Sunderland Air Show takes place this year on Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July, with flying from 10am-6pm.

Since Sunderland has no airfield these days, the visiting aircraft tend to stay at Durham Tees Valley and Newcastle Airports overnight, and quite often put on a little display at each as they depart/arrive for the seafront show at Sunderland.

Newcastle has announced there will be a small viewing area at Samsons on the south side, where the Wings bar used to be. This will give a good view of what’s in, since it all parks on the south side. Click here for a map.

If you’re at Durham Tees Valley, there’s usually ample places to watch the action. The best is probably from the layby at the end of Runway 23, on the A67 road. Click here for a map.

Following the petition held recently by aircraft enthusiasts in the Newcastle area to have a viewing area built, it seems the airport has finally given in and announced plans to build an area for viewing.

The airport recently bought the original 1930s terminal building and its owner Samsons Aviation on the south side of the airport. As well as developing GA and business flights, it will also add a visitors centre with a viewing area in the historic building.

This is great news for the area’s spotters, who have been deprived since the official viewing terrace at the terminal closed i 2003.

Newcastle Airport in the north east of England is quite a busy little regional airport. In fact, it even has its own Emirates flight to Dubai each day, so it’s not that much of a regional airport, but more of an international gateway.

The summer months are always best for quality of movements. It’s also one of the last places to see easyJet 737′s before they leave the fleet.

The airport used to be good for viewing, but terminal expansions put a stop to that.

When I visited the other week I parked up near the end of runway 25. Follow signs for Dinnington from the terminal, and then turn right and you’ll soon reach the end of the runway on your right.

Although a tall fence stops you from being able to see what’s happening on the ground, this spot is actually pretty good for taking photos of aircraft using either direction of the runway (although better for landing shots on 25). There’s even a handy bench you can stand on to give you an advantage.

I’ve added a couple of shots from my visit below…

Aircraft spotters at Newcastle Airport in the UK have set up a petition to bring back viewing facilities at the airport. It once had a dedicated roof gallery, and indoor areas to watch aircraft. Now, since the expansion of the terminal buildings there are no official locations to watch aircraft.

If you feel inclined to sign the petition, click the following link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/newcastleviewinggallery/?e