Tours Val de Loire Airport - Spotting Guide

Tours Val de Loire Airport – Spotting Guide

April 9, 2024 - last modified on February 13, 2024

Tours Val de Loire Airport (TUF/LFOT) is a small airport located right in the middle of the Loire Valley. The airport can be found just on the edge of Tours in the North East. The airport was a training base for the French airforce until 2021 (former BA705). There’s very few commercial traffic with only Ryanair flying around 10 times a week. The airport reach 200 000 passangers for the first time in 2023. In addition to Ryanair, there is a commercial flight school (Mermoz Academy) which flies every weekday with a fleet of 10-15 aircraft. You can also expect some private jet and sometime some charter flights. There are sometime military movements, but it’s very rare. There is also a maintenance center for helicopter: Technocopter.

Written by Corentin Mouchel – follow him on Instagram. Last Update: January 2024

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
02/20	2.404m (7.887ft) Concrete/Asphalt
Terminals	Only used by Ryanair on ramp C2 and rarely on C1
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed for most spots except for #3 and #4
Car/Public Transport	You can take the Tram to go to spot #1 but a car is definitely needed for every others spots
Drinks/Food	There’s a restaurant in the terminal but it’s only open when there is a ryanair flight. There are several options around 1km away from the terminal.
Hotels	There is no plane spotting hotel. Next ones are west of the airport.
Season	More movements during the summer season. Between November and February the weather is really bad (low ceilling/visibility)
Security	The security is really friendly if you are respectful of the them and the infrastructure. Avoid going on the stairs on the left of the flight school, they don’t like it. No danger of robbery, it’s really safe and you’ll be all alone most of the time!
Runway Usage
02/20	If there is calm wind, expect planes to land and take off from opposite runway. (eg. : Land on 02, take off on 20) Airliners will never use the runway exit B and C, they will go at the exit at the end of the runway.

	Spot #1 – Terminal – Apron and taxiway
WHERE	Next to the small terminal building, there are two options with two differents points of view. You can park your car on the car park and get to both spots by foot. Spot A: Go to the left of the terminal building, follow the sign “”Private Aviation”” and you’ll find a white gate. You may use a ladder but it’s a very exposed spot close to security so you might get in trouble. Some lense can fit between the poles of the gate so it’s not really an issue. Spot B: Go to the right of the terminal building and find the gate, just on the right of the gate there is a small window made for spotters.

WHAT	Spot A: Good view on parking spot C1 and C2 and the departures. Spot B: You can see the taxiway, C2 spot and technocopter’s appron.

TIME	Depends on the angel of the parked aircraft but better to visit from afternoon on. In winter there might be some haze.

MISC.	This is the only spot with amenities (toilets/Restrorant). Don’t park near the fence, this spot is reserved for police and custom(‘Douane’)

FOCAL LENGTH	737 departure = 400mm; E190 taxiway = 120mm

	Spot #2 – Forest – Exit D for runway 02
WHERE	The place can be reached via D801 and Chem. de l’Èolienne. At the end park at the green gate and go through the empty field to reach the forest. Go through the forest until you’ll find the fence of the airport. Try to find the corner of the fence, there will be a a pile of lumber for you to climb on, and the barbed wire are folded to take pictures. Please respect this spot as it is setup by some local spotters.

WHAT	You’re really close to the taxiway, exit D. All arrivals and departures on 02 can be taken. Furthermore 20 arrivals will use this exit.

TIME	For the holding point D, good light almost the whole day. Only in the summer morning and evenings it will be backlit. 02 movements are best from afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	Nothing nearby. A ladder isn’t needed as there are logs to stand up on.

FOCAL LENGTH	A320 = 20mm; CL850 = 70mm

	Spot #3 – Gate 5 – 02/20 movements, exit C, ramp
WHERE	Access to this spot is by car via the village of Champ Long. Go onto allée du champlong wich go over the A10 highway . Continue on the farm road and then you should park your car not too close the gate as you won’t be able to make a U-turn.

WHAT	The spot is right on the opposite side of the terminal building. You can see the ramp, the plane taxiing to delta, taking off on RWY 02 and landing on RWY 20

TIME	Best time is from sunrise until noon. Backlit in the afternoon.

MISC.	You must have a ladder at least 1m high to be photograph over the fence.

FOCAL LENGTH	A320 runway = 80mm

	Spot #4 – Gate 4 – 20 arrivals and departures ,02 departures
WHERE	From the village of Parçay-Meslay, drive onto rue du chemin de là charonniere and drive through the tunnel below the A10. Park at the corner of the farm roads and continue on the trail by foot. Do not drive to the spot with your car as it’s very narrow.

WHAT	Plane on the taxiway for RWY 20, taking off on and landing on runway 20.

TIME	Like spot #, it’s facing west so I don’t particularly recommand on the afternoon/evening in summer.

MISC.	You must have a ladder at least 1m high to be over the fence

FOCAL LENGTH	Unknown

	Spot #5 – East RWY – 20 arrivals and line-up
WHERE	Go on road D77 then turn into the rue du chemin de là-bas and drive southwards on the dirt road. Stop where there is a smal trail (don’t go with your car on the trail), where you can walk up until the fence.

WHAT	Planes arriving on runway 20 or turn off the runway at Alpha. Line-Ups on Alpha as well.

TIME	It’s good in the morning up to noon.

MISC.	No need for any ladder, the fence is just around 1m high. Nothing close. In winter the terrain is very muddy.

FOCAL LENGTH	Lauda A320 runway = 90mm; Tecnam P-Mentor = 400mm+

	Spot #6 – East RWY – 20 arrivals and line-up
WHERE	Go on road D77 then turn onto rue de chizay abd drive southwards. Once at the gate n°3, park by the roadside and walk towards the runway to the fence.

WHAT	Planes arriving on runway 20 or turn off the runway at Alpha. Line-Ups on Alpha as well.

TIME	Better in the afternoon to avoid a backlit photo in the morning. Prefer the spot #5 in the morning.

MISC.	No need for any ladder, the fence is just around 1m high. Nothing close. In winter the terrain is very muddy.

FOCAL LENGTH	Ryanair 737 Alpha and Approach = 80mm