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April 16, 2017Trivandrum Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on November 13, 2018
Trivandrum International Airport (IATA: TRV, ICAO: VOTV). The airport is a primary base for Air India Express operations and is a focus city for Air India, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo.Trivandrum International Airport hosts Air India’s Narrow body Maintenance, repair and overhaul unit — MRO consisting of twin hangars for servicing Boeing 737 type aircraft, servicing mostly Air India Express aircraft.
In addition to civil operations, Trivandrum Airport caters to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Coast Guard for their strategic operations. IAF have an exclusive apron to handle all their operations. Trivandrum airport also caters to the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology which carries out pilot training activities.
Airlines currently serving the airport : Air Arabia, Air India, Air India Express, Emirates, Etihad Airways, FlyDubai, Gulf Air, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Kuwait Airways, Maldivian, Malindo Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, SilkAir, SpiceJet SriLankan Airlines.
Special traffic : Fits Air, Emirates SkyCargo on VISHU & ONAM [Festivals in Kerala,India].
Spotterguide.net recommend you to contact the local Plane Spotters Kerala – A group of airplane spotters directly on their facebook page (facebook.com/KLSpotters) as they can guide you reach there. You can ask for Nizam Ashraf.
- Personal impressions : Beware of the public and police. Don’t act too smart and try to be friendly, so they will be friendly too. I personally don’t have any problem with the Police till date but i have been questioned by the public a couple of times (the best way to avoid them is to try being friendly
Written by Nizam Ashraf (Last update April 2017)
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| Airport Information | Runways | 14/32 | ||
| 3,400m (11,155ft) | ||||
| Asphalt | ||||
| Terminals | Terminal 1
Domestic flights (except Air India) |
Terminal 2
International flight operations as well as all domestic flights by Air India. |
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| Spotting Information | Ladder | Prohibited. | ||
| Car | Recommended. | |||
| Restrooms | Not available. | |||
| Drinks/Food | Only spot 2. | |||
| Hotels | Plenty hotel near the airport. | |||
| Season | October till December | |||
| Runway Usage | 14/32 | Nothing special, depend on the wind direction. | ||
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Spot #1 – Chilakkoor – Vallakkadavu Rd |
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| WHERE | This spot is located just 2 kms from the International Terminal. You can board a bus containing names such as [SHANKUMUGHAM BEACH, VELI, PERMUATHURA and get down at All-Saints College]. This spot is located near to BRAHMOS AEROSPACE LIMITED. Public attention is reduced as the vehicle passes in great speed. You can also get here by a CAR, TWO WHEELER / AUTORICKSAW. It is better to use online taxi’s such as UBER, OLA as it is cheap when compared to AUTORICKSAW. You are able to park the vehicle by the side of road. |
| WHAT | Best for RWY14 Landings. Good for runway32 Takeoff. You can have the side shots and banking shots of aircraft’s. |
| TIME | The best time for spotting is 6 am-11 am. |
| MISC. | You don’t need any ladder as you will get a clear picture of the aircraft after takeoff. Moreover a ladder will gain attention from the POLICE. A couple of shops are available here providing cool drinks. The road sides are planted with trees, so you can get away from the sun. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A minimum of 70 mm is needed to spot every kind of aircraft. |
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Spot #2 – Ponnara Bridge (RWY32 Landing) |
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| WHERE | A newly build walk-able bridge is the spot I am referring to. This spot is located just 4 kms from the International Terminal and 2 kms from the Domestic terminal. This one is located on the short final path. You can board a bus containing names such as [VALIYATURA, BHEEMAPALLY, DOMESTIC AIRPORT and get down at PONNARA BRIDGE] There are no landmarks to share. You can reach here also by a CAR, TWO WHEELER / AUTORICKSAW. You can park the car on the side of the road. It is better to use online taxi’s such as UBER, OLA as it is cheap when compared to AUTORICKSAW.
Ladder is not Recommended as you can get a nice shot from the bridge itself. If you wish to spot without any public attention, try to go there after 4 pm as many families with children stand there to watch the planes land and takeoff. |
| WHAT | Best for RWY 32 departures if the planes make the u turn you can get nice side shots. For arrivals on RWY 32 you can make face to face photos. Angle is too bad for side shots. |
| TIME | The best time for spotting is 6 am-11 am. |
| MISC. | Public attention is a bit high here. Personally, I didn’t face any problem with the POLICE, but the locals questioned me a couple of times. [TIP: TO AVOID PUBLIC ATTENTION TRY TO MAKE THEM FRIENDLY AND ACT LIKE THAT YOU ARE NOT AN AVGEEK]. A lot of shops are available here providing cool drinks, food, etc… There is a bus shelter to avoid the sunlight. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | More than 130 mm lens are recommended to spot the backtracking aircraft’s and 18-55 mm for face-to-face shots. |
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Spot #3 – Terrace of a Home (ENTRY ALLOWED ONLY FOR PLANE WATCHING) |
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| WHERE | This is a terrace of a home which is situated just 200mtrs from the runway. This spot is located just 4 kms from the International Terminal and 2 kms from the Domestic terminal. You can board a bus containing names such as [VALIYATURA, BHEEMAPALLY, DOMESTIC AIRPORT and get down at PONNARA BRIDGE] There are no landmarks to share. As the airport is guarded by the CISF [CENTRAL INDUSTRIAL SECURITY FORCE], it is not secure to be at this spot for a long time. [MAKE SURE THAT DON’T SEE YOUR CAMERA] Personally, i faced some problem with the CISF. You can reach here also by a CAR, TWO WHEELER / AUTORICKSAW. You can park the car on the side of the road. It is better to use online taxi’s such as UBER, OLA as it is cheap when compared to AUTORICKSAW. Ladder is not Recommended/Allowed.
To get into house : MAKE A REQUEST TO WATCH PLANES FROM THE TERRACE [BETTER TO ACCOMPANY A CHILD]. |
| WHAT | RWY32Takeoffs, Backtracking, Landing. You can have side shots, face-to-face shots & closeup shots. |
| TIME | The best time for spotting is 6 am-11 am. |
| MISC. | Carry necessary food items and drinks as no shops are available within a 2 km range. Also carry some items to avoid sunlight. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55 mm -250 mm lens are recommended. |
