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January 11, 2015Moscow Sheremetyevo Spotting Guide
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- last modified on November 6, 2020
Moscow Sheremetyevo is one of the three major airports (the other being Vnukovo and Domodedovo) serving Russia capital city. It is the second busiest airport in the country handling almost 34 million passengers in 2016. SVO is the major hub for the airline Aeroflot.
Other Russian airlines, especially Nordwind, operating at this airport though most of their flights are charter flights. Furthermore, due to the SkyTeam membership of Aeroflot, most of the other SkyTeam carriers also fly to SVO in Moscow. But the Aeroflot presence at this airport is extremely strong (due to some carriers flying to the other airports in the city) and they make up at least 90% of aircraft movements. If you are a bit lucky you can also catch some military movements, for example from Il-76s. In general though, you will see less of the old (and loud) Russian airliners like Tu-134, Tu-154, or Yak-42 here in SVO in comparison to VKO or DME.
Spotting in general is becoming more and more popular in Russia and problems with the police should be the exception but it is not recommended to approach perimeter fence closer than 10m at any location. Staying closer than 10m away will trigger internal alarm and security crew will arrive shortly.
Written by Anna Zvereva, Jan Seba, Cedric Valence and Clive Grant (Last Update November 2020)
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 06L/24R | 3.200 m (10.499 ft) |
| 06C/24C | 3.550 m (11.647 ft) Currently closed for reconstruction. Estimated opening after 30 November 2020. |
| 06R/24L | 3.700 m (12.139 ft) |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal A | used as GAT |
| Terminal B/C (north) | almost all Aeroflot Domestic flights |
| Terminals D/E/F /(south) | All other carriers and Aeroflot international flights |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not required |
| Car/Public Transport | Car would be useful, but driving in Russia is hard. But the main spots can also be reached by bus (but it takes a while), so it is not necessary. |
| Restrooms | Inside the terminal. |
| Drinks/Food | Inside terminal and lot of shops/fast food restaurants around the airport. |
| Hotels | There are a few well known chain hotels at the airport. |
| Season | Traffic is more interesting and the chance for good weather is higher during the summer season (April to October). |
| Runway Usage | |
| 06R/24L | The main departure runway. Sometimes also handles a few arrivals. |
| 06C/24C | The main landing runway. |
| 06L/24R | New runway. Mostly used for landings. |
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Field - 24C arrivals
| WHERE | If you are going to this location by public transport you have two options of getting to the airport. The quickest one is to use the Aeroexpress Train from Belorussky Railway Terminal. A much cheaper option is to go by Metro and Bus, using Bus 851 from Rechnoy Vokzal station or Bus 817 from Planernaya station. You will always arrive at the southern Terminals E/F, so you have to get onto another Bus from here. A bus runs around the airport and directly to spot. |
| WHAT | You are perfectly situated for RWY 24C arrivals. If you notice something coming in on 24L, quickly run to Spot #2. |
| TIME | In summer the light is good from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. In winter you can use it all day. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 200mm for an A320, 130mm for the Il96. |
Field - 24L arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located very close to Spot #1. Basically just go south as far as possible (until you get to a fence next to the railway tracks) to get an acceptable angle for the arrivals. |
| WHAT | Location for RWY 24L Arrivals. |
| TIME | In summer the light is good from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. In winter you can use it all day. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 110mm for an A319, 60mm for a B772. |
Civil Aviation University bus stop - 24C arrivals evening
| WHERE | The spot is also within easy walking distance of Spot #1. If you are going directly here, or want to get back from this spot, better use the bus stop “Civil Aviation University” / “Университет гражданской авиации”. You can use bus stop for taking photos. |
| WHAT | From here you can shoot the arrivals on RWY 24C in the evening. |
| TIME | Only good in late summer evenings from around 6 PM. |
| MISC. | There is a convenience store a couple hundred meters to the west. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100mm for B767 and A330. 180mm for B737. |
Approach 06C / 06R on the morning along the street
| WHERE | Drive on the “Sheremet’evskoe shosse” till “Parshino” village. Then there is a large field to park your car. There is also a bus stop at this place. You’ll get the landings 06 there. There is a large street to the country and park there, you may stay in the car. There is a bus stop at the corner. |
| WHAT | There is a place to take pictures of landings runways 06 in the morning time, along the street. From this point you may see all the departures runways 06 but not possible to take pictures due to the distance, the grass and the fences. Departures runways 24 are high. |
| TIME | Light is good from 8AM till 3PM. |
| MISC. | There are some gas stations a few minutes drive from there to buy some food or drinks on the same street. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | You’ll use about 250mm for an A320 at 06R. |
Taxiway D bridge - 06C/06R arrivals and taxiway D
| WHERE | Location is accessible by car however it is hard to find a parking spot since there are restrictions for parking on the main road. There is an unpaved road going to Parshino village through construction site near the taxiway bridge where the car may be left. The location can also be reached by public transportation – buses 817 or 851. If you go by bus, exit at “GosNIIGA” stop and walk along Sheremetyevo highway towards the taxiway D bridge. The best view to the bridge is from the hill next to the perimeter fence to the south of the highway. Take extreme caution when crossing the highway since there is no official pedestrian cross or walk there. |
| WHAT | The location offers the views to final approach to runways 06C and 06R and traffic going along the taxiway bridge. |
