Frankfurt Hahn Airport Spotting Guide

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Frankfurt Hahn Airport Spotting Guide

Published by Julian at July 2, 2015 - last modified on May 30, 2020

Hahn airport, better known as Frankfurt Hahn (HHN) is a small former US Air Foce Base and located between Frankfurt and Trier. Even though it is located at a stunning 120km distance to Frankfurt City, the airport is officially called Frankfurt-Hahn. This is due to the marketing strategy of the home carrier Ryanair who is known to name regional airports like the next biggest city. The carrier is responsible for almost all schedule passenger traffic. The only other airline serving HHN is WizzAir. Despite the passenger traffic there are a handful of cargo operators flying into Hahn like SilkWay Cargo, Atlas Air, SF Airlines Cargo, MAGMA and SkyGates all using their 747 freighters. Almost everyday you can notice some US Air Force charters using Atlas Air 763/747, Delta 767, National Airlines B744, Omni Air 777/767, United Airlines 773, Western Global MD11/B744, etc. Sometimes there are also other special cargo operators coming in. The future of the Hahn is unknown as the airport has not been profitable for years and the number of passengers and cargo flights has been steadily shrinking. Also note that HHN has a maintenance facility therefore ASTRAL B744 or CAL Cargo B744 are often seen.

Written by André Lemb, Jan Seba, Jeremy Denton, Julian Mittnacht, Patrick Weis & Severin Hackenberger. Last update May 2020.

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Airport Information
Runways
03/21	3.800 m (12.467ft)
Terminals	One for all flight operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Might be helpful at some spots for some shots but you can make it without one. It is most useful in summer when the grass is higher and the gear can be obstructed by that.
Car/Public Transport	Car is absolutley necessary as there is no public transport to the locations except to the terminal.
Restrooms	Inside the terminal or the gas station.
Drinks/Food	Supermarket and Fast Food Restaurants as marked on the map and inside the terminal.
Hotels	There is a B&B just next to the terminal.
Season	Traffic is almost the same all year round.
Runway Usage
03/21	Used in all directions and changes frequently. Please keep in mind that if 03 is used, the runway is shorter due to the moved threshold.

	Spot #1 – Hill – 03/21 movements
WHERE	Its a little bit tricky to find this location. If you leave the B50, follow the signs to the airport but don´t drive to the terminal. At the first big junction turn left into the “Flugplatzstraße”. Follow the road until you see the signs for “Winterdienst” and turn right. After a few hundred meters turn right again, still to the “Winterdienst”, and follow this road straight forward until you reach the perimeter fence. Park your car somewhere in this area. Once you have arrived, you have two options: a) Just walk along the fence towards the airport for a few minutes until you see a huge hill on the right and just walk up there. From here you have a nice elevated view over the whole airfield. b) Search your favourite position along the fence or on the rocks (shown below). Regarding your position you can catch airplanes still infront of the sky and just some background in the bottom or even wihtout backdrop and if you walk down south enough, you can also nicely shoot the turning aircraft on the taxiway.

WHAT	You get all 03 arrivals here but the planes are still in the air here due to the moved threshold. 03 departures are possible too but just the heavies as they use the full runway length. The Ryanair aicrafts don´t need this but you can photograph them on the taxiway Charlie for the line up. Heavy arrivals on 21 are possible as they usually use taxiway charlie for a 180 degree turnaround and taxi back on the ruwnay to the cargo apron. 21 departures are no problem.

TIME	In the summer from sunrise until noon. For taxiway Charlie photos until late afternoon.

MISC.	The spot is in the middle of nowhere so bring everything with you. For option b at some points you may need a ladder. However, there are several bigger rocks, from where you can shoot over the fence and the area next to the fence is partly high enough to be able to shoot over it, too. But a ladder is recommended, if you wanna choose your position totally freely.

FOCAL LENGTH	160mm for the A320. 180mm for the taxiway

Option a – the hill:

Option b – along the fence/on the rocks:

	Spot #2 – Observation Deck – Ramp action/runway
WHERE	Pretty easy to find. Get in the terminal A (1) and follow the signs up to the “Besucherterrasse”. Its on the first floor, landside withouth security cecks and free of charge. Disadvantage is its behind glass.

WHAT	Almost the same sight like from #3 (runway) but you can see parts of the ramp too. For the runway we recommend you spot #3. This is just for the ramp.

