Karlsruhe Baden-Baden Airport (FKB/EDSB) or Baden Airpark is the second largest Airport in the State of Baden-Württemberg and number 17 in Germany. The former Canadian Air Force Base nowadays serving mainly low fare airlines and charterflights.
Most of the traffic is generated by Ryanair, which has a base here. Other Airlines serving FKB are Corendon Airlines, Eurowing, Pobeda, FlyEgypt, Tuifly (ends in November), Turkish Airlines and Wizzair. Beside the Passanger flights there a weekdaily freight flights with mainly Air Est Saab 340F and Swiftair EMB120. The Airport is also busy with businessjets, especially by the local residents e.g. ACM Air Charter. The Airport is also Maintenance and Rescue Base of DRF Air Rescue with Helicopters and their Learjets. At the Airport you also find the “Deutsch-Kanadisches Luftwaffenmuseum” which shows planes of the past.
The best time to go for spotting is during the summer as there is the most traffic and the light is up longer.
Written by Patrick Weis and Gerrit Griem (regular visitors). Updated by Kevin Bung: October 2020
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Airport Information
Runways
03/21
3.060 m (10.040 ft) Concrete
Terminal
One for all operations
Spotting Information
Ladder
At some spots 3 steps are necessary. See descritption for details.
Car/Public Transport
Public transport is not really an option at FKB so a car is recommend. But if you are good on foot you can walk from the terminal to almost spots #1 till #6, with a maximum of 30minutes to #1.
Restrooms
Nothing directly at the spots except some bushes.
Drinks/Food
There are plenty of restaurants at the surrounding villages and a ALDI supermarket in Hügelsheim.
Hotels
One B&B Hotel directly at the terminal and some smaller ones in the surrounding villages.
Season
The best months to travel are during summer as there is not that much rain and most (charter) traffic.
Runway Usage
03/21
Depends on the wind. There is no major runway direction.
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This spot is located on the side of a paved road named Cabot Trail. You can access it from the golf course entrance on the western side of the airport or from the terminal access road named “Dieter-Rückle-Straße”. Search for the angle you like and park next to the road and don’t block it. The street is quite busy due to the Golf Course which is just next to the spot.
WHAT
This spot is good for aircraft arriving into Runway 21 only.
TIME
Best light conditions are from 16:00 till sunset
MISC.
No Facilities here.
FOCAL LENGTH
70-200mm (depends on the angle you like)
Spot #2 – 21 arrivals morning
WHERE
This Spot is located at the Cabot trail (paved) corner Dieter-Rückle-Straße. Park your car as marked on the map and walk to the angle you like.
WHAT
This spot is good for all morning arrivals on Runway 21 only.
TIME
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 13:00.
MISC.
No Facilities at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH
70-200 (also closer possible)
Spot #3 – Line up Runway 21 early morning
WHERE
Close to #2 so park your car as marked on the map at the corner of Cabot trail (paved) and Dieter-Rückle-Straße and walk up the fence along the Cabot Trail until you reach the angle you prefer.
WHAT
This spot is good for line up shots on runway 21 in the early morning hours. You need a step ladder of at least 3 steps here to get above the fence.
TIME
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 10:00.
MISC.
No facilities at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH
70-200mm
Spot #4 – Apron view
WHERE
This spot is located next to the apron entrance gate along the perimeter fence. Park your car as marked on the map for a short stop. If you plan to stay longer use the official parking at terminal.
WHAT
Parked aircraft on the apron and also shots for planes on the taxiway and runway are possible. Stay only for your shots and don’t stay there too long. A ladder is needed for this location.
TIME
Best light conditions are from sunrise till 13:00 depends how they parked. This spot is really good for nightshots too.
MISC.
Everything you need within the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH
18-80mm for the parked Aircrafts and 70-400 for taxiway and the runway
Spot #5 – Viewing Area
WHERE
This spot is located outside on the right of the terminal and is an official elevated viewing platform. Park at the official parking spots and follow the signs to the visitor hill “Besucherterasse” next to the terminal.
WHAT
This spot is for runway movements in both directions during the morning hours. That spot is not ideal for spotting as the view is really limited and blocked by ground equipment.
TIME
Best light conditions are from sunrise – 13:00.
MISC.
Everything you need within the terminal. No ladder needed.
This spot is the ramp of the DRF and only good for a short stop. It is located at the Aerolub carpark at the end of Lavel Avenue which you can access from the airport main road. Park your car at their carpark and take your shots.
WHAT
This spot is good for catching Helicopters parking on the DRF apron and sometimes also planes.
TIME
Whole day. Depends where they parked
MISC.
Nothing at this spot. Everything you need within the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH
40-300mm
Spot #7 – 03 arrivals morning
WHERE
Follow the “Leiberstunger Straße” until you see the signs for the MC Stollen an offroad track. Park your car at the entrance of this and walk up to the fence and find the angle you like. There is a small gate which is open and leads to a footpath to the terminal.
WHAT
All arrivals on runway 03 only.
TIME
Sunrise till 13:00.
MISC.
Nothing at this spot
FOCAL LENGTH
70-400mm
Spot #8 – 03 arrivals evening
WHERE
Same as above. Follow the “Leiberstunger Straße” until you see the signs for the MC Stollen. Park your car at the entrance of this and walk up on the path to the west as marked on the map until you reach the perimeter fence.
WHAT
All arrivals on runway 03 only.
TIME
16:00 till sunset
MISC.
Nothing at this spot.
FOCAL LENGTH
70-400mm
Spot #9 – Helipad
WHERE
When coming from the terminal, pass the B&B hotel on your left and continune south on “Halifax Avenue B”. Follow this street to its end where you will end up in front of an barrier next to some concrete obstacles which keep unauthorized cars from driving onto the apron. Just next to this you will find some parking spots close to a long term parking area, leave your car there and search your favourite position around here along the front.
WHAT
In the former shelter here is a company which is maintening helicopters and some local police helicopters are also based here. That’s why you will have nice helicopter movements here and sometimes even outside parked aircraft.
TIME
Depends on the aircraft’s exact position, but mostly it is best in the morning.
(4 votes, average: 3.50 out of 5)
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