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March 9, 2017
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April 1, 2017Paderborn Lippstadt Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on January 20, 2019
The Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport (PAD/EDLP) is the 20th busiest airport in Germany and located 20km south-west of Paderborn (NRW). This small airport consists of a small terminal, a GAT, a few hangars and one runway (06/24). Paderborn is a typical „holiday airport“ people use to fly down south; for example to Mallorca, Hurghada or Antalya. There are regular charter flights in the summer connecting Paderborn to Varna and Heraklion. Lufthansa offers connecting flights to Munich and Frankfurt.
Despite of all these flights there’s not much traffic in Paderborn; only 703.000 passengers were counted 2016! At the moment (April 2017) there are 10 airlines flying to (seasonal) destinations in Germany, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. Sometimes the Paderborn airport is visited by aircrafts for maintenance which is being held at the GAM-hangar. Likewise, two A320 operated by the German branch of Small Planet are stationed at Paderborn Airport, carrying vacationers to southern destinations. Luckily you can monitor the apron 24/7 via webcam, so you won’t miss any highlight – webcam can be found HERE.
For more information, you can use the WDR teletext, as well as the NRW-Aviation- Forum (https://www.nrwluftfahrt.de).
Written by Severin Hackenberger (local spotter). Matthias Buchheim (local spotter as well) provided some pictures. Last Update: May 2018
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| Airport Information | Runways | 06/24 | ||
| 2.180m | ||||
| Asphalt | ||||
| Terminals | Main Terminal | GAT | ||
| Almost all passenger (and military) flights | Business and Goverment Jets | |||
| Spotting Information | Ladder | I recommend a ladder for the “Clubhaus”, because you can never know when the bushes have been trimmed the last time. | ||
| Car | Depends on where you are coming from. Spot 3, 4, 5 and 6 are walking distance from the terminal, but spots 1, 2, 7 and 8 require a 30-40 min walk. | |||
| Restrooms | Public restrooms are only to be found in the terminal. | |||
| Drinks/Food | A small hot dog shop is being built infront of the terminal. There is a restaurant called “Triebwerk” in the QUAX-Hangar. The next supermarket is located in Büren, and a small bakery is close-by. | |||
| Hotels | In the proximity of the airport is a small hotel called “Airport Hotel Paderborn”. | |||
| Season | There isn’t much traffic at Paderborn Airport, neither in the Summer nor in the Winter, which is why you can’t really determine main- or off-season, like one would find in Salzburg or Innsbruck. | |||
| Runway Usage | 06/24 | Used in both directions. The prefered runway Usage is 24. | ||
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Spot #1 – Striepen (Evening) |
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| WHERE | Driving on the “Alter Hellweg” road from the airport to the north-east, take the third exit at the roundabout, leading to L776. Just before crossing the arrival lights you should see a small meadow and a small street on your left. Follow this street to the fence, then turn right and follow the street for about 200m, where the street makes a left turn (exact position can be seen on map!). By the roadside you can park your car. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for pictures of planes landing on Runway 24. |
| TIME | Lighting situation is alright from around 5pm till sunset (before 4pm you should use Spot #2). |
| MISC. | There are no foods/drinks at this spot. Closest would be the terminal. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70 – 300mm
A320 = 150mm |
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Spot #2 – Striepen (Morning) |
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| WHERE | Driving on the “Alter Hellweg” road from the airport to the north-east, take the third exit at the roundabout, leading to L776. Just before crossing the arrival lights you should see a small meadow and a small street on your left. Follow this street to the fence and then turn left onto a little road called “Striepen”. After around 100m you should come to a right turn, where I took the example pictures from. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for pictures of planes landing on Runway 24. |
| TIME | Lighting situation at this position is alright from sunrise till around 4pm. Then you have to go to Spot #1. |
| MISC. | There are no foods/drinks at this spot. Closest would be the terminal. No ladder needed. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50 – 200mm |
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Spot #3 – Panolo Terrace |
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| WHERE | This spot is easily accessible by foot. Leaving the terminal building and looking left (north-east), you’ll see a relatively high parking garage. Going, until you’re reaching the first parking spaces on your left. Looking to north you can see a relatively high building on which “QUAX” can be read. Just go to this hangar and take the elevator or stairs next to the big room which is covered by big panes. Just go to the 2nd floor and then go out to the terrace. Now you can chose your spot which you like the most – unfortunately the terrace is protected by glass panes, just next to the emergency stairs is a little free room, where I took my poctures through. |
| WHAT | All planes which are landing, taxiing or starting can be seen from here. |
| TIME | From the early morning hours until 4 o’clock. In the winter months the whole day. |
| MISC. | The indoor part of terrace is a restaurant (called Panolo), where you can find toilets and food or drinks – of course. The opening times can be found here: https://www.panolo.de/touch#jqm-opening_4868 |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 30 – 400mm
