AEP-Spot1
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March 8, 2019Buenos Aires Aeroparque Jorge Newbery Airport – Spotting Guide
Airport Aeroparque Jorge Newbery (IATA: AEP, ICAO: SABE) serves the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires and is located in the center of the city, facilitating the life of its users. It is mainly used for national and international regional flights such as for Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has a single track of 2100 meters receiving a daily average of 180 landings and takeoffs.The main airlines operating here are Aerolineas Argentinas, Latam, Austral, Andes, Norwegian, as well as other smaller ones, and the Brazilian Gol, with flights coming from São Paulo. Around 13,8 million passengers passed through the facilities in 2018.
Speaking of spotting, the moments of most movements is in the morning and in the late afternoon. On weekends the tendency is a decrease of the movements so its better to visit it on a week day. Here you will see a lot the beautiful paintings of Aerolineas Argentinas (Boeing 737-800), which is undoubtedly the undisputed leader of this airport. The newcomer Norwegian has grown here making the first low-cost flights and plans for accelerated growth in the next few years. A constant presence is also from Austral, a subsidiary of AA, which operates exclusively the Embraer 190. Andes operates here with a very classic aircraft, the MD-80s, with daily flights to various national destinations. Other smaller companies also operate here, especially Flyest, which flies with the Bombardier CRJ-200.
Photographing here is very easy and you can do this in various places around the airport, which is surrounded by busy streets. The authorities are very tolerant about the practice of spotting, We were not uncomfortable in any of the times we stayed at the fences of the airport. The places seemed very safe and we did not hear reports of violence here.
A lot of interesting information for the visitor can you find here.
Written by Ediney Ribeiro, Fabian Juergens and Gerrit Griem. Last change: October 2023 (Spot 6 added)
Rating | |
Movements | |
Airline Variety | |
Photo Locations | |
Weather | |
Airport Information | |
Runways | |
13/31 | 2.100 m (6.890 ft) |
Terminals | Single Terminal for all operations |
Spotting Information | |
Ladder | Not really needed but better at spots 1 and 2. |
Car/Public Transport | Car is not really needed as you can easily walk from the terminal to all locations. |
Restrooms | There are no toilets at points 1, 2 and 4. Otherwise they are close to the terminal so you can go there. |
Drinks/Food | Spot 6 is a restaurant and is a good spotting opportunity. At all other spots there are small snack bars where you can buy food and drinks, at spot 3 you will be inside the terminal. |
Hotels | There are several hotels nearby to stay, but not for the practice of spotting. |
Season | The best time in our opinion is from November to May, but throughout the year it is possible to practice spotting |
Security | The sites seemed safe to us and there were no reports of insecurity |
Runway Usage | |
13/31 | Single lane, with head 13 being the most used throughout the day for landings |
Spot #1 – “Av Costanera Rafael Obligado” | |
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WHERE | This is one of the main spotting locations of this airport on opposite site of a park/marina and along “Av Costanera Rafael Obligado”. By foot/car is best to start at the airport and walk along the bay to the spot. There are some parking lots along the “Av Costanera Rafael Obligado” otherwise park at the airport terminal. Walk from there is no longer than 15 minutes and pretty easy to find. You can stay all along of the airport fence and taking pictures from your prefered position. A bit difficult because there is mesh between the bars of the fence and you need a 1-2 step ladder or something to climb up the fences while shooting because on top of the fence there is a larger opening between the bars withouth a mesh and you can fit the lens trough |
WHAT | Great for catching the 13 arrivals/touchdowns and even the takeoffs and the nearby taxiway. You can also move away from the fence and go across the street and photograph the plane more side, however there are some disturbing posts. |
TIME | From sunrise until 4:30 p.m. the sun is favorable. |
MISC. | There are no toilets here, but there are small snack bars across the street, where you can buy food and water next to the park/marina |
FOCAL LENGTH | The focal length will vary a lot, but we can say that it will use from 30mm to 300mm, because you can photograph the approaching, sideways and also taxiing on the track. |
Spot #2 – Parking North | |
