LGG Spot 1
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August 3, 2015Liège Bierset Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on November 09, 2018
Liège Airport is situated in the community of Grâce-Hollogne which is 9km west of the city of Liège. It is a small provincial airport serving the east of Belgium and offering a few destinations for business travellers to Europes mega cities and for the vacationers to Mediterranian beaches and the sea! But since late April, the airport has some new long-haul destinations again! But not only the passenger flights are interesting, but Liege also has to offer a huge freight timetable is Europe’s 8th largest freight-airport? That’s not the only stunning fact about this tiny but mighty airport!
In terms of passenger movements, Liege is surely a little bit more silent than his brothers Brussels, Amsterdam and Luxembourg. But since late-April 2015, i-Fly and Orenair operates several charters to China bringing thousands of tourists to Europe using the A330 and 772! It is the perfect location for travellers from Xi’an, Shenyang, Tianjin, Moscow Vnukovo, Nanjing, Wuhan, Kunming, Urumqi and a few more to conquer the European cultural sights or the megacities nearby e.g. Brussels, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Paris. The freight airlines kinda had the same idea. Due to its perfect location in this ‘golden triangle’ between Amsterdam, Paris and Frankfurt, many cargo airlines have decided to serve Liege as their hub. Currently, 65 percent of air freight in Europe is being dispatched onto these airports. Regular Cargo visitors are Icelandair Cargo (757), Ethopian Cargo (777), Bluebird Cargo (737), TNT (747,777,757,737) and Royal Jordanian Cargo (A310).
Written by Severin Hackenberger, Marlin Lehmann and Jan Seba (Last Visit: March 2018).
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| Airport Informations | Runways | 04R/22L | 04L/22R | |
| 3.700 m (12.139 ft) | 2.340 m (7.677 ft) | |||
| Terminals | Terminal Hall | |||
| Used for all flights | ||||
| Spotting Informations | Ladder | Recommended, as you can use a ladder at every spot, But you can usually take photos without one, however rather limited, please read the instructions for every particular location for further information. | ||
| Car | Very advisable. Some spots can be reached by public transport from Liege Railway Station. | |||
| Restrooms | In every publicly accessable building like restaurants or hotels and inside of the terminal building. | |||
| Drinks/Food | There are a few restaurants and shops nearby every spotting location offering supply of food and drinks. | |||
| Hotels | There are many hotels nearby the airport as well as in neighbouring towns. There is a Park Inn By Radisson directly at the airport | |||
| Season | The traffic at Liege Airport slightly increases during the summer season while Jetairfly and other charters operates a few holiday charters as well as iFly charters are only operated during the summer season but the regular flights within Europe are steadily the same throughout the year. Also the freight sector does not show any significant changes during the year. | |||
| Runway Usage | 04R/22L | Generally the only active runway and it is used in all direction for arrivals and departures. | ||
| 04L/22R | Only known to be used by light airplanes. | |||
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Spot #1 – Parking lot – RWY 04 Arrivals/Departures & TWY Movements off RWY 22 |
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| WHERE | Spot 1 is located on a big parking lot which seems to be unused. When coming from the city or from any other destination and you are travelling on E25 towards Bruxelles, exit the highway at Exit 4 ‘Flémalle’. Once you have exited the highway, immediately take the first turnout to the right. Follow this road until you enter the roundabout. Take the roundabout’s terminals fourth exit to exactly come back onto the road you have come from due to a prohibition of turning right to the parking lot after the highway exit. Follow the road for another 1.2km until you can turn left onto the parking lot (an unused area, there are no particular parking spaces but simply a gravel surface where you can also park your vehicle. When coming from the terminals, simply follow Rue de l’Aéroport southwestwards for about 2.3km. The parking lot will then appear on your right. You can place your ladder anywhere along the fence, but for the taxiway shots you should take the northern corner.
By public transport: Spot #1 is easily reachable by public transportation. Bus number 57 from Liege railway station goes to TNT HQ, which is just 5 min walk. Update March 2016: We have received information about parking difficulties at this spot. We learned that parked vehicles are strictly being checked by security so we advice you to make sure and double-check if parking is permitted at the parking lot mentioned above.
