GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
PORTUGAL
Lisbon – Jul 2018
LANDSIDE
No views from around the terminal area.
If you have a car there is a good spot to park close to the runway 03 threshold. From the E1 follow for cargo and turn onto Av Santos E Castro. Just on the right is a turning onto some waste ground which has excellent views. Had no problem parked here for a few hours.
AIRSIDE
Terminal 1 has decent views along most of the terminal allowing all movements to be seen. There is a small terminal 2 for the low cost flights but not sure on views from here.
HOTELS
The Radisson Blu has good views. Any room ending in 11, 12, and 14 will have an excellent view of the airfield. There are 11 floors. 9th floor has views but not sure about anything below this. Most aircraft on stand are too far to read but the runway threshold is close by so nothing will be missed. However the arrivals appear late from behind the hotel if arriving from this direction, so flightradar24 proved very useful to see what was coming. Internet was free in the room. Galahotels offered a very cheap price of $67. There is a metro station 5 minutes walk away which is very useful for getting to the city. Taxis to and from the airport should be around 6 or 7 euros.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Not the busiest of European hubs. Apart from the obvious Portuguese stuff the only thing of note would be TAAG B777’s and possibly Royal Air Maroc ATR’s depending upon timetables. Most of TAPs A330’s can be seen in a morning and early afternoon although some operate out of Porto. Do not go on a weekend. After 9am on Saturday morning it was 99% TAP on the timetable, a trip into the city makes for a good alternative.
Lisbon Alverca - Jul 2018
About 10 miles north this airfield has a lot of E145s in long term storage, or for possibly other reasons, not sure. Most are hidden behind buildings though. At the time 3 Portugalias and 2 China Easterns where parked openly. I could see the tails of two others but the reg was scrubbed out. After a couple of minutes a security guard drove up an asked me to delete my photos and leave. I’ve never seen arrivals from the north in Lisbon but if you did a seat on the left side may give views. Likewise when departing a seat n the right side may give views.
Lisbon Cascais - Aug 2016
A small airfield to the west of the city. Maybe 20 to 30 minutes drive. Along with GA, Shorts 360 CS-TMH was WFU here for a long time and there may be one or two bizjets present.
Porto - Jul 2018
LANDSIDE
AIRSIDE
Good Views
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Pretty much a mini Lisbon. Currently there are four ex Portugalia F100s stored as well as White A319 CS-TQJ. Otherwise no real reason to visit.
Ponta Delgado, Azores – Aug 2013
LANDSIDE
The road leading into the terminal has good views of the ramp. There is also a road which runs along the cliff just behind the airport which has a car park / viewing area. You will need a car to get here or it will be a long walk. The elevated view is excellent for watching movements.
AIRSIDE
Decent views from here
HOTELS
If you stay in the centre of Ponta Delgado you can walk down to the waterfront and watch the approach.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Sata have 4 Dash 8 400’s based here. They also have 2 Dash 8 200’s but only 1 seems to operate out of here each day. 3 out of 4 A320’s where also based here along with a couple of A310’s.
