Getafe Air Base (-/LEGT) located in the South of Madrid, is both –  a military Air Base and airport used by Airbus and the Spanish Airforce. It was one of the first military air bases in Spain and, because of that, is considerred the cradle of Spanish aviation. In addition, Airbus EADS has a factory where they assemble the Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons, convert A330s into A330MRTT and also build up some parts of airliners, which are transported by some Belugas. There you can get to see some military helicopters like Cougars and SAR planes such as Vigma CN235 & CN295, however you can also get to see some A330MRTT/A310MRTTs and Belugas, if you are lucky.

Written by Severin Hackenberger, EduAtienza and Juan Manuel Gibaja (local spotter) – thanks to Fabrizio Spicuglia (spot #5), to Pablo Rabadán de la Hoz (spot #2) and Eduardo A. G. (spot #6). Last Update: May 2021

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Airport Information
Runways
05/23	2477m / 8126ft
Spotting Information
Ladder	Only needed along the western site at two spots.
Car/Public Transport	You can get around only by car or using Taxi, Cabify or Uber. Public transport around the airfield is poor, but all spots can be reached from the city easily by train.
Restrooms	Near the base, in Getafe City Centre you have good possibilities.
Drinks/Food	Around the base are some gas stations; otherwise the nearby mentioned city centre/mall.
Hotels	In Getafe City itsself are some, but none offers good spotting views directly.
Season	Winter may be better due to nicer light and calmer, cooler weather. Summer is hot and hazy.
Security	Although this airfield is serving as a military air base partly and the other site as military airplane production site, spotters normally don’t have any problems here until they don’t leave up the ladder for all time. We recommend you to carry an ID with you at all time in order to be safe if they check you as military police/security services may come around and check you or even send you away. Keep a low profile and hide your camera. If you do this, you should be fine.
Runway Usage
05/23	As long as possible, they use 05 for arrivals and 23 for departures in order to avoid the city and MAD/TOJ airspace.

	Spot #1 – Cemetery – 05 Arrivals + 23 Departures
WHERE	This spot is located at the southern end of the airfield next to a cemetery and can be reached best by car or taxi from the west. Please don’t use the facility’s parking out of respect and park along the road near the Getafe Cemetery. From there you have a free view then. This spot is literally no exact position, rather the area around here… However, the train station “Getafe sector 3” is just 1,2km away thereby this spot can be reached by public transport
WHAT	RWY05 arrivals & RWY23 departures.
TIME	Best in in the morning till late noon.
MISC.	No food or anything close to the spot, just the cemetery. You will have no issues with the police.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm Beluga XL front = 180mm

	Spot #2 – 05 Threshold – 05 Arrivals head on
WHERE	This spot can be found just at the head of the runway’s southwestern end and can be reached by car best, which can be parked by the roadside here. Then search your favourite position along the fence regarding angle and light… However, the train station “Getafe sector 3” is just 500m away thereby this spot can be reached by public transport.
WHAT	Head on/face-to-face with the arrivals on tunway 05.
TIME	Mornings are the best with nice light.
MISC.	Nothing needed, but nothing around neither.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-300mm – depends on the angle you wanna shoot

	Spot #3 – Carre del Cementerio – 05 Arrivals/Departures + 23 heavy Departures/Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is just located outside “Getafe sector 3” train station and can thus reached by public transport easily as well. Just leave the station or get rid of your car by the nearby streetsides and search your favourite position along the fence.
WHAT	You can see takeoffs or landings there and also airplanes taxiing near.
TIME	Afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	No food or anything close to the spot just the station. You will have no issues with the police as long as you keep a low profile. Ladder needed, but don’t leave it next to the fence all time. In summer, you will have heat haze here.
FOCAL LENGTH	XXX

Unluckily we can’t offer any example pictures from here, but want to link some examples now:

1. Arrivals on runway 05 look like THIS
2. Arrivals on runway 23 look like THIS
3. Taxiway movements look like THIS

Spot itsself looks like this as you are supossed to stand by the fence on the left:

	Spot #4 – Motorwayhill – Runway + Taxiway movements
WHERE	This spot is dangerous as it is located just next to the motorway “M406” and no solid position. It is just located at the roadside on the hill where the motorway is running on. Park your car along the roadside or take the train to “Getafe sector 3” again and walk here. In order to avoid using a ladder, you can shoot from the hill, otherwise take a ladder and stand next to the fence again. However, the train station “Getafe sector 3” is just 500m away thereby this spot can be reached by public transport.
WHAT	Runway and taxiway movements, plenty actions at Getafe cna be spotted from here.
TIME	Afternoon till sunset.
MISC.	No food or anything close to the spot just the station. You will have no issues with the police as long as you keep a low profile. Ladder may be needed, but don’t leave it next to the fence all time. We recommend to only go up the hill a bit once the movement comes you wanna shot. Don’t stand there all time, in order to be safe and keep a low profile wait down at the bottom.In summer, you will have heat haze here.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

Spot itsself looks like this and you have to stand/climb on the hill marked here which elevates the motorway:

	Spot #5 – Industrial area – 23 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot can be found near the train station “Getafe Industrial” northeast of the air base. You can get there by train or by car, which can be parked near the bridge. Then you can either go on the bridge to take some shots or search your favourite position with a better angle in the industrial area. There is a position next to a roundabout where one has a great free view – exact position marked on the map and position shown on the overview below. The train station “Getafe Industrial” is just right next to the spot thereby this spot can be reached by public transport easily.
WHAT	Landings on RWY23.
TIME	Best in in the morning till late noon.
MISC.	No food or anything close to the spot. Keep a low profile with your equipment here!
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

 

	Spot #6 – Industrial area – 23 Arrivals Afternoon
WHERE	This spot can be found near the “Parque Andres Garcia Madrid” at the end of the av. de Los Ángeles.
WHAT	Landings on RWY23.
TIME	Best in the afternoon from 15h.
MISC.	No food or anything close to the spot. Keep a low profile with your equipment here!
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm