Planespotting Guides for Spain's Airports and Airfields
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Spotting locations, viewing areas, and the best spotting hotel rooms for planespotters travelling to airports and airfields in Austria. Use the hotlinks above or scroll down for spotting information on spotting locations, airfield hangar access, aviation museums, preserved aircraft. Plus all the information has been plotted as Points of Interest and can be downloaded to your SatNavs, Google Earth and Google Maps to make planning your spotting trips abroad so much easier and helping you log many more
A list of stored aircraft based around Spain's airports can be found at RNAC. Aena gives arrivals for the next 24 hours for any Spanish airport, great for timing your visit
ALICANTE AIRPORT (LEAL/ALC) - TWR 118.15, APP 120.4 & 118.8
Spotting Info
Airside has great views of all gates bar the far eastern gate which is at an angle to the terminal and the jetty blocks the aircraft. To the left of here is a window giving you a view of the biz to read off. You can walk the gates logging and with bins you can read the aircraft parked remotely. There are plenty of chairs to sit and watch movements.
If you have a car, south of the airport is a road that runs parallel with the runway and almost the full length. You can park up for the day and watch movements, take photos and it has good views of the gates, biz, cargo and GA. To get here from the south, take the El Altet exit from the main coast road (the exit before the airport), and then follow signs to El Altet. Once in the town centre, take a left turn at the first set of traffic lights and follow this road over two roundabouts until you see the runway. When you get to a bend adjacent to the runway, you will see a dirt track sharp right which leads you parallel to the runway. There are several spots along here you can spot from, and one has a dirt mound which allows photos over the perimeter fence.
BARCELONA AIRPORT (LEBL/BCN) - TWR 118.1 & 118.325, APP 119.1 & 124.7, GND 121.7 & 121.85
Airport Info
Iberia have only a few flights here now, you can expect to nearly fleet Vueling, and Air Europa has lots of flights too. Saturdays are good for Russian airlines. 07L/25R in front of the terminals is for arrivals, 07R/25L is for departures with some heavies using 25R. In the evenings you may get some arrivals on 25L and even on the cross runway 20. Airport goes a bit quiet in the afternoon, somewhere between 1400-1530, so if you've stayed airside so far, this may be a good time to venture landside to get the biz, cargo, stored aircraft etc.
A T10 card gives 10 trips on the bus, metro and train network in zone 1 (of which the airport is part), costs EUR7.20 compared to EUR1.30 per single trip, and gives you about an hour to finish your journey, so transfers are allowed if completed within that time. The train (L10 line) only runs every half hour.
Terminal 2 Spotting Info
Part of the cargo area can be seen from the Terminal A car park (at the western end of the main Terminal 2 complex) - please be aware you may be approached by car park attendants who seem to think the use of binoculars is not allowed. Car park A is usually hassle free but there have been reports to the contrary. If this does happen, head to the main cashiers desk for Car Park A and explain the situation. The person at the cashier desk seems to be in charge and will overrule the attendants and allow you to carry on with your hobby (although you'll have missed aircraft by now). The guy in charge should then give you a signed and stamped note in Spanish saying you can spot and photograph from the roof as long as you want.
Terminal C car park (at the eastern end of the Terminal 2 complex) offers views of aircraft taxiing out for departure and of the GA ramp for the biz though they are often parked at the wrong angles. There's also the Medas cafe at Terminal C (though you have to look through the M0 airside area with passengers walking back and forth) and the Medas Bar in Terminal B.
Biz Apron & Terminal
If you want to walk to the biz area, once landside exit the building, turn right, and follow the fence. It's signed 'Terminal Corporativa", keep following the fenceline and you'll be able to log most of the aircraft from various spots. You may be approached by security but it's just a simple check and they'll allow you to carry on.
25R and 25L thresholds, 25R viewing platform
Useful only if using 25 runways, this walk goes past the stored aircraft, round to the viewing platform and thresholds. From the biz area detailed above, if you continue east for around 30 minutes (depending on stops to log movements) you'll reach the 25R threshold - go past the GA and keep following the road and airport perimeter fence. Past the biz terminal the road bends right then left. On the left bend, looks straight towards the airport, as next to the threshold of the old runway 20 is the fenced off dump where you'll find three Metros (presumably three from EC-EZD, EC-EZE, EC-FPC, EC-GAN which are possibly all white, plus PA31 EC-CDS). Follow the road until the end and turn right at the next island. Just over the road is a track used by joggers and cyclists - this will take you around to the end of both runways. When you get to the runway 25R lights, there is a pit stop for the bike, and lots of concrete sun loungers for you to sit and spot.
It's directly under the approach on very short finals so optics aren't necessary but not ideal if the registrations aren't under the wings, so you may need to move either side of the centreline for a better spot. No hassle from security, this is a popular place for locals, spotters and photographers - great for photography. There's no shelter from the wind though a cluster of palm trees will help hide the sun. No shops but there is a portaloo near the cemetery. You can read some of the biz from here, though heat haze will make it difficult. There is a viewing platform near the 25R threshold, 10-12ft high with a double ramp leading up to it, no gates therefore open all the time. This platform is totally exposed and with the coastal breeze, the heat can be deceiving. No views of departures on 25L though you can read off anything that taxis down to 25L. 1km further south is the 25L threshold to read off departures if you wish to walk down to it, and you can read most arrivals if you pick the right spot.
Airside
Best to stay airside all day until you need to check in, although, depending on the airline, you can check in straight away, as early as you like. Three concourses: A, B and C. If you come in at A you'll pass through a security gate in to the main concourse. Follow the signs for concourses B and C. You can now walk the length of the terminal with plenty of windows and seats for you to view from. Head for the far end of Terminal C and follow signs for "M 0". Everything but the cargo area can be seen from here, including the GA ramp, though the biz and GA are parked nose on and difficult to read. You may also be able to see the stored Metros detailed above. Part of the cargo area can be seen from Terminal A car park (detailed above) but most should taxi past Terminal C at some point. This place has plenty of seats, is out of the way, near to toilets and close to two different food outlets, both reasonably priced.
If they change runway direction, walk back to concourse B and pick a suitable spot. Gate B4 has good views. Gates B32-35 has good views of arrivals including any vacating the runway early. Most departures taxi past with the odd aircraft tucked down the opposite end, but if you have your wits about you, you will notice them, and can be easily read off as they taxi in the distance on the opposite side. Worth staying a full day as even after dark the aircraft can still be read off on the near taxiways and nobody will bother you all day.
Planespotting Hotels - its location is marked in the Spotting in Spain download
The Ciutat del Prat Hotel in El Prat de Llobregat is about a mile from the airport and has no views of the airport at all. Ask for a room on the south wing and facing outwards. You need to ask for rooms 304-311, 404-411, 501-503 and 601-603. Floors 4, 5 and 6 are smoking floors, but the 3rd would just about be OK, however below that the flats would get in the way. From the 4th floor the flats block the view so that you can only see the approaches for either 25s or 07s until a couple of kilometres out. You are nowhere near enough to read the regs but you can usually make out the airline to tie up on SBS. The only movements you will be able to log are with an SBS box. The corridor also has views of the distant approaches. They have a free shuttle bus to/from the airport but it is very unreliable and often takes ages to turn up when you ask for it, so the train is a much better bet. From the airport travel 1 stop on the train to El Prat de Llobregat and then a short walk to the hotel. The train (L10 line) only runs every half hour. You can walk to the 25R threshold, takes about 45 minutes, as the bus from El Prat to the cemetery (PR3) is hourly you may not want to wait. If using 07s, it's best to log from the room using SBS.
The Ciutat del Prat Hotel features on     for reviews, prices and room availability
BARCELONA-SANT CUGAT del VALLES STORED
Spotting Info
KC97s TK.1-1 and TK.1-2 are preserved at the Chic Prive Nightclub in the northwest of Sant Cugat del Valles town. They are behind this building and can be seen from the Avinguda dels Paisos Catalans that runs alongside it and over the railway line. Their location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
BELLVEI AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Northwest of Bellvei village, near the railway line. A small microlight and ultralight strip, usually closed during the week so best to visit at the weekend.
