GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
TAIWAN
Taipei Taoyuan – Nov 2017
LANDSIDE
From the terminal area there are no views. Also the viewing area and aviation museum located next to the Novotel has been closed due to terminal expansion.
AIRSIDE
There are some window views and it is possible to walk around the whole terminal area. However it is extremely large and takes a good hour to walk around at a fast pace. Probably best to settle down on one side and watch the action on one runway.
HOTELS
The Novotel is situated inbetween the thresholds of Runways 05L and 05R. Its one of the best plane spotting hotels around with excellent views of the whole airport.
An executive Suite will guarantee you a room on the top floor and should have an airport view. Note all rooms with a view face the airport directly. The runways are therefore at angles to the side and the glass makes it a bit difficult to read them. Room 964 is at the far end of the corridor. There is a window here looking over the threshold of 05L which is useful for arriving aircraft. Any even numbered room down from 964 is also fine.
An executive suite also gives you access to the premier lounge which is also located on the top floor with the same airport view. It includes happy hour which is from 6pm to 8pm including unlimited free alcoholic drinks and some snack food. It also includes breakfast.
Further down from the lounge are some windows overlooking the other runway. The Evergreen hanger impedes the view of the threshold but traffic can be seen taxiing for departure.
An executive room also gives you access to the premier lounge but does not guarantee you a room with an airport view and would not necessarily be on the top floor. However there are plenty of rooms with airport views so you should be ok. If you didn’t get an airport view you can always spend your time in the premier lounge.
SBS is required at night for most stuff.
WHAT TO EXPECT
This is the international airport with very few domestic flights. These go from Songshan airport in the city centre. The Majority or Eva, China Airlines and Tigerair can be seen in a day. However some of the smaller aircraft are based at other Taiwanese locations on international routes so you won’t get everything. Regular flights from Hong Kong, China and other Asian locations make up the numbers. A day is plenty and most based stuff can be seen in a morning. Most stuff parks overnight and gradually departs from around 630am.
Taipei Songshan – Sep 2014
LANDSIDE
There is an excellent observation deck with views of the whole airport. You can also see across to the military ramp. Aircraft generally park nose on but the B1900’s can be read of from the nosewheel. However it is outside and can be extremely hot and humid. It does have some shade though and there is a 7 eleven in the terminal for drinks, snacks and beer. Open 9am till 9pm.
At one end of the terminal is a small multi storey car park. This allows views of the hanger area and three of the four Transasia ATRs currently stored could be seen.
The Air Force reportedly has a coffee shop nearby there hangers which is open to the public and offers good views.
AIRSIDE
Decent views from domestic. A left seat for arrival and right for departure would give you the best chance of taxiing past the military ramp.
HOTELS
You are very close to the city so there should be plenty of hotels around, but didn’t see any next to the airport.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Very quiet since the opening of the high speed rail link. Four hours is plenty for the domestic flights as they start to repeat. There are a few international flights now from here so check timetables for the best times to get these. The airlines all have some aircraft based elsewhere in Taiwan so you won’t see everything. I logged:
4 Stored Transasia ATRs B-22815, 20, 21, 23
7 Uni ATR 72
3 Mandarin E190
3 Far Eastern MD80 + 1 ATR
2 China Airlines A330 + B737
2 Eva A330 + 2 A321
7 Taiwan Air Force B1900
2 Taiwan Air Force F50
Several Biz
Taiwan – Other Destinations
Kaohsiung
Currently has 3 Transasia ATRs stored – B-22817, 18, 22
The walkway between the domestic and international terminals is also a dedicated viewing area with seats and mini binoculars. There was no air conditioning and it was a little hot and sweaty. Views of about half the runway, a few international stands and all domestic stands, including the stored ATRs.
China Airlines and Eva have a few aircraft based here on international routes and you should see 2 or 3 different Uni ATRs. A Taiwanese BBJ and Legacy where also parked up.
Magong / Makung
Not very busy but different Uni Air ATRs than at SongShan. I took the first flight from SongShan at 630am connecting onto Kaohsiung which resulted in 4 new ATRs. There are no direct flights to Kaohsiung from Songshan due to the high speed rail link so you have to fly via here or Kinmen.
There are no connecting flights for domestic flights in Taiwan even though you can book it like a connection. Each flight is treated like an individual flight. I had to go landside at Magong and check in for my onward flight to Kaohsiung. Check in is very quick in Taiwan though. From getting off the plane I could check in and be airside ready for my next flight in less than 15 minutes.
I didn’t notice any views from landside but no problems from airside.
Taichung
The main reason for visiting was to see the preserved Republic of China Air Force B727. Reported to be 2722. If landing on runway 36 a right seat on arrival is required. It can’t be seen from the terminal area. I don’t know about the perimeter.
I didn’t look landside but it didn’t look like there would be any viewing options. Especially as it’s a military airport. China Airlines and
Eva operate a few international flights and Uni have a couple of ATRs starting the day here that you probably wont see in Songshan.
There was also a Uni ATR in the hanger along with a based G280 N806JK and a couple of Islanders.
I can’t comment on views from airside either as I only arrived here.
China Institute of Science and Technology, Hsinchu Campus
http://www.hc.cust.edu.tw/www/index.html
2723 B727 Republic of China Air Force
B-17912 MD90 Cockpit Section
Several other aircraft
About an Hours ride from Taipei Taoyuan or Taichung. I paid a driver about £115 from Taichung to Taoyuan via this place.
The aircraft can be seen from the main road into the campus so there is no need to arrange access. The aircraft are underneath shelters. If you look at the google map link above and zoom into street view you can see them.
