Gioia del Colle Air Base - Spotting Guide

Gioia del Colle Air Base – Spotting Guide

January 14, 2024 - last modified on January 3, 2024

Gioia del Colle Air Base (- / LIBV) is located in the very southeast of Italy and was opened in 1915. Nowadays it is a small fighter air base and home to Italian Eurofighter Typhoons. It also hosts some excersises from time to time: like the NATO tiger meet which was held here in 2023 for example. Otherwise the traffic is quite quiet…
However, due to conflicts in Lybia since 2011 the air base gained importance again and sometimes also hosts foreign troops – the Royal Air Force flew missions from here for a while for example.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Enzo Gattullo – Planespotters Bari. Last Update: October 2023

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
14L/32R	2996 x 30m
14R/32L	3001 x 45m
Spotting Information
Ladder	Do not use ladders at all!
Car/Public Transport	A car is needed as there is NO public transport!
Drinks/Food	Nothing around the airfield, you would need to go to Gioia del Colle village (5 mins by car).
Hotels	No spotter hotels around here.
Season	The movements are typical of an operational military airport: so not too many 😀 There are mostly a few in the morning and a few in the afternoon, but not daily! Gioia del Colle is more like an stop by airport if you are on vacation in the area or if there are excersises held here.
Security	As at all Italian air bases, the (military) police may approach you asking for your ID and telling you not to take photographs especially along the fence showing military facilities. So keep a very low profile especially as spot 2!
Runway Usage
General Info	Direction 14 is in usage most of the time.

	Spot #1 – Strada Provinciale 29 – 14L+R Arrivals
WHERE	There is a small bulge at the roadside off the Strada Provinciale 29 north of some private farms. You can stop here by the roadside and spot from right here.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 14R are nicely visible, 14L arrivals are visible in the distance as well though.

TIME	Later morning till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around here, no issues with police normally. Be aware of the road traffic here: it is very intense and thus it is very dangerous to stay on the side of the road because there are no sidewalks.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm as the planes are quite close

	Spot #2 – Via Lagomagna – 32L departures
WHERE	This spot is located actually all along the fence on Via Lagomagno west of the air base: you can actually position yourself anywhere along here as you want…

WHAT	Best for 32L depatures, but you may also spot 14R movements thru the fence. Runway 14L/32R movements are also visible in the distance but hard to spot properly.

TIME	From later morning till sunset.

MISC.	DO NOT stand too close to the fence for a longer time or use ladders to clear the fence! The military police will see you and come around for a little talk for sure! Keep a low profile here: keep your camera stowed as long as possible, take a few shots once a plane passes by and sit back into the car! Nothing around here otherwise.

FOCAL LENGTH	Around 200mm for 14R/32L and 400mm for 14L/32R

	Spot #3 – Strada Losito fields – 14R+L Departures
WHERE	To reach this point you must leave the car along the asphalted road Via Lago Scalcione: there is a space for 2 cars, then continue on foot into Strada losito and position yourself along there at the fields.

WHAT	Departures from runway 14R are nicely visible here, 14L departures are visible in the distance as well though.

TIME	From later morning till sunset.

MISC.	Nothing around here. Be aware of the fields with crops around here: do not walk on them! Military police passes along on the perimeter road inside/airside, but if you are behind the trees here next to the fields you are not really visible.

FOCAL LENGTH	Around 200mm for 14R/32L and 400mm for 14L/32R