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November 1, 2016Oslo Gardermoen Spotting Guide
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- last modified on September 9, 2020
Oslo Gardermoen (IATA: OSL, ICAO: ENGM) is one of three airports in the region (the other two are Torp and Rygge). It is the largest airport in Norway and home of SAS, Norwegian and Wideroe. Also the Royal Norwegian Air Force has stationed its fleet of C-130 Hercules on the northwestern part of the airport. Gardermoen is located 40 kilometer north of the city of Oslo and handels just under 25 million passengers a year.
The airport has two runways (01R/19L and 01L/19R) and one terminal. The increasing traffic recent years has resulted in an expansion of the terminal. A new concourse will open in 2017. The western part of the terminal will handle most domestic fligths. Almost all flights of Wideroe will arrive and depart from there. All international flights will depart from the easteren and newly built northern concourse.
Especially in summer Gardermoen is a great place to be. There are some great easy-to-find spots right next to the runways and the airport is realy spotters-friendly. When opened, the Gardermoen Aviation Museum is well worth a visit (see Spot #4).
Written by Erik Moen, David Gutmann, Zoltan Péter Pásztor and Bas Velders (last update 9/2020)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 01L/19R | 3.600 m (11,811 ft) |
| 01R/19L | 2.950 m (9,678 ft) |
| Terminals | |
| Pier A,B,C | Domestic flights |
| Pier D,E | International Schengen flights |
| Pier F | International Non-Schengen flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed. |
| Car/Public Transport | A car is advisable at Oslo Airport, especially for spot 1,2,6. Spot 4 and 5 are reachable by hotel shuttle or public transport. |
| Restrooms | Inside the Terminal. |
| Drinks/Food | Inside the Terminal. No facilities near the spotting locations |
| Hotels | There are some hotels in the southeast and southwest of the airport. Also, there are some bed & breakfast near spot 6 in the northwest. |
| Season | Best period to spot at Gardermoen is between April and September. In winter it is too cold and some roads are not passable, because of heavy snow. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | Both runways are often used for takeoff and landings at the same time. The runway assignment will often depent on the location of the gate. Most domestic & cargo flights will arrive and depart on the western runway, while most international traffic will arrive and depart on the eastern runway. |
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Spot #1 – Blikkvegen – Departures/Arrivals 01R/19L |
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| WHERE | From the terminal drive on the E16 in the direction of Oslo. On the E16, take the exit towards 174 (Jessheim). Continue until you arrive at the roundabout near the gas station and McDonalds. Go left on the Fv460 and take a right at the second roundabout on ‘Vibergvegen’. After 2 kilometres, go right on ‘Blikkvegen’. Continue for 2,5 kilometres, and then turn left in the corner on the dirt road. When you have reached the fence, you can park your car just north of the road. Climb up the wall to get a clear shot over the fence. Be aware, in winter, the dirt road and parking area can be very muddy/snowy. |
| WHAT | From this spot you can catch all 01R/19L departures and 19L arrivals. 01R arrivals tend to exit early. Go to spot #2 for better shots. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~13:00 |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~80-100mm for 787/A330, ~120-150mm for 717/737/A320. |
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Spot #2 – Departures/Arrivals 01R/19L |
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| WHERE | Take the same route as towards spot #1. Walk or drive towards the south of the runway (around the radar tower) and continue as far as you like. Walk uphill towards the treeline to get a clear shot over the fence. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for all 01R/19L departures and arrivals. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~13:00 |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~80-100mm for 787/A330, ~120-150mm for 717/737/A320. |
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Spot #3 – Ravinevegen – Arrivals 01L |
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| WHERE | To get to this spot, follow the signs ‘Nannestad’ (Exit 2 on the E16). On the second roundabout, you will see the Scandic hotel on your left. Turn left here (3rd exit) and keep left and turn left again on the sandy road. Head towards the bicycle path (‘Ravinevegen’) and find yourself a clean shot between the lampposts. Park your car along the ‘Ravinevegen’ or at the aviation museum (spot #4). |
| WHAT | From this spot you can catch all 01L arrivals. You can walk along ‘Ravinevegen’ for some different angles. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~80-100mm for 787/A330, ~120-150mm for 717/737/A320. |
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Spot #4 – Gardermoen Aviation Museum – Lineup/Arrivals 01L + heavy 19 Departures |
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| WHERE | Follow the same route as to Spot #3. Near the Scandic hotel, turn right on ‘Museumsvegen’. You will arrive at the ‘Forsvarets Flysamling Gardermoen’ (Well worth a visit). Walk around the museum towards the fence. You can climb up the little dike to get clear shots over the fence. A small step is recommended.
By bus (August 2018): Take line 420, which costs 35 Krona each way with a prepaid ticket (this can be bought at the Ruter desk in the Airport arrivals hall). This line departs from Busgate “48”, which can be reached form the arrivals hall. |
| WHAT | This spot is good for all 01L departures and arrivals. From you also have nice view onto heavy 19 departures. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~80-100mm for 787/A330, ~150-180mm for 717/737/A320. |
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Spot #5 – SAS Museum – West Air Europe Apron/Arrivals 01L/19R |
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| WHERE | Same route as for spot #3/4, however head towards Nannestad until you will see signs for ‘SAS-museet’. On the E16, turn left on ‘Hans Gaarders veg’. Follow this road, until you will arrive at the museum. To the left of the building, there is a small platform you can use to oversee the airport, West Air Europe platform and runway 01L/19R.