BINISSALEM AIRFIELD, MALLORCA
Spotting Info
Southeast of Binissalem town. A good number of microlight and ultralight residents.
CASARRUBIOS AIRFIELD, MALLORCA
Spotting Info
West of El Alamo town. Friendly, ask for access. Many of the hangars have large gaps to let air circulate so you can read the inmates if hangars are locked.
CATRAL AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Small strip, usually closed on Sundays, best to visit on a Saturday.
EL BERRIEL AIRFIELD, GRAN CANARIA (GCLB)
Spotting Info
Just east of Tarajalillo village. Friendly, ask for access, though photography is not allowed. EC-BBT DC7 is the gate guard - its location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
FUERTEVENTURA AIRPORT (GCFV/FUE) - TWR 118.5 & 119.2, APP 129.3, GND 121.7
Spotting Info
Saturdays (lots of Germans) and Mondays tend to be the busiest, with Fridays the quietest. Once airside there is an open air terrace with good views. You can get the ferry to Lanzarote from Corralejo at the northern most part of the island. Once in Lanzarote there is a free bus that takes you to Arrecife and then the airport.
For reviews, prices and room availability of hotels nearby, visit
GIRONA AIRPORT
Spotting Info
The car park next to the terminal has good views of the well lit ramps, both terminal and GA, so most can be read off even at night. The road to the side of the car park leads up to the light aircraft area, where you'll also find the red forward fuselage of CV990 EC-BQQ. Airside, all movements can be easily seen.
IBIZA-ES CODOLA AIRPORT (LEIB/IBZ) - TWR 118.5, APP 118.125 & 119.8, GND 121.8
Spotting Info
A polite request at the Aena information desk should get you a list of the days flights and in the afternoon they are also able to give you the list for tomorrow as well. Saturday mornings are the best, lots of German flights start arriving from about 0700, whilst Fridays see a British invasion. Evenings tend to be busy, especially after dark so an SBS will be required unless you can sit in a car along the track parallel to the runway and hope the stand lighting is adequate enough. The quietest day is Wednesday.
For views of the aprons, turn right out of the terminal, walk along the main road, past the fuel installation to the eastern end of the airfield. Here a dirt track off to the right leads to the edge of the airfield and apron area where all that is parked can be seen, and the taxiway goes right past to the 24 runway threshold.
Many viewing points including a bar at the southern end of Playa D'en Bossa near the Hippy market.
If you are on the southern end of the island you will see most inbounds, and most, if not all, of the outbounds. You can hire a pushbike for just a few Euros as there is a track that runs parallel to the runway, great for logging and only takes 5 minutes or so to get to. No problems from police.
Planespotting Hotels - their locations are marked in the Spotting in Spain download
The Hard Rock Hotel is under the final approach for runway 24. On the 4th floor rooms 401-412 & 435-442, and the same rooms for the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th floors have views straight down the runway, the executive ramp plus the airliner parking stands. A good pair of bins will read most of the aircraft although as the day gets hotter the heat haze can interfere. Obviously SBS will complete your log. The swimming pool area is shaded with excellent views of the 24 approach at under 1000feet as they pass by the hotel. It has it's own beach area with the same excellent view of the approach. The Parasols beach bar along the beach also has the same good views.
The Hard Rock Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability
The Hotel Club Bahamas is the closest to the airport on the east side and has views of aircraft on final approach to 24 and is close enough to read off those departing off 06. Ask for an airport view.
The Hotel Club Bahamas features on for reviews, prices and room availability
IGUALADA-ODENA AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
East of Igualada and south of Odena. 70+ aircraft, gliders and gyrocopters based. Also the home of the Ultramagic balloon factory. There is normally a major balloon fiesta in mid-July and light aircraft fly-ins are a popular feature here.
LA AXARQUIA-LEONI BENABU AIRFIELD (LEAX)
Spotting Info
Northeast of Benamocarra town. You'll see a few aircraft parked here but the majority are parked in hangars across the runway. You have to ask to access these hangars, which are usually locked up anyway.
LANZAROTE-ARRECIFE AIRPORT (GCRR/ACE) - TWR 120.7, APP 129.3, GND 121.8
Spotting Info
The best day tends to be Sunday and Friday lunchtime sees a lot of Scandanavian flights. No problems from security if you spot from the perimeter, they patrol regularly and are happy for you to stay.
No views landside in Terminal 1 but good views once airside and there's an outside eating area. At Terminal 2 there are partial views either side of the terminal of the ramp and GA.
The airport museum is free and is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am-2pm. EC-BND PA32 is preserved in the car park opposite the museum. Displayed outside the military side of the airfield is C.14-75 '14-51' Mirage F.1CE. It's on a roundabout and is accessible from the airport via the road to the military side. The museum and preserved aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
Lanzarote Airport Spotting Info
LAS PALMAS AIRPORT, GRAN CANARIA (GCLP/LPA)
Spotting Info
There is a terrace area in departures which allows most of what is in to be read off.
LLUCHMAJOR (GLOBALIA), MALLORCA
Spotting Info
West of Lluchmajor town. There are reportedly 3 airframes stored at Globalia.
LLUCHMAJOR AIRFIELD, CTRA. de PALMA-SANTANYI, MALLORCA
Spotting Info
Southeast of Lluchmajor town. Various hangars but residents unknown - if you visit please let me know!
LOS GARRANCHOS AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
West of El Mirador village. Very friendly, ask for access. The local English instructor, Chris Pickles, teaches the English NPPL valid in Spain. Anyone with an interest in aircraft is very welcome to visit. The field has one tarmac runway, two hangars and a workshop.
Los Garranchos, takes a while to fully load.
MADRID-BARAJAS AIRPORT (LEMD/MAD) - TWR 118.075 & 118.15, APP 124.025 & 127.5, GND 121.7 & 121.85
Spotting Info
Iberia's main hub used by their long and short haul and regional aircraft. Terminal 4 is for the One World Alliance: the main Terminal 4 building is for short haul and domestic, with the Terminal 4 Satellite mainly international. If you're after Iberia's long haul fleet, most of them leave from 12:00pm onwards so make sure you're at a suitable place to see them in time for this mass exodus. You can expect to see around half a dozen South American carriers on Wednesdays. The Iberia maintenance and hangar area contains their stored aircraft but is only viewed on landing or take off so make sure you sit on the correct side depending on runway usage. Depending on wind direction they'll arrive on 33s and depart on 36s, or arrive on 18s and depart on 15s.
Depending on runway direction you may wish to spend some time at the top of the car park (P2) level 6 though you may get moved on by security. It seems to depend on who is working whether they allow you to stay or make you leave. Level 6 will give you views of some aircraft at Terminal 4 and everything moving to or from all four runways and is a must for the long haul fleet in case they use the far runway. The far right hand side is a great vantage point. You may have problems with the CRJs as the engines can hide the registrations.
If you have a hire car, there are nooks and crannies to explore around the cargo area to net you a few more, then you can drive to the best spotting area for views of all movements and where nearly everything can be read off, including the stored aircraft at the Iberia maintenance area. Iberia A340s are tail on and difficult to read and heat haze may be a problem. It is signposted from New Terminal complex. Take the M-111 under the airport then the M-113. It's a main road but just before you go into the turn at the top of the hill there are a few pull ins.
From Terminal 1 you can see the stored G1s and B727. East of and beyond 33L/15R are EC-EXQ G1, EC-EXS G1, EC-EVJ G1 and EC-IMY B727. West of (i.e. terminal side of) 33L/15R parked on a disused taxiway/runway are (from closest to furthest from terminal) N19TZ G1, N19BX G1, N19FF G1. All the stored aircraft listed here are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. As well as the cafe below, you can also view cargo from the far end of Terminal 1 (outside walkway) to get a few more though again you'll be looking through windows. Outside between Terminals 1 and 2 is EC-BQZ DC9.
