Where can I spot?

Capt · Post by **Capt** » 20 Oct 2004, 20:49

Hi!

I'm planning to go planespotting in the upcoming vacation wich starts the 29th of october.
I think I'm going from early in the morning 8 o clock? Can you guys tell if it's worth it? and maybe what kind of planes I am going to see? And which runways are in use then and how to get there?

You can obviously notice that I'm a first imer...so any help is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards

Capt

Andries · Post by **Andries** » 20 Oct 2004, 21:07

I presume you mean you want to go spotting at Brussels ...

Wel in that case, the best place for a firsttimer would be the approach of 25L (if runway's 25 are in use).
You can get there by train (+ 10 minute walk) and car. Just do a search on this website and you'll find all you need to know !

I can't really tell you what to expect as I visited Brussels only once in the past 2 years ...

Greetz,

Andries

Andries · Post by **Andries** » 20 Oct 2004, 21:11

Just did a search on the forum and this was the post I meant :

https://www.aviation24.be/postlite5587-.html

Hope this helps you !

Greetz,

Andries

Post by **Bruspotter** » 20 Oct 2004, 21:41

Hello Capt!

For a first-timer you are a early bird,and that's very good.
Because one of the main rules of great spottingdays is;
be there on time,as early as possible.

Sometimes i'm there yet at 06:00 in the morning,and i can
tell you that's worth the effort,especially if you can stay until
20:00 in the evening.

But serious now; what you may expect around the time you start
spotting.

07:10.......United airlines.............B767-300.....Arrival
07:55.......American airlines........B767-300......Arrival
08:15.......Continental airlines.....B767-400......Arrival
08:30.......Delta airlines..............B767-300......Arrival
08:45.......American airlines........B767-300......Arrival
09:10.......Delta airlines..............B767-300......Arrival
+between 07:00-07:40 you can expect a SN 330 for Arriving
(depends of the day)

10:10.......American airlines........B767-300......Departure
10:35.......Continental airlines.....B767-400......Departure
10:35.......Delta airlines..............B767-300......Departure
11:05.......American airlines........B767-300......Departure
11:10.......Delta airlines..............B767-300......Departure
12:25.......United airlines.............B767-300......Departure
+between 10:00-12:30 hours you may expect all 3 SN 330's
to depart.

Extra's: depending of the day you go,it could be that there comes
this big ones more;

Belgium Excel 767
TUI Belgium 767(already?)
Biman Banladesh DC10
Air Transat A310
Fly Air/Onur Air A300's
Egypt Air A330(???)Equipment Variable.
+daily the MNG/Jetair TC-MNE A300-B4

And ofcourse the Cargo's wich i cannot tell you all.
But if you send me an e-mail containing the day wich you prefer
to go spotting,i will send you the Cargo's too. But!!!If you send
an request at last one day before,confirmation until the noon-flights comes
at the evening before departure.

And watch the weather forecast; Southwest winds; Take-off /landings @RW25L/R
southern windsTake-off RW20,landings at RW25L
East winds take-off at RW07L/R and landings at RW02.

For more runway info and a map of the Runways you can also mail me,don't hesitate.

e-mail: yannickvanpraag@hotmail.com

Best regards and lots of fun; Yannick

Post by **sn26567** » 21 Oct 2004, 09:17

OK to come early to see a lot of planes, but do you realise that at this time of the year sunrise is at 8:30? If you want to take pictures, coming earlier is useless...

MikeLima · Post by **MikeLima** » 21 Oct 2004, 17:59

Hi Capt,

Just a few weeks ago I visited Brussels Airport for the first time with a friend of mine. He showed me around, including the spot along the runway which has been described by others. He are some of the other spots he showed me.

1. Near the General Aviation area. How to get there: coming from the airport terminal take the first exit to the General Aviation area. On the roundabout, go to the right. Follow the road which almost immediately makes a sharp turn to the left. Then, after a few hundred metres, there is a private parking on your right hand. This is the spot. There is a bus stop just opposite of it, but I can't tell you which busses stop there.

This spot provides a good view to the DHL platform and the General Aviation platform. Unfortunately a lot of sand has been dumped there, so you won't be able to see the cargo area north of the runway. However, you will be able to see departing aircraft (depending on wind direction of course).

2. You can also go to the top level of the northern parking garage at the airport terminal. From up here you can see the whole cargo area, as well as the runway. Taking photos is possible from up here, although you'll need at least a 400mm lens to get a good picture. We were not sent away (probably because we had our car with us?), however, I can imagine security people will do so from time to time.

