There are two ‘official’ locations at Baltimore Washington Airport it seems.

From a recent report, the best one is that inside the terminal. This overlooks most action, though some will be missed on Runway 15L. There is also a preserved nose section from Boeing 737 c/n 19307 here.

The other location is to the south of the airport, under the approach to Runway 33L. Aircraft approaching Runway 33R can also be noted. You can reach this spot from Dorsey Road. It is not ideal as registrations are hard to see and photography is even harder. You are also have very limited views of any aircraft on the ground or departing.

Credit to Darren Kellett for the report.

Budapest Airport has an excellent little museum outside Terminal 2. It houses a collection of former Malev and Soviet airliners.

It costs 800 HUF for admission to the museum.

Inmates include:
HA-MOA Ilyushin IL-18, Malev
HA-MOG Ilyushin IL-18, Malev
HA-LCG Tupolev TU-154, Malev
HA-LBE Tupolev TU-134, Malev
HA-LIQ Lisunov LI-2T, Malev
04-RED Ilyushin IL-14, Soviet Air Force
HA-MHI Antononv AN-2M
HA-BCB Mil MI-2

All aircraft can be seen and logged from the approach road to Terminal 2 without actually entering the museum.

A recent report from spotters visiting Washington Reagan National Airport states that Gravelly Point Park, just off George Washington Memorial Parkway, is an excellent spot.

This is particularly the case if aircraft are landing from the north, as they will pass very close to you.

If aircraft are landing from the south, you can still read off most movements from this location, although photography may be unfruitful.

This also seems to be a location that is tolerated by the local authorities, as the report states the spotters had no problems being there.

A recent report from a spotting trip to Chicago O’Hare gave a bit of information about the Hilton Hotel here. This is the best option for spotting hotels in Chicago, and can allow you to log most movements from the right rooms.

The reporter stayed in room 10080, and claims the staff were very helpful in giving him a room with airport views.

One note was that the corridor, where the ice machine is located, has a window with looks over the cargo ramps. So be sure to make trips there from time to time.

New aircraft around North America worth looking out for this month include:

N638VA A320-214 – New Virgin America delivery
N245DT 737-4B7 – Now stored at Marana after Adam Air lease.
N597AS 737-890 – New Alaska delivery
N623CZ EMB-145 – New Northwest/Compass delivery
N78511 737-824 – New Continental delivery
N923FD 757-204 – Now flying for FedEx, ThomsonFly colours
N923XJ CRJ900 – New Northwest/Mesaba delivery
C-FIVM 777-333 – New Air Canada delivery
XA-ACA 757-2Q8 – Now flying for Aladia

As always, send us your comments and updates to this list

Some new aircraft around Europe worth looking out for this month include:

9A-CQA DHC-8-400 – First of type for Croatia Airlines
PH-MCL 767-300 – Wearing Martinair 50th Anniversary colours
D-AHIA 737-73S – Now flying with TUIFly
D-AHXI 737-7K5 – New TUIFly delivery
EC-KQR 737-900 – Futura’s first of type immediately on lease to ArkeFly
EC-KRA 737-300 – Now flying for Swiftair
EI-CSH 737-8AS – Left Ryanair fleet for CanJet
G-BPNT BAe 146 – Flightline aircraft now wearing full VLM colours
G-XLAP 737-900ER – First of type for XL Airways
LY-AWF 737-522 – Now flying with FlyLal
OK-TVH 737-8Q8 – New Travel Service delivery
OM-ASE 737-306 – Now flying with Air Slovakia
OM-RAN 737-200 – Flying again with Air Slovakia

As always, send us your comments and updates to this list

Earlier this week I was in Madrid on business, flying with Jet2 through Terminal 1. Since Terminal 4 is now the focus of this huge airport, I thought I’d update you on the spotting situation in the older terminal – especially since most low cost airlines seem to serve it.

Once airside, most gate areas have a window looking in either direction along the terminal, and most have views across to the cargo ramp and runways.

An eating area between the A and B gates is fronted by large windows looking over the long-haul part of the terminal.

Further to the south, the extended part of the terminal is much more modern. It handles long haul flights by airlines such as Air Europa, Air Comet, TAM, Santa Barbara Airlines and Aeromexico. This long part of the building has views at each gate across the cargo and sometime storage area, though larger aircraft often obstruct the view.

This video report was made yesterday for the UEFA Cup Final at Manchester and the influx of spotters to the airport.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7401713.stm

I’m not particularly impressed with the seeming lack of respect from the reporter and her joking attitude. What are your thoughts on it?

There has been some discussion on the Civil Spotters group about the best e-mail address to use if you want to obtain a photography permit for visiting Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The best address to use is Le Commandant Xavier Huby at:

xavier.huby@seine-saint-denis.pref.gouv.fr

The amount of time it takes to receive passes seems to vary, but it’s generally accepted that once you have a pass it does not expire.

Christchurch Airport in New Zealand has had an excellent outdoor viewing deck for many years. This is now under threat, however, according to a report by Geoff Pierce.

Improvements to the terminal are likely to close the viewing area, with much more limited views only available from inside.

Geoff states: “I have been in touch with the Airport authorities on an irregular basis, since my last visit in 2006 and subscribe to the CHC redevelopment newsletter. The latest news received today, is that the
viewing deck will `probably` not be finally closing until around November 2009. (usual caveats apply)”