Tallinn is a relatively small airport in the former Soviet state of Estonia. It is luckily served by a number of low-cost airlines, so is relatively cheap to reach – especially from the UK.

Traffic at the airport isn’t fast-paced by any means, but you can usually catch a number of Soviet and Scandinavian regional aircraft hanging around, which makes it different to many other airports in Europe.

Inside the terminal, the Graf Zeppelin restaurant has views over the ramp, and an outdoor terrace which is open in good weather.

Outside the terminal, if you turn left you will come to a fence which looks over the ramp.
If you turn right, an industrial area offers some views across to aircraft parked away from the ramp.

ES-LTA is a Tupolev TU-134 which has been stored at the airport for years.

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…

Warsaw has become an easy low-cost getaway from many countries in Europe – particularly with airlines such as Wizz Air and Ryanair offering low fares.

Warsaw’s Frederic Chopin Airport is very spotter friendly if you stay within the allocated areas. It’s terminal building has an open air observation deck which gives views over the parking apron and runways. Reports state that most movements can be seen from here.

All visitors are subject to a meticulous security check on entering the observation deck.

Ticket price:
standard PLN 3,00
reduced PLN 2,00

Opening hours:
6.30 until 20.30

(Warsaw is covered in my new book – Airport Spotting Guides: Europe. Out soon!)

Those of you venturing to the US East Coast’s version of Vegas may be interested to know of a few opportunities to spot the action at Atlantic City’s airport.

As you’d expect with a leisure venue, the list of carriers mainly includes low-cost and charter airlines, as well as a healthy selection of smaller airliners from private airlines.

The best location to watch the action is on the top floor of the new car park opposite the terminal. From here you can see across the entire airfield, and even to the military base on the far side.

Stored airliners at Atlantic City include an ex-Delta L1011, ex-united Boeing 747SP, and ex-Air Canada Boeing 737. These can also be seen from the parking garage.

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.

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?