East Midlands Airport Spotting Guide

by Matt Falcus
40.8K views
DHL 767 at East Midlands

The UK’s busiest airport for cargo aircraft movements is not at one of London’s airports, as you might imagine (although Heathrow handles the largest amount of cargo, largely through belly freight in passenger aircraft).

No, it’s at a regional airport 120 miles north of the capital.

East Midlands is, as the name suggests, in the Midlands of the UK which makes it fairly central. It is situated alongside the main M1 motorway and has a single east-west runway.

 

Cargo Movements

DHL 767 at East Midlands

DHL 767 at East Midlands

The majority of cargo movements are by DHL Aviation which operates from a large dedicated facility and parking apron at the western end of the airport. Its Airbus A300, Boeing 757 and 767-300 freighters dominate, but you’ll also see flights to DHL’s facility by ASL Airlines, Kalitta Air, Southern Air and Swiftair.

Another cargo apron and associated facilities are at the eastern end of the airport. This is generally used by UPS Airlines, Jet2, West Atlantic, Loganair, Woodgate Aviation and other ad-hoc operators such as Ethiad Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo and Icelandair Cargo.

Most of the cargo movements happen at night, between 9pm-3am, making East Midlands a good place to be around in the hours of darkness. Saturday tends to be fairly quiet for cargo operations, and during the daytime you’ll often see a few DHL and UPS planes parked up.

You can find a Cargo Flights Timetable for East Midlands which is kept fairly up to date here: http://aerofred.juice.org.uk/EMA/east_mids_cargo.html

 

Passenger Airlines

Among the passenger operators at East Midlands, Jet2, Ryanair, Thomas Chook Airlines and Thomson Airways have base operations here. The majority of flights are low-cost routes to European holiday destinations.

Other carriers you may see here include Aurigny, bmi Regional and Flybe.

 

East Midlands Airport Spotting Map

Spotting Locations

east-midlands airport spotting

Castle Donington Crash Gate

Most spotters congregate at the crash gate on the northern side of the airfield as it is an accepted place to spot and offers the best views of all movements. To reach the gate, head to the village of Castle Donington. Close to the Aeropark museum, there’s a pub with a small road next to it (Diseworth Road, postcode DE74 2PS). This road leads to the crash gate. You can see the passenger terminal and DHL apron, and all runway movements. It is good for photography through holes in the fence and once aircraft are above the fence line. You can also wander along the path which extends along the airport’s northern boundary from here.

 

east-midlands-airport spotting

Hangar Area

From the airport’s long stay car parks and access roads near DHL, you can drive to an area among the hangars which will yield any aircraft receiving maintenance, as well as some executive and light aircraft. You can photograph them through the fence, but don’t stay too long in this area. Head for Dakota Road (postcode DE74 2TL).

Runway 27 Crash Gate

Another crash gate near the end of runway 27 is a good place to park up and watch aircraft movements. If you prefer to photograph with the sun behind you a trail heads off around the perimeter fence from here to the south side of the runway threshold where good shots of aircraft landing and lining up can be taken. The northern perimeter track also extends from this crash gate, eventually reaching location 1. Head for Ashby Road postcode DE74 2DJ.

 

Argosy at East Midlands Aeropark

Argosy at East Midlands Aeropark

East Midlands Aeropark is a compact outdoor museum of aviation exhibits, including a Nimrod, Argosy and Vulcan, and has good views of runway movements. Opens Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in summer, and Sundays only in winter www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org

 

Spotting Hotels

Radisson Blu East Midlands

Radisson Blu East Midlands
Pegasus Business Park, Herald Way, East Midlands Airport DE74 2TZ | +44 1509 67055 | www.radissonblu.co.uk
A recent addition. Many rooms overlook the threshold of runway 27 and parts of the eastern cargo ramp. You can see most movements, and photograph aircraft arriving/departing with a 300mm lens.

