Rennes “Saint-Jacques” Airport (RNS/LFRN) is located a few kilometers southwest of the city of Rennes itsself. The construction works for this airport began in 1931 and ended by the airfield’s opening as general aviation field in 1933. During WW2, Rennes’ major airfield here was also used as military air base by the Germans before the Americans took over the power in summer of 1944. Afterwards the military powers were deployed and the airfield returned to civil usage again.

Since then, the airport experienced only a little interest as apassenger airport. Mostly used by the local inhabitants as a gateway to the world, the airfield only offers continental routes – primarly to France and Spain. This explains the little number of passenger numbers, in 2018 only 860.000 passenger a year. However, the airport experiences an increasement of cargo numbers lately thus you can see Star Air B767s every day for example and sometimes also rare cargo charters.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Martin Le Penven (local spotter) and Maël Robin. Last update May 2020

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
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Airport Information
Runways
10/28	2100m / 6890ft
14/32	850m / 2788ft
Terminals	All operations are handled via this terminal.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Recommended at most spots as most of the locations around RNS are located along the fence.
Car/Public Transport	Cars recommended for the spots in the north and west – the spots around the terminal can be reached quite well by public transport though (bus or SNCF).
Restrooms	Nothing available at the locations.
Drinks/Food	Facilities can only be found by the terminal or north of the airport.
Hotels	Nothing around here directly, but there are plenty located towards Rennes.
Season	Summer is definitely better as the days are longer so you can get the interesting cargo movements and the weather is way better as well.
Runway Usage
General Info	Runway 10/28 is the main used one at RNS all airliner and bigger aircraft take use it. Runway 14/32 is quite short and mostly used by general aviation only.

	Spot #1 – Field East – 28 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot can be found east of the terminal on a little field. Make your way via “Boulevard Eugène Pottier” to “Avenue Joseph Brix” , which will lead you to a little unpaved carpark (parking is free of charge). Park there and then walk along the fence to the east like marked till you reach the marked field/location…
WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 28.
TIME	In summer from later morning till late afternoon. In winter all day.
MISC.	Nothing around, nothing needed – except solid shoes on wet days.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm F100=230mm; Mustang=180mm

	Spot #2 – Parking area east – 28 movements + Apron/Taxiway in front
WHERE	Same way as above. Park on the carpark and then make your way by foot to the west to the spot region where you actually have two options: A – the forest park: Search your favourite position in the little forest/park which can be found at the dirty carpark’s western side from where the runway and taxiway can be seen best B – the carpark: Go on to the west to the paved parking area and search your favourite position along the fence in the car park directly east of the apron from where the taxiway and apron can be seen best
WHAT	A: From here you have a nice view onto the runway and taxiway B: From here you have a nice onto the apron/taxiway in front directly
TIME	Normally like this: In summer from later morning till late afternoon. In winter all day. But due to the taxiway and turning pad, some aircraft may also turn into nice light except there hours.
MISC.	Ladder needed. Nothing around, but heat haze may be a problem.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm On Apron/taxiway: Dash8 FlyBe=30mm; 767=60mm On runway: B735 = 105mm

A – the forest park:

B – the carpark:

	Spot #3 – Police – Western Apron
WHERE	Pass the terminal’s westernd end and at “Avenue de l’Aéroport Joseph le Brix” you will find a little roundabout. Leave your car there on the grass and walk back to the roundabout. Just north of this, you will see a little gate next to the police station (as marked on the overview below) where you can shoot through the gate.
WHAT	Aircraft parked on the apron in front of you. Taxiway and runway can’t be seen mostly due to all the foreground clutter.
TIME	In summer from later morning till late afternoon. In winter all day. Also great during the night for night shots.
MISC.	Keep a low profile and don’t use a ladder here due to the police just next to you. Make the photo and leave the place.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-70mm for the samples

Spot can be found right of the police building at the marked gate:

	Spot #4 – Parking P2 – Taxiway + Western Apron
WHERE	Same direction as above but make a few steps northwards and when being in front of the tower/police station, turn left and enter the gated car park. Keep right in there and you’ll shortly end up at the fence, where you can choose your favourite position along.
WHAT	Parts of the taxiways around here as well as the apron just in front of you.
TIME	In summer from later morning till late afternoon. In winter all day. NOT useable for night shots as the gate is closed during the nights.
MISC.	Ladder recommended. Take care during dusk as the gate may close for the night.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm 738=80mm; CASA=120mm

