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London Heathrow Airport

2017-09-07T17:00:00Z

SpotterVince: /* Airside - Terminal 4 */

[[Category:England]]
{{categorywithregion|Europe|United Kingdom|England}}

{{infobox|fullname=London Heathrow Airport|location=London, England|iata=LHR|icao=EGLL|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.heathrowairport.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.471119,-0.455246&spn=0.030780,0.076484&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=118.7, 118.5|atcground=121.9, 121.7
|atcclearance=121.975
|atcapproach=120.4|atcdeparture=118.5
|atcatis=|atcunicom=|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-heathrow}}

==Official Spotting Locations==

===View Heathrow Observation Deck===
A former airline lounge in Terminal 4, between gates 15 and 16. Free to enter during Terminal 4's operating hours. Only available to ticketed passengers.

===Terrace at Thistle London Heathrow Hotel===
This is a good spotting place since you will see the Rwy 27R / 09L. You do not need to be a overnighter to use this point. The only thing is you have to ask at the reception desk.
Bath Road, Longford
West Drayton UB7 0EQ
Phone: 0871 376 9021 / +44 845 305 8321

===Heathrow Academy===
Located on North Perimeter Road, many spotters choose to spot from here. This location is good for spotting but no good for photography, because of the perimeter fence! From here runway 09L/27R has very close views and also from here views of aircraft parked in Terminal 1 Stands and part of Terminal 3 stands can be seen. Also from here the maintenance area has clear views, here park up South African (747's and A340's) and Qantas (747's). Also some executive and government planes can be seen. When the weather is right views of 09R/27L can be seen, the weather has to be perfect! Sometimes it is to hazy or sometimes too cloudy. Also at the visitors centre there is an [expensive] cafe - although this is only open on weekdays. But there is a McDonald's over the road. Also here is a a enthusiasts shop - where models, books, magazines, etc are sold. This location is only called the visitors centre, but really you are spotting in the car park it cost £1.00 per hour, so be aware of the weather. Happy Spotting at LHR, there are some interesting planes to be seen here, I have listed some further down the article.

The centre has now re-opened under a new name, of Heathrow Academy. It is open at weekends and school holidays from 10am to 4pm. Within the centre, there is a Ritazza coffee shop (open from 7am to 4pm), there is still a aviation model shop.

{{#display_map:
51.480608, -0.443187~Heathrow Academy
| type=satellite
| zoom=16
}}

===The Queens Building===
On top of terminal 2. Shut, indefinitely.

==Other Spotting Locations==
===Rwy 27 threshold===
Early in the morning, if traffic is coming down on 27R, you could get lucky and witness dual rwy ops/landings. In such cases most the BA heavies will opt for 27L whilst a lot of the T3 traffic will land on 27R.
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===Block 94 crash gate===
A real no-no, the Police will see you off from here quicker than anything! If you dare to venture into here, as it is open, be aware it's not advisable to hang around for too long. Shots of a/c lining up at B94 (for 27L) can be had though, should you get lucky.
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Or shots of landing a/c onto 27L also.
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Almost as good a spot is across the dual carriageway, which is perfectly fine, where landing a/c can be shot over the fence.
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===09L Field===
There's a field similar to that found at Myrtle Avenue, although this one is for 09L arrivals. Very nice in the mornings when light from the rising Sun hits the fans.
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===Hilton Hill===
Either walk from Myrtle Av. or from terminal 4. Expect a 15 minute walk from Myrtle, 5 from T4. The hill is on the side of the road that leads into terminal 4 itself. Plenty of space to not bother anyone. Very hazy in the summer though. Only good for 27L arrival shots, with a different backdrop from the "normal" LHR ones.
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===Line ups on 27R===
Shooting through the fence on the Northern Perimeter Road. Excellent spot on late summer evenings when the Sun is almost behind you.
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===Gate by Road Crossing===
Only good for 27R ops. Better for landing traffic than departing. Spot is by the mini roundabout near the white huts. Where the a/c cross the road from the airport to the maintenance area there's a red and white gate. Excellent spot for touch downs on 27R.
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Aircraft being tugged across the road are also easily shot here too.
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''This area has now been '''closed''' (as of mid March 2006) with the road being diverted around the back of the BA Maintenance Area, so any shots taken from the level crossing are now impossible.''

===Myrtle Avenue===
A field at the end of Myrtle Avenue, by the approach lights for 27L. By foot, either walk from terminal 4 northbound alongside the dual carriageway or southbound from Hatton cross tube. The field can not be missed; it's about a 10 minute walk from either end. <br />

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===09R banking/climbout shots:Tesco Dukes Green===
Excellent spot just outside the airport perimeter,located on the A312.About a 10-15 minute southbound walk from Hatton Cross tube station.A good spot for shooting banking,heavy takeoffs when 09R is use(about 30% of the time)especially for heavy A340s.

