GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
SPAIN
Madrid – Aug 2016
LANDSIDE
Decent views can be found in the old terminals 1,2 and 3, with views of one runway. You can therefore expect to miss quite a bit of stuff using terminal 4. Views from T4 are limited to a few stands.
There is a good spot at the end of runway 33L with distant views of movements on 33R which requires a good scope or bins. This is a 5 min walk from the Crown Plaza hotel or about a 15 min walk from the Marriot Auditorium below. From the Auditorium hotel cross the main road and then take the inner road running parallel to this main road. Keep aiming straight ahead and you should find yourself with a good views of the movements.
Madrid has 4 runways. 2 parallel arrivals and 2 parallel departures which alternate depending on the wind. However 33L and R seem to be predominately arrivals.
AIRSIDE
Iberia’s terminal has good views and most stuff should be seen either on arrival or departure. Views from the older terminal are also pretty good with plenty of windows. All aircraft on this terminal can be seen and you should get a reasonable amount of Iberia.
HOTELS
Crown Plaza – Close to the 33L threshold and further down the road from the Auditorium. Very nice rooms and a good restaurant.
Rooms 227 – 239 odd numbers only have a view across the approach for 33L and 33R. The windows open fully in these rooms as well. 33L are very close but a decent scope is required for 33R. SBS would be useful. If departing of 15R they can be high and fast and a little tricky to read. Again 15L are in the distance and hard to read.
Rooms 240 – 247 odd plus even look towards the airfield. However I don’t think views would be good. There are only 2 floors and it looked like windows didn’t open fully on this side. Arrivals would appear late and be on an angle although all movements would be seen if using SBS.
Marriot Auditorium – Not very high but has good views of the old terminal and some Iberia stuff, especially the A340’s which can be read off depending upon haze. Some cargo stands can be seen. There are views of arrivals on runway 33L. However the parallel runway is a good distance away. An sbs would help.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Obviously Iberia dominates traffic. There regional aircraft appear to be spread throughout the country though so you won’t see all of them.
Air Europa’s long haul fleet is based but there short haul fleet again is spread out. Vueling have some flights but they are mostly based at Barcelona.
Ryanair and Easyjet both dominate movements on the old terminal along with some other interesting flights from Europe.
Lan Chile and Avianca both have a few flights daily
Palma – Aug 2016
LANDSIDE
Very little can be seen from the terminal area. From departures ramp some biz and a few stands can be seen. The multi storey car park has good views of the biz ramp and you would be able to see arrivals or departures from here depending which side you stand on.
AIRSIDE
This is a big terminal and you can end up doing a lot of walking. There is a runway on either side so your probably best off picking one spot. That way you will get all arrivals or all departures.
HOTELS
Hotel Roc Linda – Rooms 516 – 528 look over the approach to 06L or departures from 24R. 528 is the best as it has an additional window view towards the airport allowing the other runway to be seen. There is also a window at the end of the corridor here with the same view so the closer to 528 you are the better. Rooms are basic but does the job and has a balcony.
Marina Luz also has a similar view but is further away and therefore has no views of the airport. You will either see all arrivals or all departures depending upon direction. Ask for a sea facing room on level 5. They are used to the request. Sea facing rooms cost a little extra but well worth it. You have a nice balcony and won’t miss anything. You can also spot from the surrounding beach and rocks. This is a more expensive hotel but is much nicer and is located along the sea front close to the main shops and restaurants.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Air Berlin have a large base here. They mainly repeat but still sent several new aircraft in each day. Air Europa and Iberia have several flights a day with Ryanair and Easyjet constantly around. Plenty of German and English charters make up the rest. Watch out for Air Algerie ATR 72s.
This place is non stop at times. Arrivals are pretty much every few minutes between 7am – 10am and 6pm – 9pm and it dosent get that quiet inbetween. At times you could see 4 or 5 on approach.
Barcelona – Jul 2018
LANDSIDE
In 2014 there where no views from Terminal 2. Not sure about terminal 1 but think its unlikely. The multi storey car parks at terminal 1 looked like they may have views? The multi storey car parks at terminal 2 are no longer accessible.
Good views where possible from the perimeter though. From terminal 2 leave the terminal and turn right. Its about a 30 to 40 minute walk to the threshold of Runway 25R which takes you via the General aviation terminal and a few stored aircraft. They may be gone by now. Just keep following the roads around turning right where possible. There is a viewing area here and arrivals land directly over your head. However if you continue down the road another 5 minutes there is a raised platform allowing side on views of the arrivals along with decent views of the airfield. Some aircraft on stand can be logged and good photo’s can be taken. There are no facilities here so go prepared. If you continue down the road you will find your way to the threshold of 25L but not sure what the views are like.
