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November 1, 2016
Perth International Airport – Spotting Guide
November 19, 2016Reykjavik Airport Spotting Guide
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- last modified on December 12, 2018
Reykjavik Airport (IATA: RKV, ICAO: BIRK) is Iceland’s second largest airport, located just 2km away from the city centre of the capital. It mainly serves domestic flights, as well as some flights to Greenland. Beside some rare transatlantic ferry flights, you´ll most likely see planes from the “Icelandic Flight Academy” and helicopter movements along with the regular traffic. The airport, which handled nearly 417.000 passengers in 2016, is the main hub for Air Iceland Connect and Eagle Air Iceland and has three runways.
Once you are in the city centre of Reykjavik you should visit the airport, as it is rather spotter-friendly and has several nice locations. Furthermore you don´t need a car to get to various locations and it is easy to link spotting with sightseeing. But due to possible fast-changing weather conditions and long waiting time between movements, you have to dress properly (warm and waterproof) and have some patience.
Disclaimer: Due to much sunlight in the summer (midnight sun) and very short days in the period of winter, the light for each position can vary massively throughout the year. The proposed times mentioned in the guide are for the third week in October. Be aware of that.
Written by Alexander Zur and Ola Carlsson (Last visit: Nov 2018).
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| Airport Information | Runways | 01/19 | 06/34 | |
| 1.567m (5141ft) | 960m (3150ft) | |||
| 13/31 | ||||
| 1230m (4035ft) | ||||
| Terminals | West (Main) | East | ||
| Air Iceland Connect | Eagle Air and Business Flights | |||
| Spotting Information | Ladder | Needed at a few spots. See desription in the MISC box. | ||
| Car | Not needed if you stay in Reykjavik | |||
| Restrooms | Inside the Terminals/as described below | |||
| Drinks/Food | All around the airport/as described below | |||
| Hotels | There are various hotels in Reykjavik and even next to the Terminal East. | |||
| Season | I would visit the airport during summertime, as the weather-conditions in autumn or winter are very harsh (rain, strong wind, cold, little sunshine) |
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| Runway Usage | General Info | Runway 01/19 handles the majority of the traffic, but runway 13/31 can be active a lot as well due to strong winds occuring sometimes. Be prepared that the runway usage is unclear sometimes, so that planes land and depart differently and without a clear system. | ||
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Spot #1 – Footbridge – 19 Arrivals/Departures |
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| WHERE | At the north of the airport is a footbridge which is located in the short final of runway 19. Its next to a petrol-station and Reykjaviks bus terminal. You can park your car at the gas station. |
| WHAT | You can spot 19 arrivals and departures/lineup from there. Find your prefered position on the bridge for different angles. |
| TIME | The light for arriving planes is good all day long. Departures can be made just after sunrise and prior to sunset. |
| MISC. | There is a Subway nearby where you can buy some snacks. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Approx 70-250mm for arriving planes, at least 200mm for departing traffic. |
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Spot #2 – GAT Area – 19 Arrivals/Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located at the GAT-area next to the terminal (west). To get to this point, just follow the road to the terminal and take a left turn when arriving at the airport parking. Than follow the road and you should end on another parking next to some parked small airplanes. Although there is a parking, I am not sure if you´re allowed to leave your car there. Next to the parking is a small hill from where you´re able to take pictures. |
| WHAT | You can spot 19 arrivals and departures as well, but here you´ll have a nice backdrop. |
| TIME | You should use the spot from afternoon until sunset. |
| MISC. | Nearby you´ll find the terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~100-220mm are fine there. |
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Spot #3 – Basketball court – Tarmac overview |
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| WHERE | This spot is located on the opposite side of the terminal (west). To get there (according you´re starting at the terminal), just follow the road “Þorragata“, take a left turn onto “Suðurgata” and follow the road until you see a basketball court on your left hand side. The walk takes only 10 minutes. You can photograph over the fence from here. In the case you have a ladder you can continue from there all along Einarsnes Road and look for other positions at the fence (see last three sample photos). Bus nummer 12 from downtown (not the airport) stops here. |
| WHAT | From here you´re able to see all actions on the tarmac and have a nice backdrop as well. Runway 13/31 movements are possible too but uncommon. |
| TIME | Light should be good from ~1200-1300 until sunset. |