The Bulevar Barajas cafe in Terminal 2 is the place to view the cargo and biz from and has food and drink outlets and toilets. To get here, follow the signs for Terminal 2 Check In, walk past some of the check in desks and you'll see the huge sign. Go down the corridor to the left of this area and you'll see the windows. No hassle from police or airport authorities though the area is under surveillance from security cameras and there are 'No Photography from within Terminal' signs so suggest your cameras, and also your radios, remain either at home, or in your bag if you do take them. You get a great view of runway 15L, but anything landing on 15R can only be read off once it's taxied past, which only aircraft en route to Terminal 1 or cargo will do so you will miss a lot if you stay here. The cargo area is a little difficult because of the angle, but you should be able to get most. Terminal 3 is also out of sight to the left and you won't log anything at or moving to or from Terminal 4 either.
If you're flying out of Terminal 4, there's a good spot near gate J41 that has views of nearly all movements, you won't miss too much here. Terminal 4 Satellite is mainly glass walled so views are good. It's between the thresholds of 36L and 36R so with a northerly wind everything departing taxies past one side or the other. Aircraft landing on 33R also taxi past but you need to keep a constant eye on 33L - anything landing on that runway and going to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 moves out of sight quickly if you're not careful. Iberia/Air Nostrum aircraft going to the main T4 stands are a bit easier. With a southerly wind, the same will apply in reverse - landing aircraft on 18L/R will pass here, although the regional aircraft landing on 18R may turn off short before reaching here, rather than rolling full length. Similarly, aircraft departing on 15L will taxi right past the terminal, aircraft from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 lining up on 15R may, again, be a bit of a problem. The southern end of Terminal 4 Satellite in the U gate area has good views of all the action and is used by British Airways.
The Mound
The best place to be, you will log nearly all movements and there's no place better if you don't have a vehicle. To get here, take the metro (under Terminal 2, close to the car park) to Barajas. It's only one stop to Barajas Station on line 8 (towards Terminal 4), the end of the line and costs 2 Euros each way, buy your tickets from the machines by the barriers, which is in English. Just press 1 trip twice for a return. Or you can buy a 10-journey ticket for 6.60 euros, again from the machines. When you get to Barajas village there is a cafe opposite (right out of station, 200 metres opposite Burger King) that sells large bottles of Aqua Grande water - you get more for less here than the expensive Terminal shops. On exiting the metro station at Barajas, turn left and you should be able to see T4 satellite terminal in front of you. Follow this road down the hill, and after some allotments take the first road on the left, Carretera del Cementerio Nuevo. Cross the footbridge ahead, follow the path down and just at the corner there is a large gap in the fence to the right (NOT the hole created at the bridge). Go through, head in a 10 o'clock direction across the mound to the front and up to the highest point.
To walk from the terminal to the mound will take about 20 minutes, compared to 10 minutes by metro detailed above. Just walk from the cafe in Terminal 2, through the terminals, always keeping the airfield on your right, exit the building and follow the roadway around. You cannot really go wrong, as long as you don`t enter any of the restricted areas.
There are views of the short haul/domestic Terminal 4, the near side of the remote international Terminal 4 Satellite, runway 18L/36R and the threshold of runways 15L and 15R. The rest of runways 15L and 15R are blocked by the buildings of Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and their gates are also hidden, but most should taxi past on their way to the runways. If they land on 33L or 33R and turn off to Terminal 1, 2 or 3 you won't see them but will log them later when they depart. You can't see the cargo and biz area from here either so I suggest a quick trip to the Terminal 2 cafe windows to log this apron before heading to the mound. The furthest runway (33R) is distant and particularly midday/early afternoon when the heat haze is at its worse, there is no chance of identifying anything that lands here - the only time you'll actually miss anything though is if an arrival on this runway parks on the far side of Terminal 4 Satellite and then departs on the same far runway (36R), which does not often happen. Though an SBS or a radio for the flight number will help tie them up. Heat haze may be a problem, as will the lack of shade and facilities (though there are bushes!) and this area is crawling with biting ants - take a couple of cakes and place them away from where you set up, the ants will leave you alone! And take an umbrella, you can wedge it in one of the power masts near the big sub station box. For an additional place to spot, looking towards T4S you'll see the road goes under the taxiway. This area is right by the perimeter fence is lower down than the mound but you can still spot from here and it's easily walkable from the mound.
Transfer to Torrejon (some from TAS Manchester's 'Madrid on a Budget' trip)
For public transport, get to the RENFE Atocha railway station and buy a ticket on the C1, C2 or C7 line which all go to Torrejon de Ardoz (1.75 euro). It takes about 15-20 mins to get there. Come out of the station, walk towards the bus station and turn left. After about 200 yards turn right and you will see some more bus stops. You need the Number 4 bus for the "Parque Coredor" shopping centre, which is just out of town and on the end of the Air Base runway. From the car park it's possible to read off the large number of civilian biz jets and a large number of Canadair water bombers, along with members of the Military transport fleet. Use discretion here and dont stay too long.
To return it's just the reverse. From the town there is also the option of using a bus direct back to Madrid. The number 224 (metropass ticket not valid) is the one you need. This bus also stops near to the airport cargo centre, where it's possible to walk back to the terminal, checking out the nooks and crannies for some of the remotely parked freight aicraft. It's quite a long walk back from the cargo centre but the number 101 bus may be of use and don't forget the 10 ticket metro ticket is also valid on this bus.
If you're staying at the Auditorium or or Holiday Inn Express, you can get Bus 224 from outside the hotel into town, and Bus 4 to the shopping complex, which is a 90 minute round trip and costs about 4 Euros. The bus picks you up outside the hotel every 5-10 mins and costs 1 Euro. Take this bus along the motorway, through the industrial zone and jump off when you reach a major town centre junction, you'll see a bus terminus on the left just before the stop, journey is 10-15 mins. Cross over the road and walk north past the bus terminus, you'll see the bus stop for the no.4 outside the fruit and veg store. Catch this bus (again about 1 Euro) for 5 minutes and jump off at the shopping centre. From here you'll read most of the biz at Torrejon. Be discreet and quick though as there have been a couple of reports of being moved on. Catch bus 4 back to the Torrejon town centre, then the 224 back to the hotel.
If you have a car, leave Barajas airport and head east on the A2 motorway towards Zaragosa. As you pass the town of San Fernando (which is still underneath the MAD approach) keep your eyes open for the petrol station on the eastbound carriageway called Cars & Cars - it has blue Lockheed T33A E.15-20 mounted on a pole above the filling station. After about 3 miles after the T33 take the turning towards "Torrejon En Ardoz - Centro and Ajalvir". Follow signs to the latter on the M-108 (this is over the top of the A2 and then north). After half a mile you'll see the shopping centre - see the Torrejon section for all further info.
Transfer to Getafe
From Barajas take the M40 to the south of the city (this is the Madrid orbital so you are heading in a clockwise direction). Then take the A4 Motorway (Autovia del Sur) south and exit at Jct 13. Head right (west) on Paseo de John Lennon towards Getafe. At the first roundabout take the left into Calle Diesel. The road heads south with the CASA / EADS plant on your right. Please see the Getafe section for more info. At the end of the road turn right on Calle Eratostenes. This takes you down to the CASA gate and a dirt road on the left. From here you should get a partial view of what is on the CASA ramps (possibly a Beluga) and a more distant view of what is on the military ramp on the far side of the runway - however new hangars are being built here so this spot may not be available for much longer. Now retrace your steps back to Paseo de John Lennon and turn left. The road runs along the north edge of the airfield and from this you can see the Preserved C-54. At the roundabout adjacent to the base main gate go straight across (signposted towards the M42) - there is a high wall surrounding the base at this point but just along here you can see the top of the tail of the Azor which is preserved inside the base. At the next roundabout there is a preserved Hispano HA200 Super Saeta on a pole. Just past the roundabout is a slip road to the M42 and small signs for a cemetery.(cemetery Tanatorio) Follow the latter and the road leads you alongside the left hand edge of the base and very close to the southern threshold of the runway where landing shots can be obtained.