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===27L climbouts:Former Essso garage alongside the southern perimeter road===
Popular spot for capturing takeoffs from 27L.Hard to park the car here now as the slip lane as been coned off to prevent such activity!Possible to get a bus to the cargo centre but and walk westbound for about 10minutes.Brick bollards provide useful height for shooting aircraft climbing out slowly after a long takeoff run.

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Note : The garage has now re-opened. ( July 2007 )

===Perimeter road in north-west corner 27R climbouts===
The perimeter road in the far north-west corner also provides some excellent opportunities for 27R climbout shots although the sun is not far round enough for this spot to be effective during the winter and autumn months.

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===27R final approaches from the mini trading estate===
Given the road works and the imminent closing of the 'road crossing road' this area may not be around for too much longer.This spot is on a small trading estate,just off the perimeter road,comprising a series of mainly single tier buildings and is generally quiet at the weekend.Parking the car is not advised here as it is a private estate.Others prefer to shoot from the roundabout on the perimeter road and the little patch of land next to it but I personally find that you are a little too 'under' the aircraft compared to the trading estate spot.

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===Runway 27R touchdowns===
Like the 27R climb outs spot,the light here is only good about 1/2 of the year as you are facing south but it is perfect for evening photography.A few different angles can be had from along the north perimeter road depending on where exactly you shoot from.

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==Airside Spotting Locations==
===Airside - Terminal 1; Gate 8 - bmi domestic Lounge===
Glazed floor to Ceiling overlooking the eastern end of the Northern Runway (27R/09L). Touchdowns on 27R, and taxiing aircraft visible. Aircraft landing on 09L have mostly left the runway and those for Terminal 3 turned away before getting close.

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===Airside - Terminal 1; Gates 36-56 ===
Gates 36-56 are located in a glass and steel building at the extreme eastern end of the central area with views over runway 23 and B pier of Terminal 1. There are plenty of windows that line up with gaps in the parked aircraft and photography is best in the afternoon. On the down side the northern most gate offering the best views can be closed off by moveable barriers if it is being used for flights to Israel.
WARNING:If you don't know the gate your flight is departing from allow time to walk back to the main departure lounge (without a moving walkway)to check the monitors there.

===Airside - Terminal 4 ===
View Heathrow is located up some staisr opposite Gate 11. This is a small spectators area, which has Flightradar24 screens installed. Last time visited (June 2017) none of these were working. View Heathrow has excellent views over 27L and movements from Terminal 2 and 4. Facing North is good for photography with minimal reflections.

In addition to the windows behind the duty free shop the Gate 23 area has windows overlooking the southern taxiway and 27L holding point.
WARNING:If you don't know the gate your flight is departing from allow time to walk back to the main departure lounge (without a moving walkway) to check the monitors there.

===Airside - Terminal 5 ===
If you take a trip to Terminal 5, you will be able to capture ground traffic, but also departures and arrivals on all runways, depending on which side of the terminal you are. If you arrive at terminal 5 by the main entrance, and turn left or right before entering the terminal, you will get to the end of the terminal next to the arriving perimeter roads. From here, you will be able to see ground traffic and lots of pushbacks from the Terminal 5 ramps. If the active runways are 09's then you will be able to see very close arrivals and departures at your eyeline, and if the active is 27's then you will be able to photograph climb outs.
Sometimes police will stop you from spotting here, but i shouldn't see it occurring much, as it's only happened to me once.

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==Locations to Avoid==

===Airport Car Parks===
I used to use the airport short stay car parks to spot, but since security has rose the BAA security move you on VERY quickly. These are very expensive anyway, MY HINT IS TO NOT SPOT FROM THE CAR PARKS!

==Regular Traffic==
British Airways, Heavies from Asia, EU Carriers, Boeing 787/777/767/757/747 and Airbus A330 from America.

==Facilities and Transportation==

Heathrow airport is connected directly by Tube (Piccadilly line) and Rail (Heathrow Express) to central London. The Tube is not too expensive for a day ticket, and it takes about 45 minutes from Kings Cross. The Heathrow Express is much faster, but it is a lot more expensive and doesn't allow you to stop at Hatton Cross, which is a more advised station than Heathrow Terminals 1,2&3.
There are also a number of buses which go to Heathrow from cities in the southeast, but I have not used these myself.

Get off at the Hatton Cross tube station to catch 27L&R Arrivals and 9L&R Departures, with most of the named sites not a long walk away.

From Heathrow airport itself (T's 1,2&3) you can catch a free bus to the new Terminal 5 site where you can see 27L&R Departures and 9L&R arrivals not a long walk away.

South West Trains runs a regular service from Central London / Clapham Junction to Feltham, where it is easy to board the 4 times hourly Service 285 to Hatton Cross Tube Station, where it is an easy walk to view 27L/R arrivals.

==External Links==
*[http://www.forums4airports.com/forum421.html Forum for Heathrow Airport] For LHR spotters, aviation enthusiasts as well as aviation professionals wishing to discuss all aspects of Heathrow airport.
*[http://twitter.com/LHR_movements @LHR_movements] - Twitter feed of interesting arrivals/departures and other LHR news
*[http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-heathrow/ Plane Spotting Hotels] Hotels with views of Heathrow including room numbers, photos and videos of the views available.
*[http://spotterlead.net/EGLL/spotting London Heathrow Planespotting Timetables] London Heathrow Planespotting Timetables: Live flights, weather reports, runway usage, lighting conditions.

