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August 18, 2017Vancouver Intl. Airport & Seaplane Spotting Guide
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- last modified on November 09, 2018
Vancouver International Airport (YVR/CYVR) is the second busiest airport in Canada. The airport handles about 22 million passengers a year and is the Asian gateway to Canada. Both Air Canada and WestJet are based at Vancouver. Furthermore, there are a lot of smaller regional carriers flying to the north, like Air North and Pacific Coastal Airlines, starting from the South Terminal.
On the south side of the airport lays the Vancouver International Seaplane (CAM9) base. The Seaplane bays is located on the Fraser Rivers and is a hub for Harbour Air and Seair. On busy days, the base will be swarmed by Beavers, Turbo Beavers, Otters, Twin Otters and all kinds of Cessna floatplanes.
Written by Bas Velders, Achim Walter, Jan Seba, Luciano Manara and Stefan Bratner (last update July 2018)
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| Airport Information | Runways | 08L/26R | 08R/26L | 12/30 |
| 3.030m (9,940 ft) | 3,505m (11,500 ft) | 2.225m (7,300 ft) | ||
| Terminals | Main Terminal | South Terminal | ||
| Almost all domestic and international flights. | All flights of Pacific Coastal and smaller charter airlines. | |||
| Spotting Information | Ladder | Not needed. | ||
| Car | A car is advisable for most spots. But there is a courtesy bus between the main and south terminals. For the 26R spots you can use the metro and exit at Templeton Station and walk to these positions. | |||
| Restrooms | In the terminals and seaplane bases. | |||
| Drinks/Food | There are a few restaurants in the vicinity. One of the best is the Flying Beaver Grill and Bar (at the Harbour Air Seaplane Terminal). | |||
| Hotels | On the east side of the airport, there are a lot of affordable hotels. The River Rock Casino is almost under the approach of 26R and you can spot and photograph the arrivals from their parking garage. The angle is not the best and it will look like that. | |||
| Season | The best weather season is from April untill Oktober. Also more charter traffic in the summer | |||
| Runway Usage | 08L/26R | Mostly used for landings especially by international and long rage flights. | ||
| 08R/26L | Mostly used for takoffs. | |||
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Spot #1 – Templeton Station Rd – Arrivals 26R |
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| WHERE | From the terminal, drive towards the city centre (Grand McConachie Way) until you cross Templeton St. Turn left here. Turn right on Templeton Station Road and park you car along the road near the shopping centre. Walk towards the Fraser River and find a nice spot tho take photos of the arriving traffic. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on RWY 26R only. |
| TIME | Almost all day long. In the summer backlit in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is at the shopping center. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100 – 250 mm. |
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Spot #2 – Ferguson Rd – Arrivals 26R |
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| WHERE | This spot is located along Ferguson Rd . Easy to reach if coming from the mall and Tempelton Rd. Park your car alongside the road once you have passed the approach path. There is a small hill which is undeveloped so it is fully covered by grass and low bushes, but it is a good place to capture the arriving planes from aside. There is small wooden gate and a path that leads to the top. From there find your prefered position. You can stay on the road too if you don´t wanna get on the hill but the angle is a little bit worse. |
| WHAT | Arrivals on RWY 26R only. |
| TIME | Late evenings in the summer only. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is at the shopping mall. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 75 – 100 mm. |
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Spot #3 – Larry Berg Flight Path Park – Arrivals 26L |
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| WHERE | From the terminal, drive towards the city centre (Grand McConachie Way) until you cross Templeton St. Turn right here. Turn left on Miller Rd and right again on Rus Baker Way. The Larry Berg Flight Path Park will be on your right hand side. |
| WHAT | Arrivals 26L only. The angle is pretty worse and its good for head-on shots in the evening. There is also a crash gate next to the park where you might be able to photograph the line up for 26L. |
| TIME | You are directly under the approach path. |
| MISC. | South of this location is a McDonalds (see spot #4). This is more a place to relax (with the family) and watching the aircrafts passing by. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 50 – 100 mm. |
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Spot #4 – Gilbert Rd – Arrivals 26L |
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| WHERE | Just south of spot #3. Park your car on the parking lot near Gilbert Road. You can cross the street if needed. |
| WHAT | Arrivals 26L only. |
| TIME | Almost all day long. In the summer backlit in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | The McDonalds restaurant is a 2 minute walk. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100 – 250 mm. |
We can’t provide sample pictures from this location. If you have photos please don´t hesitate to contact us!
