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[GKE/ETNG] Geilenkirchen Airbase Spotting Guide

About Geilenkirchen Airbase

NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen (E-3A Component), (IATA: GKE, ICAO: ETNG) is located near Geilenkirchen, Germany and Schinveld / Brunssum in the Netherlands.
It is the Main Operating Base of the NATO E-3A Component, one of two operational elements of the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force.!
Allmost weekly there are also two KC135's based at Geilenkirchen.
Every day in the week you get to see some old smokers-action, except in the weekends, when Geilenkirchen is closed.

Geilenkirchen has 1 main runway 27 - 09 with a length of 3000 meters

English : Wikipedia Geilenkirchen Airbase English
Dutch : Wikipedia Geilenkirchen Airbase Dutch

A scanner is not allowed in Germany So take care.

The frequencies that are bold are mostly used :
Frisbee Tower :120.050, 378.570, 122.100, 140.075
Frisbee Radar :143.400, 316.000, 244.550, 378.050, 123.725
Magic Command : 139.875, 259.650
ATIS : 278.200

Spotting Locations at Geilenkirchen Airbase

Below the spottingpoint are shown. Spot 3 is mentioned 2 times because the different lightconditions during the day .

Spot 1 : Landing / Lineup Runway 09

This spot is located at the West-side of the airbase. When the wind is blowing from the East, runway 09 will be in use. However, 80% runway 27 is the main runway. At this spot landing and departing planes from runway 09 can be photographed.

PLEASE DO NOTE THAT IT IS NOT APPRECIATED BY THE MILITARY POLICE WHEN YOU STAY TOO LONG IN FRONT OF THE PERIMETERFENCE!! MAKE YOU PICTURES AND QUICKLY LEAVE THIS SPOT.

When the sun is present this spot is suitable from early in the morning until about 1500h (during mid-winter will be all day) for landing traffic on runway 09.
When you walk in the direction of the fence/taxiway you can make very nice shots regarding aircraft leaving the ramp for runway 09 before using the hammerhead for the line up and take-off, note that this position is located really close to the taxiway, so side-shot of e.g. an IL76 or E-3A requires only 30mm.
On the taxiway good shots can be taken from approximately 1200h till sunset (mid-summer somewhat later) .

Sun : sunrise till 13:00, planes on the taxiway till 16:00

Click here for a bigger map / Grotere kaart weergeven

Spot 2 : Landing / Lineup runway 27

This spot is located at the East-side of the airbase. When the wind is blowing from the west, runway 27 will be in use. At this spot landing and departing planes from runway 27 can be photographed.

PLEASE DO NOTE THAT IT IS NOT APPRECIATED BY THE MILITARY POLICE WHEN YOU STAY TOO LONG IN FRONT OF THE PERIMETERFENCE!! MAKE YOU PHOTOGRAPHS AND QUICKLY LEAVE THIS SPOT.

How to get to Runway 27?
When you are on the main road that leads to the main gate at Geilenkirchen, turn right on a small road, called Anlieger frei; follow this narrow road until you can see the accommodation belonging to football club FC Teveren. Turn left and after about 100 meters you can park your car. Leave your car parked at this spot and finally you have to walk about hundred meters towards the North in order to reach spot 2.

From this point you can make very nice shots of aircraft approaching runway 27 using 70-300 mm lenses. For an IL76, E-3A or tanker you need approximately 80-90 mm and an AN-124 requires a somewhat smaller lens (or walk backwards in direction of the car). The sun will be brilliant from approximately 1000h until sunset When aircraft leave the ramp and runway 27 is in use you can also take pictures of aircraft taxiing towards the threshold. The sun will be superb from sunrise until approximately 1300h.

Sun : Sunrise till 13:00

Click here for a bigger map / Grotere kaart weergeven