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December 8, 2020Bucharest Henri Coanda – Spotting Guide
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- last modified on December 2, 2020
Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (IATA: OTP, ICAO: LROP) is the largest airport in Bucharest welcoming passengers since 1970. It has welcomed last year over 12 Mio. Passengers thru their gates. The airport is situated 19 kms from the city center and reachable by bus and soon also by train from the North Railway station.
Its main attractions are TAROM’s Romanian Airline and their classic Boeings (733) and also the military aircraft of Romanian Air Force (C-130, AN-30, C-27J). OTP is also an active air base (90th Air Base Otopeni) and it’s situated south of runway 08R/26L. Rarities here don’t happen very often, but when they do, they might be El Al coming with a B789 or C-17’s from the US Air Force. As for the cargo, don’t be so surprised to see a big variety, there are often DHL 757-200 or Farnair with a 734F or ATR72F coming usually at evening/night, so you can’t really catch them.
Main carriers visiting OTP are Lufthansa from MUC and FRA, Austrian with a whopping 5 flights a day from VIE, exotics such as the three major airlines of Israel (El Al, Arkia, Israir), FlyDubai connecting DXB hub with Romania, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines with a widebody aircraft schedule 80% of the flights.
OTP is not the most spotter friendly airport in Europe. A photo permit is required in order to spot close to the fence because we still have an active Air Base in operation. If you don’t want to spot near the fence, you will see some spots that are far and you can’t be seen, but nonetheless, I recommend getting that badge beforehand. As always, decency need to be shown when staying at the above spots. If you eat, please leave the place tidy. One plus is that you can listen to ATC communications. Another plus is that you are very close to the action and you don’t need a super telephoto to do nice shots.
Written by local spotters Richard I., Loredana C. and Robert D. For more information and insights about Bucharest and surrounding area you can message them directly via Instagram (rg___av, loredanacioclei, rd_avgeek) or Facebook (Richard Mircea George, Loredana Cioclei, Robert Dumitrescu) or the jetphotos accounts of Loredana and Robert (search them via their names written above). Last update: Winter 2020
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 08R/26L | 3.500m x 45m – Asphalt |
| 08L/26R | 3.500m x 45m – Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 (old building) | Mostly low cost and national carriers |
| Terminal 2 (new building) | Star Alliance and SkyTeam Members plus domestic flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Ladder is mostly needed in some spots. A minimum of 2-3 steps is required, but be careful as it may attract suspicious looks and police attraction. Normally it is allowed at spots but don’t lean on the fence as it’s got motion sensors and it can detect any movement and you will be visited by the airport security most of the times if you lean on the fence. You can buy a ladder in Hornbach Balotești or in Dedeman/Brico Depot at Băneasa. (if you Google these locations you will find them and they are very reachable by public transport if you don’t have a car.) |
| Car/Public Transport | A car is highly reccomended as the distances can be pretty big. If you fancy to come with a bike, a bike is perfect aswell. A GPS is also reccomended as there are some streets with funny names for most foreign people |
| Restrooms | In the airport, petrol stations and hotels. |
| Drinks/Food | If you need snacks/drinks, a supermarket is available in the Arrivals Terminal (Carrefour Market) and some grocery stores on the way to some spots. Other than that, it’s better to go buy something to eat before arriving to the location. In general it’s recommended to stop by a supermarket before arriving to a spot close to the fence as you don’t have many options available. A bakery is between the two terminals where you can buy sandwiches and coffee but most restaurants are after security check and the closest supermarket is at arrivals. McDonalds is roughly 3-4 kms away, one to the South and one to the North. |
| Hotels | Plenty of hotels to choose near the airport and in the city of Otopeni (Hilton, Rin Grand etc.). |
| Season | All season available and special here. In winter you have snow, in spring and autumn you’re greeted by the fantastic light and low fog and in summer early sunrise and late sunset. In summer it can be very hot (30+ degrees) and in winter very cold (negative temperatures most of the time). |
| Security | A PHOTO PERMIT IS MANDATORY TO SPOT AT HENRI COANDĂ AND BĂNEASA!