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| WHAT | Movements on the runway when 04 is in use (not shown in the example shots) and aircraft using the adjacent taxiway, which is primarily used for vacating RWY 22. Departures from 22 will usually be too high at this location, but it can be used for some headon liftoff shots. (see Ethiopian MD11) |
| TIME | From sunrise until mid-day for runway movements and until the evening for vacatings on the taxiway. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | A ladder is required here. There is nothing nearby, bring everything by yourself. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 80mm for a vacating A319 and exactly 70mm for an A320. A MD11 on the runway at 90° about 70mm. 70-300mm lens is required here. |
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Spot #2 – Cargo Apron |
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| WHERE | The cargo apron is located right next to the Rue de l’Aéroport and you can stop your car here quickly and take some shots over the fence. Don’t stay/park too long here.
By public transport: Spot #2 is easily reachable by public transportation. Bus number 57 from Liege railway station goes to TNT HQ, which is just 5 min walk. |
| WHAT | You can take pictures of parked cargo aircraft. There are usually a couple of aircraft which can be photographed quite nicely. Sadly, there is one major downside to this location: A really high ladder is required, as there is a double fence which will strongly impact you pictures.We recommend at least 7 steps (the more the better) to get good shots. See example shots below, which were taken from the 7th step. Aircraft parked in the front are problematic and you will always have the fence in your shot, but aircraft further back are possible to get clean shots of. |
| TIME | From sunrise to mid-day in summer. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Very high ladder is absolutely necessary. Don’t stay here too long. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending on the parking stand between 18-200mm. |
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Spot #3 – Near Park Inn Hotel – All RWY 22L and Taxiway Movements |
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| WHERE | This is probably Liege’s most famous location: It is located northwest of a Park Inn Hotel. You can only reach this spot by foot. Parking on the hotel’s parking bay is fee-based (as of AUG2012). There are also some areas along the main road which can be used for parking free of charge. It is difficult to explain how you get to Spot 2 but the walking route is marked yellow in the map. From the main road you can also used the paved way if you do not want to climb over the hills on the marked route. |
| WHAT | All arrivals into runway 22L as well as taxying airplanes to runway 22L and the following departure of course. You can also look onto the Eastern Freight Apron where Bluebird Cargo jets are usually parked up. Photos are possible limitedly and will most likely have obstructions in the front (see example shot). |
| TIME | From sunrise to mid-day in summer. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | A high ladder is required here with at least 4 steps. There is absolutely nothing nearby, so bring everything along what you may need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70mm for an A320 on the taxiway and 150mm on the runway. A B772 is approximately 90mm on the runway. 100mm for the parked Bluebird Cargo. |
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Spot #4 – Dead End Road – All RWY 22L Arrival |
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| WHERE | This locations is easy to find when you start at the Park Inn Hotel. Just follow the Rue de l’Aeroport until you get to a big roundabout, exit to Rue Valise (second exit). After about 500m you get to a next roundabout, where you have to take the third exit onto Chaussee de Liege. After 150m you should see an old gate on your left. Park your car nearby and climb up the little dome. Now you have to choose your favourite position, this depends on the view you like the most!
By public transport: This spot is reachable by public transportation as well. Buses number 83 and 85 from Liege, bus stop “Grace-Hollogne”. |
| WHAT | All Arrivals on runway 22L. |
| TIME | From sunrise till 3.30pm, in summer and winter. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | A ladder is not required here. There is a gas station nearby (marked on the map) where you can get small drinks/snacks and go to toilet.
UPDATE September 2018: There are ongoing constructions works, that’s why this spot might be gone soon. Anyway, this spot might be that good on weekdays now as it’s located at the borderarea of the constrcution area. The spot can just be entered by passing a gate (shown on overview shot 3) and this might not be allowed normally! Pictures like the MD11 example shot AREN’T POSSIBLE ANYMORE! Therefore you might use the alternative one, which is located by the roadside of “Rue Valise” and will be gone soon as well – probably. The Qatar Amiri A330 was taken from there. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70 – 250mm
B777 = 105mm / B747 = 135mm / B737 = 190mm |
Results from the above mentioned alternative spot for the ramp:
The spot itsself – behind the spotter infront you can see the gate, which will be shown better below:
The mentioned gate to the construction work area:
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Spot #5 – From the Hill (Bierset) – RWY 22L Arrivals |
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| WHERE | There is a green area in the town of Bierset where a hill offers a nice view onto the runway. When coming from Spot 1 and Spot 2, drive Rue de l’Aeroport northbound – you will pass the Park Inn Hotel and remain on Rue de l’Aeroport until you enter the roundabout. Take the second exit to join Rue Valise for 500m. After 500m, the next roundabout appears from which you must exit at the third exit to join Chaussée de Liege. Follow this Chaussee for 1.4km and park your car in the first street of the right hand side.
