GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
MYANMAR (BURMA)
Yangon (Rangoon) - Sep 2015
LANDSIDE
No views from Landside at the airport. The best known place is a train station called Wai Bar Gi which is located adjacent to the Runway 21 threshold, and can be found on google earth. Its only a small run down platform and has many locals passing by. Everyone is friendly though and you should have no problem with security. From here there are views of the approach and the departures can just be seen taxiing through the tree tops. However ATRs and smaller depart from further up the runway and won’t be seen. Decent photos can be had but power lines do get in the way a bit. Walking further up the train lines may provide better views of the approach but departures would be missed. There is no problem walking on the train tracks here. You have to walk on them to get to the other side of the platform. To get to the train station you have to take a taxi unless you want a long walk through local villages. There is very little shade to be found except from hiding underneath some trees. Be sure to have sun tan lotion, a hat and plenty of water even when its cloudy.
AIRSIDE
The international terminal is window fronted so there are good views of the runway and some stands. It can be tricky to get some of the domestic stuff. You have to watch for them taxiing out and once they turn onto the taxiway the angle of the glass makes them a little difficult to read. Also when they depart they take off quickly and can be too high above the building to read by the time they get to you. Not particularly good for photos especially as you are shooting through two layers of glass.
HOTELS
Palm Springs Resort - Didn't stay there myself. Room 503 is confirmed as having views of departures from Rwy 21 from the baclony. Some aircraft turn early and will be missed. These aircraft can be seen from the rear of the hotel in the pool area but trees obstruct views of the other departures. Early morning some aircraft depart from Ruway 03 and can't be seen from the room. However on the top floor was an unused function room which allowed some views of the ramp and taxiways through glass doors. Anything taxiing for Runway 03 could be seen.
Myanmar Life hotel – Included free pick up and drop of from the airport and is only 1km up the road. Rooms are basic but decent with English TV channels. The swimming pool was well maintained and was a nice relief from the heat. Breakfast was included but I left too early to try it. The lunch, dinner and beer were excellent though. Would definitely stay here again. They also changed my $ into Kyats at a much better rate than the airport.
The hotel is only about 3km from the Train Station but is through villages with narrow roads and dirt streets. Two of the taxis preferred to go the long way around the airport taking 25 mins. They charged 5000 Kyat which is less than 3 quid. The taxi that brought me back through the village still took 15 mins and charged the same.
To get to the city centre take the train from Wai Bar Gi to Yangon Central Railway station. It takes about an hour and costs virtually nothing. Gives a good perspective on how the locals live.
The main tourist site is Scwedagon Pagoda which is very impressive and worth seeing. Next to this is Peoples Park which contains a preserved F27 XY-ADZ. I also found 4 other F27’s in A/W cls with no markings along with a Tail Section of a Myanmar Airways F27. These are located in 3 separate locations and can be found on google earth. I have no idea on the regs though.
You will need to get a taxi from the Central Railway Station to the park. A taxi from here back to the airport should be around 10000 Kyat or $10.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A large portion of the domestic fleet can be seen with most of it departing early morning from 6AM, and gradually returning throughout the day. However at the time I went 4 airlines based an aircraft at Mandalay which didn’t visit Yangon at all. Also there is likely to be 1 or 2 aircraft parked around the hangers and not being used. A left seat for arrival and right for departure is the best place to try and see these as well as the military area. 23 out of 34 ATRs were seen in a day.
On the military side 2 B1900s, 2 Y8s and an ATR 42 could be seen from the plane along with some fighters. However you only get a brief glimpse and its therefore difficult to identify them all from photos. A B1900, Y8 and Mig where all seen flying.
There are several stored / WFU aircraft:
XY-AIJ ATR 42 Air Mandalay
XY-AIR ATR 72 Air Mandalay
No Markings ATR72 fuselage section ( No tail or wings ) in the same Air Mandalay cls as XY-AIR. I think this is XY-AEY as it was reported stored here and I can’t find any other aircraft that should be in these cls.
XY-AIC ATR42 Air Bagan – Possibly stored, seen parked by hangers both days and no Air Bagan flights by any aircraft seen flying.
No Markings ATR42 fuselage section ( no tail or wings ) in A/W cls with titles painted out. I think this is XY-AID as it is reported stored here and the painted over section matches exactly where the Air Bagan titles would be.
No Markings ATR72 A/W - with damage to left undercarriage and nose wheel – most definitely XY-AIH which had an incident in July with the same damage reported.
XY-AGN A321 A/W
XY-AGF F100 Air Bagan.
MA60 seen WFU on main ramp with no markings. Confirmed to be XY-AIO. The other 2 crashed.
XY-AGA F28 is reported to be at the southern end of the airfield with tail chopped off and left next to the fuselage.
XY-AGB F28 is reported to be in a compound about 1km past the Myanmar Life Hotel on the left side of the road.
In Addition to the F27's noted above in peoples park a further ex Myanma Airways F27 (with no registration disploayed) has been noted in a compound on Swei Taw Road, north Yangon - Location 196688E 1867402N
TIP – Visas can now be done online. They cost $50 and you just need a recent passport photo. They emailed the visa the same day I applied and are valid for 3 months.