Planespotting Hotels - their locations are marked in the Spotting in Spain download
The Auditorium Hotel has a free shuttle bus to the airport and rooms 2101, 2103 and 2158, for example, have excellent views over cargo and Terminals 1 and 2, you can read most aircraft taxiing onto stands these stands. The 36 runways are out of sight but all arrivals on 33L and departures on 15R can be logged from the room, however the arrivals on 33R can be difficult as they're far away, especially the smaller stuff. When heat haze isn't a factor you can read them off as far as T4S. Room 2257 is the end room of the second block and has a good view of the approaches to 33L and 33R. No view of the airport at all, but all landings on 33L can be read off and, with a radio and SBS box, everything on 33R identified as well. If you are towards the west side of the hotel, you won't see 33R at all. The triple rooms don't have airport views, but there are windows near the lifts and at the ends of the corridors. The hotel is in 4 blocks, one behind the other. The front block, closest to the airport, is not used during quiet periods/off season but if you don't get a good room, a quick look at the floor plan and a polite chat with the friendly receptionists should get you a better room. There are 4 floors, so presumably any room from about 53 up to 57 in the second block on any floor would be good. Expedia sometimes have good last minute deal - £75 including breakfast, which is a huge buffet. Food and drink is expensive in the restaurant and the bar, however there is a petrol station 5 minutes away with sandwiches and drinks. Breakfast is good, helpful staff and a good base for a few nights. Remember to ask for the window to be unlocked, although this doesn't guarantee they'll turn up to open it. A square-ended key is needed. With the aid of an SBS box, you wouldn't really need to leave your room (apart to stock up with food and drink, the hotel is expensive.) Virtually all movements can be seen from the room along with departures from Torrejon. The free hotel bus to and from the terminals runs every half hour to Terminals 1, 2 & 3 with hourly runs to T4 - a taxi costs about 13 euros. To get to Torrejon, you can get Bus 224 from outside the hotel into town, and Bus 4 to the shopping complex, which is a 90 minute round trip and costs about 4 Euros.
The Auditorium Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability
At the B&B Hotel, ask for a room looking towards the approach. Rooms either face the approach or across a dual carriageway towards the cargo ramp and T1, although a very good set of bins are needed. Room 122 has views of arrivals on 33L, aircraft can easily be read off well into the night, and you can read movements on 33R as well though SBS/radio will help. Rooms higher up will give better views, with rooms in the 20s on each floor facing towards the approach. A room in the low 20s and high up will be best. For example, from room 320 with the aid of SBS you can log arrivals and Torrejon movements and departures from the window outside the room. Breakfast is reported to be good. The airport shuttle is 7 Euros per person.
The B&B Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability
The Kris Cazadora overlooks cargo, the arrivals from the east on 33L and 33R and departures on 15L and 15R. Rooms 205-215 have good views. Ideally placed for a very quick walk to the terminal to catch the Metro to the mound.
The Kris Cazadora features on for reviews, prices and room availability
The Senator Barajas Hotel has only a partial view of the cargo ramp, and arrivals/departures can only be indentified using SBS. No views of anything else but it's not far from the terminal and car park viewing spots and the metro to the mound. There is a free shuttle bus but you have to phone the hotel to request pick up at the airport on arrival and it's not uncommon for you to be left waiting over an hour, cutting into spotting time.
The Senator Barajas Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability
RNAC Madrid
MADRID-CUATRO VIENTOS AIRPORT (LECU & LEVS) - TWR 118.7, GND 121.8
Spotting Info
On the military (north) side, have a drive around, various nooks and crannies to net you the stored CASA 212s and DHC4s. Please note T.12B-35 can only be seen from the A-5 motorway behind the base. You can get most from the civil side - if heat haze makes the serials difficult to read, the codes won't be a problem.
On the civil (south) side, if you contact them beforehand there's a chance you'll get full escorted access, and take your hi-viz jacket with you - well worth it as there are hundreds and hundreds based here, as well as in the museum detailed below. Then drive around nooks and crannies again, note there are two entrances, old and new if you like, and both will give you good views and plenty for your logbook. On your way back to the entrance you pass a covered swimming pool with the 'old' art-deco terminal opposite. This is a restaurant now but once in the building, immediately on your left are some steps up to a walkway that leads to a covered balcony with fine views of the ramp and the CASAs on the far side of the field. It's not often used and you should be left alone with no problems. You should log a fair few here that you won't see from any other vantage point. Once you're done here, turn left out of this area and continue along this road, turn left at the roundabout (by the supermarket and car dealership - remember to use the Cambio de Sentido (U-turn)) onto Calle de las Flautas and follow the perimeter (you may get views as you drive along) - right bend, then left turn. After the second left turn (this time at a crossroads) you can park up and stand on a wall for some views.
Museo del Aire de Madrid
Open daily except Mondays and some holidays, 1000-1400 only, entrance is free on Wednesdays. The Museo del Aire de Madrid website is in Spanish only. A dated report, including photos can be found here. No access from the airport to the museum, by car it's easiest if you head north on A-5 towards Madrid, and do the museum first before visiting the airport itself. It's not well signposted so once you see the railway on your right look out for the footbridge, the right turn is very near to this. Turn right and be aware this is a very sharp turn onto a very narrow road and it's up over the railway line and through the security gate. The museum is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
MADRID-GETAFE AIRPORT (LEGT)
Spotting Info
From Barajas take the M40 to the south of the city (this is the Madrid orbital so you are heading in a clockwise direction). Then take the A4 Motorway (Autovia del Sur) south and exit at Jct 13. Head right (west) on Paseo de John Lennon towards Getafe. The road runs along the north edge of the airfield and from this you can see the preserved C-54 T.4-8. At the roundabout adjacent to the base main gate go straight across (signposted towards the M42) - there is a high wall surrounding the base at this point but just along here you can see the top of the tail of the Azor which is preserved inside the base. At the next roundabout there is a preserved Hispano HA200 Super Saeta A.10C-110 on a pole. Just past the roundabout is a slip road to the M42 and small signs for a cemetery (Tanatorio) Follow the latter and the road leads you alongside the left hand edge of the base and very close to the southern threshold of the runway where landing shots can be obtained. The preserved aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
Included with this Getafe section is the preserved CASA 212 Aviocar T.12B-56 on a roundabout on the way to Perales del Rio. From the A4 Motorway at Junction 13, head east (left) and follow signs to Perales. This is the opposite direction to Getafe. Keep the hill with the statue of Christ on your left - the road is a small lane. Eventually you will run alongside a railway line and then come to a set of traffic lights at a T-junction. Turn left here onto the M-301 and the roundabout with the Aviocar is 100 yards ahead of you.
MADRID-TORREJON AIRPORT (LETO/TOJ)
Spotting Info
The shopping centre area to the west of the airport on the M-108 is great to park up and watch the movements, and it has great views of the closest ramp, and the next ramp containing the water bombers. The furthest ramp can be difficult with the heat haze. If you continue north on the M-108 past the airport and then turn round and head back towards the shopping centre, you'll note the road is wide enough for you to pull over at regular intervals to log everything. The road here is also higher than at the shopping centre.
For the Phantoms stored in a compound to the east, you need to get on the M-134 which takes you through an industrial estate and on to the airport perimeter. They can be seen between the base buildings and there is also a CASA 352 on the base golf course between the trees. Some of the drive round the perimeter is either extremely muddy when wet, or very bumpy with potholes when dry, make sure you have a suitable vehicle. The shopping centre and stored aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
MALAGA AIRPORT (LEMG/AGP) - TWR 118.15, APP 118.45 & 123.95, GND 121.7
Spotting Info
On your flight in to Malaga, make sure you sit on the right hand side to see the biz if you're not able to spot. If you land on 13, you'll taxi right past these aprons. Landside there is a window at the southeast side near Burger King that gives views of the apron around there.
When airside there are good views of the gates and runway. Pier B is non-UK flights with Pier C for UK and Ireland flights. Pier B has views of the domestic ramp and just a few biz. The derelict Dove N9890A is parked near the fire station and can be seen once airside. Its location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. You can read the biz from the museum, see below.