By public transport: This spot is reachable by public transportation as well. Buses number 83 and 85 from Liege, bus stop “BIERSET Rue en Bois |
| WHAT | Flight arrivals into 22L and line-up’s. |
| TIME | From early afternoon until sunset in summer months. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | There is absolutely nothing nearby, so bring everything along what you may need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm; smaller planes e.g. Cessna planes are not to be photographed with 300mm |
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Spot #6 – Cargo Terminal West |
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| WHERE | You can take photographs from the Cargo Terminal West of Liege Airport which you will reach when you take Rue de l’Aeroport southbound all the way parallel to the runway until the roundabout shortly before the entry onto A4 to Bruxelles. Take immediately the first exit of the roundabout (Rue du Bihet) and follow the street for about 1.6 km. Please note that the street runs through the town of Fontaine which means that you always have to remain on the ‘large’ road towards the freight area. The road is called differently starting with Rue du Bihet to Rue Lambert Tombeur to Rue de Communes until it is called Rue du Ferdou. After those 1.6km from the roundabout, turn right into Rue Saint Exupéry. If you just came for a quick stop and shoot, you can also use the parking lot.
Update March 2016: We have learned that spot 6 East is unavailable since autumn 2015 unless you bring an extremely high ladder but this may result in troubles with local security staff. |
| WHAT | Heavy departures from runway 22L and aircraft parking on the freight west apron (only head-on shots are possible) |
| TIME | Parked aircraft from mid-day until sunset (varies from angle) and departing airplanes from late afternoon in summer. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Pictures of the eastern part of this location have to be taken through the fence (Avient) whilst you can photograph from a small hill at the western spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-300mm |
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Spot #7 – Meadow – Evening Arrivals RWY 04R |
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| WHERE | This spot is located on a meadow next to “Rue du Bihet”. It’s no exact position rather an area depending on your favourite angle. Just park your car at the dirty area looking like a turning pad on the right side of the mentioned street. Then search your favourite position; Astral example shots are taken just next to the fence a few meters into north-western direction from the parking position (spot marked on map exactly). |
| WHAT | Heavy departures from runway 22L and aircraft parking on the freight west apron (only head-on shots are possible) |
| TIME | Parked aircraft from mid-day until sunset (varies from angle) and departing airplanes from late afternoon in summer. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | No ladder needed, nothing really nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70 – 300mm |
Spot:
Parking Bay:
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Spot #8 – Roundabout – Morning Arrivals RWY 04R |
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| WHERE | This spot is located at an dead exit of a roundabout. Simply park your car at the marked and free parking area, which is located a few meters into western direction on “Avenue Theodule Gonda”. This spot can easily reached from the highway using exit 4 “Flemalle” |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 03. |
| TIME | Light is good from sunrise (on summer days it might be 1-2 hours after sunrise) till mid afternoon. |
| MISCELLANEOUS | Take care of furious drivers and cars! Also take care of the downhill infront of you at the marked spot! No ladder needed and nothing really nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70 – 300mm |
13 Comments
Runway numbers are now 04/22. (21-07-2018)
Thanks to the info Arno, guide has been updated.
-Julian
Spot #4 is easily reachable by public transportation as well. Buses number 83 and 85 from Liege, bus stop “Grace-Hollogne”.
Spot #1 is easily reachable by public transportation. Bus number 57 from Liege railway station goes to TNT HQ, which is just 5 min walk from Spot #1.
Forgot to mention that Spot #2 is even closer to bus stop, so is reachable by public transport too.
Thanks for the infos Dmitri. We have just added the infos.
-Julian
Spot 5 is still available, you can also use the hill next to the railway track, just across the Chaussée de Liège from the race track.
Hi,
Only the #6 spot east is unaviable, the #6 west still open.
Merci, ef! We appreciate sharing this with us!
Marlin
Spot #6 – Cargo Terminal West (Eastern Spot) is unavailable (or only with a verry big ladder) since the end of 2015.
There construction works at spot #1 (impossible to shot aircraft on S2 from the fence corner), and be careful with parking location, security seems to be stresses…
Thanks for your update, ef!
We will add this to our guide shortly.
Cheers
Marlin Lehmann
Hi there! I went to LGG on july 10/11th, and spot #5 was still available when I was there.
Hi Mylos!
Thanks for your comment, we very appreciate that you share that with us! Have you had a great trip to Liége?
Best Regards
Marlin – spotterguide.net