If you’re heading to Miami Airport for some spotting, I recommend this hotel to you.
The Red Roof Inn has generally good views over the northern part of the airport, in particular the aircraft from South America, and is situated at the end of the northern of the parallel runways.
The hotel’s address is:
3401 Northwest Le Jeune Rd.
Miami, FL 33142
Their website is www.redroof.com
Since so many people ask, and so many visit each year, I think it’s high time I write a post on spotting at Rome’s Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) airport.
I’ve covered this in my Airport Spotting Guides Europe book, but for those doing web research, here’s an overview of the main locations when spotting in Rome.
1. Terminal B Gallery
Inside Terminal B, head upstairs above the check-in areas to the Terrazza Roma Gallerie. Here you’ll find a cafe with large windows looking out over the action. This is the best view you’ll get from the terminal areas, although a few windows near the cafe do have some views. You’ll be able to see action on two of the runways, and will see most of the aircraft at some stage in their visit. Beware - police patrol here, and you will also be expected to purchase food/drink in the cafe.
2. Runway 16L/34R
A road runs from the terminal area along the entire length of this runway. If you have a car, head in the direction of Fiumicino village. It may be a little far to walk along here. The road has a few pull-in points where you can stop to log movements. At the northerly end, you’ll find an area to the side of the road where you can pull over and photograph arrivals if they’re from the north.
3. Between Runways
Following the road from location 2, turn right at the first T-junction you come to. This track will eventually lead to an area with some views back towards the terminal area (parts you can’t see from the cafe), and also of aircraft on the 07/25 runway. This is a residential area, so be careful.
To order Airport Spotting Guides Europe, go to this link.
Malaga Airport in the south of Spain has finally provided an official spotting location. You can find it at the aviation museum near the original terminal. To reach it, from the main terminal area, head towards the city but turn right at the first roundabout.
The location is fenced in, and overlooks the threshold of Runway 32, as well as the light aircraft and biz jet parking ramp. Sadly it faces into the sun.
It is open Mon-Fri 10am-8pm, and on weekend mornings.
The museum has a number of preserved aircraft, including a DC-3 (EC-ABC), Beech 18 (EC-ASJ), DH Dove PH-VLA, Convair 440 N8042W and nose section of an Iberia DC-9 (EC-CGO).
You may be aware that there are a number of stored Fokker F-27 aircraft at Cologne/Bonn airport, owned by WDL Aviation. These have been present a number of years, stored at the far side of the cargo terminal area and only just visible from the terminal viewing deck.
It has recently been announced that these aircraft are to move on. Although mostly they will not be scrapped, they will be scattered all over Europe. So if you need them, now is the time to head over to Cologne to catch them!
The aircraft are:
D-ADOP
D-AELC
D-AELD
D-AELE
D-AELF
D-AELH
D-AELI
D-BAKC
D-BCEA (FH227)
(Source: Airport Spotting Guides Europe book)
One aircraft will remain at Cologne/Bonn. The rest will be used as training aircraft and for display purposes around Europe, including one at a furniture store in Sweden.
A timescale has not been announced, but expect it to be very soon.
The new book by the author of this blog covers 35 of Europe's best airports for spotting.
Each guide includes a map, spotting locations, technical information, contact details, list of airlines, list of aircraft stored/preserved/wrecked at each airport, and details of the best hotels and rooms to stay in.