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December 22, 2023Tashkent Int’l Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on December 10, 2023
Islam Karimov Tashkent International Airport (IATA: TAS; ICAO: UTTT) is the main international airport of Uzbekistan and the 3rd businest airport in Central Asia (after Almaty & Nursultan both in Kazakhstan). The airport is named after the 1st Uzbek president. The airport includes two terminals that one receives international flights and the other one domestics.
Uzbekistan Airways is the national carrier which is based at Tashkent Airport and operates a variety of aircraft from an Airbus H130 (helicopter) the versatile Pilatus PC24 to the nice little Let410 up to A320/A321, B763, B788. Centrum Air (less known Uzbek company) is a low-cost carrier that operates 3x Airbus A320 as well as Qanot Sharq an airline that operates 2x A320 + 2x A321 as well as a due A332. Additionally you will also see the 3x ATR72 from the Uzbek company Silkavia that operates domestic flights. On top of those Uzbek carriers you will certainly encounter some Air Force IL76, Casa C295 or helicopters as well as the government jets that often fly in and out of Tashkent Airport.
Obviously many foreign companies fly at TAS, Aeroflot, Air Arabia, Air Astana, Asiana, Azerbaijan, Azimuth, Belavia, China Southern, flydubai, flynas, IndiGo, Jazeera, Kam air, Korean Air, Loong Air, Nile Air, RedWings, Rossiya, Somon Air, S7, Turkish Airlines, UTair, etc. Those carriers operate with various types and most at night sadly.
TAS also welcomes a few interesting cargo jets like AeroLogic in B772, Georgian Airlines Cargo in B763, Fly Sky Airlines in IL76, My Freigther in B742, RubyStar in IL76, Silk Way in B748, UATGroup Airlines in IL76, YTO Cargo Airlines in B752, etc.
Written by local spotter Imran Khamraev (Tashkent_Spotter) December 2023.
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 08L/26R | 4.000 m (13.123ft) Concrete |
| 08R/26L | 3.905 m (12.812ft) Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 2 | International flights |
| Terminal 3 | Domestic flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed at any of the locations. |
| Car/Public Transport | We recommend to use a rental car, however public transport can also be used. |
| Drinks/Food | There aren’t many supermarkets around the airport, bring with you what you need. |
| Hotels | Few hotels can be found near the airport but no grants a view of the movements. |
| Season | Spring to Summer is the best time to have good weather. |
| Security | Planespotting in Uzbekistan is so far tolerated and locals have very good relations with TAS airport. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 08L/08L | Mostly used during Winter times and Summer morning. |
| 26L/26R | Mostly used in the afternoon in Summer times. |
 |
Spot #1 – Bus Stop – 08 movements arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located near the bus stop named “Obirahmat Mahallah” on the street named Kumaryk 59. You should park your car at the supermarket at the opposite of the road and then cross the street to reach the spot. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on 08L/R only. |
| TIME | Summer: From 0800 until 1500. Winter: All day. |
| MISC. | You have a market across the street where you can get drinks/foods. Apart that there’s a few trees to have some shadow. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Rwy08R: A321 = 50mm / B767 = 35mm / A330 = 20mm Rwy08L: A320/B738 = 80mm |
 |
Spot #2 – The Mound – All 26 movements, 08 heavy departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located on a small mound providing a perfect overviw of the rwys operations. Near a small river in a free zone area it is considered as the main official spotting location of the airport. |
| WHAT | Runways 26R/L for arrivals and departures. But you may also try to get heavies departures from 08R/L. |
| TIME | Summer: From 0800 until 1500. Winter: All day. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. There’s no shadow. No ladder needed.
++Spotting in Uzbekistan is officially allowed, but sometimes if airport security see you at this location, they tend to call the police. If they come, stay polite and just mention them you are only making pictures of civilian planes++ |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Rwy26L: A320 = 85mm & B767 = 60mm Rwy26R: A320 = 150mm & A330 = 100mm |
Runway 26R
Runway 26L
Runways 08
 |
Spot #3 – Driving Lessons Area – 26 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From Spot 2 go back on the main road Beshkent ko’chasi and continue driving east until you reach an open car park area on your left side. Park the car here, cross the street and walk into the Gai Fayziabad, which is an open area for driving lessons. Put yourself at the far end to have a better sight on the approach. |
| WHAT | Runways 26R/L arrivals. |
| TIME | Summer: From 0800 until 1500. Winter: All day. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. Keep a low profile. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Rwy 26R: B788 = 80mm / A332 = 76mm Rwy 26L: IL76 = 50mm / A320 = 75mm |
 |
Spot #4 – The Bridge – 26 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From spot 2/3, it is a +10 minutes drive to the north side of the airport. The spot is located on a walking bridge above the railroad tracks. Park your car as per the map’s icon. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runways 26R/L. |
| TIME | From end of April until August from 16h00. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby, bring with you what you need. There’s no shadow. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Rwy26R: A320 = 285mm / A332 = 100mm & B788 = 160mm |
| Ramp Tour | |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The airport offers an official ramp tour from time to time. Check on their IG page regularly as this is where they are promoting the ramp tour. You have to follow their requirements and hope you will be selected to join the ramp tour (keep this in mind, it is subject to airport approval which you will receive later by email). Tashkent airport will disclose you by email the pickup location. It is free of charge but at the airport discretion to accept your application.  |
| WHAT | The bus will drive you at Terminal 2 and 3 areas. You won’t be able to access the bizjets apron, the IL114’s and the storage/maintenance part. |
| TIME | Usually from 0700 until 1730 and twice a year (April & October). |
| MISC. | You can bring foods/drinks with you but the bus will stop anyway at midday at the airport facility so you can enjoy if you wish to buy something. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm |
I would be glad if you would add my spotting place on a map it’s near the road between locations 2 and 3
Hi Imram,
could you write me your ctc by Mail ? thks
Thank you Imran for writing this very nice and thorough review, I hope to visit Uzbekistan in the near future!
Hey, you’re welcome))
See you soon 😊
Its nice that they have a ramp tour like Frankfurt or LAX and I think Uzbekistan is one of the only middle east or central Asian country’s that doesn’t do terrorism.
dude 💀