If you have a car there is a spot on the other side of the airport down Paseo de Grice Hutchinson that has good views of all aprons. To get here turn right out of the terminal and turn right onto the N-340 highway towards Cadiz and Torremolinos. After about a half a mile, take the exit for Churriana on the A-404. Take the first right exit just before the roundabout onto a street that runs parallel with Carretera Coin. At the fourth set of traffic lights, turn right into Calle Del Escritor Julia Balbas (the street sign is on the right hand corner of the street). Proceed down this street past the Mercadona supermarket; the street bends slightly to the left after the supermarket. Turn right into Calle Enrique Van Dulkan. After about 200 metres, veer right into Calle Rigoberta Menchu. You can now see the apron and terminal. Proceed down the hill to the first sharp left hand bend. If you go right here you can park on some waste ground and look over the runway and apron areas - in the winter you'll log everything but the heat haze in the summer makes it impossible. Returning to the sharp left hand bend, if you carry on down this road it runs parallel with the runway for about 300 metres before veering left into Churriana (village) centre. In Churriana, go right after the fountains taking the road signposted "barriada La Noria", "collegio publico Manuel Fernandez", "calle Portales de Popa". Along this street there are many lay-bys where you can pull in and view (through shrubs) the cargo areas. Continuing along this road, "follow your nose", out of Churriana passing a brick works on the left and car rental storage areas on the right and then passing the approach lights for runway to a T-junction. Turn right here. Be aware that at the time of writing there was lots of road construction taking place and the existing roads have massive pot-holes. A few hundred metres along this road it is possible to park on the left. Here there is a pill-box type of construction that is basically a large square chunk of concrete. In the afternoon you are facing into the sun, but you get great views of landing traffic on runway 13 as well as aircraft taxiing to the hold for departure. These viewing spots and the routes to get there are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
Museum
The museum is at the eastern end of the airport and walking distance from the terminal, with the biz and GA areas in between. Turn right out of the terminal, and head towards the brewery, following the signs. The museum is surrounded by a security fence and is open 1000-1400 Tuesday to Sunday and 17:00-20:00 on Tuesday evenings. The museum is shut on Mondays. The authorities and Guardia Civil have no problems with binoculars although the occasional biz owner may object to photography. Part of the museum is the old tower, located above the present biz terminal and they have a balcony overlooking the GA/biz ramp and the runway. There is a great area here for spotters at the museum that overlooks runway 31 threshold and the light aircraft parking area. Please note if they are using 13 there are no views of movements. If you visit on a Monday there are plenty of nooks and crannies round here for you to read most stuff off. EC-CPO DC3 marked as "EC-ABC" is preserved at the end of Carretera del Aeroclub near the San Miguel brewery with EC-APH Aero 145 close by. There is a high green metal fence surrounding these. Walk south along the highway and look back when the fence ends to see these two aircraft. Walk around the back of the museum as close to the Convair as possible and you can read a lot off. Follow the buildings around and down N-340 Avenue de Velazquez for Convair 440 N8042W, Beech C-45H N9886A marked "EC-ASJ" and Dove N9888A marked "PH-VLA" - you can get some views of the biz and GA apron from around here. Carry on walking westwards and in about 200 metres the GA parking area will appear on your right after the parked up Convair 440 N8042W (watch out while you are walking as snakes have been reported in this area in high season). Looking under the right wing of N8042W, you will see some of the biz. Walking further reveals more biz parked and the preserved Dove. The museum also has the nose of EC-CGO DC9. The museum, the walk here from the terminal and the preserved aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
Aeroplaza
Planespotting Hotels - its location is marked in the Spotting in Spain download
The Holiday Inn Express is the closest hotel to the airport but does not have views of the ramps or runway. However, all departures off 13 and all arrivals on 31 can easily be read off from airport facing rooms.
The Holiday Inn Express features on for reviews, prices and room availability
MENORCA-MAHON AIRPORT (LEMH/MAH)
Spotting Info
Viewing from the terminal is very restricted, but there are several areas around the perimeter that offer views if you have a car. After exiting the airport, turn left at the roundabout with a large pyramid onto the road to San Climente. After about 300 yards there is a road on the right signposted 'Restaurante'. This is opposite the 19 threshold and you can park here for viewing. From here you can view aircraft on stand, but you have to walk a little way down the busy main road. If using 01, there is a small road that links Binisfuller to the San Climente - Es Canutels road. This road runs close to the 01 threshold and there are a number of places to pull over and park. These viewing spots are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. It's particularly worth an early run up there on Sunday morning.
MUTXAMEL AIRFIELD
Spotting Info
Northwest of Mutxamel town, near the E-15 motorway. There are views from outside the restaurant though the Helisureste helicopters are mostly side-on so prove difficult to read off. There is a road that runs behind the Helisureste hangars to net you a few more. Website Maketair has info on the airfield including directions on how to get here. Takes a while to fully load. No one is around on Sundays so you won't get access then, but try contacting the Aero Club and Helisureste beforehand to arrange a visit. There have been numerous reports of no response regarding contact, so don't be surprised if you don't hear back from them - Tel: 0034 965663835, Email: info@inaer.com, Web: Inaer
OCANA AIRFIELD (LEOC)
Spotting Info
South of Ocana town and alongside the A-4. EC-FMC Catalina is stored here and is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. Ask for access.
PALMA DE MALLORCA-SON SAN JUAN AIRPORT, MALLORCA (LEPA/PMI) - TWR 118.3, APP 118.95
Airport Info
Traffic seems to come in 3 waves, the summer is far busier than the winter, Friday-Sunday being the best days, with Saturday being the busiest. Generally Saturday sees Scandanavian and British flights, Sunday is Italian, with Monday Dutch. You will see a lot of German flights every day, Aer Berlin and Condor for example. The first wave starts before 0700 and finishes about 1000, the second 1300-1600, and the last about 1930. Outside of these waves the airport is extremely quiet. You can expect to see a lot of the Aer Berlin fleet, and many charter airlines, though you will start seeing the same aircraft after a while. No problems with security. If 24s are in use, 24L is arrivals only, and while 24R is the departures runway, there is the occasional arrival on it too. Bear in mind that there are overnight arrivals, especially bizjets, so it's always worth checking the ramps out every morning. Bicycles can be hired for between 4-8EUR a day depending on where you get them from.
Spotting Info
The corner of the car park on level 6 opposite the terminal has good views of the western end of the airfield, hangar areas, biz and cargo ramps. Most of the biz and cargo can be logged from here. To get here from arrivals just follow the walkway outside the terminal over to the car park. You will see a little cafe at the end in front of you, head for the lifts and select level 6. Turn right out of the lift and head straight ahead. Arrivals on runway 24L can't be seen but all departures and some arrivals on 24R can. If 06 is in use, all movements can be seen from here. There are occasionally reports of spotters being moved on from the car park - best advice is to stay one level below the top and it also keeps you out of the sun and relatively cool. The biz ramp is within walking distance - head down to the perimeter fence by the runway 06R threshold and turn right though take great care as the surface is very poor on foot with potholes and the like and the journey isn't advisable. As you can see from the photograph, most if not all, can be logged from this car park anyway. Similarly, if you head in the opposite direction, up towards runway 06L/24R, you can walk behind the Air Europa hangars logging as you go. The road then bends round and you get a much better view of the aprons here, where some biz will park, as well as seeing P68 F-GNHI preserved on a roundabout.
 View of the biz apron, taken from the MSCP Level 6. Photographer: Graham Speirs
Airside no problems at all, your choice as to which runway you prefer to monitor as you can't see both at once. Gate C50 for example is a good place to stay overlooking 06R/24L, again depending on runway usage. If you plan to stay airside, a trip landside to the car park is worth thinking about to view the GA area, especially in the summer as the GA ramp is often full. You can walk from the terminal, past the biz area, to the bridge overlooking the airport to spend the day there - just follow the perimeter round, takes about 40 minutes. Bear in mind passport control is at the entrance to each pier, so you're only able to go to the pier that you are flying from. Pier A faces runway 24R and is used for departures wind permitting, however you only have a few seconds warning of anything departing. In the northeastern part of the airport is the military area, with pole mounted UH1 HE.10A-6 and an unknown preserved CASA behind the apron in the trees. Close by, EC-BZO CV990 is the fire trainer. These aircraft are only visible on arrival and departure so make sure you sit on the correct side of the aircraft. In the far northeast corner of the airport, beyond the threshold of 24R, is EC-GRL MD87 stored.