A321 on runway = 150mm / A320 on runway = 180mm |
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Spot #4 – Carpark |
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| WHERE | This spot is easily accessible by foot. Leaving the terminal building and looking left (north-east), you’ll see a relatively high parking garage. You can already see the spot, you’ll just have to get up on the roof/highest floor, from where you have the best view. Arriving by car, I suggest using the free QUAX-parking north of spot 2. Unfortunately, on weekends, this car park is often full. You can use Airport Parking, which is free the first 30 minutes. |
| WHAT | Planes parking at D/E. Also, any plane movement hast to drive by the parking garage, no matter is starting or landing. Thanks to the big parking area you can choose your position freely. |
| TIME | Regarding the parked planes, it really depends on the angle they are standing in (I suggest SunCalc for more precise information). Airplanes on the runway should be fine until 4 p.m. |
| MISC. | You’ll find food/drinks and restroom in the terminal directly next to you. On summerdays you might have heathaze here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50 – 350mm
B732 = 105mm / S5 A320 = 150mm |
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Spot #5- Towerfence |
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| WHERE | This spot is exactly between the tower and the terminal. Just exit the terminal and keep right. Again, if you’re arriving by car, I suggest Airport Parking as it is free the first 30 minutes. |
| WHAT | This spot is limited to planes parked directly in front of the tower and the nearby taxiways. Aircraft movements on the runway are spotable as well. |
| TIME | The lighting depends on the parking position, so it’s hard to give some general information here, but better in the morning hours . The runway, as from everywhere, until mid-afternoon. |
| MISC. | Ladder is mandatory as the fence is quite finely woven. Restroom and foods in the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 30 – 150mm
ATR-42 = 90mm / ATR72 on runway = ~300mm |
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Spot #6 – Clubhaus |
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| WHERE | Follow the airport road from the tower, down the little hill. On the right side you should find the GAT and in 300m you`ll get to an intersection. Turn right and follow the small road to the gate. On the right side you should find some parking spaces, where you can leave your car. Watch out for reserved parking though. Walk up the steps on the side of the road; you are at the spot!
You can take pictures from the terrace, which is shown on the overview pictures, or right from the fence infront of the terrace a few meters lower – onliest picture taken from the fence was the VIM A330. |
| WHAT | You can see literally everything from the Clubhaus. You can even see the apron from here, which makes this spot a real allrounder. |
| TIME | Planes on the runway are well lit until 4 p.m., on the apron (positions A-E) from 2 p.m. ‘till sunset. |
| MISC. | Bring a ladder, just to be sure, as the bushes here can grow quite tall. Please clean up after yourself and take trash with you, as this terrace is property of „Luftsportverein Geseke e. V.“ Keep in mind, there are no shops or restrooms here. In the summer time, you might find heat flickering, especially on the apron. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18 – 300mm
A330 turning to stands = 210mm / RAF A330 on runway with spray = 330mm / VIM A330 = 30mm |
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Spot #7 – Farmpath |
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| WHERE | This position is easy to reach, it is right next to L637. Follow the “Alter Hellweg” road in south-west direction. You’ll get to a roundabout where you should take the second exit. Leave the following roundabout at the first exit, and follow the highway until you reach the end of a little field on your right. There you’ll find a little road or even a path. Just park your car next to it and chose your favourite spot, it depens of the perspective you like the most! |
| WHAT | All planes landing on 06 or starting on 24 will pass you. Starting planes are often pretty high, which is why I recommend this spot for planes coming onto 06. |
| TIME | This position can be used the whole year, from sunrise until around 4 o’clock pm. |
| MISC. | No ladder needed. No public restrooms or any infrastructure. Next would be the McDonald’s/Rewe in Streinhausen. Please don’t destroy any plants and take your rubbish with you, otherwise this spot won’t be accessible for us in the future! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50 – 300mm
A330 = 90mm |
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Spot #8 – L637 |
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| WHERE | This position is easy to reach, it is right next to L637. Follow the “Alter Hellweg” road in south-west direction. You’ll get to a roundabout where you should take the second exit. Leave the following roundabout at the first exit, and follow the highway until you pass the runway lights. Now you can leave your car on the right side of the road (see pictures) and position yourself as you want. |
| WHAT | All planes landing on 06 or starting on 24 will pass you. Starting planes are often pretty high, which is why I recommend this spot for planes coming onto 06. |
| TIME | This position is only usable from February to mid-November, due lighting. Otherwise you’ll be fine from 4 p.m. until sunset. |
| MISC. | Watch out so you don’t get hit by a car, walk onto the field a bit. No ladder needed. No public restrooms or any infrastructure. Next would be the McDonald’s/Rewe in Streinhausen. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 90 – 350mm
A330 = 100mm / A320 = 130mm |
