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May 20, 2019Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Spotting guide
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- last modified on April 29, 2022
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV/LLBG) is the biggest airport in Israel and the busiest airport in the country, located north of the city of Lod, which is about 45 km northwest of Jerusalem and 20 km to the south-east of Tel Aviv. After Sde Dov was demolished in 2019, TLV is the only civil airport in Tel Aviv, which handles passengers on regular international and domestic routes.
Ben Gurion airport was named after Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and is being used as a hub for Israeli companies like El Al, Israir and Arkia. Apart from this you can see a lot of other international passengers airlines, as well as quite a few cargo and GA flights. All in all TLV/LLBG is being visited by 24 million passenger per year (stand: 2019) as it is the main gate to Israel.
From Friday afternoon till Saturday night (almost) all aircraft operated by El Al’s Israelitan airlines will stay on the ground and won‘t fly due to „Sabbat“ (holy day to rest in the Jewish religion) while Israir and Arkia keep serving their routes! Keep this in mind when planning some spotting here. Sunday and Thursday have the most traffic and diversity of airlines.
Written by Eyal Zarrad, Severin Hackenberger, Timo Frieg & Tony Goldin. Last update: June 2020
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| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 03/21 | 2.772m (Asphalt) |
| 08/26 | 4.062m (Asphalt) |
| 12/30 | 3.112m (Asphalt) |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | Mainly used by holiday airlines Sun d‘or, Arkia Israel and Israir. Apart from this most low-cost-carrier. |
| Terminal 3 | All non low-cost airlines. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Not needed and absolutely not recommended. |
| Car/Public Transport | Public transport in the arrival path areas is a bit poor, a car will be much easier anyway. Parking is normally no problem at the mentioned spots and the hot temperatures don’t invite normal people to walk long distances by foot. So car is needed for all spots (except #8) actually. |
| Restrooms | In the terminals and nearby restaurants/gas stations – apart from those very rare public toilets. |
| Drinks/Food | In the terminals and in all the nearby gas stations, restaurants, supermarkets and malls. |
| Hotels | There are a lot of hotels in the city, but only some around the airport. The “hotels” near the airport are in residential neighbourhoods and without a car they are not a real alternative. Tel Aviv city is much preferable. |
| Season | Most recommended from Oct till May. The winter is not that harsh in Israel and we get more than enough sunny and partly cloudy days. Between May and October the temps are above 30 degrees and no rain at all so nothing clears the air, high humidity and lots of heat haze |
| Security | – First, Scanners aren’t allowed in Israel due to safety reasons. The Usage of scanners can lead up to 5 years in jail!
– Apart from this, expect visits from the security and sometimes even the police. Just be nice and explain them clearly what you do and who you are, but be sure to have an ID with you (if possible also the visacard you receive when entering the country) all time as otherwise sou will have a problem probably! – The security “tries to keep away possible threats to the airport”, so don’t stand very close to the fence, rather use the spots we suggest as they are normally far enough to be seen as threat there already. Nevertheless, police and security services may check the spotareas as well! – Take care of military or company properties with forbidden signs (for example the IAI property in the northeast) and avoid strange areas. – Be sure to keep a low profile, but also to don‘t seem strangely secret especially in police-/securityeyes as they might suspect you to be a spy otherwise then. – The animal variety in Israel is different as well. There are for example jackals at night; you will probably hear them when you are shooting at night in open places like airport city. They usually don’t attack humans but sometimes in israel there is a Rabies epidemic so its better not to shoot at night and try to avoid them. – Apart from this there are also snakes in summer so don’t go on high weeds and grass, don’t lift stones and rocks and if you see a snake just stay there and try not to move when the snake is looking at you and then just go away gently and quietly. If its a small black snake that is going towards you and you see it wont stop, try to escape cause those are really toxic. Mostly appear in spring after winter in big numbers. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | 90% percent of the time rwy26 is the main departures runway. When easterly winds, then rwy12 is in use. Due to the proximity of T1 to the threshold of rwy 30, sometimes Arkia/Israir planes do depart from there, keep an eye.
