Bermuda L.F. Wade Intl. Airport (BDA/TXKF) is the major airfield in Bermuda, located 10km northeast of its capital Hamilton. It was opened in WWII as a US military airport called Kindley field and used as such till 1995 once it was handed over from the US navy to the local government. Back in 2007, the airport was renamed to L.F. Wade Intl airport honouring L. Frederick Wade who led the governmental party back in the last century.

Today, the airfield serves as major hub to Bermuda with its local carrier BermudAir as well as lots of American carriers connecting the island to a docen of states within the US. In addition, there is quite a bit of general aviation and military air traffic.

Written by John Marzo, Rogan Cabral, Joseph Garca and Toby Lunn. Last Update: December 2025 – General all spots 

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
12/30	2958m / 9705ft
Terminals
Northwestern terminal	Opened 2020: the main terminal building which serves all commercial airlines and the occasional large charter or diversion (if space allows)
Southeastern terminal	Terminal building is abandoned. Cargo facility located towards the eastern end of the terminal. Apron is primarily used for cargo aircraft, excess parking for inactive aircraft, or diversions.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Useful at spot 3, but you can also always shoot through the mesh or over the fence using liveview.
Car/Public Transport	A car is useful to get around here, but you can also work your way to the spots with public bus transport and walking. However, as of NOV 2025, you can only rent 50cc motorbikes and very small (more golf cart like) cars with limited space for camera gear.
Drinks/Food	Your proximity to shops and restaurants is very dependent on which location you are spotting at, however everything around the airfield is within touching distance if you have a vehicle.
Hotels	There is no specific spotter hotel around BDA.
Season	Lighting is nicer during the late fall, winter, and early spring months. During winter you may also get to see some more migratory birds trying to escape the North American cold weather.
Security	Spotting is generally no issue. Just stay off airport property, be cautious and vigilant when spotting at the fence line, and keep a low profile during military and general aviation movements.
Runway Usage
General Info	It’s common for runway 12 to be most active just before and during the peak summer months due to the seasonal shift of the Bermuda-Azores high. During the other months the runway direction is very dependent on the movement of nearby weather systems in the Atlantic with a slight favor to runway 30 due to the common cold front coming off of the United States’ east coast. Be aware of light variable winds or direct crosswinds because departing aircraft may request the closest runway to them if traffic allows.

	Spot #1 – Clearwater Beach – 30 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot can be found east of the terminal along the Clearwater Beach: you can either stand by the sunjammers bar in the east, move along the beach or nearby parking area, plus you can also stand on the rocks just below the arrival path. Simply search your favourite angle.
WHAT	From here you can spot aircraft arriving on runway 30. You can walk by here to vary your angle a bit.
TIME	From later morning till later afternoon in summer, in winter a bit longer. Around noon is best here.
MISC.	Nothing needed, there is the sunjammers bar just nearby for food/drinks. Be aware when standing below the arrival path as you are directly by the street or some big rocks.
FOCAL LENGTH	Depending on your location: 70-300mm should cover most angles

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	Spot #2 – Southside Rd – 30 Arrivals + Line-Ups
WHERE	Along Southside Rd you will nicely be elevated and see the runway eastern end as well as the nearby taxiways. Simply try to get rid of your car/motorbike nearby and position yourself on the grass pitch by the roadside.
WHAT	This spot offers nice views on 30 arrivals and line-ups.
TIME	Best just after sunrise in the early morning hours.
MISC.	You are a bit elevated thus a ladder is not needed. Be aware of cars passing by, however the green area is quite big and traffic is not too quick here.
FOCAL LENGTH	24-200mm

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	Spot #3 – Pizza House Restaurant – Ramp + Taxiways
WHERE	A hill just east of the Pizza House Restaurant. Most accessible by car due to the parking lot just beside the hill near the restaurant. There have been no known issues parking there.
WHAT	The main purpose of this spot is for views of Apron 4, but it can also be used to catch traffic exiting runway 12 via taxiway Charlie and onto Alpha.
TIME	Best times are in the morning from sunrise to late morning (10am or 11am) during both Summer and Winter. The spot can also be used during night for long exposures, however depending on your gear and the focal lengths you intend to shoot, it is recommended to go for such shots when it’s calm. Catching aircraft exiting off runway 12 via Charlie is near impossible during the summer due to the heat haze. Best times of the year to go for such a shot include late Fall, Winter, and early Spring.
MISC.	No ladder is required due to the elevation it provides over the fence looking outwards towards Apron 4 and taxiway Alpha. During Summer it’s recommended to get there as early as possible because heat haze becomes an issue with aircraft parked on the far end of the Apron later in the morning. Some angles of the ramp are obstructed due to the apron light poles. Thankfully the hill is large enough to play around with a few angles to get past them in some occasions.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm