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WHERE | Very popular among spotters and locals because this place is inside the north parking of the airport. Even without a car you can enter and stay at the fences that have spans where it is possible to fit the lens through as there is no mesh as at spot 1. Ideal here would be a ladder too because there is no way to fit thick lenses through the fence. |
WHAT | Good for photographing landings, touching the lane, and also taxi from aircraft that pass very close to the fence. |
TIME | From sunrise until 4:30 p.m. |
MISC. | You’re right near the airport terminal, so you can use the restrooms and snack bars there. |
FOCAL LENGTH | From 30 to 300mm |
Spot #3 – Terminal | |
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WHERE | This location is inside the terminal at the gate area so you need a valid boarding ticket. The windows are a bit curved and there are reflections, however the view is very good and it is possible to make good records here. |
WHAT | All movements on the ramp and taxiway if sight is not blocked by parked aircraft. |
TIME | From sunrise until 4:30 p.m. |
MISC. | As you are inside the terminal there is everything you need. |
FOCAL LENGTH | from 50 to 150mm |
Spot #4 – Av Costanera Rafael Obligado (south) | |
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WHERE | This point is on the opposite side to spot 01 on the south side of the terminal at a park. So from the airport just walk south for approximate 15 minutes till the end of the runway. |
WHAT | Arrivals on runway 31 and departures from 13. Taking ground photos is not possible because of parts of the military base that is between the runway and your position. |
TIME | From sunrise until 4:30 p.m. |
MISC. | Be aware of the disturbing light poles. There are some small snack bars along the promenade. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 200-400 mm depending on the aircraft. |
We can’t provide sample pictures at the moment so please contact us if you do so!
Spot #5 – Av Costanera Rafael Obligado (south) | |
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WHERE | Northwest of the airport is a park called “Paseo de las Americas”. If coming from #1 there is no direct connection as you have to pass a busy road and some railroad tracks. Just north of the park is a footbridge (see map). The easiest way to get there from the airport is to take a cab or use uber but there are also some bus stations. Parking is available directly at the park. |
WHAT | Arrivals on runway 13 only. |
TIME | Only two or three hours before sunset. |
MISC. | Next to the park are restaurants. Some homeless people hide their stuff in bushes. |
FOCAL LENGTH | 200mm for an A320 |
Spot #6 – Restaurant “El Muelle” | |
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WHERE | The is located on a pier and offers a roofed terrace without glas on the first floor and some benches and shade in the entrance area at the ground level. Parking lot is in front of the restaurant. Wifi is available to check Flightradar 24 or order a Uber, Cabify later. |
WHAT | From the terrace you can see the taxiway movements and line ups rwy 31. Although it might be a bit tricky as you have some light poles to avoid. If you are standing downstairs at the entrance you can see the approach path rwy 31 with some skyscrapers as a backdrop. |
TIME | Morning till afternoon, at the terrace heat haze could be an issue. |
MISC. | The restaurant offers excellent dishes, for Argentinian relations it is fairly expensive. Best to come before 12:30h if you have no reservation. Peak time seems to be between 13:00h and 14:30h. Then you might have to wait a little bit until a table at the terrace becomes available. The staff is really tolerating our hobby and might be interested to see your pictures before you leave. The spot seems to be better than i.e. spot 4 where you are standing close to the street, especially if you are traveling alone. |
FOCAL LENGTH | From 70mm to 300 covers everything here. |
I was at AEP for a morning in early September 2023. The north parking area (spot #2) is closed as the area is being developed. There is no view of the airport. I photographed aircraft from spot #1 on the river side of the avenue just north of the threshold of runway 13. This was fine for pictures of aircraft on short finals when runway 13 is in use. I also photographed from a spot a little way north of spot 5 (The Fishing Club/el Muelle restaurant) on the airport side of the avenue where the double fence becomes a single fence (just across from the executive hangars). Aircraft taking off and aircraft and aircraft taxiing after landing could be photographed when runway 13 is in use. Nobody bothered me at either spot, but I would still advise caution. There were people around particularly in spot #1. I had a local (female) guide with me and our driver was parked nearby. I did not want to be alone but, equally, I did not experience any problems.
Hi. Can any recommend a good hotel, close to Jorge Newbury Airport. Hotel Aeroparque Inn and Suites has apparently closed. Thanks.