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| [MST/EHBK] Maastricht Aachen Airport Spotting Guide |
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About Maastricht Aachen Airport
Maastricht Aachen Airport (IATA: MST, ICAO: EHBK)
is a regional airport located 5 NM (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northeast of the city of
Maastricht, in the town of Beek, both municipalities in the Limburg province
in the Netherlands.
The airport is also 15 NM (28 km; 17 mi) northwest of Aachen, a city in
Germany. It is the second-largest hub for cargo flights in the Netherlands.
The Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC) of the European Organisation
for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) is also located on the
airport.
Maastricht Aachen airport has 1 runway 21 / 03. This runway is 2500 x 45
meters On this page we aim to explain the spotting facilities at Maastricht
Aachen Airport.
The times of the sun are based on summertime (+2 UTC). Source :
Wikipedia More info about Maastricht Aachen Airport see the Wikipedia links
below English
:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastricht_Airport Dutch
:
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maastricht_Aachen_Airport
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Spotting Points Of Maastricht Aachen Airport
Below the spottingpoint are shown. Spot 3 is mentioned 2 times because the
different lightconditions during the day .
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Spot 1 - The Bamfordweg
You can use this spot when Runway 21 is in use, because the heavy departing
planes normally rotate abeam this point. The spot is not useful when Runway
03 is in use, because some obstacles block your view. For taking pictures
you need stairs to reach over the fence, but photographing trough the
crash-gate is possible as well.
Sun : From sunrise till 13:00
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Spot 2 - East-side Treshold Runway 03
A very good spot when runway 03 is used. This is a perfect photo spot for
both arrivals and departures.
If runway 21 is used only the heavy traffic will pass here, because they
have to turn on one of the loops located at this position.
When heavy loaded planes depart from runway 21 they usually use about 75% of
the runway, therefore departing planes can photographed form this spot, but
spot 1 is better in this case. Due to the runway-extension on the south side
of the runway there are two turning-loops.
Therefore you never know for sure which turning point will be used.
For taking pictures you need a stairs to reach over the fence
Sun : Sunrise till 13:00
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Spot 3 - Runway 03
Because there are 2 turning points at the end of Runway 03, planes can
choose which turning point to use for the for the 180 turn.
This spot is also nice for taking head-on shots of heavy planes departing
from Runway 21, you’ll then get shots like the middle 747.
We do not recommend this spot when Runway 03 is used for landings,
because you could better use either spot 2 of 4 instead.
Spot A in the Google map can be used in the morning and spot B in the
evening.
For taking pictures you need a stairs to reach over the fence
Sun : 11:00 till 17:00
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Spot 4 - West-side Treshold runway 03
When Runway 03 is in use, this is a perfect photo spot for both arrivals
and departures in the late-afternoon and evening.
When Runway 21 is used only the heavy traffic will pass here, because they
have to turn on one of the turning-loops located at this position.
For taking pictures you need a stairs to reach over the fence, but
photographing trough the crash gate is possible as well.
Sun : 14:30 till sunset
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Spot 5 - Radar
This spot is not recommended because it is not allowed to park cars at
this position, so please don’t do this because you will get a ticket.
Medium/heavy traffic departing from Runway 21 will rotate at this position.
Medium/Heavy traffic landing on Runway 21 can be photographed here as well
because they have to rollout to the end of the or make a 180 turn at the
runway. Landing traffic from runway 03 can be photographed here in the late
afternoon/evening, just walk along the fence towards the South.
For taking pictures you need a stairs to reach over the fence.
Sun : 16:30 till sunset
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Spot 6 - Visitor Terrace
This spot is located
at the visitor terrace. There are 2 spotting positions, the first one is
located on the "old" terrace and this position is useful for shooting when
runway 21 is in use, because nice landing shots or shots on the taxiway can
be taken from here. The big advantage here is you don’t need a stairs to
take nice shots. The big disadvantage is that planes are late visible while
backtracking runway 21.