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Spot #5 – South Terminal Viewing Platform |
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| WHERE | To reach the spot #5 and #6 you can follow the signs to the South Terminal. On the right hand side of the terminal, there is a public parking lot and an elevated observation area. There is also a courtesy shuttle between the main and south terminal you can use. |
| WHAT | All South Terminal traffic. Departing/arriving traffic runway 08L/26R (watch out for heat haze). You can walk along the perimeter fence and photograph different kind of angles through the fence. |
| TIME | Almost the whole day as you can shoot different angles. Runway is backlit in the summer in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is inside the South Terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 80 – 200 mm for all movements on the apron. 300 – 400 mm for arriving and departing traffic. |
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Spot #6 – Vancouver International Seaplane (CAM9) |
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| WHERE | Follow the signs to the South Terminal and park on the Float Plane parking. |
| WHAT | All movements on the Fraser River are visible. |
| TIME | Depends on the angle you prefer. For planes on the rive late afternoon – sunset |
| MISC. | The Harbour Air Terminal also houses the Flying Beaver Bar & Grill. Also the South Terminal is nearby. There are some benches along the riverside. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 100 – 300 mm. |
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Spot #7 – Turning area Ferguson Rd – 08L arrivals |
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| WHERE | Driving the Ferguson Rd., pass spot #8, to the end of the airport and you see a big turning area and some trucks parking . Just stay there and start spotting. |
| WHAT | 08L arrivals only. |
| TIME | Only useful in the summer in the morning. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is at the shopping mall. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 789 = 90mm; A333 = 150mm |
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Spot #8 – Sandhill Ferguson Rd – 08L/26R movements |
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| WHERE | Coming from spot #2 follow Ferguson Rd. After the last building you’ll see a sandhill on the left side where you can climb up to shoot over the fence. You can park in the entrance or at the street. |
| WHAT | All movements on RWY 08L/26R. Due to the sun position 90 degree shots are difficult. Better for shots with the sun shining on the front of the plane. The northern taxiways are in range too. |
| TIME | Only useful in the summer. Best for 08L in the early morning, 26R in the evening. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is at the shopping mall. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150 to 300mm |
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Spot #9 – Miller neighbourhood Park – 26R arrivals |
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| WHERE | This is an alternative to #1. You need a higher focal length but the angle is slightly better. Coming from Grant McConachie Way use exit to Russ Baker way. Turn right into Miller Rd and follow the street until you see the dog playground on the right. Park you car and go north until you have a postion you like. Address fpr navigation: 6800 Miller Road |
| WHAT | Arrivals on RWY 26R only. |
| TIME | Almost all day long. In the summer backlit in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | Everything you need is at the shopping mall. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 763 = 300mm |
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Spot #10 – Avis Parking – 26R arrivals & departures |
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| WHERE | |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
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Spot #11 – Hangars – South Terminal movements |
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| WHERE | The position is on the opposite site of the south terminal in a corner next to some hangars. Just continue the road from spot #6 and park your car next to the fence where you have to shoot through. |
| WHAT | Best for aircrafts coming from the runway and heading to their parking position. |
| TIME | Good location from afternoon till sunset. |
| MISC. | As usual on the ground, heat haze is an issue, especially in the summer. Everything you need within the south terminal. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737 = 140mm; Beech = 110mm |
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Spot #12 – Fraser River – Seaplane movements |
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| WHERE | There is a nice location across the Fraser River where you can photograph the seaplanes. Its on the opposite site from #6. To get there continue the road from #3 and #4 southwards and cross the river. Turn the next right into Westminster and then once again right to get to the river road. There is a dyke where you find plenty of photo positions. |
| WHAT | All seaplane movements on the fraser river and heavy 08R departures.