Departures: Almost all airplanes are departing from runway 26 (during strong winds also 08 then) normally. But sometimes you might see departures from runway 30 as well and during easterly winds even departures from runway 12. |
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Viewing Platform - 08 and 12 arrivals, 26 and 30 departures
| WHERE | Let’s start with the airport’s offical viewing platform, which can be entered through the airport’s driveway – this can only be entered through a gate, where the officers may ask you where you have been in Israel and where you come from now. They may also ask after your flight, but normally don’t check boarding passes – so you should be able to enter the driveway even if you aren’t going to your flight. Once passed the gate, just follow the road till it’s end and pass all along the terminal facilities of T3. Once you left all these terminl buildings and the apron on your right behind, the airport driveway (also known as “HaTeufa Blvd”) makes a 90 degree right turn ends up in “Tamar street”, which is supposed to lead one to a gate then, which is the entrance to the airfield. But before you reach this gate, turn left into “Ya’af street”, which leads you to the spotting deck then.
Once you got to the place, you will see a metal ramp. You can go up stairs, take a chair and enjoy. By public transport: go to ground floor at terminal 3, exit door 24 to the bus depot and take bus 888 to the long-stay car park. Get off the bus at the car park and walk to the left to the end of the dead end road, which is where the viewing platform is located. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 12 and 08 (second one is very rare). Apart from this departures from runway 26. Also but very rare, you can get departures from rwy30. |
| TIME | Depending on the used runway, but normally you will be able to spot something from late morning till late afternoon. Winter almost all day. |
| MISC. | Car needed to get here. Heat haze can become a problem, nothing around. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Depending on what you wanna shot you need totally different focal lengths here:
70-500mm will cover most things |
Gas station - 08 and 12 arrivals, 26 and 30 departures
| WHERE | This spot is located at a gas station at the airport’s western end south of runway 08/26. Just drive to the (in 2019) Sonol gas station and search your favourite position around this building and property. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 12 and 08 (second one is very rare). Apart from this departures from runway 26. Also but very rare, you can get departures from rwy30. |
| TIME | Depending on the used runway, but normally you will be able to spot something from late morning till late afternoon. Winter almost all day. |
| MISC. | Most things you need can be bought in the gas station just next to you such as snacks and drinks, but you will also find shadow there. The shop is closed on Friday & Saturday. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-500mm will cover most things B738 = 220mm / A330 = 160mm |
Arcaffe - 12 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located on the walkable top of “Arcaffe” north of the airport. Just park your car nearby th cafe and then you have to climb on the synthetic grass, which is on the buildings top (see overview shots below). They have kind of an unwritten agreement with us so everyone can climb there and shoot from there as the top is being used as kinda “terrace”. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 12. |
| TIME | In the early morning hours ONLY IN SUMMER. Winter backlight. |
| MISC. | You can buy food and drinks from the cafe as well as you can find restrooms there. Would be worth to support this cafe as we can use their cafetop for spotting. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70 – 300mm |
Ben Gurion St - 21 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located inside a living area by the roadside. To reach this spot, drive on highway „461“ and exit this one at the first offical exit after its crossing with hudgway „40“. Then make your way up north through all the roundabouts until you don‘t reach „Ben Gurion David street“ on your right. Keave your car somewhere in this oneway street (from south up to north) and search your favourite spit here. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 21. |
| TIME | From late midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Nothing here around. Keep in mind that you‘re in a livingarea with many pedestrians passing by and the IAI properties are nearby! Take care when spotting. Heat haze is a problem fast. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 350-550mm B738 = 410mm / F70 = 450mm |
Field - 21 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot can be reached best from the crossing, where highway „461“ ends up in highway „40“. Continue driving into eastern direction there and in the first roundabout take the second exit on the left into „Bnei Atarot Moshav“. Then park your car by the roadside and search your favorite position to spot from on the field or by the roadside as well. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 21. |
| TIME | In winter till 13:00 in summer till 10:30-11:00. |
| MISC. | Nothing really here, heat haze can be a problem here. BE AWARE: There are buildings on the other site of the runway axis, which are very sensitive as they belong to the IAI property! |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-350mm B757 = 200mm / B737 = 270mm |
Orangefield - 30 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located by the roadside of an unnamed street, which connects highway „46“ and the airpirt city on the northern side. The position can be reached from the the south through the airport city or from the west – therefore you have to drove on highway „46“ northwards and take the unsigned exit on your right.
