Airport Spotting Blog

I recently flew to Cartagena in Colombia for a short trip away from Bogota. We flew on AeroRepublica EMB-190 and had a great experience - although the flight was a little bumpy going out, with the afternoon thunderstorms brewing around the coast.

Cartagena is a lovely old walled city, full of Caribbean charm, colourful buildings, endless vistas of the sea, sunsets, and great wining and dining experiences. But you’re here for the aircraft, so I’ll carry on.

The terminal at Cartagena Airport is very modern. And sadly it does not knowingly cater for the spotter at all. When arriving or departing, passengers funnel through a walkway which leads between the aircraft and the terminal. If you’re in the departure lounge, your view out of the window is of this walkway and its slatted wall. In order to see aircraft, you have to wait until they move, and with binoculars focussed on a gap, hope the registration passes by.

Nevertheless, once you walk to/from the aircraft, you do get a chance to see what’s on the smallish ramp. This usually includes MD-80s and F100s of Avianca, EMB-190s of AeroRepublica, 737-700s and DHC-8s of AIRES, and the odd US airline such as Spirit. Movements are fairly quiet - maybe 4 per hour at peak times.

Cartagena does play host to a number of biz jets each day, however. They park either to the side of the airliner ramp, or on the ramp on the opposite side of the runway. Also, there are a number of Air Force and Navy aircraft in residence, including Casa CN235s.

Around the terminal there are no obvious views of the aircraft, apart from on the road passing the end of the runway, where you’ll see aircraft just as they depart or land. I wouldn’t venture much around looking for holes in the fence, as there ’s a strong military presence, and the housing area is quite poor around the airport.

AeroRepublica HK-4506 at Cartagena

AIRES 737-700s fly from Bogota

These two biz jets were in Cartagena in July 2009

Cartagena Airport from above

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.

Manchester Airport’s excellent Aviation Viewing Park’s entrance prices have changed. They are now:

£2 for pedestrians
£5 for cars + driver (extra cost for passengers)

The viewing decks at Zurich will now close on 1 November for building work.

The deck on Pier E will re-open in January 2009.

Thanks to Thomas Jaeger for the information.

Why not purchase Airport Spotting Guides Europe to find out alternative spotting locations at Zurich?

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.