For seaplane movement it is better to stand more in the western side of the marked path but for the heavy departures you need to move more to the east, otherwise the planes will still be too low. |
| TIME | Almost all day long. In the summer backlit in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | Heat haze is an issue in the summer. Nothing special nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Seaplanes on the river = 300-400mm; A345 departure = 350mm |
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Spot #13 – Templeton St – 26R arrivals |
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| WHERE |
This is an alternative to spot #9 as you are much closer but the angle is a little bit worse. Located at Templeton St, just after the crossing with Templeton Station Rd. 20 mt. after the traffic light if coming from Templeton St or immediately on the right hand side after turning right if coming from Templeton Station Rd. Stop your car as there is plenty of space on the shoulder on the right on the unpaved road.
By public transport you can easily walk from the Templeton Station. |
| WHAT | This is the favourite spot for locals for landing shots on 26R. Very close and very low approaching planes, mostly international, long range flights with Canadian traffic too. |
| TIME | Almost all day long. In the summer backlit in the morning and evening. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 77W = 40mm |
8 Comments
Hi! For spot 8, why is it only good in the summer? I am wanting to go spotting Fall/Winter and I am not sure why that spotting area is bad for those seasons. If you could get back to me then that would be amazing. Thank you for your time.
Hi, if you don´t mind to photograph against the sun then you can go there in summer too 😉
-Julian
By the way, there is a nice homepage for calculating where the sun will be on a specific date and time. Perfekt for spotting to see where the sun is at a location.
There are also apps on the iOS store which can do that.
https://www.sonnenverlauf.de/
I like to refer to our Tips & Tricks where we explain a good tool 🙂
https://www.spotterguide.net/useful-tips/
Actually I found a wonderful place near the spot #2, u need to walk down the Ferguson Road, and on your left side there is a small hill right beside the swissport. The advantage of that place is the hill is a lot higher than the runway and u can see the whole airport as well as the whole runway, and its really close to the runway that u don’t even need a long range lens ( cuz sometimes it’s really complex to take a long range lens). And the disadvantage would be the environment. The worst thing is that place is completely covered by the long grasses which can reach ur knees, so u’d better take some spray to prevent the bugs, and its really warm in afternoon so please bring enough water and suncream as well. BTW, there is a huge tree which may blocks ur view cuz if u’re standing on the hill, u would realize that tree is right in front of u and cut the runway so its very sad.
However I would highly recommend u guys try this spot. Only for arrival on rwy 26R from the west!!!!!!!
Hi Max, is that hill here: 49.203708, -123.163635? Can you send us some photos please so we can add it to the guide. Just use our contact form please.
THX
-Julian
Great site! I’ve a few good clips of YVR from about 12 years ago. Wrapped up every 747 Canadian operated there
but I think the Canadian 747 taking off from Manila to YVR via Tokyo is the only vid I have on Youtube (I’m Starboard76 on YT btw)
I’m writing you because I’ve a huge fixation on 1960-1980s commercial aviation. And I’m asking, are you aware of
any YVR film (8mm 16mm 35mm) or video shooters who may have been capturing images at YVR from 1970 – 1988?
Why? I’m seeking out as much CP Air footage as possible. I’m amazed at no videographers managed to get any
CP Air 747s, DC-10s or DC-8s wearing the illustrious Orange in action – I can’t be too mad at YVR spotters when
Manchester UK, Hong Kong, Amsterdam spotters saw this stuff EVERY DAY – and with 100s of shooters at each place
None of did CP Air any facetime justice! A crying shame if you ask me! So I’m at wits end intensely combing thru the internet
trying for footage. The tourist board managed to get a few seconds of decent CP Air footage…not nowhere near enough.
So you you can point me in the right direction or assist in anyway, I’m be very grateful!
Hi Greg,
the only thing actually I can do is publish your comment…
At Facebook there is a huge YVR community. Maybe you ask there too: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yvrspotters/
-Julian