It doesn’t matter from where you come, but follow the street until it makes a turn and where you can see a orangetree field on the other side of the curve (see spotmark on the map for exact position). Leave your car there nearby and search your favourite position here; it might be recommendable to go behind some bushes that suspicious drivers can‘t see you from the road such easy. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 30. |
| TIME | Only in summer, in winter the the planes are backlit. |
| MISC. | All you need inside the nearby airport city facilities. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-350mm F100 = 270mm |
Airport City - 30 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot is located next to kinda gas pipeline center, which can be found south of highway „453“. To be able to reach this spot you must drive eastwards on this highway and keep right, from where you have to take an unsigned exit on your right, shortly after you have passed a bus stop after crossing highway „46“. So once you took the exit, drive down onto the dirty area, park your car and search your preferred position- depending on the nearby power lines and lamps.
There is a bus station and right afterwards you can park your car by the road side. Walking back to the bus station and even further west to the big junction gives you unobstructed views towards to east and north. |
| WHAT | Arrivals onto runway 30. |
| TIME | From early midday till sunset. |
| MISC. | Keep a low profile here as you‘re by the roadside of a busy street, where many people could become suspect of your actions. Nearbiest facilities are inside the airport city. Heat haze may be a problem on hot days. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-350mm BAe 146 = 280mm / B744 = 160mm |
Terminal Driveway - ramp/taxiway
| WHERE | This spot is located on the top level of the Terminaldriveway. It’s the 3rd floor here where you can either stand on the right or left side of the Terminalentrance depending on the time of day and what you wanna spot. |
| WHAT | Ramp actions and nearby taxiways. Runway 12/30 can be seen as well, but is quite far away. |
| TIME | Depending on the sight you wanna spot. |
| MISC. | Heat haze can be a problem very fast as well as all the light poles distrubing your free view all over. Everything else you need inside the terminal and parking of course possible as well.
Apart from this the security aspect might also become a problem as you are on airport property and may be seen as danger by security or/and police officers – so take care! Only once a spotter was sent away by security staff after 30 minutes of spotting as he was suppossed to have a “permission” for spotting here. Never heard of such an issue prior to that or afterwards again, but might be worth to mention. Just in some very rare cases they may ask you to leave but it’s barely happening. Normally security staff only approaches to make an ID check, but at least one check/visit happens for sure normally. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100-400mm |
HaEla Street - 30 arrivals
| WHERE | If you want to avoid the power lines, lampposts and possible heat haze (no buidlings below the approach) at Spot #7, this is an alternative. Although you’re a bit further away than at Spot #7, the angle on the arriving traffic is similar. By car from Spot #7, continue eastwards on Highway 453 and take the next turning on the right into HaEla Street. After 400-500 metres, there is a gap on the left between the houses where cars tend to park. This is Spot #9. |
| WHAT | Traffic landing on Runway 30. |
| TIME | From late morning till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is shade here under the trees, though in between photos it’s probably better to sit in your car. There are no other facilities here, so bring what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | ATR72: 420mm; A321: 270mm, 777-200: 210mm |
Bus Car Park (close to 3) - 12 arrivals
| WHERE | This is a parking lot for buses and private cars. During weekdays parking costs by time. During weekends you can park free. Just park your car as close to the highway. This is position is similar to #3 but you get the planes more from the side rather than beneath. Also those shooting with 100mm+ will prefer this spot for heavies. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on runway 12. |
| TIME | In the early morning hours ONLY IN SUMMER. Winter backlight. |
| MISC. | There is a gas station with convenience store 24/7 just 300m left of the car park. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B744 = 100mm & A320 = 250mm |
Magshimim Fields - 21 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot can be reached by driving along runway 40″ north till the sign says left to “Magshimim”. Turn left and dive about 400m till a round about exit it on the left driving south through the village till its end then the road becomes a field, continue southward just till before a small bridge. everywhere along the field road is ok, choose to your preference the spot to stop at. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on 21 from midday onwards. |
| TIME | Mainly for winter. |
| MISC. | There is absolutely nothing here. Please bring with you what you need. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A310: 250mm, A321: 330mm & BizJet: 400mm |
Bedek Junction - 26 arrivals
| WHERE | This spot can be reached easily by driving along runway 40″ north and turning right on the junction with road 4613. After turning right there is a bus station , just after it park the car on the side road. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on 26. |
| TIME | In winter all day, in summer from late morning till early afternoon. |
| MISC. | There is absolutely nothing here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B747: 90mm, B789: 100mm & A320: 200mm |
Mekorot/Dor Alon Gas Station - 30 arrivals
| WHERE | 13A: This spot can be reached easily by driving out of the eastern exit of the airport towards EL AL junction (road 40″ and 46″ and 453″). Make a U turn in that junction heading back towards the airport and just after crossing train rails turn right there is a small opening between the trees. You can park your car freely here. From here walk 1 minute eastwards to have unobstructed views of planes landing.