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	Spot #4 – Cedar Aviation Fence – Apron
WHERE	This spot is located all along the bike path running along the fence line of the cedar aviation FBO. Get rid off your vehicle here nearby and position yourself depending on your favourite angle.
WHAT	This spot offers nice views onto the apron in front. Jets parked on the far side of the ramp may also be obstructed when jets are parked closer to the fence.
TIME	The spot works in early morning, late evening hours or also during the night.
MISC.	Be aware as security passes by often here with their jeeps! Come, take a picture and leave again; do not hang around the fence here. There is the Pizza house restaurant just on the other side of the street for amenities.
FOCAL LENGTH	16-400mm

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	Spot #5 – Water tank – 12/30 Movements + Taxiway A and C + Apron 4
WHERE	Located just north of the eastern section of Lower Gates. This spot is most accessible by vehicle and parking alongside the road, however it is in fair walking distance of most spots located at the eastern end of the airfield. Accessing the spot from Lower Gates. may be difficult for some because long grass is occasionally present on the pathway up to it.
WHAT	This spot is great for arrivals and departures of both runways, as well as taxiway Alpha, Charlie and Apron 4.
TIME	The best times to use this spot is in the summer months during the morning (sunrise till around 9am) and evening (6pm till sunset). Night photos are also possible, but success is very dependent on your gear and how aircraft are positioned on Apron 4. Heat haze can be an issue with photographing aircraft on Charlie, the runway, or the far end of the apron in the later morning hours and early evening hours.
MISC.	Be sure NOT to block Lower Gates when parking, be respectful of the private property at the end of the road, and be cautious of the water tank’s edge especially at night. No ladder is required because of the elevation it provides.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm Gulf4 on taxiway in front = 160mm / A223 on runway = 270mm

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	Spot #6 – Anchor Park – 12/30 Movements + Apron
WHERE	This spot can be found in the so called Anchor Park just off Southside Rd running along the hill. You will find some parking possibilities just next to the park and can spot from there nicely.
WHAT	Nice views onto all runway movements plus parts of the apron (taxiing towards/from FBO) in front.
TIME	Best just after sunrise in the morning hours or late summer evening hours.
MISC.	Nothing directly nearby. Haze can become an issue later during the day.
FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm

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	Spot #7 – Kindley Baseball Field – 12 Line-Ups + 30 Arrivals + Ramp
WHERE	This spot is located inside the Kindley Baseball Fields: there you will find some old watchtower type strcuture (similar to the boxes where umpires may sit to watch a baseball game), which you may climb to clear the view. You can also walk some meters up the fence to the northeast along the fence and some marsh for nice views onto the ramp. Otherwise, however you also simply shoot thru the mesh or over the fence with live view.
WHAT	Here you can shoot aircraft turning onto runway 12 prior departure, plus those turning off runway 30 after arrival. Plus from the northeastern corner of the fence here you can also see the ramp nearby.
TIME	Light is good here in the afternoon hours.
MISC.	There is some watchtower structure here you can climb, otherwise you have to shoot thru the mesh. Keep a low profile on this property. Once walking up the fence, you will walk by some marsh, be aware of that!
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm

Runway/Taxiway acitivities look like THIS. Ramp looks like the example below:

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	Spot #8 – Kindley Field Rd – 12 Arrivals
WHERE	This spot is literally just the green paved area next to Kindley Field Rd running along the fence north and south of the runway axis. Simply, get rid of your vehicle nearby and position yourself around here depending on your preferred angle.
WHAT	From here you can shoot 12 arrivals.
TIME	You can switch sides easily here, so this spot is useable all day.
MISC.	No ladder is required. Nothing directly nearby. Don’t stand/spot by the roadside directly, keep a few meters distance.
FOCAL LENGTH	Depending on your angle, but 24-300mm should cover most things.

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