GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
PHILIPPINES
Manila - Sep 2015
LANDSIDE
T3 had a sign for a viewing area but I went straight airside. If there is a viewing area then all movements should be seen. I don’t know of any other places.
The perimeter seemed to be mostly enclosed with one or two glimpses around the hanger areas. From outside the Remington hotel there is a view but its not the greatest area to be standing watching planes. Don’t think you would last too long on the perimeter here. There is an Air Force Base close by and they seem very security conscious.
The Philippines Air Force Museum is located close to Terminal 3 and the Remington Hotel. I believe there is free access. Most of the exhibits can be seen from the corridor in the Remington hotel.
AIRSIDE
Terminal 3 which is mainly used for Cebu has good views of the smaller runway, with views across to the Philippines terminal and main runway. All movements can be seen. The domestic part has better views of the GA and storage areas and some bits can still be seen from the international.
The location of the Philippines Airlines terminal means it should have good views of both runways providing there are windows. There would be no views of the GA / Storage areas though.
Terminal 1 has good views of arrivals on runway 06. If arriving runway 24 then they may turn of the runway too early for the other terminals. Also the smaller runway is out of sight.
If your not staying in one of the hotels then a long transit in terminal 3 would be the best option.
If departing on runway 24 then a seat on the left side of the plane is advisable. Watch out for the Philippine Air force F28 which was inside a hanger. You then taxi past the Philippines Airlines hanger who had several aircraft parked up both times I took off. After this a Philippines Air Force F27 10620 was parked up both times.
HOTELS
Remington Hotel – Room Nos 10009, 10, 11, 12, 15, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75. Similar numbers on the floors below.
I advise getting here early. The hotel gets very busy and we had to queue to check in at 330pm. I managed to get the last room available with an airport view on the 10th floor and had to wait for it to be cleaned. I had emailed the hotel that morning asking for a room and got a reply saying they would try to accommodate. Absolutely nothing was done even though they have the ability to block off a room for you, which is what the receptionist did when I arrived until it was ready to check in. There were hundreds of people waiting around in the reception area both days waiting for shuttle buses, check in and other things. It all seemed very chaotic. Rooms are very basic but clean and comfortable with English TV channels.
Excellent views of T3 and across to the Philippines Airlines Terminal. During the day everything can be read off. At night only the few stands in front of you on T3 can be read so an SBS is required to continue spotting. From the end of the corridor you can see most exhibits in the Philippine Air Force museum.
The hotel is within walking distance of T3 and offers a free shuttle. Internet is available in public areas and it includes breakfast in the shopping mall behind it. There are drinks machines and a coffee shop. The shopping mall has several restaurants and there is a 7 Eleven and Mcdonalds attached to the hotel at the rear.
Be advised if you are flying from T1 or T2 then it’s a bit of a distance away and traffic can be horrendous. I heard a report suggesting it took 1 and half hours in a taxi so allow plenty of time for your departing flight.
Nichols Hotel – The rooftop bar area has good views of movements on the smaller runway and across to T3 and T4. No views of the other terminals. Traffic on the main runway is too far away so SBS is required to get everything.
When I was there the main runway was used for all arrivals and at least 50% of departures.
Its only open from 4pm daily except Sundays. However at other times the same view is available from a window in the lift area.
The rooftop is on level 8. The highest floor with rooms overlooking the airport is level 5 which is rather limited. A few stands can be seen and anything arriving or departing the smaller runway should be seen. The rooms are very basic and the hotel is in a rough area. Internet worked well in the room with English TV channels, and the food in the bar was decent with good beer.
There are some views of the GA / Storage area but nothing can be read. The tops of 2 Zest MA60s and 3 Air Phillipinnes B737s could be seen.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Philippines and Cebu dominate proceedings and a day is enough to get most of the mainline fleet. Air Asia Zest have regular flights and a few smaller bits and pieces such as ATR42s and D228/328’s etc can be seen. Some aircraft operate domestic and international flights from Cebu and other locations so not everything will be seen. 4 out of 8 ATR72s of Cebu and about half of the Philippines DH8s where seen.
On the international front there isn’t that much but most of the major Asian and Middle Eastern carriers can be seen each day.
This place has long been known for its stored and derelict aircraft. It seems like they are trying to clean the place up though and not much remains and what does is mostly out of sight. Reports suggest it may be possible to arrange an airside tour and this would be essential if you want to see whats left.
From the Nichols Hotel the tops of the 2 Zest MA60s can be seen – RP-C8894 and 8895.
Also 3 tails of Air Philippines B737s can be seen. Two of which should be RP-C8011 and 8022. Anything else that could be seen from there has either been moved or has gone. A few more things may be seen from airside in Terminal 3.
Clark / Angeles City Sep 2015
LANDSIDE
From outside the terminal building there are good views of the hangers and stored aircraft. I didn’t look inside the terminal so not sure whether theirs a views of the ramp but this place only has a handful of flights each day. There is another ramp for SIA Engineering and for the US Air Force but I doubt its possible to get views of these from anywhere.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Its not worth visiting for the few Cebu Pacifics and one or two others that fly here but well worth flying in to get the stored stuff. Just be sure to arrive during the day. I arrived at 1145 and then took a taxi to Manila Airport. This meant I arrived mid afternoon and could get an airport facing room at the Remington Hotel there. Taxi was a fixed price of 4300 pesos or about 65 Quid and took nearly 2 hours. This was on a Sunday afternoon so could take much longer on a weekday rush hour. Traffic in Manila is really bad. It can be done cheaper by bus but you have to change twice and it could take several hours. I would certainly plan to arrive in Clark as opposed to departing as you would have to allow a few hours for getting there and then wait for your flight. The other alternative is taking a taxi there and back from Manila.
This place only requires a quick stop to see whats parked up which includes:
RP-C7702 M80 Spirit of Manila
RP-C8887 B732 Grandair
RP-C8891 B732 Grandair
RP-C7110 B727 Majestic
RP-C8017 B727 Heavylift
RP-C4328 D328 Seair
RP-C5328 D328 Seair
RP-C9328 D328
RP-C8892 MA60 Zest
Several Let 410s and a few smaller bits and pieces also present.
The MA60 was sticking out of a hanger at the bottom of the road leading into the terminal so you have to take a walk for this.