I didn’t find any views of the cargo ramp but if you are departing from terminal 2 then a seat on the right side may taxi past them.
AIRSIDE
Both terminals have good window views allowing most movements to be seen.
The far end of Terminal 1 was ideal as both sides could easily be monitored but once you have whats in you can just watch the arrivals runway.
HOTELS
There are several in the vicinity but I don’t know of any with views.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Vueling are based and a good chunk of there fleet will be seen in a day but they do have bases elsewhere. The morning rush from around 6am to 10am produced 62, just over half of the fleet. Other than that ryanair and easyjet make up the numbers along with the usual European carriers. On the long haul front a selection of flights from the US and Asia along with a TAM A350.
Tenerife North – Apr 2016
LANDSIDE
None from inside the terminal. From the departures level outside there is a partial view of the runway which allows all movements to be seen.
If you are driving then there is a good spot on the opposite side of the airport. From the TF5 Motorway take the junction for Esperanza and then road TF24 Carr de la Esperanza. Once you have gone up the hill and followed around to the right there is a right turn alongside the perimeter fence onto Camino el Matadero. About 1km down here there are some dirt roads on the hillside that you can park on. Take a look at Google earth to get an idea of directions.
AIRSIDE
All movements can be seen.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Not the busiest of Airports but a good place to try and see Binter Canaries. You can probably see half there fleet in a short time but it’s difficult to fleet them as they are flying around all the other islands and there base is at Las Palmas.
Vueling usually have a few flights early afternoon and Ryanair and Norwegian have a couple of flights each day, along with Iberia and Air Europa.
Royal Air Maroc send there ATR’s here and at this time operate Thursday to Sunday arriving around 5pm. Check timetables.
Tenerife South – Apr 2016
LANDSIDE
No views from inside the terminal. Turn right out of the terminal and walk as far as you can to the end of the road. From here there are views of a few stands and partial view of the runway.
For a better view take a 10-15 minute walk in the other direction. Turning left out of the terminal walk up towards a walkway / seating area. At the end of this area are some steps going down towards the new terminal which is not in use. Walk past the terminal and then cross the road onto the rocky terrain. There is gate here but there is a small hole to go through. Walk up the hill and you will have good views of the runway and some of the stands. If you keep walking down the other side and follow the fenceline for another 5 or 10 minutes you will come across a raised mound near the runway threshold. Canary Island Spotters have organized this. There is a bench to sit on and it allows excellent views of arrivals and departures and views across towards the terminal.
AIRSIDE
All movements should be seen.
HOTELS
Hotels in the Golf Del Sur should have views of the approach.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Charter airlines from the various European countries along with several Easyjet and Ryanair each day. Every day varies so check timetables. Very little Spanish comes through here. Scheduled flights are mostly from the north airport. Binter Canaries have one flight each day from the south but a trip to the north airport will get you half of the fleet in a short time.
Las Palmas Gran Canaria – Apr 2016
LANDSIDE
I’m not sure there's any views from the terminal.
There is a good spot on the perimeter allowing all movements to be seen as well as a few aircraft parked by the hangars. Its located on the south side after the last hangar and pretty much next to the hotel below. Rickaty Lodge.
AIRSIDE
HOTELS
I’ve not stayed here but as advertised by the owners below.
0034 633051362 Richard and Kate.
45 Calle KANT, Las Puntillas, Ingenio. Gran Canaria 35259"
"Our home from home bed and breakfast is ideally situated next to Gran Canaria airport with panoramic views to the airports approach, landing and taxiing areas.
Perfect locations for photography of Domestic, Commercial and Military aviation.
We offer a choice of 3 double bedrooms with private bathrooms. A roof terrace and bar plus good selection of meals, snacks, and bar drinks to satisfy many a healthy appetite.
Airport transfers and excursions can also be arranged.
"A plane spotters paradise" as quoted to us by your members who have already stayed with us.
There is an 11% discount on the room rates if you are a member of Civil Aviation Enthusiasts. Book directly with the B&B and mention that you are a member.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Charter airlines from the various European countries along with several Easyjet and Ryanair each day. Every day varies so check timetables.
Binter Canaries are based. Most of them should be seen but some of them will be flying between the other islands.
El Berriel is a general Aviation airport a short drive to the south of the island. DC7 EC-BBT is preserved at the entrance.