Trieste Airport - Spotting Guide

Trieste Airport – Spotting Guide

October 15, 2022 - last modified on November 29, 2023

Trieste Airport (TRS/LIPQ) is a small airfield in the northeastern corner of Italy mostly, which handles civil passenger flights and a few cargo/GA/military operations. The traffic may be interesting during summer as the CL415s are then based here when the wildfires are around the region. The rest of the traffic is mostly Ryanair, ITA as well as some Lufthansa, Air Serbia or Volotea flights.

The airfield was opened in 1961 and is nowadays also known as Aeroporto Friuli Venezia Giulia as well as Trieste-Ronchi dei Legionari, although it is located more than 30km northwest of Trieste itsself. With ~780.000 passenger a year, the airport only uses half of its capacity of 1,5 million passenger.

Written by Severin Hackenberger in cooperation with Lucian Ojog/North East Planespotter. Last Update: 2022

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	3000m
Terminals
T1	There is one terminal handling all ops.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Needed at several spots, so rather take one with you. However, thru the mesh may also work at most spots.
Car/Public Transport	Car needed as most spots are off public transport net.
Drinks/Food	Various shops and restaurants around the airport, so no issue at all although not directly at the spots.
Hotels	There are no real spotting hotels, but the airport is surrounded by villages offering places to sleep at.
Season	Winter has worse weather and little traffic, so we recommend the months from spring into fall.
Security	Spotting in TRS is normally no issue as long as you stay away the Leonardo facility in the north. Also do not hang around the fence especially in the GA/industrial area around spot 4 for too long. In general also keep an eye on your own stuff. Do not leave equipment in your car behind visibly!
Runway Usage
General Info	More or less depending on the wind, however due to the terminal’s location in the east some aircraft may depart 27 due to the shorter way if the wind is not too strong. Same with “unregular” 09 arrivals.

	Spot #1 – Cycling path – 09 Arrivals + 27 Departures
WHERE	Drive to the village of Turricao and park at the Cimitero di Turriaco. Now walk northwards and search your favourite position actually all along Via G Garibaldi around the arrival path.

WHAT	09 Arrivals can be spot here as well as low 27 outbounds.

TIME	All day as you can move with the sun.

MISC.	Do not enter the cemetery! Be respectful! Stow your camera once passing the entrance/ceremonies! The village of Turriaco with shops and co nearby.

FOCAL LENGTH	Depends on your position, but roughly: 50-250mm

North:

South:

	Spot #2 – Channel – 09 Movements + 27 Departures
WHERE	Simply park by the roadside of Via G Oberdan in the village of Turriaco and walk in along a little channel to the north till you reach the fence.

WHAT	09 Arrivals and backtracks plus low 27 departures.

TIME	In winter all day, in summer later morning till mid afternoon.

MISC.	Be aware of insects here, nothing else around! Ladder needed for comfortable spotting. Do not block private property/road with your car.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm CL415 = 150mm

	Spot #3 – Via G Oberdan – 09/27 movements
WHERE	This position is located along Via G Oberdan between two villages directly along the fence: park by the roadside and shoot from there at the fence or go to the little mound on the other side of the road. The mound is only good for runway shots with some fence in the bottom, the taxiway is blocked.

WHAT	All movements on the runway and taxiway in front.

TIME	In winter all day, in summer later morning till mid afternoon.

MISC.	Ladder useful, but it also works thru the mesh. Therefore haze can be an issue on the runway in summer months. Nothing around.

FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm B737 on runway = 115mm

Elevated soil for runway shots (e.g. Condor B757):

	Spot #4 – Elifrulia – GA + Heli ramp
WHERE	This spot can be found next of the hangar of Elifrulia on the parking area east of it. Easily make your way here thru the hangar area from the southeast via Via a Tambarin as marked on the map.

WHAT	Dedicated to movements on the GA/Sports and heli ramp such as Elifriulia movements.

TIME	In winter all day, in summer later morning till mid afternoon.

MISC.	Ladder useful for moving aircraft. Keep a low profile! Do not disturb any procedures here at all and stay polite! Leave once they ask you to do so and stow your camera once wounded people are arriving by helicopter!

FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm EC135 sideshot = 60mm

	Spot #5 – Roadside – Terminal apron
WHERE	This spot is located along SS14 roadside, next to a gate west of the terminal. Just park in front of the terminal and walk along the fence to your preferred spot.

WHAT	Aircraft parked on the terminal ramp and nearby taxiways.

TIME	Late noon till sunset mostly.

MISC.	Haze is a huge issue here! Ladder not really needed as most stuff is static anyway, so thru the mesh is also fine. But fence parts, ground stuff and some bushes may disturb your view sometimes.

FOCAL LENGTH	40-400mm depending on where you stand

	Spot #6 – Via Aeroporto – 27 Arrivals
WHERE	Park close to the sport’s club in the west of the village of Ronchi dei Legionari. The parking is located east of highway SS677. Cross it by using the tunnel and then position yourself along west of the highway along Via Aeroporto north/south of the runway axis.

WHAT	Arrivals on runway 27.

TIME	All day as you can move with the sun.

MISC.	Nothing around, police may come and check/send you away.

FOCAL LENGTH	Should be 50-250mm

No examples available yet.

	Spot #7 – Radar tower – 09/27 movements
WHERE	Head north to the village of San Zanut and in the town center four roads bump into each other. Whilst one heads to the southwest, spot 8, the other one heads southeast towards the Zona industriale de Soleschiano. Take the second one on Via della Loare/Via Raparoni and head for the fence. Park there and position yourself along the fence around the radar tower.

WHAT	All movements on runway 09/27.

TIME	Only useable on early summer mornings and late evenings.

MISC.	Haze can be an issue after a hot day as well as insects. Otherwise nothing around, ladder needed. Keep a low profile and keep away from the Leonardo property.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

No examples available yet.

	Spot #8 – Field gate – 09/27 movements
WHERE	Head southwest from San Zanut, pass the housings right and west of the road once it turns into a bumpy dirt road. Head down to the fence if possible and shoot from there – you can also leave your car along the roadside up north and walk to the fence by foot.

WHAT	All movements on runway 09/27.

TIME	Only useable on early summer mornings and late evenings.

MISC.	Haze can be an issue after a hot day as well as insects. Otherwise nothing around, ladder needed.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm E175 = 160mm