By bus (August 2018): Take line 420, which costs 35 Krona each way with a prepaid ticket (this can be bought at the Ruter desk in the Airport arrivals hall). This line departs from Busgate “48”, which can be reached form the arrivals hall. Get out at “SAS-museet”. |
| WHAT | This spot gets you an overview of the West Air Europe apron. All movements can be seen from here. Also you can catch all 01L/19R departures and arrivals. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~130-150mm for apron shots of BAe ATP.
~140mm-160mm for 787/A330, ~170-200mm for 717/737/A320 on the runway. |
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Spot #6 – Pedershogget – Departures/Arrivals 19R |
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| WHERE | From spot #5, drive along the Gardermovegen. Just after the roundabout, turn right into the woods. Be advised, this spot is for summer months only. In winter this road is too snowy and muddy to drive on (or get a 4×4). Follow the road and go left on the end. You can drive around and up the hill for a clear view of the runway.
With public transport, take bus 855 (Maura) from the terminal, get out on ‘Søndre Børke’. The walk to the spot takes about 20 minutes. |
| WHAT | This location is ideal for departures and arrivals on runway 19R. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~280-300mm for lineup shots.
~80-100mm for 787/A330, ~150-180mm for 717/737/A320 on the runway. |
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Spot #7 – Arrivals 01R |
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| WHERE | Along the Fv460 is a bicycle path. You can park your car underneath the landing lights and walk on the bicycle path for some different angled shots. |
| WHAT | Also you can catch all 01R arrivals. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from ~12:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ~50mm-80mm for 787/A330, ~80-110mm for 717/737/A320. |
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Spot #8 – Departures & arrivals 01R |
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| WHERE | To reach this spot, drive towards parking P3 on “Henrik Ibsebs veg”. On the end of the road, turn left and drive all the way till the end (keep right). There is an opening between all the bushes. Behind the bushes, there is a hill with benches. |
| WHAT | Also you can catch all 01R arrivals. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are good from ~12:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Lufthansa A321: 230mm, SAS 737: 220mm, Thomas Cook A330: 45mm. |
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Spot #9 – Departures/Arrivals 19R |
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| WHERE | To reach this spot, follow directions to spot 6. Walk about 300 meters north. . To get there you just walk into the woods, and follow a path until you come to a place where there are no trees and you have a clear sight to the runway. This place is located to the left of the runway, and if you stand about 90 degrees east, you can see the planes taxiing onto the runway if they use the exit Alpha 9. At this spot you can get amazing head-to-head pictures. |
| WHAT | Departures and arrivals on runway 19R. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from ~15:00 till sunset. |
| MISC. | There are no facilities here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B787: 55mm – 150mm, A320/B737: 80mm – 200mm, A350: 100mm – 300mm
Sample photos by David Gutmann |
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Spot #10 – Circle K – Departures & arrivals 01L |
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| WHERE | To reach this spot drive to location number three, and follow the road E16 to the nearest roundabout. In the roundabout turn left (third exit), and then turn left again towards the gas station. Drive straight forward towards the rental cars area, and drive into it. Then drive on the gravel road until you get to the fence besides the runway. You can either use a ladder, to get higher than the fence, or use the little grass top to the left of the rental cars. |
| WHAT | Lineups on 01L, and final approaches for 01L. |
| TIME | Light conditions in the summer are perfect from sunrise till ~13:00 |
| MISC. | There are food and drinks, and toilets at the Circle K. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A350: 30mm – 300mm, A320neo / B737: 100mm – 200mm, B787 / B777: 60mm – 150mm
Sample photos by David Gutmann |
7 Comments
Hi 🙂 There is two other spotting locations that isn’t marked on the map. The first one is located 300 metres north for location six. To get there you just walk into the woods, and follow a path until you come to a place where there are no trees and you have a clear sight to the runway. This place is located to the left of the runway, and if you stand about 90 degrees east, you can see the planes taxiing onto the runway if they use the exit Alpha 9. At this spot you can get amazing head-to-head pictures:)
The second one is located behind a Circle K gas station. Drive to location number three, and follow the road E16 to the nearest roundabout. In the roundabout turn left (third exit), and then turn left again towards the gas station. Drive straight forward towards the rental cars area, and drive into it. Then drive on the gravel road until you get to the fence besides the runway. You can either use a ladder, to get higher than the fence, or use the little grass top to the left of the rental cars. If the planes use 01L for landing, you can get amazing final approach pictures, and if they use 19R for landing you can get fantastic rotation shots and after they have taken off.
If you need any pictures, contact me. I have loads of them 😉
Hi David,
Thanks for your comment. Already detailed descriptions of the locations! I will contact you by email to provide the pictures 🙂
Bas
With reference to spots 4 & 5 the bus is now 420. It costs 35 Krona each way with a prepaid ticket bought at the Ruter desk in the Airport arrivals hall. Is very frequent during the day, but evenings are every 30 minutes. From the Airport arrivals go to Bus stand 48. The return journey in the evenings is 14 & 44 minutes past the hour Peter from London updated 22/8/2018
Thanks, Peter. Information added!
Cheers
-Severin
“Most domestic & cargo flights will arrive and depart on the eastern runway, while most international traffic will arrive and depart on the western runway.”
This is actually just the opposite, domestic and cargo arrives on the western runway and international on the eastern.
Hi Tommy,
Thanks for your reply. I edited it right away!
Bas
If you need contact local spoters at OSL, don`t hesistate to visit this Facebook group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/320133251348041/