| TIME | Best time for this location is after 14:00 for taxiway bridge and after 17:00 for approaches to runways 06. |
| MISC. | You ll find a gas station about 800m north on the main street to buy food or drinks. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Use 160mm for a B738 approaching to 06C. Focal lengths are 50-200 mm for traffic at the taxiway D and 200-400mm for approach to runway 06R, 200mm for SSJ. |
The 5th Ocean (Pyaty Okean) Restaurant, Terminal F - All movements on both runways and both southern taxiwa
| WHERE | “The 5th Ocean” (“Pyaty Okean”) Restaurant is on the fourth floor of Terminal F. To the right of TGI Friday’s, take the left hand lift up to the fourth floor and the restaurant is directly ahead; (the right hand lift doesn’t stop at the fourth floor). Alternatively, take the stairs to the left of the lifts |
| WHAT | You can see and photograph almost all traffic from here when it’s on the move, whichever runway is in use, although obviously it’s through glass. Only traffic parked out of sight to the left at Terminal D or to the right of Terminal F is not visible. Heat haze for the northern runway is likely to be a problem. |
| TIME | The restaurant opens at 9am and closes at 9pm. In the summer the light is good until mid/late afternoon; in the winter it should be good all day. |
| MISC. | Even though the tables are made up like an expensive restaurant, prices are reasonable, so provided you buy an occasional coffee, cola or beer, it should be no problem to stay here all day. Meals are also good and not too expensive, though the selection is limited. It’s also fairly quiet for most of the day, so getting a table by the window should be no problem. When aircraft are parked in front, beware of jet wash when taking photos of traffic passing behind. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A 50-300mm lens will cover most things including larger aircraft on the north runway. Smaller aircraft such as A320/737 traffic on the north runway would need a greater focal length, but heat haze is likely to be a problem. Also, the occasional 777-300 on the near taxiway probably needs about a 40mm focal length. |
Field at Runway 06 - 06R and 06C arrivals, 24C and 24L departures
| WHERE | Accessible by car if you proceed by the local road either from Leningradskoye highway or from Klyazma village. Gives views to traffic approaching to 06C and 06R as well as departures from 24L or 24C. Holding positions for runways 06C and 06R at taxiways 1, 11, A1 are also visible however may be obstructed by constructions works. |
| WHAT | The location offers the views to 06R, 06C arrivals and departures and 24L, 24C departures. |
| TIME | Best lighting is from 8:00 till 17:00. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Focal lengths are 50-300mm. 150mm for A220, 140mm for B789, 275mm for A330. |
Parshino Village - taxiway D and E
| WHERE | Located next to Location 5. Proceed along the unpaved road towards Parshino village and park the car next to the entrance to the village. The location gives view to taxiway D from a small hill.
If you walk along the perimeter fence towards the corner with taxiway E you will get the good view to runway 24R-06L and taxiway E. Please use caution when walking through the forest. |
| WHAT | The location gives view to taxiway D from a small hill, view to runway 24R/06L and taxiway E. |
| TIME | The location is best since 14:00 for taxiway D traffic observation. The best light for departures from 24C and 24L is from 17:00 till sunset. The light for runway 06L/24R is good from 08:00 till 17:00. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Focal lengths are 20-400mm. 55mm for A320 and B737, 65mm for SSJ, 210mm for A330. |
Dubrovki - 06L/24R movements
| WHERE | Located from the eastern side of taxiway D at the corner to taxiway E. Car can be left in Dubrovki village in the closest street to the runway 06L-24R. The location is also accessible by public transportation. Take bus 48 to “Dubrovki village” stop which is the terminal stop. Exit the bus and go towards the runway on the outer street. Once you reach the perimeter fence proceed on a small path parallel to the runway to the west towards the forest. Choose any convenient location along the forested area till the taxiway D. |
| WHAT | Runway 06L/24R, Taxiway E |
| TIME | Best time is from 8:00 till 17:00 for runway 06L-24R and till about 14:00 for traffic on taxiway D. |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Focal lengths are 50-400mm. 135mm for B738, 285mm for A320, 120mm for SSJ, 320mm for Yak-40, 220mm for B757. |
The Hill - 06L/24R movements evening
| WHERE | Located on the hill from the northern side of runway 06L-24R. The nearest public transportation is “On request” stop of buses 35 and 865 on Perepechinskoye motorway. Bus 865 departs from Planernaya metro station and bus 35 departs from Skhodnya railway station. Access by car is via partially closed Perepechinskoye motorway. The car may be parked at the location however there can be much mud during rainy weather. The location is on the hill that has elevation above the runway and gives good angle to the traffic approaching 24R. |
| WHAT | Runway 06L/24R |
| TIME | Best time is after 17:00 in summer evenings . |
| MISC. | There is nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Required focal lengths are from 20 to 100mm for traffic on the runway or 300-400mm for approach photos. 120mm for B738, 380mm for Royal Flight B738, 155mm for SSJ. |
7 Comments
Does runway 24R still exist? It doesn’t show on Flightradar.
And what is the name of the busstop where you have to get off for spots 1 and 2? When i try to Google which bus to take it looks as if there isn’t any busstop there.
Still? It is not even 2 years in operation.. google maps is probably not updated yet. Try to use Yandex for Russia, same for the busstop. It’s a good thing to go to Russia prepared you know 😉
Yesterday they used 24R 😉
And as Tjorn said, use the yandex map tool for public transport in russia.
-Julian
Does anyone know if spotting airside is possible/tolerated when transiting through the airport?
I transited through in August 2018 and had no problems taking photos from airside.
Spot 5 is no more field but working area for the new runway/taxiway. Hiwever there is still space on the other side of the road, but there isn’t really parking space anymore. Just the emergency lane of the highway on which sometimes people park..
i am transiting threw Moscow for 6 hours is there a good pace to spott air side thanks