| MISC. | There is a bus stop nearby, where you can find cover in case of bad weather. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | The picture with the helicopter was taken with 170mm, otherwise at least 300mm. |
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Spot #4 – Perlan – All movements |
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| WHERE | The Perlan is a landmark in Reykjavik and has a viewing deck on the fourth floor. You can get there by foot or by car. If you´re travelling by bus just exit at the bus stop “perlan”. Entrance costs around 4 Euros, but it’s worth the price due to the awesome view (city and airport). |
| WHAT | You have a great overview over the whole airport and should see most movements. Best for RWY 01/19. |
| TIME | The light is good from sunrise until afternoon. |
| MISC. | You´ll find restrooms and a restaurant. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18mm for an airport overview, 300mm are fine for bigger planes (Dash 8-Q400), but I would recommend up to 400mm and more. |
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Spot #5 – Intersection next to lineup 19 – 19 Departures |
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| WHERE | This spot is located on a corner next to an expressway. To get there, just proceed from spot 1 as shown in the map. |
| WHAT | You can see planes using the taxiway to runway 19 and departing later on. |
| TIME | Light should be fine from sunrise until afternoon. |
| MISC. | Although you have to shot through a fence, there is a spot just few meters left where the fence is not that high and the pavement elevated a bit. You can shot from there, although a very small ladder would be perfect. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 160-300mm |
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Spot #6 – Grasshill – Runway 13 activities |
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| WHERE | This spot is located not far from the terminal. Follow the road “Þorragata” as you would do to get to location #3. You´ll pass a bus stop and see two elongated mounds on your right side. |
| WHAT | From here you´re able to see runway 13 departures and arrivals. Smaller aircraft´s departing on runway 13 might not use the whole length, so keep that in mind. However, business jets and the Air Iceland jets will do a backtrack at the end of the runway, allowing you some nice face to face shots. |
| TIME | Light conditions for arriving planes are only good right after sunrise. Departing planes can be spotted until noon. |
| MISC. | You don´t need a ladder and the terminal is only 5 minutes away by foot. If it rains you´ll find cover in the bus stop nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Everything between 150-250mm for both landing and departing planes is fine. |
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Spot #7 – FBO/Eagle Air |
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| WHERE | Get to the Icelandair Hotel Reykjavik Natura. Behind there is the Eagle Air base and the FBO with is a small access gate where you can easily take photos over the fence, There is public roads all the way around the Hotel Reykjavik Natura (former Hotel Loftleidir). |
| WHAT | Very limited gap for aircrafts on the runway 01/19 and taxiway due to buildings though. Good for the Eagle Air movements if the arrive and leave their ramp. With a small ladder you can get whats parked with the FBO a bit north of the gate. But the fence have very narrow ribs and with use of wide angle its hard not to get them in the picture. |
| TIME | Light should be fine from sunrise until afternoon. |
| MISC. | There is just the hotel next to you. Ladder recommend. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | From 20-400mm. J31 on the runway at least 300mm |
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Spot #8 – Hallgirmskirkja – 19 arrivals. |
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| WHERE | This spot is pretty unique as its in the tower of the Hallgrimskirkja church, which you can see in the backdrop of some pictures above. It´s quite a distance from the airport but a very stunning view from here! You need a ticket from the shop, then take elevator to the top floor, steps from there to the viewing platform. Rather narrow openings with ribs making it a bit hard for panning. |
| WHAT | When they use 19 its a great view on the aircrafts approaching over the city center. 01 deparutres should be no problem too but we did not test it. |
| TIME | Light should be fine from sunrise until afternoon. |
| MISC. | Keep in mind your are within a church so be respectful, keep calm and use a low profile! More infos for the tower can be found on their website. Entrance fee is 1000 ISK (7 EUR)Opening hours: Winter (October – April): 09:00 – 17:00. Tower closes 16:30. Summer (May – September): 09:00 – 21:00. Tower closes 20:30.The tower is closed on Sundays from 10:30 – 12:15 during mass at 11:00. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | At least 400mm recommend |
1 Comment
Following on from the comment about watching out for sun position due to the long summer days and very short winter ones I’d like to suggest the web page suncalc.net which is very good for showing sun location and tracking. Choose the location on the map and pick the date you are interested in.