For the biz apron, you can walk down the path (named Cami de Can Bogueta) across the road from El Cid's figure 8 swimming pool (take great care as snakes are often sunning themselves on the track), and across the blue motorway bridge to the biz apron. The bridge is still open but take care and don't use the handrails as parts of it shows signs of severe corrosion. At the top of the bridge you can see and photograph all bizjets easily. If you follow this perimeter fence up and round the biz apron you'll end up near the terminal, and there are nooks crannies to peer through along the way if you can't log everything from near the bridge. Note: some biz do tend to park up by the Air Europa hangar, by the preserved P68 on the roundabout detailed above.
 M-ARCH C750 on biz apron, taken from the blue bridge. Photographer: Mark Butler
The mound is alongside 06R/24L and also has views of some of the terminal. Take the track by the Ma-5013/Ma-19A roundabout (note, if you're coming from Can Pastilla direction, you'll need to drive past, turn round and come back). Take care if driving down here, the already narrow track is being overgrown by the bushes and risks scratching your vehicle. It also seems to be regularly used as a fly tipping area, the amount of rubbish continues to grow so be careful where you stand. You may prefer to stay at the cafe below. If they're using 06s you'll miss any arrivals on 06L that don't taxi round; if on 24s you should see everything providing heat haze doesn't obscure things too much. Photos are possible from from early morning until around 1600, but of course the heat haze will be a factor in this. The bushes here are getting higher making photos more difficult.
 LN-DYA B737 just landed 24L, taken from the mound. Photographer: Mark Butler
If 24s are in use and you want some photographs of aircraft on short finals, from the mound head back to the road and turn left - you may be able to cut across and onto the roundabout to turn left but take care, if not you'll have to turn right, turn round and come back on yourself. You'll drive/cycle past the runway 24L threshold and at the next roundabout turn right and park up straight away, plenty of space here. Here you can photograph aircraft on approach to both 24 runways depending on where the sun is.
Southwest of the mound and in the southern part of the airport (i.e between the mound and the blue bridge) is a rooftop cafe with terrace called the Meetingpoint Cafe in the industrial estate directly opposite the control tower and terminal. If you go over the road from Hotel Leo/El Cid and up the small track to the blue footbridge over the motorway (i.e. the route to the biz apron), turn right and follow the road keeping the airport on your left you will end up in an industrial park with hundreds of HGV trailers. There are a number of Units, roads and airport hire cars and car parks. Keep to the road on the far left until you are roughly opposite the terminal. Here you will see a ramp on your left that leads up and is sign posted to a bar at the top of the ramp. Mainly used by construction workers but it's open to the public, outside there are seats, tables, a little shade and a wall to sit on. No views from the bar itself, but from the rooftop car park they are excellent. It's closed at weekends though this is potentially a better spot than the mound. The only thing you will miss is the regional aircraft landing on the far runway 24R. All these viewing locations, including the walk over the footbridge to the biz ramp and terminal are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
 D-AGWX taxiing, taken from the rooftop public bar. Photographer: Graham Speirs
There is a spot northside via Carrer Llucmajor that is alongside 06L/24R and is great for photos in the afternoon, but I must stress this road takes you through a bad neighbourhood. Do not attempt to walk or even cycle through here and I would suggest not staying here after dark even if you have a hire car. Despite the bad neighbourhood nearby, this is a popular spot for photographing departures off 24R. I have listed the better spots but there are plenty of other areas around the perimeter if you have a car. Or you can hire a push bike for roughly 8EUR a day.
 T.19B-10 CN235 departing 24R, taken from northside. Photographer: Graham Speirs
The Beach & Waterfront
Just two minutes walk from the El Cid and Helios Hotels (and maybe 5+ minutes from the other hotels), is the beach where you'll find many bars, cafes and restaurants. A great, relaxed setting to spot from - arrivals if on 06, departures if on 24. Some of these bars have free Wi-fi (Rodos is a great example), so if you can't read anything off, or you miss it for whatever reason, FlightRadar and PlaneFinder on your phone will give you the registration straight away. You'll see the aircraft land on 06L - you can walk along the waterfront right to the 06L flightpath so they fly very low overhead and you'll get some great photographs. This is a popular place for spotters, photographers and tourists, with seats provided just make sure you stay vigilant. There are opportunistic pickpockets around who will relieve you of your valuables if, for example, you nod off during a quiet period, as is easily done in the heat.
Transfer to San Bonet
You can use the TIB Train from Palma, but the local city Bus EMT (blue and silver in colour) Route Number 3 Placa de Espanya to Pont D Inca, will take you to within 20 yards of the stored Antonovs. When the bus gets to the terminus in San Bonet, it drives down a short road, turns around and comes back up to the Terminus Circle. At the top of this short road, 500 yards, is the local Band room and the Antonovs are parked behind the building. To see them, from the Turning Circle Terminus turn right, walk 20 yards and the airfield perimeter fence is there right along side you. The bus is every 10 minutes outside the railway station, at the Placa de Espanya, which is now called an Intermodal as they have Trams running from there too, which of course is alongside the Train de Soller station. The price of the EMT bus anywhere around Palma is 1.10. Staying in Can Pastilla at the Linda for example, outside the hotel is the bus stop, Route No 15 or 30 will take you to the Placa de Espanya train station stop. For further spotting info see the full San Bonet section below.
Planespotting Hotels - these are all plotted in the Spotting in Spain download
The Helios Hotel has good views of the south of the airport, 06R/24L and most of the biz apron. The biz apron is only a 5-10 minute walk away via the footpath behind El Cid hotel, details above. If using 24, arrivals are on 24L and can be read as they taxi to the terminals, any arrivals on 24R (only occasional) will be missed though. Departures on 24R can be read off though not if heat haze is bad and you have to be quick - an SBS or equivalent (or FlightRadar and PlaneFinder at a later date) will tie these up though. When 06 is in use, departures are on 06R and can be easily read. Arrivals on 06L can usually be read off but you have to be quick and may struggle so a radio and/or SBS or equivalent will help give you warning of an arrival. Rooms 540-551 have these views, with possibly 540 being the best. Room 551 is a larger room and with 4 beds, and a larger balcony. Room 454 is also a good example and most can be read off during daylight hours. There are also windows in the corridors. Contact the hotel when you make your reservation, they'll do their best to accommodate you - they understand our hobby and know exactly the rooms we require. Your room key is used to power the electricity in a slot - if you wish to leave your laptop and SBS or equivalent running while you're out and about, you'll need to leave something else in the slot instead, otherwise the electricity will cut out. An old hotel room key, credit card, store loyalty card, membership card or anything of a similar size should work just fine. The rooms are probably too distant for photographers, but the arrivals over the beach are a walk or short bike ride away. No shuttle bus from the airport and a taxi will cost you 15 Euros during the day and 17 Euros late evening/early morning, these are set minimum fares. Bus service 21 (click for current timetable) is just 3 Euros and runs from the airport to S'Arenal and stops at both the Helios Hotel and the Roc Linda Hotel below so a more preferable option than an expensive taxi. It leaves the airport every 20 minutes from 0600-0100 in the summer (it only runs to mid-evening in the winter months) and will get you to the hotel in 10 minutes. Food here is good with a good choice available. Breakfast doesn't start until 0745 so a travel kettle will come in handy for those early starts. Free Wi-fi in the lobby and pool area (not in the rooms), just get the code from the receptionist. If you take your laptop remember an extension lead so you can use it on the balcony. If you travel with an SBS or equivalent, then this hotel is great, but if you don't and prefer to read everything off yourself, then the Roc Linda Hotel may be a better choice, but with either of these two hotels, you'll be very happy. As noted above, the beach, restaurants, bars are a very short walk away, and there are a couple of small shops nearby that stock the basic food and drink too.