Pass the gate by foot on the left and you will find the spot/fence behind the tower:

	Spot #5 – Yankee Delta – General + Sports Aviation Apron
WHERE	Southwest of the airfield, there is a little hangar also home to “Yankee Delta” and the “Rennes Air Club” from where you will have a nice spot. Turn off “Rue Jules Vallès” to the right/northeast therefore just left of the runway 14/32’s southern end and make your way to the little parking halfway. Leave your car there and continue northwestbound by foot till you reach a little fence part between some buildings on the right. From there you will have a nice view onto the apron.
WHAT	From here you have a nice view onto the apron in the southwest where sports aircraft and general aviation in general is mostly parked/moving around.
TIME	Depending on the parking/taxiing angle, but mostly best from late morning till afternoon.
MISC.	Ladder needed. McDonald’s is quite close here where you can buy food and find restrooms.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-100mm SOCATA=80mm; PC-12=60mm

	Spot #6 – L’étang – 10 Arrivals/Backtracks + 28 heavy Arrivals/Departures
WHERE	This spot can be found in the west of the airfield. Just south of the runway axis, you will find a little parking bay west of highway D434 where you can park your car close to a lake easily. Then just walk up the little mounds there or put up your ladder and voila you will have a nice view.
WHAT	You have plenty options here: arrivals onto runway 10 as well as backtracks/turning aircraft prior 10 outbound. In addition also heavy 28 departures or arrivals, which turn back here.
TIME	10 arrivals and 28 departures are good in summer from later morning till late afternoon. In winter all day. Turning aircraft are good from late midday till sunset.
MISC.	Heat haze may be a problem on the turning pad. Nothing around. Ladder recommended as it may be possible that you need additional height or the mound is fully crowded.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm ATR72=140mm; 767=80mm; AN-12=120mm

Park on the left behind the bushes on the parking area here and then stand on a ladder or the grass bank to shoot over the fence towards airport on the right:

	Spot #7 – Northern mound – 10/28 Movements
WHERE	This spot is located north of the airfield so just park your car by the roadside of the busy “Rue Jacqueline Auriol” (marked on the map). Then you’ll just need to walk a few meters via the field to the south towards the fence. Once you will see some bigger trees and mounds close to the fence, you have arrived at the spot – either climb the mound and shoot from there or from a ladder by the fence directly.
WHAT	All activities on runway 10/28 literally.
TIME	Only useable in summer on late evenings or mornings.
MISC.	Heat haze may be a problem on hot days. Nothing around. Ladder recommended as it may be possible that you need additional height or the mound is fully crowded.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm 767=140mm; 737=250mm

This is the view from “Rue Jacqueline Auriol” to the southwest towards the spot/mound:

	Spot #8 – Cargo Center – Cargo apron + 28 movements
WHERE	North of the airfield, you will find a cargo center and east of this the road “Rue Didier Daurat”. Close to the cargo center, there is a roundabout with a dead end. Exit where you can leave your car and continue by foot to the southeast/the fence. Therefore pass a little field and search your favourite location along the fence.
WHAT	From here you’ll nicely see the cargo apron as well as the runway 10/28’s eastern end.
TIME	Only useable in summer: best on morning hours, but technically also fine on late evenings or by night.
MISC.	Ladder needed during the day – night shots are also fine thru the mesh with a tripod. Nothing around. Heat haze may be a problem on hot days on the runway.
FOCAL LENGTH	50-300mm Runway 737=160mm; ramp ATR72=80mm

	Spot #9 – La Butte – 28 movements
WHERE	Northeast of the airport, there you will find another roundabout with a dead end exit of “Rue Didier Daurat” – just a bit east of spot #8. Leave your car again here and continue by foot to the southwest/the fence. Therefore just walk along the street for a while and then you will end up at the fence, where you just have to walk up the little mound which can be found along the fence here…
WHAT	Some 28 movements: backtracks/aircraft on the turning pad.
TIME	Only useable in summer on late evenings or morning hours.
MISC.	Nothing around, ladder not needed thanks to the little hill here. Heat haze may be a problem on hot days on the runway.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm 737=250mm