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October 10, 2019Rome Ciampino Airport Spotting Guide
at - last modified on November 13, 2019
Rome Ciampino is the second airport in Rome (after Fiumicino), which absorbs most of the traffic coming from low-cost companies, such as Ryanair and Wizzair. In 2017 it managed almost 6 million passengers.
It is a military airport, open to civilian traffic, in fact it is home to the 31st flight squadron, and a fleet of fire-fighting Canadair CL-415 aircraft. For noise problems, the airport was forced to host no more than 100 daily aircraft movements.
Traffic consists of Ryanair and Wizzair flights, private jets and Italian government airplanes. From Monday to Friday every morning between 6AM and 8AM the cargo flights arrive, which are UPS, DHL and TNT.
Sometimes they carry military transport aircraft, such as C-130 and C-27J, both Italian and other air forces, and government planes for state visits
This guide is written by Matteo Buono. Last Update: October 2019
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 15/33 | 1.780 m (5.580 ft) |
| Terminals | A small terminal receives all flights, a large terminal is under construction. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed in any spot |
| Car/Public Transport | The car is recommended if you want to move quickly for the various spotting points. |
| Restrooms | Nothing directly at the locations. Only at spot #3 within the hotel. |
| Drinks/Food | There are some restourants and supermarkets in Ciampino city |
| Hotels | There are no big hotels around the field just some small B&B and guest houses. |
| Season | All the year but better light in the summer mornings and evenings due to the north south direction of the runway. |
| Security | “Ciampino is a military airport, and it is not the best airport for plane spotting, because on the one hand there is the police who send you away as soon as he sees you photographing, and on the other there are the gypsies who try to steal your photographic equipment. My advice is to go only if you know for sure that an interesting plane arrives or depart, position yourself just before it is coming, and as soon as photographed go away.” |
| Runway Usage | |
| 15/33 | Mainly runway 15 is used both for take-offs and landings. Runway 33 is rarely in use and just in case of strong north wind |
 | Spot #1 – Railway – RWY 15 Line up and landings |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Is the best spotting point as the planes are quite close, and you also have buildings / hangars for the background. You have to go up to the knoll close to the railway and the via de Ciampino. Parking directly at the location is not recommend even if there is a small gap next to the ramp. Maybe okay for one shoot but if you stay longer it is better to park in the city as marked on the map and then walk for 5 minutes to the location. By foot you can take a train to the “Ciampino” station and walk from there to the spotting location. |
| WHAT | All line up, takeoffs and landing on RWY 15 |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon all year round. |
| MISC. | At this spotting point you are very visible to the police and military, who could send you away, or even check your IDs. No ladder is needed to clear the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B763: 70mm B734: 120mm P180: 330mm |
 | Spot #2 – Leroy Merlin – RWY 15 landings |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This location is within a industrial area north of the city of Ciampino. It’s near the “Leroy Merlin” shopping center. Just park somewhere along the via John F. Kennedy and start your session from there. |
| WHAT | All landings on RWY 15. |
| TIME | From sunrise till noon all year round. |
| MISC. | It is the quietest spotting point in Ciampino as you have no problems with the police there. A McDonalds is not so far. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B738: 200mm C295: 300mm |
 | Spot #3 – Gypsy Camp – RWY 15 landings |
|---|---|
| WHERE | When the sun has turned around just continue from #1 and pass the approach until you see a hotel and parking to your left. Just stay at the entrance of the motel. |
| WHAT | All landings on RWY 15. |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset all year round. |
| MISC. | BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU GO THERE! The point is located near a Gypsy camp, specifically in the parking of a Motel. It is dangerous because often the gypsies, when they see your photographic equipment, try to steal it, and they could even have knives with them. Being the only point to photograph the landings of RWY 15, I advise you to go there, but taking out the equipment only a few seconds before the plane that interests you arrives, and immediately after having photographed it go away.” |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B738: 210mm A319: 240mm AN30: 300mm |
 | Spot #4 – Appia Antica – RWY 15 Departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Next to the Autobahn SS7 along the Via Capanne die Marino there is an gated entrance (Appia Antica). Park you car next to the entrance and spot from there. |
| WHAT | All departures from RWY 15 |
| TIME | From afternoon till sunset all year round. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B788: 240mm B738: 350-500mm |