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The Roc Linda Hotel is the closest of these hotels to the airport and it's only a 5 minute walk to the beach - the beach being useful if you only need to log 06 arrivals. The best room is 528, the end room and you can request it via email - please be aware that this email address is for their Head Office, and these emails do not always get passed on to the hotel itself, it's best to contact the hotel directly. In your email you could always request that it be forwarded directly to the hotel. In addition, ask for chairs and a key for the rooftop area on arrival, they have a few so you should get one, let them know you're a planespotter and your request should be held - from room 528, walk past the windows and on the left you see a big curtain. Behind that is a door to the roof. You can read off arrivals on 06L and departures on 24R from the balcony and from a conveniently placed window in the bathroom you can read off aircraft taxiing to or from 06L/24R with good bins, and the biz to and from their ramp. It overlooks the Air Europa hangar and has limited views of the biz apron. Be aware though, that the growing trees continue to limit the views of the biz ramp, only a fraction is visible. If 528 is unavailable, even numbered rooms from about 514-526 will give you views of 06L/R. The biz ramp is a 12-15 minute walk away though most biz can be read off from the large windows by the lift at the end of the 5th floor corridor (by room 528!) if not from your room. These windows have good views of the whole airport including runway 06L/24R so nothing is missed. There is a single plug socket in the room for the TV that you can use for your laptop and SBS or equivalent. An extension lead will allow it to reach the balcony as the plug socket is not near the balcony. The sun doesn't hit the balcony until late afternoon and you can get some good photos with 300/400mm lenses. From room 527, departures/arrivals on 06L/24R can be easily read off from the balcony and of course, you have the corridor windows looking out to the biz ramp just outside the room door. There are two computers in the lobby for internet use for a fee and you can also buy wifi for your own laptop but only seems to work in the lobby area - this is around 6EUR per day. They usually have good half board deals, which you can find below. Prices not too bad during peak times, but it's considerably cheaper from September onwards. As you'd expect there are plenty of good cafes and bars and a Spar nearby to stock up on. No shuttle bus from the airport and a taxi will cost you 15 Euros during the day and 17 Euros late evening/early morning, these are set minimum fares. Bus service 21 (click for current timetable) is just 3 Euros and runs from the airport to S'Arenal and stops at both the Roc Linda Hotel and the Helios Hotel above, so a more preferable option than an expensive taxi. It leaves the airport every 22 minutes from 0600-0100 in the summer (it only runs to mid-evening in the winter months and every 30 minutes) and will get you to the hotel in 10 minutes. It stops at the back of the Roc Linda with just a short walk round to the front and reception. If you have a car, the hotel has a car park for a daily fee, but plenty of free spaces can be found on the surrounding streets. If you prefer to read everything off yourself, this is the best hotel; if you travel with an SBS or equivalent, the Helios Hotel above would also be a great choice.
The Roc Linda Hotel features on for reviews, prices and room availability
 D-ABBX B737 on short finals for 06L, taken from room 521 at the Roc Linda Hotel. Photographer: Roy Grummitt
 D-ABOA B753 just departed 24R, gear up, doors closing, taken from room 521 at the Roc Linda Hotel. Photographer: Roy Grummitt
The BQ Apolo Hotel is near the Marina Luz and Sunprime Waterfront below and is probably the best hotel if you wish to photograph arrivals on 06L from the room, or a short walk to the beach for some great shots. From the balcony of room 612 you can watch them all the way in over the sea until they touch down. When they are departing on 24R over the sea, you can see them rotate off the runway and they pass right in front of you. Rooms 605-616 will offer you the same spotting and it will probably be ok on the 5th floor as the Apolo is much higher, so the aircraft do not get hidden behind the Marina Luz hotel. Any lower and the Marina Luz will block your views. At the back of the hotel, rooms 603, 503, 403 give good views across to the airport although these are family rooms. You can see all arrivals and departures. The hotel is very clean, friendly staff and speak good english. The food is good with good variety to choose from both for breakfast and dinner. The hotel also has a terrace area which provides decent views of the 06L approach. Wi-fi is free in the reception and pool areas, or you can pay 15EUR to have it in your room for a week. Departures off 24R can be easily logged from the pool, arrivals on 06L are a little tricky form the pool though, as they're that much lower.
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The Marina Luz has good views but can be expensive and is an adult only hotel, no families or children. It's one of the best hotels if you wish to photograph arrivals on 06L from the room, or a short walk to the beach for some great shotsIf you do want to stay here, join their Fidelity Card before you book, this will get you a discount, otherwise the top floors are Superior rooms and have an additional supplement to pay. After booking the hotel, leave it a few days then ring the central "Marina" chain booking line and specify your request as an aviation enthusiast for the rooms listed below in order of "best first". Then leave it a few more days and ring the actual hotel to ensure the request has been passed on. You need a room which overlooks the Bay of Palma/Palma city - ask for rooms 517-527 (527 is the best, then 526 and so on), they're on the top floor and will allow you to log the arrivals or departures depending on wind direction. These rooms are all west facing and will give you a superb view of the aircraft departing 24R or landing on 06L (they never depart from 24L). Rooms 427-416 will also give you views to the west, but the top floor (5th) is best. Any rooms overlooking the bay will give you good views of the arrivals or departures over the bay, and these include rooms 316-327, 416-427 or 516-527. You do get the sun on the balcony from around 1600 onwards, but you're not spotting into the sun due to the angle of the departures. The hotel has free Wi-fi so if you miss anything, FlightRadar and PlaneFinder can help if you don't have SBS or equivalent. The large sun terrace above the pool is also ideal for the 24R departures (24R is occasionally used for arrivals) but you can't see anything if you're in the pool. The staff are friendly and will accommodate you if they can, contact the hotel after booking to request the room. You can hire push bikes (cheaply) and cars from the reception or from the very near Can Pastilla resort. You can cycle from the hotel down to the bizjet ramp in about 10 minutes, or walk it in about 25 minutes - from the hotel reception, turn right and then left along the coast until you reach the El Cid hotel. The road next to the El Cid is called Carrer Del Vaixell go down this road until you very shortly reach the main road through Can Pastilla. Cross the main road and follow the dirt track called Cami De Can Bogueta (take great care as snakes are often sunning themselves on the track) which leads to the blue bridge and you can follow the directions as per the spotting section above. Also try and do it no later than 0900 in the morning or after around 1800 in the evening, this enables you to read the landing jets off through the heat haze as they taxi off 24L.
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 D-ATUK B737 after departure on 24R, taken from room 525 at the Marina Luz Hotel. Photographer: Ken Fielding
The El Cid Hotel is just along from the Helios above, and the starting point for the walk to the biz ramp. If you can't get a room with views, or even if you're not staying at the hotel, you can head to the top floor, as large windows in the corridor overlook the biz ramp and runway 06R/24L.
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The Sunprime Waterfront rooms 601, 602, 613, 614, 615, 616 or 617 have views of all movements on 24L and 24R and 06L, though you have to be quick for departures on 06R. Both runways are visible and most of the ramps. You can see the biz ramp but it's partially blocked by the treeline, however you can read all GA movements as they turn in/out. The 5th floor (same rooms) is just as good as the 6th, though the treeline blocks some of the biz ramp. Lower down, room 210 for example has views of all 06 departures and with a good set of bins you can log the 06 arrivals too. If you have an SBS or equivalent then running it in your room will give you warning of movements. You can then go to where the lifts are at the end of each floor, where there are large glass windows with views of most arrivals/departures, or there are a couple of plug sockets in the pool area. Most arrivals/departures over the bay can be read if you are quick or have good optics from the pool area.
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REUS AIRPORT (LERS/REU)
Spotting Info
It is possible to stop at the Aeroclub on the entrance road to log their aircraft. There are views across the field from the TV-7211 along the eastern boundary. T33 E.15-43 marked "41-15" is preserved here outside the terminals, its location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download, and a small number of fire-bombing aircraft (usually Air Tractors) are normally present in the summer months. There is also an aircraft engineering school located by the access road at the northeast side of the junction of the C14. This sometimes has aircraft parked outside.