[Here’s a Review of the Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport]

 

Public Transport

East Midlands Airport is linked to Derby, Leicester, Loughborough and Nottingham (and their railway stations) via bus services. Bus #155 from the passenger terminal also stops next to the Aeropark and spotting location 1 in Castle Donington.

 

Airport Spotting Guides UK & Ireland

All of the spotting highlights listed on this page and many more are in our new book, Airport Spotting Guides UK & Ireland.

This book details the best spotting locations at over 80 of the UK’s airports and airfields. It lists the best places for photography, driving and public transport instructions, and gives an indication of what aircraft and airlines you’re likely to see at each location. OUT NOW!

Buy Your Copy Here

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15 comments

Mandy McCartney June 25, 2017 - 7:11 pm

My 19 month old grandson is potty about aeroplanes I would like to take him to see them, I am concerned about how he will react to the noise.
Is there any indoor viewing? If so is there a charge. Thank you

Reply
Matt Falcus June 25, 2017 - 7:24 pm

Hi Mandy. There are no indoor viewing areas at East Midlands. The Aeropark near Castle Donington is great – it’s not too close to the runway, and your grandson can look at the planes they’ve preserved there.

Reply
chris newcombe September 4, 2017 - 9:24 pm

Just to settle an argument, do any Fokker friendships fly out of E.M.A. Aircraft resembling one flies overhead most days resulting in the utterance of the obvious
cliche “It’s a Fokker” Thanks to anyone who can help
Chris.

Reply
Matt Falcus September 5, 2017 - 9:36 am

Hi Chris, as far as I know there are no Fokker Friendships flying anywhere in Europe. It may be a Fokker 50, which is similar, but I’m not sure of any airline flying them in to EMA. Could be a DHC-8 of Flybe, or an ATR 42/ATR 72?
Matt

Reply
big fella November 7, 2017 - 2:43 pm

now there building the new buisness area you cannot get to the crash gate viewing area to spot.

Reply
Ian Nicholls March 25, 2018 - 3:43 pm

Hi, does the terminal still have a cafeteria overlooking the apron and runway? There was a great little hobby shop when I last visited, is that still there too?

Reply
Matt Falcus March 26, 2018 - 8:27 am

Hi Ian, I think the shop closed a few years ago. Not sure about the cafe, but I think that’s also gone.

Reply
Zsolt May 3, 2018 - 8:11 am

Hi everybody. My name is Zsolt, I am a hungarian spotter. I will be in Derby between 30JUN-03JUL on a family visit near to EMA airport (Castle Donngton). I planning a spotting day, will be anybody there in this period to help me find the best places? Thynk you

Reply
Angela Woods July 5, 2018 - 9:32 pm

Can you park on the aeropark car park to view without paying and also is it open at all times

Reply
Matt Falcus July 6, 2018 - 8:44 am

I think they close the car park gates when the Aeropark is closed. However, if you drive from there towards Castle Donington and take the first right (Diseworth Road), it comes to a viewing point which is free to park at.

Reply
ryan July 23, 2019 - 9:30 am

is the gate at runway 27 still accessable by road as I know there doing road works but wanted to know if still able to get to gate 27 as they have few picnic benches there to take the kids>?

Reply
Matt Falcus July 23, 2019 - 12:20 pm

Yes it is, but as you say roadworks bringing it down to 1 lane at the moment.

Reply
dick August 2, 2019 - 1:55 pm

Hello Mat We are off to Donington Park for the racing over the weekend, camp site sorted for sat night but cant get a pog for friday night, is there anywhere close to the airport we can park a car and caravan to see the cargo planes coming in/out ???

Reply
Richard Caville January 29, 2020 - 5:33 am

Hi, is it OK for late evening/ night photography & parking at any of the viewing places? Are you likely to attract attention?! Which one is best? Thx.

Reply
Matt Falcus January 29, 2020 - 10:17 am

It’s usually fine to use any of the spotting locations at night.

Reply

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