13B: This spot can be reached easily by driving out of the eastern exit of the airport and there you’ll see the gas station.During weekdays its crowdy, during weekends much better and quieter allowing you to chose your spot. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on rwy30. |
| TIME | From late morning till sunset. |
| MISC. | There is a gas station with a convenience store opened 24/7. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B789: 70mm & A320: 190mm |
13A
13B
Delek Gas Station - 12 departures
| WHERE | This spot can be reached easily by driving out of T3 towards the exit of the airport but turning to T1, as you leave the main way, there is a roundabout, just past it is the gas station. |
| WHAT | Departures from 12 and doing a nice banking. |
| TIME | Midday towards the afternoon/evening. |
| MISC. | A convenience store opened 24/7. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B789: 120mm & A320: 220mm |
Thanks for the guide and the notes about the IAI stuff … I pointed that out to a friend as a potential concern. Although from the Yehud kenyon / shopping center it’s REALLY difficult to shoot 21 arrivals without getting some of their perimeter in frame (I recorded a few videos so had to try my best to get rid of the frames in editing). Surprised we didn’t get any hassle from their security but this was also on a Friday before Shabbat so .. potentially they were closed.
At point 2, new wires appeared along the rails, they make view worse on takeoff 🙁
A new place for 21 arrivals in the BIG shopping center in Yehud from the seconda floor. The Arcaffe coffee shop there has a small terrace with even better view, but personally I like to go a bit backward
Hi Gadi, can you provide us some more infos and photos via our contact form please: https://www.spotterguide.net/guide-update/
-Julian
Hello, I posted an update last week on how to access the viewing platform using a free shuttle bus. I dont see it on the site. Would you please advise how I can get my comment published on here? Thank you.
Well, never mind the question, it looks like it posted now! Maybe it was bc I posted from my phone.
Anyhow, to access the viewing platform from Terminal 3, go to ground floor, out exit door 24 to where there is a bus depot, and take bus 888 to the long-stay car park. Get off the bus at the car park and walk to the left to the end of the dead end road, which is where the viewing platform is located.
Yes, now you post is shown 🙂
I have added your info to the guide. Thanks for the hint!
-Julian
I was glad to be able to spot from Neot Kedumim, while on a church tour. It was a coincidence that they were landing on 30 that day.
Caught Swiss 77W, El Al & Air Europa 789, El Al 738. Also caught 4X-EKO, just before it was repainted back to El Al colours
They told me If I would go spot there again so I need permission and I can keep spotting but they wehre very aggressive and they wiil look at me!
I left immediately because of them and there wasn’t a lot of traffic
Too bad. Note added to the spot’s description.
You can’t spot in the terminal driveway!!!!! You need permission
Hi Michael!
Oh really, we are sorry to hear. Where to apply for this permission?
-Severin
I don’t know where to apply
I was lucky I could spot for 30 minutes before the security came
Strange. Our locals never had problems during dozens of visits and never heard of such an issue. Did you get to know whom they worked for? Were they very aggressive or intolerant? Was the message rather “no problem, but please go away” or “What are you doing here, go away otherwise you’ll get lots of problems”?
Will add a comment anyway.
They told me If I would go spot there again so I need permission and I can keep spotting but they wehre very aggressive and they wiil look at me!
I left immediately because of them and there wasn’t a lot of traffic
Hi. I’m going to Tel Aviv and I want to go spotting but I really don’t want boring skyshots. I have a 70-300mm lens and I was wondering if that’s enough for location 1 as you said that its a matter of what I want to get a shot of.
Hi Antoni!
Means whether you want to shoot 08/26 actions or 12/30 ones… For first mentioned ones 70-300 should be fine.
-Severin