Published byWoutat
- last modified on July 17, 2020
Ostend-Bruges is the main international airport for West-Flanders. Although it used to be a mainly cargo airport it is seeing growing numbers of passengers, with nearly 400 000 passengers and 25 000 tonnes of freight. Tui Belgium has a base at the airport and is actually the only regular scheduled passenger airline. Another regular scheduled airline is Egyptair Cargo with it’s A300F and A330P2F aircraft.
Aerotranscargo is also not an uncommon visitor with B747F aircraft. Apart from this, the airport now and then receives special types, often Russian/Soviet aircraft such as Antonov 12, 22, 124, … ,which can make the trip to this rather small airport quite interesting.
Written by Tjorn Decroos (local spotter)
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Airport Information
Runways
08/26
3200m (asphalt)
Aprons
One (east)
All class F aircraft (B748, AN124)
Two (main) + Terminal
All airliners, cargo aircraft and business jets.
3 (GA)
General Aviation and possibly small business jets.
Spotting Information
Ladder
Handy at some spots, but not necessary, especially with smaller lens. Better to not have the ladder standing near the fence for a longer time.
Car/Public Transport
Not necessary but recommended and for #1 or #2 in fact necessary if you don’t like long walks. You can leave your car at all spots, but be careful that you don’t block gates or roads.
Restrooms
In the terminal but nothing at the spots available.
Drinks/Food
There are some shops on the East and West side of the airport, and a restaurant near and in the terminal (see spot #5).
Hotels
There is not really an airport hotel. Best choice is the city which is very close.
Season
In the end of the year you always have an increase in cargo traffic which sometimes results in nice visitors. Although in the summer you have more vacation flights from Tui Belgium.
Runway Usage
08/26
Runway 26 is mostly used, but 08 is no exception. Almost all aircraft (except GA) backtrack the runway for departure from 26.
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At the end of the ‘Legeweg’ which is a small road next to some farms. There are plenty of opportunities so please use a GPS but easily reachable with a car. You can park in the grass along the road. Nearest bus stop is 30+ min away.
WHAT
There is a small dirt hill here which gives you an overview of the whole airport and the runway. Virtually all movements can be seen here. If you go all the way to the end you have a gate where you can see landings on runway 26 through or above (with ladder) the gate.
TIME
Almost all day. In summer it might be better to move in the evening.
MISC.
Nothing nearby. Hard to reach with public transport.
FOCAL LENGTH
Around 50-300mm (depending on the angle and distance)
Coming from the coast, just past the NHV building there is a small street on the left, if you drive this till the end you have a fence and gate with view on the threshold of rwy 08 and the NHV helipad. Enough open space to park, but don’t obstruct the road or gate.
WHAT
Line-up of runway 08, heli pad NHV & backtrack runway 26 (An-124 always does this). Possibly also runway 26 departures and 08 arrivals if you walk a bit back.
TIME
Almost all day. In summer it might be better to move in the evening.
On the ‘Nieuwpoortsesteenweg’, just opposite a bus stop and ‘domain Raversyde’. It was the old meteo building and there is a concrete space to park.
WHAT
(Heavy) departures from runway 26 and taxi for departure runway 08. Good view of 08 arrivals in the summer evenings but bit high for pictures. There is again a gate to take pictures through, or above the fence with a ladder.
TIME
In the (summer) evening.
MISC.
Nothing nearby.
FOCAL LENGTH
500mm for a rotating An-124, 120mm when in the air or around 40mm for B737 taxi.
On the P3 parking of the airport, although this one is not always open (mainly in summer season). Be aware, this is a paid parking and it’s not cheap (no info on prices atm), but first 30 min is free, perfect for a quick shot.
WHAT
Taxiing aircraft on taxiway E2 & K6 mainly, but also landings 08/26.
TIME
In the (summer) evening.
MISC.
Ladder required, but don’t place it near the fence too long. Also, as it is a parking, cars may be standing against the fence when busy, be careful when so.
‘Kruishofstraat’ is the name of the small road, from there you will see yourself. It’s only a small road, you better park on the bigger street and walk the remaining 100m.
WHAT
View on apron 2 (main), but with some distance and fence, an alternative is spot #6
Along the ‘Duinkerkseweg’ where you can park along the road. For taxi shots you can look for the highest spot, but this can still be too low to avoid the fence, for that you can try to cross the small canal and stand against the fence, but don’t do this for too long. Another option is using a ladder (but not against the fence).
WHAT
Departures runway 26 that require full runway length or landings runway 08.
TIME
For taxi: morning and evening.
For landing: late (summer) evening.
MISC.
It’s a big road and there is also a bicycle path, so be aware.
In the ‘Rolbaanstraat’, drive north and you have a view of the apron. Parking is possible, but not recommend for a long time as it will be partly on the road.
WHAT
View on apron 2. The fence can be of a problem for bigger lenses, haven’t tried a ladder here yet, but seems possible as the fence is just next to the road (with small grass strip in between). . Also, there is high grass that can be so high that it gets in the way for a picture (see example).
firstly, there are often a lot of trucks parked there, and i dont think its allowed to park your car there. Secondly you would have to walk quite a distance around the fence and on the field of the farmer.. dont think he would like that. Its better to walk near the small canal, no crops there. We must keep the land owner happy and airport security not angry.. 😉
What height of ladder do you recommend for spot #1? Thanks
@Yuri, a normal sized ‘folding ladder’ should work just fine… a ‘kitchen ladder’ with 3/4 steps won’t
I saw that it is not allowed to park you car at the Duinkerseweg for what I saw on the singns
Maybe it is okay to park the car at the campingshop
A bit further I saw a small line to park 15mins, sorry for my first comment!
Just wondering, but for Spot #6, is it not possible to park your car at 51.20558, 2.87498, and follow the fence from here?
We did not checked it but it looks good. Just try it and give us an info 🙂
-Julian
firstly, there are often a lot of trucks parked there, and i dont think its allowed to park your car there. Secondly you would have to walk quite a distance around the fence and on the field of the farmer.. dont think he would like that. Its better to walk near the small canal, no crops there. We must keep the land owner happy and airport security not angry.. 😉
Also want to add that spot 6 has become even more unsafe to reach and is not really recommended..