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June 26, 2018Tarbes Lourdes Pyrénées Airport – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on March 6, 2020
TLP is a regional airport of south west of France, surrounded by French Pyrénées. It is close to Spain, Andorra and French Pays Basque (Biarritz, Bayonne … ). In 2017, around 440.000 passengers have travelled from/to this airport. It’s an airport worth visiting, because of his charter Traffic ( between april and october ) due to the famous pilgrimage of Lourdes, known worldwide; as well as for his storing and dismantling area, by Tarmac Aerosave company, who receive aircraft from all around the world (Boeing 747-400, Airbus A380 etc… ).
TLP airport welcomes small bizjets, Operational Air Traffic ( military aircraft like Airbus A400M, CN225, military shoppers, tankers KC135, AWACS…) because of military airfields around, LFBM ( Mont de Marsan Air Force Base ) and LFPB ( Pau airport with his parachutist regiment ) ; Test Flight Traffic from Airbus industry ( Airbus A350, Airbus A340-300, Airbus A321ULR …) due to the proximity of LFBO Toulouse Blagnac airport ; and General Air Traffic with short-medium and long haul flights ( Fokker 100 / Boeing 737-400 / Airbus 340-300 / Boeing 767-300, MD82 … ). Regular airlines serving TLP airport are Ryanair, Hop, and Albastar, and during high season, many charters flights like TUI fly, Enter Air, Ernest, Titan Airways, Air Tahiti Nui, Helvetic, Bulgarian Air Charter and others…
Written by Alexandre Gabdou (Last update June 2018)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 02/20 | 3.000m (9’842.5 ft) Concrete |
| Terminals | One for all operations |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Needed at some locations. See detailed description. |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is recommended as there is no public transport around. |
| Restrooms | At the terminal, otherwise there is a big mall 5 min drive from the airport (Meridien mall) |
| Drinks/Food | At the terminal, Ossun village or at Meridien mall |
| Hotels | Not in the vicinity of the airport, but you can find hotels at Adé ( 5 min drive ) and Tarbes ( 5 min drive as well ) ; Camping site La bergerie |
| Season | Additional traffic during high season, especially before holidays ( Easter , White Monday .. ) |
| Runway Usage | |
| 02/20 | Runway 20 used most of the time for landing, as mountains are closed ; runway 02 used for take off most of the time as well. ( sometimes, depending on weather conditions, you can see take off from runway 20, or private light aircraft ( Socata TBM ) can take off from 02. ) |
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Spot #1 – Highway Exit |
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| WHERE | Follow the sign « airport » when you are on N21 road, at the roundabout, take the 1st exit, and you can park your car on the right hand side. There is a surface (around 75m) where you can park. You can stay there to shot or move around this position, it’s up to you. |
| WHAT | In the morning, landing on RWY2. |
| TIME | From early morning till 1 or 2 o’clock. |
| MISC. | Nothing around here, bring what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55-250mm |
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Spot #2 – RWY 20 threshold |
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| WHERE | When you exit N21, at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit, you will see a path 50m after on your right. Follow this path until the end, you will have a fence in front of you, you can park there and walk around to find the best shooting location for you. |
| WHAT | In the morning, landing RWY20 and some heavy take off from RWY0. |
| TIME | From early morning until 1 o’clock. |
| MISC. | Nothing there, bring your stuff. Ladder may be needed if you want to shot over the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm |
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Spot #3 -Line up RWY02, Departure RWY 02, Taxi , Arrival RWY20 & Stored Aircraft |
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| WHERE | From spot 2, take your car and turn right at the stop sign, next roundabout, take the 1st exit, go staight, at the end of the road, turn left and follow D516 until the next roundabout. Then take the 1st exit, on D921A, next roundabout straight, you will see storage aircraft on your right, continue and you will see a parking lot with a small path. You can go there by walk or by car.
Stored Aircraft : From airport terminal, take D516, continue straight until the roundabout, then take the first exit D921A, Drive until the next roundabout, then take the first exit, you will see stored aircraft just in front of you, you can park your car close to the fence, or on the car park located in your right |
| WHAT | From here, you will see line up to RWY02, and taxiway to terminal or for take-off ( C and D ). |
| TIME | Morning until 1 or 2 o’clock. |
| MISC. | Nothing there, bring your food and drink. Parts of aircraft are cutted off if lawn is not mowed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 55-250mm and 18-55mm for stored aicraft. |
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Spot #4 – Arrivals and departures |
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| WHERE | Take your car and continue on D921A until next roundabout, then take the 1st exit on D16, and follow the road bypassing the runaway. When you drive, you will see a small path on the right, take it and there is an intersection ( with a cross on the left corner ). At this point, turn right on the path and go straight to the fence, you can park there. Ladder needed or spot above the roof of your car. |
| WHAT | Arrivals and departures, this spot is located approx at the middle of the runaway ; as well, you can see storage aircraft just ahead, or on your left, you can see Tarmac Aerosave storage and recycling company, with many aircraft ( A350 to B747 ). |
| TIME | Afternoon, after 3 o’clock until sunset. Parts of aircraft are cutted off if lawn is not mowed. |
| MISC. | Still nothing there, bring your food and drink. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm |
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Spot #5 – Tarmac Aerosave storage |
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| WHERE | Get back and turn right at the intersection ( you will have the cross in front of you ), follow the path until the fence where you will see many aircraft stored here. Walk up and down along the perimeter. |
| WHAT | Storage aircraft only. |
| TIME | Afternoon. |
| MISC. | Nothing there, bring your stuff. Ladder recommend. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-55mm / 70-300mm |
The area north of the Tarmac Aerosave hangar towards the railway and the runway, is being prepared for new ramp space/hangars. There is a new unpaved service road just before and along the railroad that will give additional views to the scrap area. This is in fact a service road for the workers and their equipment, but I managed to get in twice already. Depending on the progress of the construction work access might be restricted.
Last week I noticed all the vegetation/corn around the southern parts of the field have been cut down to soil level giving way better views.
It took me just over an hour to do the entire circle and read off all the aircraft.
Hi!
I was at Tarbes-Lourdes last week. Unfortunately, things have become bad at spot 5. Right after the fence, they have now lengthened the earth wall (as seen on the last picture of spot 5 in this guide) across the whole fence, blocking the view on the Tarmac Aerosave ramp from there. You can only see the tails now.
It was also very difficult to even reach the fence as they have started to grow corn right at the fence, which makes it tricky.
Regards, Anton.
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I went to spot 3 (due to it being the morning) and found over 20 stored planes on that side! A real pity to see that the majority of them will not fly. This guide was a great help though! I will for sure use it again in the future.
It’s because, there’s a center where some parts of airplanes are going to be reused, so here’s a lot of planes parked