LYS-Spot1
Lyon-Saint Exupéry – Spotting Guide
- last modified on November 21, 2023
The fourth biggest airport in France, Lyon St Exupéry, welcomed 11 Mio. passengers in 2018. The regional carrier HOP! has a big hub there and is responsible for the most movements especially during their rush hours (arrivals in the morning ~7-8 am, afternoon ~2-3 pm and evening ~6-7 pm). Other big players are Air Algerie, ASL, Royal Air Maroc, Transavia and Easyjet besides many charter operators and the common European carriers. Due to its closeness to the Mediterranean Sea and the beautiful weather in the summer, more charter operations takes place especially during this time.
Lyon attracts time to time some military movements like the Israeli Air Force B707, NATO C17 and some Middle East ones. They also have some cargo movements which is developing (including regular DHL, Fedex, ASL and Qatar). They do have some repositioning flights from GVA time to time if it’s full or for lower costs.
Written by Jeremy Denton, Jerome Bonniel, Julian Mittnacht, Patrick Weis & Pierrick G. / (last update August 2022)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 17R/35L | 4.000 m (13.124 ft) |
| 17L/35R | 2.670 m (8.762 ft) |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | Air Algerie, Transavia France, ASL other carriers |
| Terminal 2 | Air France, HOP!, Lufthansa, other carriers |
| Terminal 3 | Low-cost Carriers |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not necessary |
| Car/Public Transport | Necessary for most spotting locations except #1. No public transport. |
| Restrooms | At the terminal only and in the nearby hotels. |
| Drinks/Food | At the terminal only. |
| Hotels | Ibis and Kyriad Hotel next to the terminal. |
| Season | In summer there is more charter traffic and better light conditions due to north/south direction of the runways. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 17R/35L | Major runway for departures. |
| 17L/35R | Major runway for arrivals. |
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Spot #1 – Crash Gate – Taxiway |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The gate is located between a hangar, next to a stored Tristar, and the cargo area. You can also walk from the terminal to this spot which takes 20-30 minutes. Exit the terminals and pass the left bridge which span the TGV track. Cross the big road to reach a smaller road which is leading to some smaller tanks. Pass these tanks and walk straight forward until you see the Ibis Hotel. Make a left turn and follow the Rue de Malte. Pass again the TGV track and always follow the street until you will see the Tristar and the hangar in the distance. By car its almost the same way as by foot. |
| WHAT | Usually this is a nice spot if 35 is in use for the departures as almost all aircraft will pass your positions before reaching the holding point. Its possible that you miss some smaller/lighter planes as the use an earlier runway entrance. 35 arrivals are very tricky as there can be a lot of heat haze over the runway. The gate braces are big enough for your any camera lense. |
| TIME | Is becoming a good spot in the afternoon until sunset |
| MISC. | There is no shadow or something else. Restrooms are in the hotels. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 30mm = 748 (taxiing), 90mm = 320 (taxiing) & 110mm = 748 (landing runway 35L) |
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Spot #2 – 17R/L arrivals and 18R depatures afternoon |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the airport follow the D517E street to Lyon Nord until you pass the bridge over the railroad. After a few hundred meters turn right into a small street that brings you up to the fence. Park on the grass on the side of the road. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for arrivals on runway 17L and 17R. Also you can take some 17R takeoffs. Steps are not necessary as you are on an elevated position here. |
| TIME | Light conditions are prefect from 12/1 p.m. |
| MISC. | There are some benches, rubbish bins and some trees for shadow |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400 mm |
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Spot #3 – 17R/L arrivals and 17R depatures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From spot 2 continue the D517E and turn right at the first roundabout. If you follow the Rout the Cremieu there is dirt road parallel to the street between the approach path and the bridge crossing the A432. Follow this one until you see a bit higher plateu. Park your car at the side of the road and walk up the the plateau. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for 17 R/L arrivals and 17R departure during the morning hours. As you are on a higher plateau then the fence no steps are necessary. |
| TIME | Light conditions are good from sunrise till 12/1 p.m. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here than the spot. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400 mm |
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Spot #4 – Terminal 2 – Ramp |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This one is airside located in Terminal 2 between the B and A gets. Just follow the signs to the A gates until you reach a big front of windows. |
| WHAT | You get some aircraft that passing by on the taxiway, leaving the runway or parked at the gates. |
| TIME | Best time from the afternoon until sunset. |
| MISC. | Everything you need within the Terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-300 mm |
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Spot #5 – The Belvédère – 35 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | From the airport get on the D29 and just follow the signs to Colombier-Saugnieu. Pass the approach path until you reach an industrial park. There turn left at the roundabout until you reached The Belvédère. Its a dead end road. |
| WHAT | Good spots for landing on both rwy35. Departures are possible but only for the heavies. |
| TIME | From 06:00 until 12:00 during summer but be careful about heat haze |
| MISC. | Nothing close to the spot, please bring what you need before coming at this spot. Shadow available. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Parking: B707 = 500mm Line-up rwy35L: B738 = 440mm Arrivals rwy35R: A318 = 290mm / CRJX = 260mm / A339 = 150mm |
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Spot #6 – Both runways movements (17L & 35R – Best) |
|---|---|
| WHERE | In the village of Janneyrias, you must take the Departmental 124 that goes to the village of Saint Ours, once outside the village of Saint Ours take voice no way immediately to your right and continue on the stone path until the small promontory. |
| WHAT | Good spot during morning when rwy17 are in use. You can also use this location for departures rwy35. |
| TIME | From 06:00 until 12:00 during summer but be careful about heat haze. |
| MISC. | Nothing close to the spot, please bring what you need before coming at this spot. Shadow available. Park your car next to the road to avoid any issue with the local farmers. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 400mm for a 320 and 300mm for a Boeing 777 |
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Spot #7 – Cargo/Military/Remote Ramp |
|---|---|
| WHERE | By car follow Lyon-Saint Exupéry Aéroport and then Cargoport. You’ll be driving on “Rue du Portugal”. At the second roundabout continue straight, make a right turn and drive towards the public parking on your right side next to the truck rest. From here just walk towards the field and the fences. You may also stop the car on the right side of the road “Rue du Portugal” and the cross the field to reach the fences. |
| WHAT | Arrivals rwy35R/L and aircraft parked. |
| TIME | Depending how the aircraft is parked it can be good from mid-afternoon (1400) until sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing close to the spot, please bring what you need before coming at this spot. Shadow not available. Be careful with heat haze for arrivals on rwy35R/L in Summer. A ladder is mandatory at this spot for ramp and arrivals shots. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Park aircraft: 18-100mm Arrivals rwy35R: A319 = 440mm / B738 = 410mm / B772 = 250mm |
Est ce que le Spot 4 est accesible sans Billet d’avion?
Hello!
I will visit LFLL in a few days, and i will go to spot 2 by foot from the terminal which is not that long. My question is: is it possible to walk from position 2 to position 3?
Thanks a lot,
Noé
Hello Noé, yes you can definitely reach the spot 3 by foot as it is reachable by car. A pretty long way I would imagine but manageable.
All the best and enjoy your trip!
Regards,
Jeremy Denton