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January 9, 2020Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport Spotting Guide
- last modified on July 28, 2026
Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport (OVB/UNNT) is the largest airport in Eastern part of Russia (behind Ural). UNNT/OVB is the airport with co-location of military and civilian aviation. It is S7 Airlines base, but the most interesting traffic includes russian/soviet-built planes and helicopters (RFF, NAVY, MIA and remains of civilian representatives). Another specialty is Cargo traffic (Cargolux, Lufthansa Cargo, Skygates, Aviastar-TU, etc.) which use UNNT for refueling. Because of military traffic in OVB, there are no specially organized official spotting points or terraces.
Novosibirsk Tolmachevo Airport was opened back in 1957 as a civilian airport, but has developed to an important position regarding political and transport strategy. Thus the airport is used by cargo, military and civilian aircraft together. All in all OVB/UNNT handles more than 6,5 million passenger and more than 30.000t freight a year.
Written by Aleksandr Listopad (local spotter). Last update July 2026, Spots 7 and 8 removed
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Visitor Rating How was your trip? Rate this airport! |
[ratings] |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 07/25 | 3600m x 60m |
| 16/34 | 3600m x 45m |
| Terminals | |
| Domestic terminal | Was opened in the 60s and significantly rebuilt in 2006 in order to be able for serving more passengers. The Domestic Terminal (which is the western one) is called as Terminal A. |
| International terminal | This terminal was just opened in 1997 and seriously reconstructed in 2015. The International Terminal (the eastern one) is called as Terminal B. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Needed for locations directly at the fence – always mentioned in the Misc. though. But definitely helpful to have one… |
| Car/Public Transport | Car is strongly recommended. Public transportation with good accessibility is only for the spot next to the terminal. |
| Restrooms | Only in the airport terminal. |
| Drinks/Food | Only in and a bit around the airport terminal. |
| Hotels | There are two Hotels near Airport Terminal: 1) Hotel “6-12-24” www.6-12-24.ru 2) Hotel “Skyport” www.skyport.su |
| Season | February/March is best for skyshots because the planes bottom is lighted by snow, which makes spotting magnificent, if the wheather is good. The summertime is recommended for all the points although some may be hazy.
The climate in Siberia is harsh, especially during wintertime. So you should be dressed accordingly. For all the points: during summertime (April-October) beware of ticks (please google “siberian ticks” for more details). The tick-included medical insurance is strongly recommended as well as repellents use. |
| Security | Spotting is normally no problem at OVB/UNNT, but it may be possible that security/police passes and checks you. That’s why we recommend to keep a low profile in order to avoid inconviniences. We also recommend to have an ID with you in case you’re being checked. In case you use a ladder, we recommend to not show yourself very close to the fence or at least not for a long time. Rather always keep 5m safety distance, but using a ladder in general is not prohibited. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 07/25 | Is the most used RWY in OVB. Direction can be various depending on wind and traffic directions. Both arrivals and departures. |
| 16/34 | Is very occasionally in use because of long taxi time. Most common reasons – reconstruction works on 07/25 or weather conditions (wind/fog). RWY16 is equipped with ILS CAT II and this is the best equipped RWY in OVB. Both arrivals and departures. But note that RWY 16/34 is not often in use. |
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Spot #1 – Terminal – Main ramp + TWY taxiing |
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| WHERE | Best access is by car or public transportation – therefore go to the airport terminal and then position yourself east of the terminal next to it at the fence. The spot is pretty easy to find as it is located in a fencekink next to the right side of Terminal B. |
| WHAT | Ramp and Main TWY (~100 m). |
| TIME | Light is perfect all day in winter and in summer from late morning/midday till late afternoon/sunset – depending on angle of aircraft. |
| MISC. | Ladder is not needed, as there is a good visibility through the fence mesh. Food, drinks, restrooms are available in the Terminal. There might be a risk of issues with police or airport security, that’s why we recommend to keep a low profile and not show off your equipment all the time. Sometimes heat haze and disturbingly parked ground stuff/aircraft make spotting impossible here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 18-150mm
B747 right infront = 20mm / An24 = 70mm |
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Spot #2 – Cargo – RWY25 departures |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is located a bit to the west of the Cargo Terminal and best accessibility anytime is by car (or by public transportation: walk from “Pavino” bus or railway stations). Exit “Omskiy Trakt” to the north into an unnamed road where you can see a gas station close to “Pavino” bus stop. Follow this road till its curves right to the Cargo Terminal entrance. Leave car there, continue on foot. |
| WHAT | Take-offs from RWY25. |
| TIME | All day in winter. In summer later morning till late afternoon. |
| MISC. | Ladder is recommended if you stay close to the fence to be able to shoot over it. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There might be a risk of issues with police or airport security. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-600mm
B747 = 330mm |
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Spot #3 – Cement Factory – TWY E taxiing |
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| WHERE | To reach this spot leave “Omskiy Trakt” to the north into an unnamed road when you can see a gas station to the south close to “Pavino” bus stop. Follow this road till its curves right to the Cargo Terminal entrance. Leave car there, continue on foot. Another option – exit “Omskiy Trakt” near spot #4, drive back via the country road close to the fence. But beware of the road conditions to this point. Sometimes the way is destroyed by rains during Summertime or by snowfalls at Winter. Might be accessible by foot from “Sady” or “Pavino” stations, too, but it is a longer way. |
