GLOBAL SPOTTING REPORTS
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Fujairah – Nov 2011
LANDSIDE
Not the easiest place unless you can obtain access. The terminal has a small café upstairs with a view. However don’t even think about using binoculars unless you want to spend the day at the police station. A few gaps around the perimeter may allow for a couple more to be seen but otherwise a large wall prevents you getting most stuff. Apparently there is a road running down the far side of the runway which allows for some of the stored aircraft to be read off.
AIRSIDE
You would get a view of the immediate ramp but with most stuff parked elsewhere you would still struggle.
HOTELS
WHAT TO EXPECT
Very quiet with actual movements but with about 40 aircraft ( mostly Russian ) stored here its worth a visit if you can get them.
Sharjah – Nov 2011
LANDSIDE
No views from the terminal. A drive along the perimeter will get you some stuff on cargo. Otherwise along the main highway just after you pass the airport on your left there is a parking area on the right where some of the locals watch the approach. However, use binoculars at your own risk. Its possible you could get a spot close enough to eyeball the regs under the wing.
AIRSIDE
Views of the runway and ramp but no views of cargo
HOTELS
Rotana Centro Sharjah Airport
Recently opened, ask for a room on the 4th floor overlooking the airport. Rooms 460-470 and 480-490 should be good for a view of some of the air Arabia stands. You should get a partial view of the runway and taxiway so all movements should be seen.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Depending on the runway direction a right hand seat for arrival and a left hand seat for departure could be beneficial. Several Il76’s are based.
Check the timetable for PIA ATR’s and Felix Air (yemen) CRJ7s
Abu Dhabi – Nov 2019
LANDSIDE
Very Little can be seen. All the roads have been closed off by a security fence. It is still possible to see a few things on the GA ramp at the far end of the airport where the Biz park. Be careful with security though.
AIRSIDE
A new terminal is due to open very soon. The old terminal is not great but most stuff should be seen. The best place is probably in the food court area in Terminal 3. There is one food place with a window overlooking a small part of the nearby taxiway and runway. Everything should pass by on its way in or out. The terminals do have windows allowing you to get most of what’s on stand but there’s not anywhere great to set up and watch from.
HOTELS
The Premier Inn is located next to the terminals with a walkway to T3. The rooftop pool area has excellent views over the field and anything on the near runway can be read off. The hotel has no problem with the use of Binoculars but there is no photography allowed. Rooms on the 5th floor have the best view. At night it’s too dark from the rooms. Some stuff can be read of from the pool area. Rooms 517 – 524 probably have the best view. You will have views over the terminal areas and if landing and taking off from the east you will have good views. Rooms 556-561 are the opposite with views of the hanger areas to the west but not of the terminal areas. Although will probably have views of the new terminal. Departures will appear late if coming from the east. The reason for this being another corridor of rooms extending out from the hotel in the middle. These rooms 501-516 all offer a side on view so not ideal. Hopefully the following diagram makes sense.
|
501-508 | 509-516
_________|____________
556-561 517-524
WHAT TO EXPECT
Etihad dominate with little else worth visiting for. The morning rush should get you most of the short haul fleet and a good chunk of the long haul. Check timetables or best times. The afternoon is virtually nothing before an evening rush but this is mostly in darkness.
Abu Dhabi Aviation along with several executive aircraft are based. A right hand seat for departure is your best chance of seeing this ramp if you take off in that direction.
Emirates Air Force base the C17’s here but they are located on the far side and can’t be read off. However the new terminal may have good views of this runway.
Abu Dhabi Al Bateen
The executive airport located downtown about 20 mins from the main airport. There are some views from the terminal area. I logged 3 Falcon Aviation DHC8s along with an A318. However the other Biz where parked tail on and couldn’t be read. The rest of the airport has a large wall around it.
Dubai - Nov 2019
LANDSIDE
Not advisable your likely to be reported very quickly.
AIRSIDE
If your flying Emirate then you can move freely between A, B and C gates. Most stands can be seen by walking around and there are views of the runways and other side. I’ve transited multiple times and never had an issue using binoculars as long as I as moving around. The one time I spent time in one spot at a coffee place I lasted about an hour before police escorted me to there offices. I was made to sign a document saying I would not do this again before letting me go about 90 mins later. I think it was making notes they really didn’t like. Fortunately a lot of stuff is close enough to be eyeballed. Most foreign carriers will taxi past on the way to D gates. Fly dubai park on the other side of the airport along with a few other airlines. Biz and cargo also park on the far side. Depending on runway usage some of these may taxi past as well. The Irish pub or one of the lounges has good views and I’ve never had a problem using binoculars when within these places.
D gates also have decent views but you are limited to these stands and cant see any of the emirates stands.
Fly Dubai terminal was pretty restrictive when I was there several years ago but you could see movements.
HOTELS
Holiday inn Express - You can book rooms with airport view on the website. However you are facing the terminal with no view of the runways and stands behind. Only several emirates stands can be seen. All movements can be seen in the distance when they depart above the terminal or arrive and taxi past a very small gap inbetween the terminals off to the right. SBS would be required for most stuff and the level of concentration you need to try and see everything is painful. Will never stay here again. Free shuttle bus every 30 mins to the terminal.
Premier Inn - Having stayed at the holiday inn I popped in to the Premier to see what the rooftop pool was like. Terrible views. A wall blocks most of the airport with views off to the left. Again all movements would be seen in the distance as they either arrived or departed and except for some Emirates stuff parking on this side of the terminal SBS would be required for everything. I doubt the rooms would be any better than the Holiday Inn. In fact the windows are at and angle meaning it would be harder to see aircraft passing the small gap between the terminals. Will never stay here. Free shuttle bus every 30 mins. Has a costa and the restaurant/ pub looked good.
Hilton Garden Inn – Unfortunately they had a complaint from a local police officer who saw someone taking photos. So they don’t allow spotting from the rooftop pool anymore. Saying that the pool boys are really nice and if nobody else is up there they will let you have a look. Wifi works well up there if your happy to monitor FR24. There are views over the entire airport and all aircraft can be read off as they arrive or depart, allowing for some good side on photos if you get chance. It also has good views of D Gates where most airlines park except for Emirates and FlyDubai. Most of them can even be read off as they taxi in, even when its mad dogs and englishmen. Several remote stands can also be read off along with some stuff going to the far side depending which way it taxis.
Rooms 701, 702 and 703 have views. Same for the sixth floor. Not sure how good the 5th floor would be. Its not as good from the room but you can still read some stuff and see all movements.
The hotel is actually pretty cheap, which was surprising. I could have stayed there for less than the Holiday Inn. The pool area isn’t massive and not amazing but there are some shades up there to keep out of the sun. There is a supermarket next door for cheap drinks and snacks. If you turn right out of the hotel and then right again there are some decent restaurants down there.
Marriot – Closed Down.
Nojoum - Next door to the Hilton. Another rooftop pool but a wall prevents good views of the airport. All movements can be read as they arrive or depart though with some good photo ops. I wouldn’t stay here again unless I could guarantee an apartment overlooking the airport. I believe you have to book a two bedroom though. A much more traditional arabian hotel with no facilities that I can remember.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The days of unusual stuff has gone with the new airport handling a lot of the cargo and Biz. Emirates dominate and Flydubai buzz around like flys.
Saying that theres still a lot of stuff thats not easy to see elsewhere with regular flights from the surrounding countries. India has a lot of flights as does Saudi. Airlines such as Iraqi, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Air Astana, and Rwandair can all be seen.
