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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the best airports in Europe for the aviation enthusiast. Apart from the many facilities, such as an observation deck, a restaurant with a view and several spotting areas with parking facilities and eateries, there are a number of "less official" spots along the runways where aircraft movements can be followed. On the map you will find several numbered spots which could be of interest to the visiting spotter.
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| General info |
| Based aircraft and where to find
them |
| Map of the airport with spotting
facilities |
| The terminal area |
| The 06/24 spotting area |
| The road along 18C/36C |
| Landing Runway 18C |
| McDonalds along Runway 27 |
| Schiphol East |
| Landing 36R |
| Landing 36R |
| Runway 18R/36L |
| A map of the
gates at Schiphol (350k) |
From the observationdeck you
have a clear view of the following gates (from left to right):
- F gates (even numbered gates only)
- E gates
- D/E ramp
- D gates (with the exception of the gates in the middle of the fork)
- C gates (odd numbered gates only)
- B gates (odd numbered gates only)
- S ramp (Martinair Cargo, West Air Sweden, Asiana Cargo)
If you are looking for a specific gate, you can also try these spots:
- The covered walkway to the Sheraton Hotel and the carparks
- J ramp (which is at the other side of the motorway):
- H ramp
- G gates (odd gates only)
- Next to the west terminal, underneath the walkway to the G pier (obstructed
view)
- G gates (even gates only)
- F gates (odd gates only)
- Next to the old control tower
- C gates (even gates only)
- B gates (odd gates only)
- obstructed view of the B ramp (commuters, KLM Cargo)
- If you follow the road south there are some spots between the buildings
where you, with a little luck, can see something
- Further along this road to the south, after crossing the taxiway
- R apron: Atlas Air, Nippon Cargo, Das Air, Emirates and other
cargo aircraft
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On the far side you can see Schiphol-East, including
where you usually can find the based aircraft (from left to right):
- Police aviation hangar
- Bo105: PH-RPR, S, V & W, D-HMUG (red)
- BN-2T: PH-RPM & N
- C.182: PH-RPH, I & J
- MD900: N9201U (white), N9213Q (white/orange)
- The hangars of Excellent Air, the DDA (Dutch Dakota Association) and
the NLR (Dutch air & space research institute)
- C.650: PH-MEX, MFX
- Da50: PH-JNL
- Several German registered Citations and BAe 125s
- DC-3: PH-DDZ & PH-PBA (both airworthy)
- DC-2: A30-14 (PH-AJU ntu)(Royal Australian Air Force) (stored,
dismantled)
- Stinson L-5: PH-PBB (airworthy)
- SA226: PH-NLZ (calibrator)
- Ce550: PH-LAB (flying laboratory)
- Dornier 228: PH-MNZ (Kustwacht/Coast Guard)
- East apron (general aviation)
- C.421: PH-RAJ
- C.172: PH-EAM, PH-GYS, PH-LEN, PH-RCF
- PA-28: PH-KIK
- Hangars 4 & 32 - Martinair
- Fokker 70: PH-KBX (Royal Flight)
- Hangar 5 - Transavia
- Hangar 14 - KLM B747 maintenance, paintbay
- Hangar 9 - Nayak Aircraft Service Netherlands, KLM cityhopper
- Da20: PH-BPS
- Da900: PH-LBA, PH-EDM
- PA-30: PH-COM
- Hangar 10 - KLM
- M apron
- Hangar 11 & 12 - KLM
- QAPS paintshop
- Former Fokker factory, in use as storage or maintenance hangers for various companies. There are several Fokker 50s and 100s stored inside, waiting for repaint or lease.
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You can to see the aircraft from the roof terrace. In fact there are two terraces, but as they are connected to each other, it looks like one. The terrace on the old terminal faces the C-, D- and one side of the E-pier. This means that you have the sun right in your face in the morning, as it faces south. The other terrace faces the other side of the E-pier and one side of the F-pier. This terrace is perfect, because the sun is at your back the whole day. From both terraces some movements on the runways can be seen, but too far away for a picture. Airplanes taxiing and parked at the gate can be photographed with a 75-300 mm lens.
If you walk outside the terminal some spots can be found to get a glimpse of the aircraft parked at the various aprons. Further to the south, a nice spot exists at the very end of the Romeo Cargo apron, overlooking this apron and the threshold of runway 06.
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The first spot to check out is at the "Kaagbaan", or officially the 06-24. This runway has it's own viewing place. You can reach the facility by driving from the terminal to Schiphol-Zuid. Drive along Schiphol-Zuid, until you reach a T-junction, where you turn left. Drive straight ahead, and the road will lead you directly under the approach of the runway. Unfortunately there is no parking place here, so you will have to drive on. Take the first on your left and drive straight on again. The runway is now on your left hand. You will find the viewing spot on your left. Although the facility is not more than an ordinary parking place for cars, it attracts many people for there lunch break. Also a snack car is present at the spot during weekends and holidays. Until about three o'clock the sun is situated perfectly. For the photographers among us, a 75-300 mm lens is the most common, as you can photograph everything with this lens, including the commuters.
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This road is now closed permanently.
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At the small road leading through the approach lights of the 18C, some spots can be found to take nice landing shots. But beware, parking is not allowed here, so take caution and stay with you car.
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Before the viewing facility was built, this was nothing more than a piece of muddy land. But now that is changed. At the viewing facility there's even a McDonald's restaurant for your appetite. To reach the spot, just follow the signs from the terminal which say Schiphol-Oost and it will lead you directly to the McDonald's (you can see the big "M" from a great distance). At this spot almost all the movements can be logged with a big monocular. You can see Schiphol-Oost and it's maintenance bases as well. Photographers won't be that happy with the spot because it faces south. But when it is a cloudy day, some good pictures of landing planes can be made. The lens to use here is again a 75-300 mm lens.
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This is next to the General Aviation platform and to the hangars of Martinair, KLPD (police), DDA, NLS and Excellent Air. During morning, some nice shots of the parked bizjets can be taken with the sun at you back. The windows of the hangars along the road are nowadays, so peeking inside is not possible anymore.
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This spot is at the industrial estate next to the threshold of 36R, just follow the road from Schiphol-East to the south and turn to the right at the gas station. Especially during weekends there is plenty of parking space. This spot is particularly useful in the morning when they're landing on 36R.
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This is at the other side of the landing of 36R, just follow the road and after passing the approach lights, turn the second to the right. This spot is good for the afternoon as the sun is then behind you.
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The new runway is in use since late February 2003, starting at the 18R side, a bike lane runs along the first half of the runway. Halfway there are two spots you can reach by car.
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| Back to map |
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In closing an urgent request to visiting spotters: do not leave the official roads in the vicinity of the airport, do not park in places which are not designated for that purpose, and please dispose of trash in the trashcans or take it with you when you leave. This will help to ensure that these unique locations at Schiphol airport will remain available for spotters in future.
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