You find all the necessary information on the website down below: Link: https://www.bucharestairports.ro/cnab/en/plane-spotting The photo badge is available 2 years and includes the following:
DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE:
PLEASE sent the documents a couple of weeks before your arrival in Bucharest. All the documents need to be sent at plane.spotters@cnab.ro as stated above. The duration for the documents to be processed is between 2 and 4 weeks. Upon a confirmation call from the bureau, you will make the photo at the airport and your badge will be released after an hour. For a better completion, after 2-3 weeks we recommend to call the office and ask about the badge if the documents have been checked. (call for document validation on +40 21 204 15 03 – Biroul de Presă/Press Office) Before you walk to a spot a MANDATORY call to +40 (204) 11 05 or +40 (204) 14 05 to announce your arrival to the specific spot minimum 10 minutes before settling down. On every spot that you will need to call it will be shown there. When you leave or change spots please call again one of these numbers in order to announce them your departure or spot change. All airport staff can control your badge. Mostly airport security will control you after you announce your arrival. A photo of the badge will be made and you will be left then alone. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General info | Most of the time, the north runway is used for arrivals, while the south runway is use for departures when direction 08 is used (08L arrivals, 08R departures). If we’re talking about 26 direction, south runway will be the arrival runway while the north runway is used for departures (26L arrivals, 26R departures). Exception is made when widebody aircraft greater than an A330 comes and it will certainly use the north runway for both operations. |
| 08L/26R | Northern runway, used for landing from 08 direction and for takeoffs from 26 direction. (CURRENTLY CLOSED UNTIL END OF YEAR 2020). Widebody aircraft greater than A330 will use this runway no matter what, unless it’s completely closed. |
| 08R/26L | South runway, used for departures from direction 08 and landings from 26 direction. Also military aircraft are using this runway for both operations when 08 direction is in use. For 26 they go where all traffic goes. |
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Spot #1 – Fencekink Delta – 26L arrivals, departures & lineups, 08R departures
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| WHERE | By car: if you come from the airport, search on Google Maps or Waze “Strada Putna” and it will direct you to the street. Make a left to the asphalt street, not paved street and take the last road to left. It is a gravel road and you can park your car on the side of the gravel road. Then to the right of Putna Street you will see a dirt road. Cross the little reservoir to the path and walk until the open field. After that follow the open field until you reach the fence. Follow the fence to the left and you’ll get into an opening where the fence turns slightly right. At the intersection with the fences it’s your spot.
By public transport: From the airport, take “Linia Albastră” (Blue Line) from the National Road (referrence point: train bridge is where the station is). Take the bus from station number 26 (Aeroport Otopeni) or 33 (Aeroport Otopeni) and debark at number 13 (Putna). From there, walk to the dirt road until you reach the open field. After that follow the open field until you reach the fence. Follow the fence to the left and you’ll get into an opening where the fence turns slightly right. At the intersection with the fences it’s your spot. |
| WHAT | 26L touchdowns, 26L lineups in front of you + departures and 08R arrivals vacate. |
| TIME | In winter all the time. In summer, early mornings and late evenings is backlit. |
| MISC. | Nothing in the area. Bring everything with you before arriving to the spot. There is a Mega Image & Lidl to the west on the main road before turning left to the spot. Ladder is not really required as you have a concrete surface and it lets you shoot thru the fence easily. But if the spot is busy, better have a ladder (2-3 steps minimum). In summer time beware of the heathaze.
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-500mm B738MAX = 125mm / Wizz A320 touchdown = 500mm |
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Spot #2 – Căsuța meteo – 26L lineups, 26L touchdowns, 08R departures & 08R arrivals and vacate |
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| WHERE | Directions same as spot 1. There is an old house (the Ex-Meteorological House), you can climb at your own risk via the tree to its right and spot from the top. |
| WHAT | 26L touchdowns, 26L lineups in front of you + departures and 08R arrivals. |
| TIME | In winter all the time. In summer, early mornings and late evenings is backlit. |
| MISC. | Nothing in the area. Bring everything with you before arriving to the spot. There is a Mega Image to the west on the main road before turning left to the spot. Ladder is required (2-3 steps minimum) if you do not climb the house. In summer time beware of the heathaze.
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-500mm B737 side on = 145mm / B744 side on = 35mm |
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Spot #3 – Str. Nicolae Tonitza – 08R landings |
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| WHERE | From the airport, follow The National Road South and you’ll reach the landing lights to your right. Turn off to the west into Str. Nicolae Tonitza and park your car right near the landing lights. Then just choose your spot north/south or below of the arrival path. Beware of the potholes not to ruin your car. It is also reachable by foot, a max 10-15 mins. walk from the airport terminal and even less from one of the airport hotels. If you come from a hotel situated in the town of Otopeni, you can follow the National Road by foot or car and on your left there will be the landing lights. By car you turn at the roundabout under the bridge and by foot you cross on the overpass near the petrol stations. |
| WHAT | 08R arrivals only. |
| TIME | Mornings until afternoons. If you fancy shilouettes late evenings you can come here. |
| MISC. | 3 petrol stations in your vicinity for snacks and toilet. Summer time beware of heathaze.
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-500mm DHL B757 close-up = 350mm / GAF A343 = 100mm |
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Spot #4 – Dimieni South – 26L arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot is hardly reachable by public transport, but by car you follow the National Road from the airport to the City and at the first bridge you make a U-Turn under it. Then you make a right on the main road to Otopeni. You follow the road until Tunari and make a left on road DJ200B. You can enter on Google Maps or Waze “Echitatie Steaua” as a waypoint and to the left of the area is the dirt road you can stay. Park your car to the side and choose your location on the length of the dirt road until the little intersection – actually just somewhere in this area round the runway axis as you can choose your favourite position either north, south or below of the arrival path. |
| WHAT | 26L arrivals are the best seen here. But you may also get nice banking shots after 08 departure. |
| TIME | Afternoon till sunset as you can switch sides easily by foot. Only in the morning you will have backlit. |
| MISC. | Petrol stations and groceries in Tunari City and Otopeni. No ladder needed. MAKE WAY for the construction trucks, don’t park the car in the middle of the road!
