Sydney Airport: Difference between revisions

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psh=http://www.plane-spotting-hotels.com/index.php/plane-spotting-sydney/}}


Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is the main airport for Sydney, Australia.  Founded in 1920, it is Australia's busiest airport (despite this, it is the smallest capital city airport in terms of area) and is the world's oldest continually operated commercial airport.  The airport is named after Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the famous aviator who was the first to fly across the Pacific Ocean.  Home to Qantas Airways, Sydney Airport is also regularly served by over 50 other airlines, domestic and international.  Currently, more than 26 million passengers pass through the airport each year.
Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport is the main airport for Sydney, Australia.  Founded in 1920, it is Australia's busiest airport (despite this, it is the smallest capital city airport in terms of area) and is the world's oldest continually operated commercial airport.  The airport is named after Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, the famous aviator who was the first to fly across the Pacific Ocean.  Home to Qantas Airways, Sydney Airport is also regularly served by over 50 other airlines, domestic and international.  Currently, more than 26 million passengers pass through the airport each year.
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===International Terminal Observation Deck===
===International Terminal Observation Deck===
THIS IS NOW PEREMENTALY CLOSED
The only official spotting location at Sydney Airport is the observation deck located in the northern part of the international terminal.  The observation deck incorporates the Esky Bar, and food, drinks and seating are available.  This makes it a comfortable place to spend some time spotting.  The best views from the deck are of 16R takeoffs and landings, and 34L takeoffs.  The Sydney skyline provides a nice backdrop for aircraft on approach to 16R.  Views over the northern part of the international terminal and of aircraft taxiing to and from the domestic terminal are also good.  Part of runway 07-25 is visible, but the observation deck is not a good spot for watching movements there.
The only official spotting location at Sydney Airport is the observation deck located in the northern part of the international terminal.  The observation deck incorporates the Esky Bar, and food, drinks and seating are available.  This makes it a comfortable place to spend some time spotting.  The best views from the deck are of 16R takeoffs and landings, and 34L takeoffs.  The Sydney skyline provides a nice backdrop for aircraft on approach to 16R.  Views over the northern part of the international terminal and of aircraft taxiing to and from the domestic terminal are also good.  Part of runway 07-25 is visible, but the observation deck is not a good spot for watching movements there.


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<br>'''Update''': As of early 2007, the upstairs bar at the observation deck itself was removed along with most of the seating. The main restaurant/bar downstairs still exists.  
<br>'''Update''': As of early 2007, the upstairs bar at the observation deck itself was removed along with most of the seating. The main restaurant/bar downstairs still exists.  


Photography is best in the afternoon and evening, when the light is best.  The approximate required lens focal length is 50 to 300mm, though 200mm is still fine as a maximum.  The best place to shoot from is right at the top of the stairs up to the deck.  This is useful for everything except 16R approach photos (in front of the city) and some cargo apron movements.  For these, it is necessary to use the convenient holes in the glass wall at the far northern end of the observation deck, just next to the lift.
Photography is best in the afternoon and evening when the light is best.  The approximate required lens focal length is 50 to 300mm, though 200mm is still fine as a maximum.  The best place to shoot from is right at the top of the stairs up to the deck.  This is useful for everything except 16R approach photos (in front of the city) and some cargo apron movements.  Of these, it is necessary to use the convenient holes in the glass wall at the far northern end of the observation deck, just next to the lift.


Be aware that parking at the International Terminal carpark is very expensive. It is possible to park over on the other side of the Cooks River (to the west of the airport, near the St. George Rowing Club in Arncliffe) and walk across. This takes about 10 minutes - much more preferable than lining the coffers of SACL even more!
Be aware that parking at the International Terminal carpark is very expensive. It is possible to park over on the other side of the Cooks River (to the west of the airport, near the St. George Rowing Club in Arncliffe) and walk across. This takes about 10 minutes - much more preferable than lining the coffers of SACL even more!
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This is where the spot is.
This is where the spot is.