London Gatwick Airport

2017-09-07T16:51:25Z

SpotterVince: /* Regular Traffic */

[[Category:England]]
{{categorywithregion|Europe|United Kingdom|England}}

{{infobox|fullname=London Gatwick Airport|location=London, England|iata=LGW|icao=EGKK|aptype=Commercial|website=http://www.gatwickairport.com|mapurl=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ll=51.152863,-0.177155&spn=0.030994,0.076484&hl=en|mapsource=Google Maps|atctower=124.225
|atcground=121.800
|atcclearance=121.950
|atcapproach=126.825
|atcdeparture=|atcatis=|atcunicom=
|psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-gatwick/}}

==Official Spotting Locations==

===Roof Terrace===

Shut, probably indefinitely.

==Other Spotting Locations==

===08R Crash Gate===
Probably the most popular spot at Gatwick, it's excellent for shooting aircraft taxing and holding for departure from 08 (and as a result is only available 30% of the time). The spot provides several different angles depending on where along the crash gate you shoot from. If a ladder is used please take it down after you have taken your shot. If you are arriving here by car, do not attempt to park by the crash gate or under the flightpath as you will be asked to move it by security.

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Around this area as well you are able to get good clear shots of aircraft on final approach, or climbing out from 26L. However, you cannot park anywhere in this area as security or the police will ask you to move - and they do regular checks. Best place to park is further along the road, opposite the Flight pub. There is a huge layby here and it is probably a 20 minute walk back towards the viewing location.

===08R field===
Just south of the 08R crash gate is a gate leading to a farmers field. In the winter months when there is nothing growing here you can use this field to obtain shots of 08R arrivals or heavy 26L departures. It is still possible to use this field in summer, but you must stick to the edge and not under any circumstances step onto the farmer's crop. This spot is north facing so is good for most of the day for photography.

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===26L - Inner Perimeter Road===

The best place to be when 26L is in use, which is about 70% of the time. Provides good landing views and picture opportunities. Very limited shots of ground activity although it is possible through a fence with a long lens.

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===08R - Lowfield Heath Crash Gate===

Situated about half way down the runway near the Travelodge hotel, this location is not really suitable for photography unless 08R is in operation. Even then you have to rely on planes rotating early in order to get them above the fence.

===South Terminal International Departure Lounge===

Only accessible if you are traveling. Situated upstairs in the departure lounge by the Sports Bar, it offers nice views across the airfield and runway. Windows seem to be generally clean so photos may be possible. Please note that this area is currently closed due to refurbishment.

==Locations to Avoid==

===South Terminal Short stay Car Park===

This spot is fantastic for photographs of arrivals on 26L/26R late in the day, when the sun is to your right and behind you. It is possible to get some well lit, amazing photographs at close range, and at a similar height to the aircraft. However, discretion is the key at this location. You're very likely to be moved on by security from here if they see you. Best tips - do not park on the roof level. Instead, park on Level 4. It's still pretty high up but you're nowhere near as exposed. Stay in your car until something is on approach that you want to get a shot of. Get out of the car, take your photo, then get immediately back into your car and wait again. By doing this it is possible to stay there for a few hours, and get some lovely shots.

==Regular Traffic==

The airport movements are dominated by Easyjet (A319/A320) with British Airways (A319/A320/B777), Norwegian (737/787), Monarch (A320/A321) and ThomsonFly (B737/757/787) being the other major operators.

The airport is busier during summer months (May-October) as there is a large charter airline presence at the airport, but most of the airlines operate all year long.

Amongst other carriers are Belavia (737), Cathay Pacific (A350), Emirates (A380), RwandAir (A330), Turkish (A321/A330/B737), Virgin Atlantic (A330/B747), Vueling (A319/320/321).

See here for more:[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatwick#North_Terminal]

==Facilities and Transportation==

There is a busy railway station situated at the South Terminal providing services from/to London and the South oast, plus east/west services from Horsham and Tunbridge Wells via Tonbridge. The Gatwick Express train service operates every 15 minutes direct to London Victoria station.
The station is a 50 minute train journey from Kings Cross Thameslink.

A transit train operates between the North & South Terminals. Each terminal has short stay parking (albeit quite expensive).

Coach services depart/arrive from locations around the country such as central London, Bristol, Brighton, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge and Norwich. For those wanting to combine a Gatwick visit with a Heathrow one there is a direct link provided by National Express Coach 700 Service which operates every 15 minutes. Journey takes approximately 80 minutes.

If you want to get to The western end of the airport from the terminals. Take the G4 bus from either terminal (i believe it runs hourly, but check before you travel) to the village of Charlwood. You should then be only a 1 mile walk from the crash gate at the 08R end.