3. The final place to go to is the airport visitors restaurant in the terminal building. From up here you can see the passenger platform. However, you'll be sitting behind glass, so taking pictures is out of the question here.

What did I see? I was there on a Saturday, so there were a lot of DHL aircraft (including 2 Convair 580's). Furthermore: Gemini MD11, Cathay Pacific Cargo 747, 2x SIA Cargo 747, Aviastar Tu-204F, American 767, United 767, Continental 767, WindJet 320, Volare 320, Vueling 320, Air Plus Comet 310, Kalitta 747, Antonov Airlines An-124, Private owned Boeing 737 BBJ. But these were highlights to me of course.

Well, hopefully these directions will be of any use to you. Anyway: enjoy your stay!

Kind regards,
MikeLima
Holland

EBBRspotter · Post by **EBBRspotter** » 22 Oct 2004, 19:48

Bruspotter wrote:Hello Capt!

For a first-timer you are a early bird,and that's very good.
...
Best regards and lots of fun; Yannick

And if you want to be sure about the runway in use, call the tower on the number 02/206.25.03. they will help you without any problems.

Zorba · Post by **Zorba** » 22 Oct 2004, 20:03

And if you want to be sure about the runway in use, call the tower on the number 02/206.25.03. they will help you without any problems.

Are you serious??

Do you work there or so?

killerwhale65 · Post by **killerwhale65** » 22 Oct 2004, 20:16

MikeLima wrote:We were not sent away (probably because we had our car with us?), however, I can imagine security people will do so from time to time.

Don't worry, i've been there dozens of times and never seen any security up there (weather this is good or bad is another question). ALso the other carpark is good to see some traffic, expecially when 07R/02 is in use.

Post by **Bruspotter** » 23 Oct 2004, 11:14

Hello spotters!

Capt. will be spotting now (raining a bit)at BRU,it's 10:33 now.
And this is what is expected today at approach.
only the most interesting planes;

sceduled airline type arrived

06:00.....SN Brussels......................A330-300-----05:36
06:05.....SN Brussels......................A330-300-----06:17
06:10.....Belgium Exel.....................B767-300-----07:19
07:10.....United airlines...................B767-300-----07:11
07:15.....SN Brussels......................A330-300-----06:27
07:55.....American airlines..............B767-300-----07:56
07:55.....Biman Bangladesh airl.......DC 10-30-----Chancelled
07:55.....Icelandair(Loftleidir)..........B767-300-----08:12
08:15.....Continental airlines............B767-400-----08:29
08:30.....Delta airlines....................B767-300-----08:36
08:45.....American airlines..............B767-300-----09:17
09:10.....Delta airlines....................B767-300-----09:15
11:10.....Iberia..............................A321-100-----11:19
14:50.....British airways..................A321-100-----
15:15.....MNG airlines/Jetair............A300-B4-----
18:35.....Iberia..............................B757-200
19:30.....Britannia airways..............B757-200
19:30.....Onur Air...........................A300-B4
19:45.....Hewa Bora airways...........L1011-200
21:45.....Fly Air..............................A300-B4
22:15.....Iberia...............................B757-200

And ofcourse the Cargo's too,but i don't know the exact time of landing
because they aren't in the biac's scedule,but i gave Capt. the times so...

Good spotting and regards: Yannick

EBBRspotter · Post by **EBBRspotter** » 23 Oct 2004, 21:23

Airbus_fan wrote:
And if you want to be sure about the runway in use, call the tower on the number 02/206.25.03. they will help you without any problems.
Are you serious?? Do you work there or so?

No I don't work there but I always call them, and they always help me. They only asked me once why I needed the information. Told them it was for spotting and they gave the info.

Post by **sn26567** » 24 Oct 2004, 13:32

Thus, they would also reply to a terrorist saying he is a spotter

Flybe · Post by **Flybe** » 24 Oct 2004, 15:55

Thus, they would also reply to a terrorist saying he is a spotter

If all they are giving is the runway that will be in use, i do not see the problem. A terrorist that looks up the dispersion plan and meteo can come to the same conclusions without caling the tower. Or he can ask on Luchtzak, and everyone would do his best to help him/her. 8)

Anyway, if a terrorist goes to the airport, he immediately knows which runways are in use.

Don't get too paranoic here people. If terrrorists want to do something, they will always find a way, you can't protect everything. Doesn't necessarily need to be an airport... There are many places with many people there. Should we secure all cinemas, metros, trains, discotheques, ...

Greets,

Pieter

PS: if someone calls with a heavy accent, or speaking a foreign language, i guess they would be more carefull for sure 8)