<googlemap lat="-33.926127" lon="151.174021" zoom="16">
{{#display_map:
-33.926358, 151.173913, Qantas Drive Gate
-33.926358, 151.173913~Qantas Drive Gate
</googlemap>
| type=satellite
| zoom=16
}}


===Shep's Hill (Tower Mound)===
===Shep's Hill (Tower Mound)===
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<br>'''Update''': A line of newly installed lighting poles directly between Shep's Hill and the runway is an annoying obstruction.  
<br>'''Update''': A line of newly installed lighting poles directly between Shep's Hill and the runway is an annoying obstruction.  
'''SYDNEY AIRPORT HAS OFFICIALLY OPENED A SPOTTING DECK AT SHEPS MOUND (AUGUST 2017)'''


[http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=-33945048&x=151180263&z=18&l=0&m=s Wikimapia location and description.]
[http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=-33945048&x=151180263&z=18&l=0&m=s Wikimapia location and description.]
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===International===
===International===


Aerolineas Argentinas (A340-200)
'''AirAsia X''' (A330-300)
<br>Aircalin (A320-200, A330-200)<br>
<br>'''Aircalin''' (A320-200, A330-200)<br>
Air Canada (B777-200LR)
'''Air Canada''' (B777-200LR)
<br>Air China (A330-200)<br>
<br>'''Air China''' (A330-200)<br>
Air Mauritius (A340-300)
'''Air India''' (B787-8 Dreamliner)
<br>Air New Zealand (A320-200, B767-300ER, and occasionally B777-200ER and B747-400)<br>
<br>'''Air New Zealand''' (A320-200, B777-200, B787-9 Dreamliner, and occasionally B777-300ER)<br>
Air Niugini (B767-300ER, B757-200)
'''Air Niugini''' (B737-700)
<br>Air Pacific (B737-800, B737-700, B747-400)
<br>'''Air Vanuatu''' (B737-800)<br>
<br>Air Vanuatu (B737-800)<br>
'''Asiana Airlines''' (B777-200ER, A330-300, and occasionally A380-800)
Asiana Airlines (B777-200ER)
<br> '''All Nippon Airways''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)  
<br>British Airways (B747-400, B777-200ER)<br>
<br>'''American Airlines''' (B777-300ER, occasionally the B787-9 Dreamliner)
Cathay Pacific Airways (A330-300)
<br> '''Beijing Capital Airlines''' (A330-200)
<br>China Airlines (A330-300)<br>
<br>'''British Airways''' (B777-300ER)<br>
China Eastern Airlines (A330-300)
'''Cathay Pacific Airways''' (A330-300, B777-300ER)
<br>China Southern Airlines (A330-200)<br>
<br>'''Cebu Pacific''' (A330-300)
Emirates Airlines (A340-500, B777-300ER, and occasionally B777-200ER)
<br>'''China Airlines''' (A330-300)<br>
<br>Etihad Airways (A340-500, A340-600)
'''China Eastern Airlines''' (A330-200, A330-300)
<br>Garuda Indonesia (A330-300)
<br>'''China Southern Airlines''' (A330-200, A330-300)<br>
<br>Hawaiian Airlines (B767-300ER)<br>
'''Delta Air Lines''' (A350-900)
Japan Airlines (B777-200)
<br> '''Emirates Airlines''' (A380-800, occasionally the B777-300/ER - usually on flights to Bangkok.)
<br>Jetstar (A320-200, A321-200, A330-200)
<br>'''Etihad Airways''' (B777-300ER, A380-800)
<br>Korean Air (A330-300, B777-200ER)<br>
<br>'''Fiji Airways''' (B737-700 - flights to Suva, B737-800, A330-200, A330-300 - final three aircraft mentioned operate almost exclusively on flights to Nadi from Sydney.)
LAN Airlines (A340-300)
<br>'''Garuda Indonesia''' (A330-200, A330-300)
<br>Malaysia Airlines (B747-400, B777-200ER)<br>
<br>'''Hainan Airlines''' (A330-200)
Pacific Blue Airlines (B737-800, E-190)
<br>'''Hawaiian Airlines''' (A330-200)<br>
<br>Philipine Airlines (A330-300)<br>
'''Japan Airlines''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)
Polynesian Blue Airlines (B737-800)
<br>'''Jetstar''' (A320-200, A321-200, B787-8 Dreamliner)
<br>Qantas Airways (B737-400, B737-800, B767-300ER, A330-200, A330-300, B747-400, A380-800)<br>
<br>'''Korean Air''' (A330-300, and occasionally B747-8i, A380-800)<br>
Qantas New Zealand (Jetconnect) (B737-800, B737-400)
'''LATAM Airlines''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)
Singapore Airlines (B747-400, B777-300ER, A380-800)
<br>'''Malaysia Airlines''' (A330-300)<br>
<br>Thai Airways (B747-400, B777-200ER)<br>
'''Philipine Airlines''' (A330-300, A340-300 occasionally used.)<br>
United Airlines (B747-400)
'''Qantas Airways''' (B737-800, A330-200, A330-300, B787-9 Dreamliner, A380-800)<br>
<br>Vietnam Airlines (B777-200ER)<br>
'''Qantas New Zealand''' (Jetconnect) (B737-800) (Using New Zealand Regos.)
Virgin Atlantic (A340-600)
<br>'''Qatar Airways''' (A380-800)
<br>'''Scoot''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)
<br>'''Singapore''' Airlines (B777-200ER, B777-300ER, A380-800)
<br>'''Thai Airways''' (B747-400)<br>
'''United Airlines''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)
<br>'''Vietnam Airlines''' (B787-9 Dreamliner)<br>


