next to the main terminal.
I booked an executive room to secure the top floor which is the 5th. But it was closed for renovations and I was given the 4th floor.
Room 424 has excellent views. All movements and some gates can be seen. 422, 420 etc would also be fine but get slightly worse the lower you go.
The third floor would also be good. The rooms on the first 3 floors look in a different direction and all rooms on the third would have a good view of the runway.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Viva have a large base along with a few Volaris that may not be seen elsewhere. Aeromar and Magnicharter have some flights along with a few cargo operations.
Monterrey North - Biz airport.
Some views from driving around the perimeter. Some old Biz WFU here.
Saltillo - Dec 2021
About an hour and a half drive.
Perimeter roads provided good views. several other aircraft WFU but unable to identify. Many aircraft on maintenance. Should be a few Aeronaves present.
XA-RDD BAE125 PRESERVED ON POLE
XA-TQP YS11
XA-TND YS11
XA-YYS YS11
XA-UTW CONVAIR 640
XA-DAZ LEARJET WRECK
Cancun – Dec 2021
LANDSIDE
Nothing from the terminal Area. There is a road on the northern side of the airport that has good views of arrivals on short approach. You can park up on a side road near Runway 12L. 95% land on this side. Locals take photos from here.
The FBO is accessible, which is unusual for Mexican airports. You can walk inside and upto the windows and read several of the Biz with your eyes.
AIRSIDE
Terminal 2 had decent views. Runway 12R/30L is in front of you and everything departs on this side.
Terminal 3 has similar views of the departure runway and also looks onto the Biz ramp.
Most arrivals landed on 12L. On the right side of the runway 2 B727s are WFU, XA-TLZ and XA-RXI. However a seat on the left would be beneficial when taxiing past the Biz ramp.
2 Aviacsa B737s still WFU - Reported to be XA-TWJ and UCG. Located on western side between T2 and T4.
HOTELS
Comfort Inn Cancun Airport
Currently undergoing renovations and was a bit of a dump in public areas. But the room was good. You wouldn't want to stay here with the missus or family but was fine for spotting purposes. Top floor rooms had a good view of all departures. You could just about read some off but need FR24 for most. There is access to the roof which allows views of all movements and a few stands but there's no facilities or shade up there. There is a garage across the road for snacks, drinks and beers. Also a couple of street food places which had awesome tacos for a $1.
I believe there are hotels in the beach resort area that provide distant views of departures.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Strange Airport in the fact that 50% of airline movements were from USA, 15% Canadian, 12% others, and just 23% Mexican. Very busy with arrivals constant all day.
About 20 Biz where parked up so it maybe worth trying to fly out of terminal 3 to assist in seeing them.
Tijuana – Jul 2012
LANDSIDE
No views from the terminal. The multistory car park provides good views of the runway and some stands. However watch out for security. I was simply walking up the steps and got told to leave. You can see the B747sp from here. The other stored aircraft don’t appear to be visible from landside.
The airport is situated very close to San Diego, right on the border with the states and its possible to spot without entering Mexico. There are no views of the terminal but more beneficially there are views of the stored aircraft. Approach or take off can be seen depending on direction so check timetables for best times.
I can’t remember directions but its fairly easy to find with a map. From San Diego take the highway towards Mexico and then the relevant exit to get to Brown Field Municipal Airport. A small general aviation field which may have a few biz as well. The field will be on your left. Go past all the buildings and then take your next right. Keep going and you will find the border and airport. The B747sp was parked at the other side of the terminal and not visible from this viewpoint. After looking at google earth I realize there was another road which I never found that looks like it may have a view of the B747sp so check the maps.
If you want to enter Mexico you may be able to take your rental car across the border. If not you can walk across the border and then take a taxi. There are two border crossings with the one more inland being the quieter.
AIRSIDE
Plenty of windows and no problems spotting airside. You can see the stored stuff but its too far away to get.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Volaris are the main operator with several based aircraft that I didn’t see elsewhere. Otherwise its fairly quiet and probably only worthwhile if you need the stored aircraft.
Stored aircraft.
N4522V B747sp
7 Aerocalifornia DC9’s – 6 readable
XA-ADA XA-UDC
XA-SYD XA-UDG
XA-THB XA-UEG - Reportedly
XA-TNT