Our guestwriter Martin Rogosz is a local Spotter from Dresden and he wrote this guide about DRS. Dresden Airport (DRS/EDDC), formerly known in German as Flughafen Dresden-Klotzsche, is the international airport of Dresden, the capital of the German Free State of Saxony. The airport is located north of the city centre, 9km (5.6mi) away. It was opened to commercial traffic on 11 July 1935. The airport features flights to some European metropolitan and several leisure destinations. In 2014 the airport handled 1,76 Million Passengers.

Dresden Airport handles German airlines like Germanwings, Air Berlin, Lufthansa, Lufthansa Regional, Germania, SunExpress Germany and seasonal Condor. International Airlines in Dresden are Vueling, Swiss, Easy Jet Switzerland, CityJet and Aeroflot. Aeroflot is operating daily to Moskau-SVO with Suchoi Superjet 100. Seasonal UTAir, Redwings and Yakutia transport tourists from Moskau (VKO) to Dresdens history city.

Dresden Airport is home to EADS EFW, a business unit of EADS mainly responsible for freighter aircraft conversion of A300. Since Summer 2013 EADS/EFW began with maintenance duties for several airlines, for example Finnair A320, A330 and A340, Thomas Cook UK A330, Swiss A320, Qatar Airways A321, A330 and some more airlines. In the future threre are also A320/321 and A330 Freighter conversions planned.

Written by Martin Rogosz (home base) in June 2015

Rating	Movements		Visitor Rating How was your spotting trip? Rate this airport now. (6 votes, average: 3.17 out of 5) Loading...
	Airline Variety
	Photo Locations
	Weather
Airport Information	Runways	04/22
		2.850 m (9.351 ft)
		Concrete
	Terminals	1
		All movements
Spotting Information	Ladder	Sometimes 3 steps are necessary
	Car	Necessary, most of the spots can only be reached by car. Only Spot 1 on the terminal observation deck can be reached by S-Bahn from city center, there is a S-Bahn station at the airport.
	Restrooms	In the terminal
	Drinks/Food	In the terminal
	Hotels	Cheap hotels only in the city
	Season	The best months to travel are during summer as there is not that much rain.
Runway Usage	04/22	Used in both directions, mostly RWY22 due to prevailing winds.

	Spot #1 – Terminal Observation deck
WHERE	Inside the terminal on the third level, reach with escelator’s behind the check-in area, before security check. Open 24hours. 2 hours free parking if you buy something in the terminal PK2
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements for both runway directions and the taxiway. It is behind glass.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 08:00-15:00
MISCELLANEOUS	There are facilities inside the terminal
FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm

	Spot #2 – Apron View
WHERE	Outside of the terminal, with view to the apron. When you get out of the terminal turn left. You will then see the windows on the side there and you’ve got the Apron view. 2 hours free parking if you buy something in the terminal PK2.
WHAT	This spot is good for aircraft movements to the Gates 31-35, but it is behind glass.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 08:00-16:00
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	18-150mm

	Spot #3 – Approach Morning RWY04
WHERE	At the end of the parkingbay. 2 hours free parking if you buy something in the terminal PK2. Follow the way marked on the map
WHAT	This spot is on approach to RWY04, ladder not necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 08:00-15:00
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm

	Spot #4 – Approach Evening RWY04
WHERE	Small street in front of the highway exit (coming from Dresden city center). There is a small road along the perimeter. Just park your next to the spot.
WHAT	This spot is on approach to RWY04, ladder not necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:00 – sunset.
MISCELLANEOUS	Bring with you what you need, no toilets, no food, no drinks.
FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm

	Spot #5 – Line up and Approach RWY04
WHERE	Same way to Spot #4. Park your car there and walk from this position next to the fence until you can see the runway.
WHAT	This spot is on line up and also approach to RWY04, a ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:00 – sunset
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-200mm

	Spot #6 – Line up and Approach RWY22 Evening
WHERE	There are two ways: 1) Starting at the airport turn left to the “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Pass the total petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive the street until you can see a big field on the right side and turn the left on the street “Schelsberg” and drive until the fence, you can park at the fence. Now you have to walk down the fence until you like the view on Taxiway/Line up RWY22. 2) Drive the highway 13 to Berlin until highway exit No.22 “Marsdorf” and turn right. Drive the down street (long way) until you are crossing the other highway 4 to Bautzen and turn directly behind the bridge right on a small street until you can see the fence.
WHAT	This spot is on approach and line up to RWY22, a ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 15:00-sunset
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-250mm

	Spot #7 – Line up and Arrivals RWY22 Morning
WHERE	Turn left from the airport on the street “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Behind the petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive straight on the street until you can see a big field on the right side und turn the left on the street “Schelsberg” and then turn left just next to the car center. Follow the road until the end where you will find the perimeter fence. Walk along the fence to find your prefered position.
WHAT	This spot is on line up to RWY22 and arrivals. A ladder is necessary.
TIME	Best light conditions are from 08:00-15:00
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	80-250mm

	Spot #8 – Approach RWY22 Morning
WHERE	Turn left from the airport on the Street “Grenzstraße” until the end, then turn left and leave Dresden in the direction to Weixdorf. Behind the petrol station turn the third street left at “Küchenstudio” and drive the street until you can see the approaching lights of the runway.
WHAT	This spot is on aproach to RWY22, ladder is not necessary
TIME	Best light conditions are from 08:00-15:00
MISCELLANEOUS	The next facilities are in the terminal or at the patrol station and “Kaufland” in Weixdorf.
FOCAL LENGTH	60-150mm