TIME	In the summer from sunrise until noon.

MISC.	Everything you need within the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	For the ramp around 50-100mm

	Spot #3 – Terminal P1 Parking Garage – 03/21 movements
WHERE	From the B50 just follow the signs to the airport and drive up to the uppest level of the P1 parking garare. From the terminal its just a short hop by foot.

WHAT	You are almost in the middle of the runway and you see all movements from this position and parts of taxiway alpha. Some light poles may disturb the sight and in the summer month there is a lot of heat haze at this place.

TIME	In the summer from sunrise until noon.

MISC.	Parking fee for 1 hour is 6€. Everything you need is within the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm 140mm = 748 on the runway / 160mm = 738 on the apron / 280mm = A321 on runway

	Spot #4 – Ryanair Hangar – 21 arrivals
WHERE	From the B50 don´t drive till spot 2 but instead leave the road to the right and head to the cargo area. Pass all the cargo terminals and follow the road along the old military taxiway along the shelters. Once you have passed a go-cart racetrack make a turn to the left into a dead end road. Park your car in the forrest and walk a few meters to have a good sight for the 21 arrivals.

WHAT	All arrivals on 21 are possible from here as well as the northern ramp (huge fence, ladder recommend)

TIME	In the summer from sunrise until noon.

MISC.	The spot is in the middle of nowhere so bring everything with you. Don´t be afraid if a fence is blocking the street. Just walk through the forrest to get to your position.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-200mm 100mm = approaching AN124 / ~50mmm = 777 on the ramp

	Spot #5 – Bus stop – 21 arrivals
WHERE	Leave the B50 and go on the L194 through the town Bärenbach, follow this road until the end and turn left onto the L193. The location itself is right next to the road and a bus stop. You can park your car somewhere in the town Hahn and walk back from there.

WHAT	This location is good only for arrivals on RWY 21 in the evening.

TIME	Light is good here in the summer in the evening. In winter the sun does not come around the runway far enough to use it.

MISC.	Choose a location somewhere along the main road where you can stand safely.

FOCAL LENGTH	Will be similar to Spot #5, see there.

	Spot #6 – Western Perimeter – 03/21 movements
WHERE	To reach this spot it is also best to drive past #5 and just continue further along the fenceline. At some point the main road will make a corner to the right leaving the fence. Here you have to turn left into a smaller side road which continues along the fence. Just park your car next to the road (there is enough space on the right side) after a few meters.

WHAT	You can vary your location here, but you will probably close to the marked point. Arrivals for RWY 03 will still be in the air here, but you will have grass in the image frame. Aircraft lining up on RWY 03 usually require a ladder so that part of the gear is not obstructed. Small aircraft lineup right in front of you and Heavies backtrack on the RWY so that you can shoot them from both sides.

TIME	Light is good here in the summer in the evening. In winter the sun does not come around the runway far enough to use it.

MISC.	Sometimes tractors pass this point and you have to clear the street.

FOCAL LENGTH	125mm for a B738 and pretty much exactly 70mm for a B744 (Canon, very close crop).

	Spot #7 – Sports court – 03 Arrivals and heavy departure backtracks + 21 heavy arrival turner
WHERE	This spot can be found close to spot #1, just on the other site of the airport ground stuff storage area/hall. In order to get here, drive as you would go to spot #1, but instead of turning right before the mentioned storage hall, continue a bit till you can see a road stuffed with an enter restricted sign on the right. Park you car infront og the abandoned houses directly there and walk in the restricted street by foot. Once you ended up at the fence, search your favourite position regarding angle and light.

WHAT	From here you’ll be able to see 03 Arrivals for sure. The rest is a bit of poker as you may be lucky and see those aircraft, which landed on runway 21 and now turn via the taxiway o infront to taxy back to terminal, or those, which want to depart on runway 03 and need the full runway while turning here for departure.

TIME	Depending on the aircraft’s position/angle, you should be able to shoot here from sunrise till later afternoon.

MISC.	Nothing around. Don’t enter the street as there is a restriction sigh (marked the position on the map). Ladder needed, nothing around.

FOCAL LENGTH	40-300mm B747 face to face = 130mm / B747 turning infront 90 degree shot = 44mm / B747 close-up = 290mm