The 2nd terrace is located closer to the taxiway, but there’s glass in front
of you, so stairs have to be used here. Keep in mind that planes on the
taxiway are really close, so you don’t need many mm’s here.
When Runway 03 is in use this spot can be useful, Freighters always pass in
front of you because the Cargo-apron is located at the North side of the
airport. Passenger traffic will most of the time vacate the runway in front
of you. Small planes that land from runway 03 normally vacate at W4 which is
usually too far for photographing
Sun : Sunrise till 10(Like the B737), From 16:00 till sunset
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Spot 7 - Parking Lot
This spot is very useful during the winter, because the sun is turning really
slow that period. It’s located on the parking of the airport. It’s not recommended
during landings from runway 21 and 03. Due to obstacles like antenna`s are in
your view. This spot is only useful for taxiing traffic to runway 21 and
traffic that backtracks runway 21 towards the cargo apron. Planes parked on
the Maintenance ramp (C-apron) can photographed from this point. Cargo planes
vacating to the cargo (B-Apron) and maintenance traffic can only be photographed
with low temperatures because of heat haze during the warmer periods.
Keep on mind that you have to walk to this spot because its located on a parking
lot. If you don`t want to pay parking fees you should park your car somewhere
else.
You need a stairs here to reach over the fence.
Sun :
afternoon from 16:00 till sunset, or like the 2nd picture took at
14:30
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Spot 8 - Cargo (B-Apron)
This spot is located at the B-apron. All traffic that arrives or departs from runway 21 can be photographed here on the taxiway or runway.
With low temperatures departing or parked planes from the maintenance area can be photographed as well.
When runway 03 is in use, only cargo traffic to the cargo apron can be seen here.
Planes parked at the cargo can only be photographed in sunny conditions from sunrise till 08:00am in mid-Summer, because there’s backlight during the rest of the day and year.
You need a stairs here to reach over the concrete wall.
Sun :
afternoon from 16:00 till sunset, or just like spot 6 from sunrise
till 9:00
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Spot 9 - Landing runway 21 eveningspot
This spot is located at the business park of Maastricht Aachen Airport. Its not recommended anymore due to the runway extension.
The landing threshold
has moved 250 meters down to the south in 2005. Landing planes are now higher at this position and not very nice to photograph.
I only recommend this spot for making nice action shots!
Sun :
afternoon from 16:00 till sunset
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Spot 10 - Landing runway 21 eveningspot
This spot is located at the business park of Maastricht Aachen Airport. Its
not recommended anymore due to the runway extension.
The landing threshold has
moved 250 meters down to the south in 2005. Landing planes are now higher at this
position and not very nice to photograph.
I only recommend this spot for
making nice action shots!
Sun :
sunrise till 13:00
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Spot 11 - Line-up runway 21 / Maintenance (C-Apron)
This spot is located at ASL terrace at the
maintenance apron. Here you can nail planes that lineup & depart from runway 21.
Or shoot planes that are pushed out of MAAS (paint hangar). However some
small general aviation planes keep are usually parked in front.
But keep in mind n mind don`t walk into the garden from ASL.
You need a stairs here to reach over the fence.
Note: Please have a drink there
Sun :
sunrise till 13:00
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Spot 12 - Landing runway 21 Morningspot
This spot is located next to the Maintenance apron (C-apron). Here you can
nail planes that depart or arrive from runway 21. This spot is not recommended
when runway 03 is in use. Landing planes that are taxiing to the C-apron can be seen from this position
as well. There is a temporary road created to the aviation house. It's not located on
Google Maps, so drive along EuroControl, continue straight ahead and follow the
road after passing the crash-gate.Due to construction work it's unsure what's going to happen with this spot in
the future. Now some simple fences are located at this position. The airport
security does not like it when people walk here, so we advise you to shoot a
picture and get back to your car. If you walk around the Aviation house you may be lucky that a plane is parked
between the gaps of the fences.Because there is no official road there is no google maps spot available.You need a stairs here to reach over the fence
Sun :
sunrise till 13:00
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