===Domestic===
===Domestic===
 
'''Jetstar''' (A320-200, A321-200) A budget carrier subsidary of Qantas.<br>
Aeropelican Air Services (EMB-110, Jerstream J31)
'''REX''' - Regional Express (SA-227DC, SF340A/B)
<br>Air Link Airlines (Dubbo) (PA-31, B1900D)<br>
<br>'''Qantas Airways''' (B737-800, A330-200, A330-300 [Occasional -300 use], B787-9 Dreamliner)<br>
Big Sky Express (SA-227AC)
'''QantasLink''' Operated by; '''(Eastern Australia Airlines)''' (DHC-8-300, DHC-8-400) '''(Cobham Aviation Services)''' (B717-200)
<br>Jetstar (A320-200)<br>
<br>'''Virgin Australia''' (B737-800)
REX - Regional Express (SA-227DC, SF340A/B)
<br>Qantas Airways (B737-400, B737-800, B767-300ER, A330-200)<br>
QantasLink (Eastern Australia Airlines) (DHC-8-100, DHC-8-200, DHC-8-300, DHC-8-400)
<br>Tiger Airways (A320)<br>
Virgin Blue Airlines (B737-700, B737-800, E-170, E-190)


===Cargo===
===Cargo===


Atlas Air (B747-400F/SCD)<br>
'''Atlas Air''' (B747-400F/SCD) - ''Operated for Qantas Freight.''<br>
Cathay Pacific Cargo (B747-400F)
'''Cathay Pacific Cargo''' (B747-8F)<br>
<br>DHL Cargo (Asian Express Airlines) (B757-200)<br>
'''Cobham Aviation Services Ltd.''' (Bae-146-300QT) ''Operated for Qantas Freight.''
Federal Express (MD-11F)
<br>'''DHL Cargo''' (Asian Express Airlines) (B757-200)<br>
<br>Korean Air Cargo (B747-400F/SCD, B747-400F/ER/SCD)<br>
'''Federal Express''' (MD-11F)
Malaysia Airlines Cargo (B747-200B/SF)
<br>'''Korean Air Cargo''' (B747-400F/SCD, B747-400F/ER/SCD)<br>
<br>Singapore Airlines Cargo (B747-400F/SCD)<br>
'''MASkargo''' (A330-200F) <br>
United Parcel Service (MD-11F)
'''Polar Air Cargo''' (Boeing 767-300F) <br>
'''Qantas Freight.''' (Boeing 737-300/400?, Boeing 767-300 - ER?)
<br>'''Singapore Airlines Cargo''' (B747-400F/SCD)<br>
'''Toll Aviation Services.''' (Boeing 737-300/400) ''Operated for Qantas Freight.''<br>
'''Tasman Cargo Airlines.''' (Boeing 757-200F) ''Operated For DHL.''<br>
'''United Parcel Service''' (MD-11F)


==Facilities and Transportation==
==Facilities and Transportation==