| WHAT | TWY E infront so aircraft taxiing to/from runway 16/34. But note that RWY 16/34 is not often in use. |
| TIME | All day in winter. In summer later morning till late afternoon. |
| MISC. | Ladder is required to overtake the concrete fence. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 24-100mm
B767 = 28mm / E190 = 65mm |
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Spot #4 – RWY07 inner marker – RWY07 arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot is located close to the glidepath of RWY07 (near inner RWY marker so the planes fly above you at ~60 m). It is easy to find as it is just next to a forest and also no exact position, rather the area around the glidepath – you can stand wherever you want to. Good accessibility anytime by car or public transportation, but then you’ve to continue by foot for more than 1km to the northwest from “Sady” railway station. |
| WHAT | RWY07 arrivals skyshots. |
| TIME | Excellent in February/March when the light conditions are the best for bright-bottom shots and light is good all the daytime in winter. This side is useable form late morning till late afternoon in summer, but you can also easily switch sides by foot once you have backlit here. |
| MISC. | Ladder is not needed. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. But this spot is also accessible by public transport although this takes quite long. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm
A321 = 120mm / B767 = 75mm |
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Spot #5 – RWY34 – TWY E taxiing/RWY34 arrivals |
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| WHERE | The spot can be found pretty easily as it is located right by the roadside and the fence at the southern end of runway 16/34. Best access is by car, but beware of the road conditions to this point. Sometimes the way is destroyed by rains during Summertime or by snowfalls at Winter. The spot might be accessible on foot from “Sady” railway station, too, but it is a long(er) way. |
| WHAT | Aircraft taxiing at taxiway E, Arrivals onto RWY34. But note that RWY 16/34 is not often in use. |
| TIME | From midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Ladder is not needed but recommended to avoid the fence in the frame. However, you could use the concrete plates around here although they aren’t really high.
No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 20-200mm
An24 = 60mm |
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Spot #6 – RWY16 – RWY16 arrivals |
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| WHERE | This spot is located almost at the northern end west of runway 16/34. To be honest, this spot is no exact location, rather the area along the fence as you can position yourself everwhere there. Best access is by car, but beware of the road conditions to this point. Sometimes the way is destroyed by rains during Summertime or by snowfalls at Winter. |
| WHAT | Touchdowns onto runway 16 as well as 34 takeoffs. But note that RWY 16/34 is not often in use. |
| TIME | Midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Ladder is not needed but recommended to avoid the fence in the frame. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-300mm
Tu204 = 135mm / A320 = 160mm |
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| WHERE |
Update July 2026: no longer available because of reconstruction. The whole area is fenced off. |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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| WHERE | Update July 2026: no longer available because of reconstruction. The whole area is fenced off. |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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Spot #9 – Hill – RWY25 arrivals/departures
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| WHERE | This location is the most used point because you can see the ramp and runway pretty well from here. It is a hill line behind the concrete fence/wall just north of the eastern end of runway 07/25. The spot can be accessed with a car, but beware of the road conditions to this point. Sometimes the way is destroyed by rains during Summertime or by snowfalls at Winter. |
| WHAT | RWY25 (and some 07 movements), TWY A, Ramp. |
| TIME | The direction of view is counter to the Sun during the day, best light conditions are after 6 p.m. at Summer, of very early morning in June-July (before 7 a.m.). Not useable in winter though – except on grey days without backlit then. |
| MISC. | Ladder is not necessary but recommended to overtake the fence. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-200 mm
IL76 = 105mm / A320 = 140mm |
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Spot #10 – RWY25 inner marker – RWY25 arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This spot is close to the glidepath of RWY25 (near inner RWY marker so the planes fly above you at ~60 m). It is easy to find and also no exact position, rather the area around the glidepath – you can stand wherever you want to, depending on your favourite angle. The spot can be accessed with a car from the eastern side (way marked on the map), but beware of the road conditions to this point. Sometimes the way is destroyed by rains during Summertime or by snowfalls at Winter. You can also reach this spot by foot from the South, if you use public transport and exit the train at “Ob station” and then walk as along the small streets marked on the map up north till the glidepath. |
| WHAT | RWY25 arrivals skyshots. |
| TIME | Excellent in February/March when the light conditions are the best for bright-bottom shots and light is good all the daytime in winter. This side is useable form late morning till late afternoon in summer, but you can also easily switch sides by foot once you have backlit here. |
| MISC. | No ladder needed. No food, drinks, restrooms are available. There were some issues with police/airport security in the past (years ago), but now this is a rare event. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50-200mm
A300 = 85mm / B772 = 65mm |
Excellent guide Severin; I hope I can make use of it sometime!