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-300mm IL76 close-up = 175mm / El Al B744 = 150mm |
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Spot #5 – Dimieni North – 26R arrivals |
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| WHERE | Almost same directions as Spot 4, but you go a bit further north until you see the landing lights of the 26R. After the landing lights you have a road to the left. Park your car whenever you fancy and drive only until the fence (Strada Aurel Vlaicu for Google Maps or Waze). Then just position yourself just somewhere in this area round the runway axis as you can choose your favourite position either north, south or below of the arrival path. You are not allowed to spot on the dirt road north to the runway! NOTE: for this spot you’ll need a special badge for access. You can get the badge by requesting (also in English) at plane.spotters@bucharestairports.ro |
| WHAT | 08L line-ups and landings. |
| TIME | Afternoon till sunset. Mornings it’s backlit. |
| MISC. | Petrol stations and groceries in Tunari City and Otopeni. No ladder needed.
If you go up until the airport fence YOU WILL NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-500mm Beluga = 135mm / B748 side on = 80mm |
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Spot #6 – November Taxiway – Intersection N-O |
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| WHERE | One of the most popular spots in Bucharest. Reachable by foot, and it’s recommended that you come by foot. From the airport go right with the Terminal building to the right. At the roundabout make a right, you see the Hilton to your left and airport staff parking to your right. Cross the intersection and go until the barrier. Before arriving to the barrier call the numbers to announce your arrival to “November” spot. Stop at the barrier to be registered by the security staff there and go left and walk to the grass where it stays level, while the road goes under taxiway November (NOTE: Security staff from the barrier MIGHT NOT know english, so be prepared with some Google Translate if possible). The green fence greets you and you can stay there. If you want, you can cross the taxiway via the underpass and choose either to the left or right, depending on what angle do you want to have and the light. |
| WHAT | Movements taxiing from TWY O to N to the gates, aircraft departing 08L and arriving to 08L. |
| TIME | All the time actually, depends a bit on the angle though. You can easily switch the taxiway site by just walking once thru the tunnel. |
| MISC. | Heathaze at midday on runway and on the far end of the taxiway. No ladder needed, very close to the action. Carrefour Express to the Arrivals Hall. Parking at the airport is roughly 60 Cents every 30 mins or 1,2 Eur an hour. (P1)
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-200mm B77W side on = 20mm / Beluga close-up = 50mm / B789 arrival = 75mm |
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Spot #7 – Țiriac –08L landings, 26R arrivals & vacating, 26R departures, 26R taxi |
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| WHERE | Same directions as spot 6, only this time you follow the road, go into the underpass, pass the Lufthansa Technik flags and where the road makes a right, you go straight on the grass and go and the fence corner. Again, I recommend no car for this spot as you have nowhere to park. |
| WHAT | 08L landings, arrivals taxi to gate, P entry to O movements, 26R takeoffs, 26R vacate in front of you, 26R taxi to holding point. |
| TIME | All the time. For taxi to 26R the sun is right In front of you. For 26R vacate and rotate is better at sunset. |
| MISC. | Heathaze at midday on the runway. No ladder needed, very close to the action. Carrefour Express to the Arrivals Hall. Parking at the airport is roughly 60 Cents every 30 mins or 1,2 Eur an hour. (P1) No ladder needed, but you can come with a small ladder (min 1-2 step), this makes spotting more comfortable here.AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-600mm C160 on runway = 250mm / An30 close-up = 40mm |
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Spot #8 – Antiaeriană – 08R landings & 08R lineups |
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| WHERE | By car you follow the National Road from the airport to the City and at the first bridge you turn under it. Turn right on “Strada Zborului” then first street left and park your car on the left side of the road. To your right you will see a dirt road that you will follow until the end and you arrive at a crash gate. To the left of the crash gate you see the fence through the bushes. Go through the bushes and you will arrive at the fence. |
| WHAT | 08R arrivals and 08R lineups. |
| TIME | Winter time from sunrise til sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing here. Bring everything with you. Minimum 2-3 step ladder required.
AT THIS SPOTTING POINT YOU NEED A PERMIT TO PHOTOGRAPH. SEE THE LINKS IN THE DESCRIPTION ABOVE THE POINTS. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm C17 back shot = 150mm |
Pay attention to the spotter permit rules. Aamong other obligations you are obliged to provide them “upon request, the images taken”!
Here is the link (on page 5/6): http://www.bucharestairports.ro/files/userfiles/Required_Documents_04.19.pdf
Hi,
Yes, in case they want to use them for social media or announcements. It never happened, so don‘t worry about it.
Hallo bei Landungen auf 08L gehts auch wunderbar vom Hintereingang (Garageneinfahrt) Hilton Garden
Wir empfehlen, an den offiziellen Punkten des Flughafens zu fotografieren. Jeder Ort in der Nähe des Zauns zieht die Aufmerksamkeit auf sich und ist nicht gut für unsere lokale Gemeinschaft. Die Verwendung des Abzeichens ist obligatorisch, andernfalls nähern Sie sich bitte nicht dem Zaun.
Congrats & thanks for Romanians spotters ! Amazing photos! Well Done!