Calvi Airport (CLY/LFKC) is 8 km to the south-east of the city. It is the smallest among the four airports for commercial flights in Corsica (with Bastia, Ajacco and Figari beeing the others). Traffic isn’t too dense even in the season, biggest aircraft type is A320/321 and B737 respectively. Dominating airlines are Air Corsica and Air France. Especially on the weekend you can expect the usual leasure airlines like Easyjet, Level, Eurowings, Level, etc. from various origins in Europe.

Thanks to its location in a valley, the airport enjoys a great backdrop and nice scenery. However, the traffic is – as said – not too much. So all in all Calvi handles ~320.000 passengers per year and 7 tons of freight. As you can see, quite a quiet airport…

Written by Severin Hackenberger with information and pictures provided by Philippe Chastagnol and Martin Oswald. Last Update: 2020

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Airline Variety
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Airport Information
Runways
18/36	2310 m (7581 ft) – concrete
Terminals	One terminal, which is serving all flights – domestic and international.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed except at spot #3 partly and spot #4.
Car/Public Transport	Car useful for Spot 2, but not necessarily needed. It’s about 20 min’s walk from the terminal. For spot 1 very recommended, I have not tried or done research about public traffic to this place.
Restrooms	Nothing at both locations.
Drinks/Food	In the terminal, apart from that nothing near the two spots.
Hotels	Plenty of choices around, since this is a tourist area.
Season	Definitely summer, when there is way more traffic and better weather, which may be too hot sometimes though. Late spring until early autumn is thus the best time.
Runway Usage
18/36	Because of it’s vicinity to a mountain range landings are mostly on runway 18, with the usual exceptions though. BUT THEY ONLY USE RUNWAY 36 FOR TAKE OFFs and whatever the direction of the wind is, they have to due to the mountains all around the airport. All pilots coming to Calvi must run thru a special training first.

	Spot #1 – Industrial area – 18 arrivals, 36 take offs
WHERE	Take road Nr. D151 to the south at the respective intersection (roundabout) with T30 (Calvi – L’ile Rousse) as indicated on the map. Turn right at the second roundabout and drive a little further into the industrial area, the road is named Cantonia. Move on like indicated with the red arrow on the streetview photo and park beside the road or in a bay which is there. The spot is slightly elevated at the blue dot (see the overview shot).
WHAT	Arrivals runway 18, take-offs runway 36.
TIME	Sunrise till early midday.
MISC.	Nothing directly here, but a bar called “U Spuntinu” is quite close. One may be sent away here when it is busy as this spot is in a industrial area, so keep a low profile.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-200mm A320 = 175mm

CLY-Spot1

CLY-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Mound – 18 arrivals, 36 take offs
WHERE	Take road D81 south (roadsigns “Airport”) at the respective intersection with T30 and continue for approx. 1 km. Parking is possible at the eastern side of the road, but be careful about oncoming traffic when pulling over. Then leave your car here and search your favoutie position around here – best is to go a bit away from the roadside to be safe and in addition, you are a bit closer and more elevated on the little mound, which can be found once you follow the fieldroad towards runway.
WHAT	Arrivals runway 18, take-offs runway 36.
TIME	Late midday till sunset.
MISC.	Closest facility for food, drinks and shadow is the terminal as there is nothing directly here, but also some restaurants/hotels a bit to the north/south wehere you may find something (see map).
FOCAL LENGTH	130-180mm A320 = 150mm

CLY-Spot2

CLY-Spot2

	Spot #3 – Roadside – all movements
WHERE	This spot can be found just by the roadside of hgihway “D81”. Just get rid of your car around here, which can be done by parking it by the roadside here on both sides, and then search your favourite position along the fence – either in the southern part, where one needs a ladder or at the northern end where one can shoot without a ladder by standing on a small wall.
WHAT	All runway movements.
TIME	Late noon till sunset.
MISC.	A hotel close to this spot, but except of this nothing else. Heat haze can become a problem! Take care when parking your car to don’t block the road and to park it properly in order to avoid crashes. A LADDER is needed all the way down the fence here EXCEPT ALONG A SMALL PART at the northern end of this straight roadside, where “D81” MAKES THE LITTLE CURVE – there is a small WALL which can be used as object in order to get over the fence! This part is marked on the map in red!
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm 95mm

Example pictures were taken along the roadside – not only form one position, that’s why angle/backdrop vary:

CLY-Spot3

CLY-Spot3

CLY-Spot3

CLY-Spot3

CLY-Spot3

CLY-Spot3

Overview shot source: Google – the mentioned part where the wall can be used as ladder to clear the view:

	Spot #4 – Gate – 36 arrivals/departures, 18 arrivals roll out
WHERE	This spot is located just by the roadsie of highway “D81” on the eastern side. It is no exact position, rather the area along the fence close to the gate, which can be found at the southerne end of the runway. Your position can vary depending on light, obstacles and traffic…
WHAT	Arrivals on runway 36 as well as heavy landings on runway 18, which need to use the turning pad. In addition aircraft which turn here prior take-off runway 36.
TIME	Noon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing directly here. One may be sent away here when it is busy, so keep a low profile. Ladder needed if you want to avoid dark corners and apart from this heaz haze can become a problem.
FOCAL LENGTH	XXX (suppossed to be 30-150mm)

Unluckily we can’t provide any example pictures as we haven’t tested this spot ourself yet, but heard several good experience reports about it. If you have tried this one here, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

	Spot #5 – Industrial area – 36 arrivals
WHERE	Turn off highway “D81” to the west once you have passed the airportfence in the south. Take the dirty path, drive in a bit and leave your car nearby. Then search your faovurite position around here depending on angle and objects…
WHAT	Arrivals runway 36.
TIME	Late noon till sunset.
MISC.	Nothing directly here. Keep a low profile as you are close to living houses. The powerlines around here may be disturbing.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm TB700 = 175mm

CLY-Spot5

CLY-Spot5