SABADELL AIRFIELD (LELL/QSA)
Spotting Info
Two parts to the airfield, the south side is where the main entrance is, the north side is accessible via the road that runs the F4, behind the hangars and under the end of the runway. EC-CFO Do27 preserved at the entrance on a pole marked as "EC-PAC". EC-BZP CV990 fuselage is also stored here. Preserved in front of the cafe are A.10C-111 HA220 and E.15-48/41-16 T-33A that belong to the Fundacio Parc Aeronautic de Catalunya. You can contact them to arrange a visit by emailing them. Parked by the west side hangars and nearest the control tower is preserved F4 Phantom C.12-26/122-13. All the aircraft listed here are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. The FPAC holds an open house on the third Sunday of each month (except January, August, September and December). Aircraft from the collection are on show and there is normally a small flying display. This is normally a good time to visit. In the summer months, there are normally two or three Air Tractor fire bombers present. It is also the home for the Generalitat de Catalunya helicopters and those used by the fire services. The latter are normally outstationed during the summer months.
SANTA CRUZ de TENERIFE MUSEUM, TENERIFE
Spotting Info
Preserved at the Museo Militar de Almeido in the north of Santa Cruz de Tenerife town are HE.7A-64 OH-13 Sioux and HU.10-43 UH-1 H Iroquois. Their location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. The museum is surrounded by a high wall and the helicopters are not visible unless you go into the museum site and go down the left side of the main building to the outside compound where they are on show. Ask at the main entrance if they are there and hopefully you'll be pointed in the right direction with no charge for entry. Museum is open 1000-1400 Tuesday-Saturday.
SES SALINES AIRFIELD, MALLORCA
Spotting Info
Northeast of Ses Salines town. Various hangars but residents unknown - if you visit please let me know!
SEVILLA AIRPORT (LEZL/SVQ)
Spotting Info
If you have a car, from the terminal turn right and head clockwise around the field. First stop is a view of the ramp with most of the 212s. Continue clockwise and following signs to the new EADS facility takes you past the other ramp and a view into the hangars if the doors are open.
SON BONET AIRFIELD, MALLORCA (LESB)
Spotting Info
Ask for access and hopefully you'll be issued with an airside pass and be escorted round by a club member. Having an Airport ID often helps. EC-EJB DC3 and ER-AJM An2 are the gate guards. Be warned the Guardia Civile may question you and confiscate the pass, ending your visit, they aren't keen on spotters or photographers. There are 5 stored An2s on the west side of the airfield, with another An2, HA-ANC, still airworthy. For an alternate view of the An2s, turn left out of the airfield, and take the second left. The first left leads to the buildings in front of the An2s. The roads on the eastern (Avenue Gabriel Alomar) and southern (Carrer Son Bonet) perimeters have views across the field and into any open hangars. The Antonovs, DC3 and viewing spots are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
You can use the TIB Train from Palma, however the local city Bus EMT (blue and silver in colour) Number 3 to Pont D Inca will take you to within 20 yards of the stored Antonovs. When the Bus gets to the terminus it drives down a short road, turns around and comes back up to the Terminus Circle. At the top of this short road 500yrds, is the local Band room, and the Antonovs are parked behind the building. To see them, from the Turning Circle Terminus, turn right, walk 20 yards and the airfield perimeter fence is there right along side you. Walk another 500 yards, look back on yourself and you will see them parked in a compound. Further along the main road, just following the fence and you will come to the entrance.
TENERIFE NORTE-LOS RODEOS AIRPORT, TENERIFE (GCXO/TFN)
Spotting Info
More cargo and light aircraft than Tenerife Sur. Limited views in the terminal landside. Turn left out of the terminal and you'll reach the flying club and hangars. Ask at the flying club for access to the hangars. You may need to ask security for their number and after ringing them, they'll come out and escort you round. Very friendly, make sure you have your passport as ID. If you turn right out of the terminal and head past the control tower, you'll see EC-DXU Viscount on the right. Its location is plotted in the Spotting in Spain download. There's a road that goes straight past it that could also be good for photos and for views of the apron.
TENERIFE SUR-REINA SOFIA AIRPORT, TENERIFE (GCTS/TFS)
Spotting Info
Avoid Wednesdays and Thursdays, these are the quietest days. Winter is busy with lots of Scandanavian and German flights. Sunday is Scandanavian day, Tuesday a little less so, Friday is British day with a few Russians. Monday gets Italian and French with 40+ German flights on Wednesdays.
Once airside you can see the whole apron and runway. Landside, head out of the terminal and turn right. Walk down to the end of the terminal and through the taxi rank queue barriers - you will find a set of steps going down to a ramp access road. From along here, particularly at the top end, you can get a good view of aircraft landing/departing on the runway and taxiing past, and the biz on the ramp immediately in front of you.
If you turn left out of the terminal it takes you to the domestic terminal. There is an outside childrens play area at the far end with views of biz, albeit parked nose on. If on 08 most arrivals will pass you before the touchdown point and all departures will taxi past you to the holding point.
With a car there's a good spot close to the 08 threshold. Leave the airport and head west on the TF1 motorway to Los Abrigos. Come off at the first exit and turn right at the roundabout to go back over the TF1 and head south on TF65. After around half a mile take a left turn to Abrigal and follow until you see the white AENA concrete pillars. Turn right here and follow to the threshold.
Planespotting Hotels - their locations are marked in the Spotting in Spain download
The Vincci Tenerife Golf Hotel has some end rooms that face east towards the airport. If you can't get a room with a view, there are windows at the end of the corridor. All can be read off landing and departing and you can read off some on the near end of the ramp with a good pair of bins.
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If you're staying in Costa Adeje, at the Hotel Adeje Palace for example, on the west coast an SBS is definitely required. Most arrivals go down the west side of the island and turn just south of Los Cristianos, this is only good if they are using 08. If your room is facing southwest towards the beach you can follow most of the inbounds. You can only see around half the arrivals and as well as the UK and Ireland based flights, you should also see Condor, Condor Berlin, Air Europa, Spanair, White, Jetairfly, Viking Airlines, TUIfly, Air Berlin and a few others, though it's not as busy as it sounds. They fly right down the bay in front of you about 4 miles off shore, between you and the island of La Gomera. They then turn finals about 9 miles out for 08 and you can follow them in their descent from about 7,000ft till 2,800ft before they disappear behind the hillside. If they approach from the northeast on a visual righthand circuit, you can catch them downwind as they turn finals. If they're using 26 then some departures will leave over Costa Adeje though some will be missed if they perform a left turn after take off.
If you're staying in Costa del Silencio, then you will be almost right under the approach path. Again an SBS will probably be required to ID any of the arrivals.
VALENCIA AIRPORT (LEVC/VLC) - TWR 118.55 & 119.075, APP 120.1 & 124.75, GND 121.7
Spotting Info
In the terminal there are views of the ramps and runway from the food court on the third floor. If you have a car you can park up near the pedestrian footbridge east of 30 final approach and spend time on the bridge logging. Southside there is the Valencia Aeroclub, ask for access. East of here are three stored Iberia A300s with the Air Nostrum hangars and ramp beyond - the other two A300s are parked between the runway and the Aeroclub, with some light aircraft parked under the wings. The golf course in the north west of the airport is out of bounds for spotters. These viewing points and stored aircraft are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
VILANOVA i la GELTRU
Spotting Info
Two separate places in this town. The first is the FPAC facility who tend to move aircraft to and from Sabadell. The facility is located on the Avinguda de l'Aragai on the west side of Vilanova. The easiest way to reach it is to leave the C31 west of Vilanova and take the C246a east towards the town. After 2kms this straight road turns left and then right. After this Take the first turning left (Carretera de Barcelona a Valls) and after about 200 metres you reach the Avinguda de l'Aragai. Turn left and the facility is on the left and there may be aircraft located on the roof.
The second is the CFO de la Paperera technical college in the middle of town, which has a couple of aircraft including an HA200. From the FPAC facility head back to the C246a and turn left heading east through town. Straight over (second exit) 2 roundabouts and after the main Rambla Principal crossroads (6th crossroads after the second roundabout I think) take the third left - Avinguda de Narcis Monturiol. Cross two major roads and after 400 metres you reach the Carrer de la Providencia. The college is on the east side at this junction. Both locations are plotted in the Spotting in Spain download.
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